September 11th

I didn't work out today, but I did get to my eye doc appointment on time. I've been feeling intermittently queasy for the past few days. Other people have succumbed to weather-related sinus infections. Sinuses are connected to the inner ear, and hence balance and nausea. Or it could just be that I've OD on watermelon. I had a huge piece for dessert last night because 1) I really like watermelon and 2) I needed to make room in the fridge for other perishables. Apparently you CAN eat too much of it, and because it's got more lycopene than tomatoes, and a substantial amount of fiber, water, B6, magnesium and other goodies, it is possible to get a little sick.

While I'm at the doctor's office, the TV is on and names of the dead are being read aloud. It's September 11th and every year we remember the horror of that day, and the people that we miss. The waiting room is full of old people who take up two seats because they can't organize all the shopping bags they came in with. There are several obese women also, one who falls asleep and nearly out of the chair as she drapes over the skinny chrome arm.

The technician takes my IOP before the procedure. 18 and 13 for the right and left eye, respectively. The right eye is my dominant eye, the one that sees better, and the one with more deterioration apparent on the Visual Field test. They give me drops to dilate my pupils and that gives me a headache over my right eye because I'm trying to finish reading a magazine article about how a crisis texting hotline (741741) is helping to save lives.

After 30 minutes, the doctor takes me into a darkened room where the SLT is to be performed. She puts a gel in my eye, and something to numb the eye. I suspect the gel is to hold the special guide lens in place so that she can aim the argon laser and make pin point holes in the trabecular meshwork. I'm directed to stare at a red light at 7 o'clock in my field of vision while she pulses the laser. I can see the flashes of bright light and for the most part I don't feel any pain. Just maybe a bit of sporadic warmth. Mostly it's the ring of lights surrounding the target eye that's psychologically imposing. I'm pretty sure I held my breath through most of it.

The doc says that for a narrow-angle patient, she had a remarkably good view and feels very confident that everything will work out fine. I have to wait for an hour so they can take my IOP again to make sure that the treatment itself doesn't spike my pressure. It happens in rare cases. The waiting room is so crowded that after standing around for 10 minutes, I tell the tech that I'm going to sit in the hallway. There are benches in the hallway. And I can put my sunglasses on and rest my eyes, and not feel weird about it. I'm starting to get hungry so I grab a Quest bar out of my purse and eat it. But that makes me queasy. My eye is watering, which means my nose is running. At least this procedure didn't hurt like the laser iridotomy I had a few years ago. There, a laser is used to punch a hole in the iris to allow better fluid drainage. And those are still fine. Every time I use eye drops I have to blow my nose or taste it in the back of my tongue.

Tank was too sheer!

After another 30 minutes, the tech calls me back into the office, puts numbing drops into my eyes and takes my IOPs. They're 11 and 15. 11? For the right eye? And the left eye went up to 15? Well, people's pressures change all day long.11 is the lowest I've ever seen recorded for my own eyes. I've got my fingers crossed that this procedure will last, and be as effective in my left eye.

This one works!

I feel so relieved that I go to Kmart, ostensibly to get a new binder for my son's Chinese school class (which starts tomorrow), look at Halloween decorations, and try on some new workout clothes. I'm not a clothes horse, but lately I find myself searching for clothes that fit right. Old sports bras tend to lose their shape and the edges get rough and frayed. Some of my tanks are just too billowy and I get my headphone cords tangled in them. Some of my pants and shorts are just plain uncomfortable. I find a nice Jillian Michaels tank that's discounted 25% off. It's a size S and fits nicely. I pair that with a large Everlast sports bra, and small JM leggings. Okay, this'll work. Test it out on Monday!

It's a Solemn Day but I'm Still A Gym Rat

Today is Wednesday. It's also the 12th anniversary of 9/11, when terrorists hijacked several passenger jet planes and aimed them at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Several thousand people died. We have small American flags all along our road to commemorate the event. The school bus arrives 2 minutes early and we almost miss it. We all seem to know someone who lost someone. I get to the gym and the TV in the locker room is broadcasting the Memorial Ceremony. B comes in as I'm stashing my gear. She's in a hurry to leave because it's her husband's day off from work. She wants to know what I've been up to so I point to the TV and tell her that my son and I have been distributing flags. She scoffs at the TV and says, "Why do they have to do that? It's just ruining the day." I'm not quite sure how to respond to her so I say quietly, "Well, a lot of people lost people and they want everyone to remember them." She softens a bit, perhaps embarrassed by her outburst. Like I've said before, I'm having trouble relating to a woman like that.

