Sometimes Saturday Makes Sense

I looked over my schedule for next week and realized that today was my best bet for hitting the gym since the next several days appear to be rather busy. The weather is a bit wild lately, with temps reaching mid 50s yesterday with accompanying high winds and torrential rain. There was a brief pause in the weather and we got to witness a huge rainbow in the middle of town. Today, mildly cloudy and temps plummeting 30 degrees into the frigid 20s. I'm not even sure when the Winter Solstice is this year. I'm guessing it's tomorrow. Which is great, cuz I'm tired of darkness shortening the day so suddenly. Okay, I just checked. It's tomorrow at 10:03 AM.

The gym was shockingly crowded for a Saturday, especially given that it's the last weekend before the Christmas holiday. But then again, colleges have all let out and a lot of companies have employees take leave this time of year. I reach the elliptical machines at the same time as Wind Breaker. Luckily, we each have a specific machine we prefer so there's no conflict. Not until #3 gets fixed, if ever. Then he's going to want to pedal that one, like he did before it suffered all sorts of dysfunction. 

There are a few treadmills out of commission as well. But at least there is hope for the dry sauna. It's been broken for months now but a sign promises a new heating element to be delivered next week. I don't often frequent the sauna, but when my head cold was at its worst, I did want to sit in there for some relief. 

Cardio was better today although still not even close to making it past 2.8. But closer. And the pull-ups were really good, until they weren't, which was around rep 17. I might've been able to muscle past the 18th rep but that would've required some minor kipping, and my sciatica aches a lot by the end of the set. Sciatic pain is the reason I've paused doing Hip Bridges. The last time I did little ones, it wrecked the rest of the routine. My glutes ached through push-ups, something that normally never happens. Both my feet went numb during Bird Dog planks. That shouldn't be happening either! All because of a few small movement Hip Bridges. 

Physical Therapy is scheduled for twice a week so my next session is Monday morning. No time for the gym since my kid also has a routine exam scheduled. Then back to the dentist on Tuesday to resolve some gum issues. Looks like the gym might not happen until Wednesday, Christmas Eve. I wonder how crowded it will be. The gym is closed on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, but open usually a half day on other holidays, like New Year's. Cuz resolutions! 

20 Dec 2025 1:55-3:10

Saturday Frigid Cardio Late!

Bare Basics

(Gym scale reads 11

Precor elliptical #3 (2:33)

(needs hard reboot)

Program 3 — right calf pain

Time: 30 + 5 (5362)

Distance: 2.77

Cal: 304

Avg Hr: 154, 196-70

New FB: 44-144

HGPU 18!

   Skip 10 Hip Bridges (really painful)

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (mild sciatic pain)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Feels Like A Setback

I  thought I was making unexpectedly good progress with my sciatic pain. Until yesterday, when I had a routine procedure at the hospital. It wasn't the tests, it was the stroll across the vast wind-swept parking lot. A few steps in and my foot went numb, progressed up the calf and gripped the limb like a metal claw. Skipped over the thigh and latches onto the right glute as I made my way down the hospital corridor to the registration center. A long wait on standard office chairs that are always too tall for short people like me. 

Then another long amble until I got to the radiology department. I'm able to get a copy of my X-rays on a CD but warned that this service will no longer be provided in the future. I'll have to contact that 3rd party, set up an account, give lots of personal info just to access a new portal, all to access my own data. Every new middleman is another access point for unauthorized data thieves. 

The only bright spot was that the mammogram tech was a woman who was literally shorter than me by a few inches. We commiserated on our height challenged status, although she is much more proportional so she really needs petite clothing. I, on the other hand, have the body length and upper limbs of a larger person, with forearms, hands, calves and feet of a much smaller person. Indeed, my hands were much smaller than hers. 

Temps are rising and my dogs got to play with other dogs today. As long as there's snow and ice at the dog park, the problem dogs (with their fragile owners) won't appear. I got to the gym so much later than I had planned, but at least I got there. All the Precor ellipticals were vacant but I still got on #3 with the broken phone holder because it has a smoother glide. A good 20 minutes into my cardio and Wind Breaker shows up to pedal #1. The HS kids started trickling in. I'm tired but manage a decent set of pull-ups. 

I have trouble getting to sleep at a reasonable hour. Last night, my college kid finally got home hours later than expected. Apparently there's a house with our same address but in a different town, one right on the Hudson, and that is where the GPS took them. My kid wasn't driving. Wasn't even in the front seat so not navigating either. Four college kids learned an important lesson about paying attention to details: make sure the address is located in the correct town! Then my kid went out to hang with HS friends and shared a meal at an all night diner. Yeah, I was a college kid once too. Still, I didn't go to sleep until well past 2:30 AM last night.

The worst part of today's workout: my routine in the Aerobics Room. And it started with a few gentle Hip Bridges. Which really hurt, made my glutes ache and set the tone for the entire rest of the routine. Even normally benign Dead Bugs were uncomfortable because that sciatic bundle had been primed. Pretty much every movement hurt. The Bird Dog planks made my feet go numb almost immediately. Push-ups exacerbated the discomfort, although the Air Squats were relatively easy and painless. 

I have another PT appointment tomorrow, and probably not enough time for the gym. But I could go on Saturday. Because Monday there's another PT appointment, and I've also set up doc appointments for my kid. Because glaucoma can be hereditary, I'm having my kid see an ophthalmologist again, just to determine a baseline for their optic nerves. If everything looks good, I think we can check back in 10 years... I like to be proactive when I can. 

We had unexpected visitors to our yard... a large flock of wild turkeys. We do hear them in the surrounding woods, but have never had them march through the yard and out into the street and driveways. Quite a sight. Not sure hunting season is over, but Thanksgiving is. 
 

