When Losing Count Is A Good Thing

My turkey balls simmering

I was mildly disappointed in the turkey meatballs I made last night. In spite of following the directions to a T, the meatballs seemed a bit bland. Even with an entire tablespoon of chopped garlic! I'm going to have to tweak this recipe because I prefer my own turkey meatballs... the ones with minced onions for texture that I pan-fry on the stove top.

I got up this morning not really feeling like a Gym Rat. Maybe it's the Spring post-nasal drip that's giving me a vaguely sore throat. Maybe it's the sudden drop in temp due to a brilliantly sunny arctic blast. But March is fraught with Early Dismissals and Spring Break, which means super abbreviated workouts, so I should get my full workouts in while I can.

My sciatica still aches at predictable moments, like when I'm driving, or worse, in the bathroom. I'm not killing myself doing cardio these days, so if I make over 6 miles, I'm good. My shoulders feel tired, which is my cue to do a slightly different routine today. I still do sets of pull ups, planks, and push ups. But I do some light Smith Incline Benching followed by light DB delt work. My reward is evident in the last set of pull ups, after my last 30 minutes on the elliptical. I lose track of my reps and am startled to suddenly find myself at 20. Then I do one more and drop down. Wow, that was easy!

Program 2 on the Precor always reminds me
of the Grand Tetons, or a pair of boobs...

I add a few light sets of DB Seated Shoulder Press even though they make my shoulders hurt at 20 lbs. The solution is to drop to 15 lbs so I can actually do a few sets. I still don't like this movement or any overhead pressing movement, but I'm careful to keep my reps and sets low. If I start to pump up, my right ear will feel congested from nerve impingement due to the overabundance of blood vessels in that area of my neck and shoulder. Not pleasant, and a little scary.

I try Tiger Push Ups one more time, and manage to get to 10, but I still don't think I'm doing them right. I don't feel them in my triceps like Diamond Push Ups. Instead, my front delts and core are getting killed. I'm not sure it's worth it. Tomorrow I'll probably try to pull heavier on the RG BB Row. But it all depends on how I feel.

Wednesday Workout
(6.33 miles total cardio; 15,676 lbs moved)

Elliptical Training

Steady State

Calorie :   144 CAL
Distance: 3.64 mile
Speed :    7.28 mph
Duration : 00:30:04

Hammer Grip Pull Up

190.4

Set 1 : 112x21

TorsoTwistMachine

91.67

Set 1 : 50x25
Set 2 : 50x25

Wide Hand Pushup

100

Set 1 : 100 Lap/Rep

Plank

Elbow/Straight

Set 1 : 00:00:30
Set 2 : 00:00:30
Set 3 : 00:00:30
Set 4 : 00:00:30

Wide Hand Pushup

100

Set 1 : 100 Lap/Rep

Plank

Side

Set 1 : 00:00:30
Set 2 : 00:00:30
Set 3 : 00:00:30
Set 4 : 00:00:30

Wide Hand Pushup

100

Set 1 : 100 Lap/Rep

Crunches

50

Set 1 : 50 Lap/Rep
Set 2 : 50 Lap/Rep
Set 3 : 50 Lap/Rep

Smith Machine Incline Bench Press

112

Set 1 : 30x15
Set 2 : 70x12
Set 3 : 80x12
Set 4 : 50x25

Dumbbell Lateral Raise

30

Set 1 : 20x15
Set 2 : 20x15
Set 3 : 20x15 SuperSet with

Dumbbell Seated Bent Over Reverse Fly

33.33

Set 1 : 20x20
Set 2 : 20x20
Set 3 : 20x20

Dumbbell Seated Shoulder Press

25.33

Set 1 : 20x8
Set 2 : 15x12
Set 3 : 15x12

Hammer Grip Pull Up

190.4

Set 1 : 112x21

Elliptical Training

Prgm#2

Calorie :   292 CAL
Distance: 2.58 mile
Duration : 00:30:00

Hammer Grip Pull Up

190.4

Set 1 : 112x21

Seated Flat Bench Leg Pull In

50

Set 1 : 50 Lap/Rep

Tiger Pushup

10

Set 1 : 10 Lap/Rep

Power Beats Accuracy

I really enjoy whacking the machine even if it's aggravating my sciatica. I don't actually realize this until halfway through the Intermediate session when the ache in my lower leg and foot distracts me from a series of combination blows. Between the Power Knee, Power Sweep and Power Kick, all involving the right leg, my sciatic nerve is vibrating. Like a funny bone. Only not funny. Afterwards, I spend 15 minutes on the Precor elliptical doing Program #1 with three-plus odd minutes pedaling forward, then backward, then forward, then backward again. It helps with the pesky hamstring.

Using big swathes of moleskin helps to protect my knuckles from bruising even though my power scores aren't all that high. But I'm fairly consistent. And after each 5 round bout, the machine tells me that I'm "over power" and to add rounds. Uh huh. I take a few selfies by propping my phone on the machine. It's at an odd angle. And I'm apparently not only sweaty and puffy, but fairly hulking in these photos. Wow, I wouldn't want to meet me in a dark alley...

Hulking today!

After I strip off my gloves and whatnot, and after the elliptical, I arch my back to flex out my shoulders and do a set of pull ups. Because I told myself that I would do at least one set every day that I came to the gym. Never mind that my set went from 15 reps to 21. Today I hook my left leg over my right and keep as arrow-straight as possible. Sometimes the sciatica kicks in while I'm pulling up and I have to curl my legs into my chest, but not today. Yaaay! I toy with the idea of trying Tiger Push Ups again, but think better of it. I have to get a few things from the store today... Besides, I want to try doing Tiger Push Ups at home, with my iPad in front of me so I can see whether I'm doing it correctly. It takes me a while to learn a new move. Seriously.

I'm not happy with my weight gain, although my home scale has me less alarmed: 108.2 lbs and 15.2% BF isn't the end of the world. But I'm a lot happier lighter and leaner. I've switched back to my own ON 100% Whey protein powder even though there's still a few doses left of the GNC brand powder that my husband bought. Maybe I'll finish it off afterwards, when I've finally dropped these 3-4 extra pounds of fluff. 

When I get home, I assemble Buff Dudes Hot Pot turkey meatballs. It looks simple enough. Hopefully it'll taste good too! I like the Buff Dudes and have a subscription to their YouTube channel. Although I don't agree with a lot of their training advice (because I'm my own trainer), they are pleasant, funny and thoughtful. And good, easy dinner recipes are always welcome.



Tuesday Workout

Elliptical Training

Warm Up

Calorie :   91 CAL
Distance: 0.81 mile
Duration : 00:10:00

KickBoxing

15 rounds

Lap/Rep :  15 Lap/Rep
Duration : 01:00:00

Elliptical Training

Prgm#1

Calorie :   125 CAL
Distance: 1.16 mile
Duration : 00:15:00

Hammer Grip Pull Up

190.4

Set 1 : 112x21

Photos posted for actual stats:

5 rounds Beginner

5 rounds Intermediate

5 rounds Advance