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