18 Dec 2025 1:23-2:37

Late Thursday Cardio!

Bare Basics

Precor elliptical #3 

(needs hard reboot)

Program 2 — right ft numb

Time: 30 + 5 (5232)

Distance: 2.74

Cal: 298

Avg Hr: 149, 175 max

New FB: 4

HGPU 17.5

right foot numb & throbbing lower calf/glute

10 Hip Bridges (really painful)

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 sciatic aggravation

10 Piriformis stretches

  Skip hip bridges

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

It Might Be Working

I woke up to my phone telling me it was 5F outside. Uh, nope. Too cold for me, the dogs, the car. I'll wait until it's at least double digit temps. We did get to the park a few hours later and it was in the teens, so slightly warmer. I'm still very happy about that heated water bowl I bought a few seasons ago. It works great as long as I bring water with me since all the filled gallon jugs inside the shed have frozen solid. Also ordered a new box of Hot Hands. (The knock-offs at Job Lot can't compare and do an abysmal job.)

I had another PT appointment this afternoon so my foray to the gym was brief. But better than nothing since I have a dentist appointment tomorrow, and the annual boob squish test on Wednesday, where hopefully, I'll also be able to grab an actual copy of my spine X-rays. The gal on the phone said I was lucky to make this request while the hospital was still making CDs. They had two CD writers, one broke and will not be replaced, and the radiology department is phasing that service out anyway. In a few weeks, only digital copies will be available and I'll be forced to go to a third party for access. I'm not a fan of constantly having to open new accounts for third party apps just to get info from my docs. 

I get to the gym later than I'd like but with enough time to get basics done: cardio, pull-ups, stretches and core body weight exercises. The gym isn't very crowded. Wind Breaker was pedaling Precor #1 and the rest are vacant. I don't mind using machine #3. Today I put on a pair of joggers with pockets instead of my usual gym pants. The pocket is just big enough to hold my phone without stabbing me in the hip or abdomen as I pedal. 

I was able to pedal fast enough to make it past 2.7 so that was good. The machine read ridiculous HR numbers, peaking at 217. Yeah, I'm not buying that. Pretty sure I'd actually feel my heart beating out of my chest if it was going that fast. I barely registered a sweat but I was warm enough to do a decent of pull-ups. Those last 3 were hard though and I felt my lower body reflexively curl up. 

I limped off to the Aerobics Room. Not sure if they had the Senior class earlier. (There's still a lot of snow and ice from yesterday's storm.) I do a quick stretch and most of my routine, still skipping hip bridges but everything else is okay. Push-ups are surprisingly weak and I struggle from fatigue. Yeah, going to bed at 2:30 and getting up around 8 isn't enough sleep time. No wonder I still haven't gotten over my head cold! 

There are completely different staff at physical therapy today. The 6-7 exercises are mostly the same, with some new ones. I had a discussion about working through the unpleasantness of numb and tingling feet. Some movements exacerbate this while others offer relief. My lower back has been achy all weekend, something that has never bothered me before. But the sciatica has been less intense. Which suggests that the therapy is somehow working. 

I lugged two wheelbarrows of firewood into the house on Saturday to prepare for the polar vortex that hit us. My hubs shoveled my car out on Sunday after the snow/ice storm so I could take pups to the park. Dogs aren't satisfied with walks down the road in the morning. They need run time. I have another PT appointment on Friday. My kid should be home from college (and final exams) by then. I've been sorting out his room and I'm still not done yet. Maybe tomorrow after the dentist...  

15 Dec 2025 12:28-1:33

Really Frigid Monday Cardio etc

Bare Basics w PT @ 2:30

Precor elliptical #3

(needs hard reboot)

Program 1 — right ft numb

Time: 30 + 5 (5230)

Distance: 2.73

Cal: 297

Avg Hr: 167, 217?!

New FB: 41-145

HGPU 18

right foot numb & throbbing lower calf/glute

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Conflicting Therapies

I've had two PT (physical therapy) sessions this week. I also went to the gym twice. Going to the gym was less painful. Well, the first PT session was more a consultation with me doing a number of movements to confirm that the issue is inflammation concerning the L4, L5 and S1 vertebrae. Yep, that's a lower back issue. It's good to know that the sciatic nerve is actually more like a giant thruway with many lines of traffic. While strength hasn't been impacted at all, the nerves that convey pain are wide awake. 

The therapist suggested some forward bending movements to alleviate the pain and numbness, akin to toe touching. Except there's no way in hell I'm gonna be doing 10 toe touches in the middle of the grocery aisle when my calf seizes up and my butt feels like I've been kicked by a horse. The second appointment saw me in an actual therapy session with a different guy who explained that the 6-8 movements they had me do were to strengthen weak areas, and to increase my pain threshold. Lovely. 

Also, since my hamstring have been unusually sore lately, he remarked that they were too tight and needed to do a hamstring stretch daily. It's relatively simple but requires a belt or length of rope to slip over the foot and then the leg is straightened and the foot is pulled toward the chest. Of course, you need to be laying down to do this. I left that second appointment really sore and achy. I guess that means it's working? 

I got to the gym later than I'd like but at least I made it. It wasn't busy and Wind Breaker was pedaling elliptical #1, preferring the clunking to the ambiguity of machine #3. I don't have a problem with #3 and was glad that there wasn't an OOO (out of order) sign on it. Those signs tend to stick around for months because parts and services are really expensive and hard to come by. I have a place to put my phone and since the programs are unaffected, I'm able to do a cardio routine. I'm not as fast as I used to be: the sciatica slows me down a lot. Pedaling slower means I don't get the distance. Now I'm happy I made it to 2.7. I get a set of pull-ups done. Kids are starting to trickle in from the HS.