Still, it's Leg Day and I'm determined to get my double cardio done before hitting the weights. The treadmills are full of runners (it's too hot and humid already for an outdoor run) but the ellipticals are vacant. The Precors are perhaps the least favorite cardio machines among the regulars here. Just the way I like it. I punch in Interval 7 and then Hill 6 because I'm saving the double interval day for the end of the week. Tomorrow I'll just do a single cardio session to have energy for Arms. I'm a tad disappointed in my mileage today, thinking 5 minutes into my 2nd session that I'm really not sure if I'm going to be able to finish because I'm so bloody tired. And yet, I push on. Because I'm stubborn. The humidity, even with air conditioning, makes panting a lot less satisfying. I don't make eight and a half, but I do make over eight. It's enough.

Within a minute of descending from the cardio area, I've set up for Squats at the Smith machine. The gym is really empty today! Again, just the way I like it. My right knee pinged a little while on the elliptical. It's complaining a bit more with the squats. For the first set I drop down heels to butt with just the bar and try to get 25 reps as fast as I can go. This is a lot harder than it sounds. Especially after 8+ miles. Then I do my 12-rep sets, increasing the weight by 20 after every set. When I hit 155, my right knee complains a bit more forcing me to widen my stance. I can't go as low with the heavier weights because of my knees, although the drop sets seem easier. By the time I've stripped the bar to do another "speed set", I find that I have to pause at least twice to catch my breath between reps. Sweat is pouring off my face and I feel as if I've jumped into a pool with all my clothes on.

I skipped Dead Lifts last week so now I absolutely have to do them. Or at least try. I figure regular Dead Lifts will be easier on my lower back so that's what I do at the Smith, starting out with just the bar to try and get the form right. Then I do a set with a pair of 25s. It doesn't feel bad. Then I add a pair of 10s. That makes it 115 lbs (but really, less because this is a Smith machine) and I do three sets of 12 reps, remembering the movement as a Stand Up and Thrust Hips Out motion. I confess I'd watched a hilarious video on forms posted by Buff-Dudes.com which helped me a lot. They also have some hysterical YouTube posts about the people we all hate at the gym entitled Gym Crimes.

Cage Stretches follow, then Seated Leg Extensions. And abs. Lots of sit ups because I got bored waiting for the Leg Curl machine while two middle-aged women chatted on it. I hate interrupting people. I'd rather just work out. I know I did this weight last week, but it feels harder today, maybe because I did Dead Lifts today. I definitely felt them in my glutes and hamstrings. Mat Stretch ends everything and I get a good stretch, although I'm still sweaty and have to mop up after myself with my towel. The gym scale reads 108.6 lbs -- not so surprising considering I have to peel my clothes off to shower. It's blazing hot outside and the ice cold RTD protein shake is deliciously refreshing. Tomorrow is Arm Day. Oh boy oh boy!

Leg Day Workout:
35 min Interval7 = 4.47 miles + 35 min Hill6 = 3.94  Grand Total = 8.41 miles Yay!
Smith Squats: 25 @ bar (heel to butt, as fast as I can go) / 12 @ 95 / 12 @ 115 / 12 @ 135 / 12 @ 155 / 12 @ 135 / 12 @ 115 / 12 @ 95 / 15+5+5 @ bar (heel to butt, as fast as I can go, but dang this is a lot harder than it was before!)
Cage Stretch with Heel Dips, Calf Raises and Side Kicks
Seated Leg Extension: 12 @ 75 lbs / 5 x 12 @ 90 lbs
Flat Board Twisting Sit Ups: 150 (I was soooo bored I did more)
Seated Leg Curls: 12 @ 90 lbs / 10 @ 105 lbs / 4 x 6 @ 120 lbs
Ab Crunch Station: 100
Mat Stretch with 10 DBPUs and 5 rolling DBPUs; splits, etc