The yesterday's therapist encouraged me to lift weights again. I think he's had too many clients lose muscle strength through inactivity due to pain. I admit that I haven't pushed any DBs around for a few months now! But unlike most people, I haven't really lost any strength. I don't have time for the 3 heavy sets today. I got to the gym late and the day is short. (It's dusk by the time I drive home and there are deer standing at the road's edge. I hate driving at night because the headlamps of oncoming cars blind me and this is very stressful.)  

The Aerobics Room is icy cold and I have it all to myself. People occasionally pop in for a quick stretch. I grab an elastic rope off the wall where there are dozens of varying colors and lengths. Some people use them as jump ropes. Others attend classes where these stretchy ropes are part of the routine. The hamstring stretches are easier today, probably because I'm a lot more warmed up than I was at yesterday's appointment. I do everything in my routine plus the ham stretches and butterfly hip opens (those use a band but I don't have one). Everything except for those hip bridges. Because I'm not ready to deal with that kind of pain yet. 

Someone mentioned their spouse was seeing a doc for their lower back pain. It's been several years now since a tree limb caused major damage. Now they're scheduled to have a nerve ablation. I had no idea that was a treatment for sciatic pain; I'm only familiar with nerve ablation for cardiac issues (someone from the dog park had it done recently). I guess if this therapy thing doesn't work, there are other procedures that aren't surgery. Whew!

 

12 Dec 2025 1:14-3:06

Frigid Friday Cardio etc

Pushing thru Sciatica — EZ pacing

Precor elliptical #3

(needs a hard reboot)

Program 1 — right ft numb

Time: 30 + 5 (5164)

Distance: 2.71

Cal: 293

Avg Hr: 148, 188-77

New FB: 39-129 (?!)

(1:52)

HGPU 18 

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys (slow & super EZ)

10 lbs x 25/15/25 (2:09)

15 lbs x 25/15/25 (2:16)

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 reps (2:25)

  Skip Hip Bridges

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

3 x 30 sec Belted hamstring stretches

3 x 10 hip butterflies / glute clenches

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 Piriformis stretches

  Skip hip bridges

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25 (sciatic pain)

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Hard Reboot

I haven't been to the gym in nearly 2 weeks. Correction: I've been to the gym but only to enjoy long hot showers with great water pressure, but haven't exercised in 12 days. Mostly because I needed to get over this nasty and persistent head cold. The one that came back with a vengeance after my kid returned to school and I could relax knowing the entire carpool was safe and sound. Not that I stayed in bed. Lugging firewood into the house is a strenuous activity and my body reacted accordingly with extreme fatigue and a renewal of nasty head cold symptoms. I will spare you the sticky details. It involved a lot of tissues. 

Today is the first day that the symptoms aren't overwhelming. I'm still a tad sick according to my sinuses, but at least it never progressed to a chest cold. I also finally made it to the gym to exercise. All the elliptical machines were vacant except for #1 which Wind Breaker was pedaling. Curious. I get on #3 and see that it needs a hard reboot because the display at the bottom of the console that shows resistance and elevation show 000, basically an error message. The phone holder is still broken (missing), and now one of two tiny shelves on the console is also missing. Those can also hold small thin phones but are positioned to block information windows above them. 

I waste a lot of time looking for the reboot/power button and can't find it. I ask the front desk to help me reboot the machine, and they can't find it either. They put a call in to the more experienced staff. I just hope they don't take the machine out of commission. It's still usable, just not quite as informative. I can still punch in my program and do the routine. I'm barely able to hit 2.7 but I do work up a decent lather. I'm okay with that considering it's been nearly 2 weeks and I'm still recovering. I even get a decent number of reps for pull-ups at the Stretch Cage, although the last 3 reps had me fighting the urge to curl my lower body. 

The Senior Class has been over for a few hours and the room is nicely chilly. I do my routine and skip all the problematic movements. Push-ups feel pretty easy. I have an appointment with the Physical Therapy tomorrow that's been prescribed by the orthopedist who basically told me everyone develops back issues, and the insurance won't authorize an MRI without physical therapy first, and sciatica and vertebrae slippage is common as we age. Gee, that's so encouraging. I'm still hoping to gently convince those errant vertebrae to slip back into position, but the orthopedist said that wasn't realistic. I can still hope though. 

Meanwhile, an Alberta Clipper weather system has dropped temps to unseasonable depths and I'm glad I have firewood in the house. Tonight is forecast to dip to 7. It's early December and we're not suppose to see single digits here yet. The weather is wild lately. I'm just glad our town does a great job paving the roads and keeping them plowed and salted. They are as smooth as glass... 

8 Dec 2025 1:01-2:13

Frigid Monday Cardio etc

Bare Basics w Sciatica (EZ pacing) after 12 days

Precor elliptical #3

(needs hard reboot) 

Program 3 — right ft numb

Time: 30 + 5 (5168)

Distance: 2.72

Cal: 294

Avg Hr: 63?- 192, 148

New FB: 43-181 (?!)

(1:40)

HGPU 18

right foot numb & throbbing lower calf/glute

(1:53)

   Skip Hip Bridges

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

10 Nerve Flossing

   Skip hip rotations

DeadBugs 20 x 5

12 nerve flossing x 2

10 Piriformis stretches

   Skip hip bridges

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

   Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Better Than Nothing At All

It's the day before turkey day and I had to gas up the car (will there be a line?), pick up pies I pre-ordered from a local farm bakery two towns over, and still make it to the gym. My sciatica hasn't changed at all, which means it's fine when I'm stationary and feels progressively worse the more active I am. Very frustrating. 

Everyone is picking up their pies and the farm is so crowded that cars have resorted to parking along the narrow, shoulderless road leading to the entrance. The fragrance of fresh baked goods wafts out from the open doors. I'm tempted to pick up an additional pie since there are stacks of pecan and pumpkin pies on the "not claimed" tables, but I resist and content myself with a few double chocolate muffins (my kid's favorite) and the farm's stellar corn muffins. My kid got back from college late last night, spent an hour unpacking and refreshing, then ran off to hang with HS friends until the wee hours. Oh, to be 20 again! 

I get to the gym by 2 pm. The shopping plaza has suddenly decided on cosmetic improvements: last week they painted the entire facade of the storefronts and replaced signage to make every store look like part of the team. This week, they've started repaving parts of the parking lot and the entrance and exit roadways. It's very inconvenient but nice to have those potholes finally addressed. 

The gym isn't very crowded. Wind Breaker is one elliptical #3 as usual. I get on #1. This is the latest I've ever been here, and I'm really tired from not getting enough sleep. I did hear my kid come back at 4 AM because I'm a light sleeper and one of the dogs made some oddly quiet woofing noises. And I still had to get up at 8 to bring the pups to the park. I did have a coffee but that only quells the morning headache that develops when the barometer is changing. Bad weather gives me a bad headache. 

My sciatica hurts a lot until the end of the elliptical program when my leg feels okay but my toes are still a bit numb. I just make it to 2.7 and that's gonna have to be okay. I manage a decent set of pull-ups, which I'm proud of. But that's enough. Because my leg and butt hurts as I limp away from the Stretch Cage. The Aerobics Room is nicely chilled, making the routine less stressful. Still skipping the hip bridges and bird dogs. Never doing a cobra pose again. The nerve flossing makes my hamstring sore. Push-ups are fine, but my toes tingle worse when I stand up. 

I got my test results back from the semi-annual physical and it's not good. Slightly elevated glucose on a fasting blood test suggests pre-diabetes. I guess I should quit eating all that leftover Halloween candy, and a good thing I didn't buy that pecan pie! The cholesterol readings are much worse. Not sure how much of it I can blame on unfiltered coffee, butter, and whole milk. Might it have been that steak my hubs cooked a few days ago? Or the burger he made last week? Lately, the only time I eat red meat is when he buys and cooks it. Maybe, but probably not, right? I might have to do a complete rethink on food just to get all my numbers down to where they should be. This is going to be hard work, and I am not looking forward to it. This is depressing, especially right before a traditional feast day... 

Meanwhile, the moderate temps today (50F) are giving way to winter temps tonight into the weekend. Good thing I dragged in a bunch of firewood for the stove! Well, at least we're not expecting snow. 

26 Nov 2025 1:57-3:11

Late Wednesday Cardio etc

Bare Basics w Sciatica

Precor elliptical #1 (2:36)

Program 2 — right ft numb

Time: 30 + 5 (5124)

Distance: 2.70

Cal: 292

Avg Hr: 144, 180-118?

New FB: 42-120

HGPU 18 —

right foot numb & throbbing lower calf/glute

(2:48)

Skip Hip Bridges

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

10 Nerve Flossing

Skip hip rotations

DeadBugs 20 x 5

12 nerve flossing x 2

10 Piriformis stretches

Skip hip bridges

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Reading the X-ray Report

No phone holder!

I got to the gym late again, and on a (gasp) Saturday, but at least I made it. I managed to squeak out some cardio, steps, two sets of pull-ups. Oddly, Wind Breaker was pedaling machine #1 and the remaining 3 were vacant. Perhaps they were occupied earlier and he meant to switch later? I get on #3 because it does glide better than the other two machines. 

Then I notice that the phone holder is missing. It's a solid piece of plastic add-on that saddles over a bar on the Precor; one side holds the phone and other is a cup holder. That cradle is missing the bottom, so an additional add-on cup is wedged into the grip and fits most commercial water bottles. It fits mine just fine. I wind up putting my phone on the slim shelf on the monitor face of the Precor. There are two and the phone is tall enough to obscure either the time elapsed or the number of revolutions. The latter can toggle with total number of steps and "miles" conquered. 

My sciatica has not improved at all. Pedaling the elliptical is painful but eventually less so. Still, I've lost a lot of "speed" and haven't been able to get even close to 2.8. Hell, I'm lucky if I can get past 2.7! I manage pull-ups but today even legs crossed hurts. Pulling my knees up (kind of a small cheat) really hurts so I refrain from that position. Swaying hurts. I'm happy I can get past a dozen, but the last few are ugly. Pull-ups shouldn't hurt your butt or your calves. 

The only problem with exercising at the gym on a Saturday is that by mid-afternoon, the "cleaning lady" tends to come around mopping, sweeping, and wiping down all the equipment even as we are using it. So I'm on the Stair Master and she's wiping the base and railings with some ammonia-scented disinfectant, which I'm sure isn't great for anyone's lungs much less someone breathing hard from exertion. That's my only complaint about Saturday. I'm glad someone's cleaning with disinfectant, just not while we're all exercising. 

In the Aerobics Room, there's a guy teaching his kid (maybe HS?) to punch into his padded hands in one corner. Luckily the room is big enough for several groups of folks to do their own things. I've given up on Hip Bridges but try a different variation of neural flossing: lay on the mat, one foot flat on the floor with knee bent, the afflicted leg with knee pulled close to the chest with both hands behind the knee, then straighten the leg and flex the foot. I can feel a weird ache in the back of the thigh, which oddly, is the only part of the leg that doesn't hurt with this iteration of sciatica. After several reps, my calf and foot have less pain and numbness. Awesome! I refrain from doing more than one set of push-ups though. It's already late and it'll be almost dark by the time I leave. 

from Doctors of Osteo website

The X-ray report was in the mailbox waiting for me when I got home. It was brief and used unfamiliar words. I'm so glad we live with the internet at our fingertips, otherwise I'd have to wait until the library was open and trot down there to search a medical dictionary! Bone mineralization within normal range. (Yaaaay! in spite of the Dexa scans.) Some arthritis (we ALL have arthritis), some loss of disc space (seems normal for someone in their mid 60s). But the anterolisthesis, now that's a problem. It's where a vertebra slips forward over the vertebra it's sitting on. Damn being flexible. Joking. Or not. 

Well, at least I know what's causing the sciatic pain. Hoping that an orthopedist can suggest better exercises, but maybe that's not their job. Maybe I'll have to go to PT (physical therapy). Ugh. I'll be seeing my GP next week to check my BP and cholesterol, which will probably be too high for the mere fact that I haven't been filtering my coffee. The fancy coffee maker makes a mean cappuccino and the long espresso is pretty good too...the cafestol and kahweol (diterpenes that raise cholesterol) can be removed with a simple paper filter. I use one with a pour over cup of freshly ground beans, but it's so much easier to push a button and stick your mug under the spout and have the super expensive machine grind beans and press out espresso. I don't really want to filter my espresso, but I probably should... 

22 Nov 2025 1:42-3:19

Saturday Cardio etc

Basics w Sciatica

Precor elliptical #3 no phone holder!

Program 1 — right ft numb

Time: 30 + 5 (5200)

Distance: 2.72

Cal: 295

Avg Hr: 98-178, 146

New FB: 42-138

upgraded FB is slow

HGPU 18 —

right foot numb & throbbing lower calf/glute

Matrix StairMaster (R)

Manual timer 8+2 cool down

Speed 5? (48-45) / 2 (31) / 1 (29)

Steps 424

Floors 26

Cal 64

Hr 147

HGPU 16 right foot aching

   Skip Hip Bridges

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

   Skip hip rotations

DeadBugs 20 x 5

12 nerve flossing x 2

10 Piriformis stretches

   Skip hip bridges

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

   Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Arm rotations 20

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

The One Good Thing About Sciatica

I thought about going to the gym yesterday but decided I'd rather take advantage of the windless sunny day, just brisk enough to warrant a sweatless outdoor chore day. So I dragged a bunch of things out of the house and into the newly cleared garage, and then I got down to doing what I really needed: moving some firewood into the house. There was already a half dozen sticks from last winter, but I'm more comfortable with a bigger stack next to the wood stove. Ostensibly to dry out since the wood's been outside all year. Never mind that the logs had already sat for a year or two before being split and stacked. 

Temps dropped into the high 20s last night so I got a fire started. To my delight, the outside wood ignited quickly with just one match and a bit of newsprint for a starter. It was enough to raise the chilly living room a modest 4 degrees, which meant a comfortable 67F. My doc called to tell me that the report from my X-rays were finalized and instead of playing phone tag, I told them to just leave the message and tell me what that meant. Cuz it's not like they're gonna put my X-rays online for me to view. The news wasn't great. "Degenerative changes in your lumbar spine. Recommending you see an orthopedic specialist." Yeah, well, that could mean arthritis, which literally everyone has, or something worse. I won't know until I speak to an orthopedic doc, so once I get my X-rays in the mail, I'll have to search one out in my health insurance network. Yes, I'm audibly groaning. 

Meanwhile, my sciatica hasn't gotten any better. It hurts a lot if I'm upright and active. It hurts less if I'm sitting in a proper seat, not with my legs dangling or too soft a cushion. Standing around hurts the most, like I got kicked by a horse. I had a few errands to do and then I went to the gym. There was a guy in a cherry picker affixing a proper sign outside. I wonder if that means our gym fees will be increasing? It's late and the Senior class has ended. There's not a lot of people inside, although Wind Breaker is on elliptical #3. I climb on #1 and start pedaling program #3. 

program 3

I have to start slower than I'm used to just to warm up the recalcitrant right leg. The toes and front half of the foot are numb and tingly. The lower outer calf, just over the ankle feels like a mesh claw has clenched it tightly, and the glute starts to throb, eventually becoming sore. By the end of the 35-minute program, the numbness and pain has dissipated, at least until I step off and walk down to the Stretch Cage for pull-ups. 

The one good thing about having bad sciatica is that it prevents you from kipping or otherwise using your body to help get your nose past the bar. It just hurts too much. Now it's easier to just do pull-ups with a straight body and legs crossed to keep from swaying. It's literally the only good thing about this aggravating condition. I do my 10 minutes on the step machine, and then back to pull-ups at the Stretch Cage. I'm more tired and the temptation is great to curl the lower body just to give a bit of assistance. Except this is just too painful. Nope, straighten the body, cross the legs. Done. 

Stair Master

The Aerobics Room is sufficiently cold in spite of the previous Senior class. A lot of those folks wear sweaters while getting their steps in although that's not the weirdest inappropriate dress choice I've witnessed. Recently, I saw a fellow on the leg press machine wearing a big leather slouch hat like the Aussie cowboys. And tinted shades. Not like he's gonna get sunburned. Or windburned.  

I've looked into recommended exercises and stretches for sciatic pain. There are several that I've done over the years, but will no longer do. I read the comments section of an online article where people discuss the worst exercise for them, ranging from cat/camel through cobra. I can do cat/camel but cobra wrecks me and I suspect that movement is what's caused this latest episode. I figure, if it makes the pain worse, it's not doing anything good. Everyone has different sciatic pain because everyone has a slightly different circumstance for why that giant nerve bundle has been aggravated and aggrieved. So, bye bye to hip bridges and bird dogs. For now at least. 

I did double down on push-ups because I've been musing about bone density and getting old and weak. One of my elderly friends (who is actually still quite active but is in her 80s) has trouble standing up from a chair that's too low. Those quads and glutes have weakened. I also know someone in their 60s just a tad older than me who also can't get out of a chair without help. Their son is a fitness freak and quietly complains about dad's lack of exercise consistency. I never want to be THAT person.It occured to me that I haven't pushed weights in several weeks and I feel guilty. Is doing a few pull-ups and push-ups enough? 

Sure, gentle cardio is the recommended exercise for sciatic pain. And glaucoma. And I've been doing mostly cardio. But I have nightmares about losing muscle strength, so today I decided I would see what doing two sets of push-ups was like. One set of 25 was easy. My feet did go a little numb, especially in the toes. Did some arm circles and then a second set of push-ups. It didn't get difficult until rep 20. That tracks. Squeaked out the last 5 and felt okay. If I were to go straight through, I'd probably start to struggle somewhere near the 40th rep. The only reason I've stayed with 25 reps is because my glaucoma doc warns me against too much exertion (and asked me to limit to 25 reps) which might raise my eye pressures, and I'm already losing peripheral vision in my right eye. (It's always the right side!) Wonder if I'll be sore tomorrow. 

19 Nov 2025 1:04-2:43

Wednesday Cardio & X-ray report

Basics with Sciatica

Precor elliptical #1 

Program 3

Time: 30 + 5 (5186)

Distance: 2.71

Cal: 294

Avg Hr: 146, 188

New FB: 42-134

upgraded FB is slow

HGPU 18 

right foot numb & throbbing lower calf/glute

Matrix StairMaster (R) 

Manual timer 8+2 cool down

Speed 5? (48-45) / 2 (31) / 1 (29)

Steps 423

Floors 26

Cal 64

Hr 114

HGPU 17 right foot aching

   Skip Hip Bridges

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

   Skip hip rotations

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 Piriformis stretches

   Skip hip bridges

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

   Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25 x 2 (!) with Arm rotations 20 between push up sets

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Sometimes Saturday is the Only Day

This week conspired against my attempts to get to the gym. Monday, my sciatica and blossoming sinus infection had me feeling too tired. Tuesday was Veterans Day and I was waiting for the septic folks to come pump my tank, as they do every two years. They were running a bit late and it was snowing. Wednesday, traipsed into the city and got my steps in. Thursday, the tree company was supposed to come but then they didn't come until Friday. And at the last minute, the Parks & Recreation Dept announced they were closing our local park to repave the road and parking area from 7 AM to 1 PM. Which meant taking the dogs for several walks until after 1 PM when I could pop them into the car and drive to the only fully enclosed area to run my pups. I suppose I could've snuck out to the gym on one of those days, but I didn't. 

Today, Saturday my sciatica is as bad as it's been for the past three weeks. But my cold is better, although not completely gone. I'm not nearly as tired so I must've been down with a virus of some sort. I get to the gym really late but since it's Saturday, I'm not worried about the HS kids overrunning the equipment. Indeed, it's not very crowded. Of course, Wind Breaker is pedaling elliptical #3 and all the other machines are free. My pedaling is slow and labored to begin with, mostly because I've received a text from an old coworker who I haven't been in touch with for years. It turns out her partner has just passed away from pancreatic cancer. I've known them since the late 80s, which is like forever. 

I get my two sets of pull-ups. My sciatica still really hurts if I curl my body when I get tired, usually as I pass the 12th or 13th rep. Pedaling was okay. Stair climbing was okay. The Aerobics Room is empty and chilly. Hip Bridges are still painful so I skip those. I read about nerve flossing and try one of the suggested techniques: lay flat on a mat, knees bent with feet flat on the floor, bring the knee of the afflicted leg up to the chest repeatedly. This doesn't do anything for me. There are other techniques but I'm still not sure how nerve flossing is supposed to work to alleviate sciatic pain. I'll have to try a different technique. The piriformis stretch (see diagram above) helps a little. 

It's literally been a whole week since I was last at the gym. Dead Bugs, Push-Ups and Air Squats are surprisingly easy, and I have to remind myself to stop by rep 30 for push-ups. It's been a while since that's happened. I don't have anything on my calendar next week, so maybe I'll manage to exercise more than once. Maybe. Meanwhile, I've fallen down the carnivorous plant rabbit hole, along with my college kid who has a sundew and a pitcher plant, while I have a bunch of supermarket-rescued venus flytraps. It's good to have new hobbies and learn new things... 

15 Nov 2025 1:52-3:43

Saturday! Cardio etc

Still Basics w Sciatica & Head Cold 42°F

Precor elliptical #1 (2:29)

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5266)

Distance: 2.74

Cal: 299

Avg Hr: 141, 182-78

New FB: 41-142 (total steps 9,396 / 4.18 miles)

upgraded FB is slow

HGPU 16+2/2! — no kipping after 12 right foot numb & throbbing

Matrix StairMaster (R) (2:42-2:52)

Manual timer 8+2 cool down

Speed 5? (48-45) / 2 (36) / 1 (29)

Steps 443

Floors 27

Cal 66

Hr 116

HGPU 16.5 right foot aching

   Skip Hip Bridges

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 Piriformis stretches

   Skip hip bridges

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

   Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 30

Arm rotations 20

Air Squats 25

Stretch / eye yoga

It Still Counts

I haven't been to the gym all week. As the dose of prednisone tapered down, my sciatica flared back up. The meloxicam hasn't been very effective as a pain reliever or even as an anti inflammatory, which means that even though today is the last day of a 10-day dose, I'm not going to ask for a prescription renewal. So, now I have a full-blown cold (head & chest) with a runny nose, wet cough, scratchy dry throat and sometimes laryngitis. And my foot continues to go numb, with a clenching grip on my calf, and after a while, my glute feels like I've been kicked. Sporadically, the front of my hip also gets a tingly numbness. Very weird and not at all pleasant. 

Add to that, the 6-7" scratch my demon dog inflicted on me as I dragged him off to his crate yesterday morning before I could feed them breakfast. He's a very high strung dog. The only dog I know who regularly grinds his teeth in his sleep while he sleep runs. He was upset that yesterday there was no one to play with and we didn't spend enough time at the cold, overcast park. We were there for 45 minutes! But once home, he took offense to the other dog and I heard that low in the chest growl that signals he's going to go bonkers, so off to his crate... I released him once I got back home. And dosed him with calming chews for good measure. Meanwhile, the other dog parked himself right outside the crate, because he's so codependent. 

Yesterday was busy: take dogs to park, bring them home and feed them, drive to the train station parking lot, walk a good hundred yards to the actual train station, walk the unbelievably crowded midday midtown streets of Manhattan to the theater and then up several flights to the balcony of the Hudson Theater to a lovely unimpeded view of the stage to watch a matinee showing of Waiting For Godot. With Keanu Reeves and Alex Winters. 

It was wonderful. There is such nuance that isn't apparent in a reading of the play in written form. I know because I made a point of reading it before I saw the performance. The magic is in the inflection and gesture that conveys humor and sorrow, even from afar. The actor who plays Lucky is actually disabled and wheelchair bound. At the end of the show, he spoke about the stroke he suffered and how the health insurance provided by Actor's Equity helped him survive and rehabilitate so that he could remain a working actor. 

Old theaters have very tight seating and several patrons joked about accidentally falling over the edge since the wall was so low and the seats so narrow. The ladies room only has two stalls so of course there's a line at intermission. Oddly, the water fountain is inside the door to the ladies room so people keep cutting the line just to get a sip, at least until one woman remarked about the cleanliness of the fountain, or rather, the lack thereof. It was kind of grody. I had the foresight to bring my own bottled water with me. Entering the theater, no one scanned or searched anyone and that was refreshing. It was like the old days when we were civilized, before we all feared strangers. 

As soon as the play was over, I hurried back through rush hour streets to board a packed commuter train. It's amazing how many French speakers I heard in passing. Also, how many people were plugged in, earbuds quite prominent, as they chatted and marched through the crowds. I overheard one fellow (on the sidewalk a block from Grand Central) mentioning a moment during the play when there was a quick reference to Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Yes, the audience went wild and we all cheered and clapped. 

My FitBit tracked all my steps and heart rate: almost 12,000 steps which is more than if I'd gone to the gym, and a heart rate 43-123. So, sorta like working out, right? Not sure if I'm making it to the gym tomorrow. The park is closed from 7 AM to 1 PM so the through road and parking lot can be repaved. Still, my dogs will have to go to the park at some point, probably right at 1 PM. Maybe I'll venture to the gym over the weekend... I have no hope that my sciatica will improve. Being 65 means I got a senior discount on my train ticket, but that parts of my body are failing me without much warning or recourse. 

Meanwhile, I'm thinking that I ought to drag a load of firewood in just to let it dry out in the house before winter really hits... We got snow flurries yesterday with about 1/4" but temps rose into the 40s today so there's nothing except a cold dampness. My red maple is finally changing color, turning from summer green to a brilliant orange to a magenta-red just as all the other trees have dropped their leaves. It still looks like October in my yard while everywhere else the leaves are brown and crinkly like craft paper. Weird about these micro climates. 

Trade Offs

I saw a PA in my doc's office on Tuesday and got prescriptions for prednisone and meloxicam (a NSAID). I also had time for a walk-in appointment across the street for an X-ray. Never mind that I've no broken bones. Not ever. But health insurance makes you follow certain protocols, so get an X-ray before they'll think about approving an MRI. And all because this is the 3rd week of having sciatica that is making my foot go numb and is more painful the more I active I am. Which discourages one from wanting to do anything fun. 

The X-rays were fine; it was the trip across the street that caused me some concern. Apparently a month ago, the hospital decided you are not allowed to enter the facilities until you hand over a photo ID for them to scan. I'm not sure what they are doing with your info except maybe running it through multiple data bases to check all sorts of things that are really none of their business. 

"What if you don't have a license and got a ride?" There's a lot of seniors who don't drive anymore. The guard could only repeat that you need photo ID. The police state is here, and they are tracking you at hospital appointments. I'm not sure I want to schedule my annual mammogram here now. No other medical facility has asked for photo ID except when copying the health insurance card, cuz apparently people have perpetrated identity theft for hugely expensive medical procedures. 

I filled my Rx the next day and within 24 hours my sciatica felt milder. Not gone, but not as bad. It's Saturday and my sciatica still bothers me, but it's not nearly as painful. Meanwhile, I weighed the risk of having prednisone increasing my IOPs -- it's only for 6 days. What I hadn't fully realized was that prednisone also lowers your fragile immunity, and I've been battling a pesky sinus infection for weeks now. 

Two days into prednisone and meloxicam, and I've developed a full blown cold with a sore throat, red hot cheeks, eyes burning like hot little coals, and the feeling that I've swallowed dry tissues. I even took a home Covid test to make sure it wasn't that. It's not Covid. I probably had a fever too, but it's hard to tell when you're taking a NSAID, which is also a fever reducer. My forehead tested at 97.6 but my cheeks read 98.7, while my hands were a bit cooler at 95. Friday I felt pretty crappy and made myself chicken soup with garlic, carrots, egg noodles, dried tofu skins and chicken. I feel much better today, Saturday.

I feel so much better that I actually went to the gym on a Saturday! While I'm still sick and my sciatica is still bothersome, I felt guilty about only having been to the gym this past Monday. Saturday is pretty quiet at the gym, with a few of the very same people from the week also there. Yes, Wind Breaker was pedaling elliptical #3 when I arrived. He might've still been pedaling when I left. 

 

I managed a basic cardio workout with some pull-ups. The first set was better than I expected, but the second set actually made my sciatica ache. Off to the Aerobics Room -- I managed most of my routine, only skipping the Bird Dog planks because they made my right side throb the last time. This is not the type of pain you should work through, hoping it'll get better. This is the type of pain that says "Don't do this." Especially when you used to be able to do it, but now you can't. It says, give it more time and try again later. No one needs to permanently damage themselves cuz they were too stupid to listen to their own body. 

I'm hoping the tissue paper throat doesn't devolve into a cough. That's usually the progression: sinus, post-nasal drip, sore throat, dry cough, wet cough. I can drag this whole progression out for weeks, but I'm hoping to be over this quite soon. No one likes being sick. I have things to do!

8 Nov 2025 1:20-3:05

Saturday! Cardio etc

Bare Basics w Sciatica & Flu?

Precor elliptical #1

Program 1

Time: 30 + 5 (5242)8

Distance: 2.73

Cal: 397

Avg Hr: 1136, 188

New FB: upgraded FB is slow & worthless

(1:58)

HGPU 18! — no kipping as that hurts

right foot numb & throbbing

Matrix StairMaster (R) (2:10-2:20)

Manual timer 8+2 cool down

Speed 5? (48-45) / 2 (36) / 1 (29)

Steps 442

Floors 27

Cal 66

Hr 136

HGPU 15 right foot aching

(2:35)

15 Hip Bridges rt ft mild tingle

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 Piriformis stretches

10 hip bridges

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

  Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

(Right foot numb)

Push-Ups 25

Arm rotations 20

Air Squats 25

Stretch / eye yoga

Been A Week

I had plans to make it to the gym more than the one day last week, but something always came up. I even thought about coming in on the weekend, but oddly, I couldn't find the hours the gym was open for those days. There were scheduled classes but no actual open and close times. Very frustrating. I wound up doing some yard work and trying to prep for spring bulbs. I realized much too late that I needed bags of good potting soil but this late in the season, most shops have holiday decor and not much else. 

Job Lot was a bust, but the Tractor Supply Company had a few bags of potting soil left. They also had a pile of plushies that ranged from extra large (24") to cuddly, and I saw some extra large opossums so I had to get one cuz my kid has a thing for 'possums. Well, one Christmas gift done. And on sale! I also managed to buy a few bags of soil so I could plant some bulbs for next year: ornamental allium, irises, sunflowers (seeds). I believe the milkweeds will come back on their own, but I'd like some variety in the yard. The mono-culture of milkweeds was only successful for one summer and has been successively less so with each subsequent summer. Time to take a break and add some variety. 

Meanwhile, this is going on week 3 of a rather nasty sciatic flare-up. Unlike previous bouts, walking actually makes it worse, makes my toes & foot numb, with clenching pain gripping my calf and eventually, soreness in my glute, like I got kicked. The foot numbness is definitely new. I have an appointment tomorrow at my primary care physician's office. Not the doc but her PA, so I'm hoping she doesn't just say go to physical therapy for 12 weeks and then we'll send you for tests. Ugh. I hate all the hoops the healthcare industry puts people through when it'd be much more efficient just to run the damn test first, then treat the ailment. 

The wound on my hand is healing up nicely, which I attribute to the fact that I had leather gloves on when I got bit. So no icky dog germs in the wound. No swelling (animal bites always swell). No infection. But I had also washed it and rubbed a bit of triple antibiotic ointment on it just to be safe. Today, I finally made it to the gym, albeit, later than I would've liked. But at least I made it. I managed a decent pace on the elliptical although it was painful to start, but got easier. Of course, once I exited and had to walk to the Stretch Cage, my sciatica made itself known again. The sciatica is different this time, much more standard.

Minimal stretching at the Stretch Cage before I get a set of pull-ups. Those are fine and with no kipping, because kipping actually makes my sciatica hurt worse. Go figure. The step machine was fine as well. The second set of pull-ups was a bit more challenging, but I still got it done. I skipped the last cardio and pull-up session. I also passed on a few problematic movements in the Aerobics Room, like hip bridges (waaaaay too painful), and Bird Dogs (again, too painful). Surprisingly, Cat-Cow was fine! And, push-ups were fine. Air squats were also fine. But you don't know what hurts until you do it and it hurts. A lot. Then you stop doing it. At least for a while. 

I have a doc appointment tomorrow afternoon so I'm hoping for some relief. I also want to get those irises, alliums (decorative garlic), and other bulbs and seeds potted outside before the temps drop. I might plant a few vegetables come spring. We've had tomatoes, zucchini, and lettuce in the past. Might be time to try them again. We'll see how long before I'm fighting off the local fauna... 

 

3 Nov 2025 12:36-2:12

Monday Cardio

Bare Basics w Sciatica 

Precor elliptical #1

Program 3

Time: 30 + 5 (5310)

Distance: 2.75

Cal: 300

Avg Hr: 140, 185-105

New FB: 46-133

(1:14)  foot numb as soon as I finish

HGPU 18 — no kipping

right foot numb

Matrix StairMaster (R) (1:25-1:35)

Manual timer 8+2 cool down

Speed 5? (48-45) / 2 (36) / 1 (29)

Steps 449

Floors 28

Cal 67

Hr 152 (!!!)

HGPU 17 right foot really numb

  Skip 20 Hip Bridges both feet tingly

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 Piriformis stretches

  Skip hip bridge

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

  Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Arm rotations 20

Air Squats 25

Stretch / eye yoga