Progress

In not sure why the YouTube videos (Shaun the Sheep and Hey Nunny Nunny) I embedded in yesterday's post seem to have disappeared. I re-embedded them today. Hopefully they're still there. If not, I've included links (yes, click on those pale grey blue words) for your viewing pleasure.

I got to the gym at 9 am which is probably the earliest I've been here in some months. Skipped the LifeFitness cross-trainer in favor of the Precor elliptical for a good sweaty 30 minute warm up with Performance Program #1. Shaggy was on one of the cross-trainers and I tend to avoid people who give me weird vibes. At the Cage, I do a set of Hammer Grip Pull Ups. The first set always feels very tentative because I'm not 100% certain that I can actually do them. My right shoulder is achy as well, and the only thing I can think of, is that I was playing with "external rotation" movements yesterday. Without any weight! Maybe I should stick to doing a few shrugging motions between sets instead?

I alternate between Push Ups and Planks, figuring that'll keep the core engaged. It's easier on my tailbone but my neck feels a little stiff. Dang it! It's from the Pull Ups! I have to clear the roof of the Cage with my chin, which means I'm not pulling straight up. My head is tilted back and this might be putting a strain on my neck. Since the Cage isn't anchored, I worry about tipping it over if I put my hands too close to the front edge of the roof.

Push Ups might actually be getting easier. There! I've said it... I can knock out 60 regular push ups for the first set and only stop at 60 because I'd like to complete the remaining sets of Diamond, Dand, and regular to finish. The Diamond push ups are hard. I keep losing my count! I've either done 23 or 25. Let's go with 25. The Dand seems easier. I make it to 30 today. Yaaay! For the last set, I just count to 20 three times. Done! I'm going to add more variations to the planks as well since 2 minutes has become the norm now. Weird, I feel a lot stronger now, not pushing weights. I think I might be putting on a bit of size as well. Not what I want though. I'd like to be stronger, but not much bigger. Because I want to fit into my existing clothes! At some point summer will be over, and we'll all have to wear warm clothes and snow gear.

I do another set of pull ups before I get on the elliptical for 30 minutes of Intervals. I'm not able to quite do the mileage or speed I'm used to but that's only because this is my 2nd session. When I'm done, I'm able to do another set of pull ups before hitting the Mat for a good stretch. And a few pistol squats too. Before I hit the locker room, I grab another set of pull ups. Because I hate backsliding. I'm good with 4 sets of pull ups as long as there's sufficient time between them to allow my elbows to decompress. They don't hurt at all today. I'm playing with the idea of trying a "muscle up" on the Smith or the Max Rack. First I'll have to check and see if I can clear my head if I manage to get myself up on one of those bars...

Tomorrow I'll whack the machine again. It's suppose to finally cool off, but of course this means Cold Front hits Warm Front and creates Torrential Rains. Today I have to take my son to swim class where the indoor pool is bath water warm, and the surrounding benches feel like seats in a sauna. Then we get to dash back to school for a Cub Scouts Planning meeting. Boring for my son, but it's only once a month. He can play with the other bored kids whose parents drag them to these things.

Wednesday Workout
(5.31 miles total cardio)

Elliptical Training

Perf Prg#1

Calorie :   299 CAL
Distance: 2.62 mile
Duration : 00:30:00

Hammer Grip Pull Up

156.8

Set 1 : 112x12

Regular Push Up

60

Set 1 : 60 Lap/Rep

Plank

Straight/Elbow

Set 1 : 00:02:00

Diamond Push Up

25

Set 1 : 25 Lap/Rep

Plank

Leg Lift

Set 1 : 00:02:00

Dand Push Up

30

Set 1 : 30 Lap/Rep

Plank

Bird Dog

Set 1 : 00:02:06

Regular Push Up

60

Set 1 : 60 Lap/Rep

Cybex Torso Twist

Set 1 : 50x25
Set 2 : 50x25

Hammer Grip Pull Up

156.8

Set 1 : 112x12

Elliptical Training

Intervals

Calorie :   309 CAL
Distance: 2.69 mile
Duration : 00:30:00

Hammer Grip Pull Up

156.8

Set 1 : 112x12

One Leg Bodyweight Squat

126.93

Set 1 : 112x4
Set 2 : 112x4

Hammer Grip Pull Up

156.8

Set 1 : 112x12

Adaptability

It's not enough to play by the rules. You have to know how to adapt the rules to your benefit. Is this Machiavellian? Perhaps.

Saw the glaucoma specialist this morning. IOP not good. Nornally my pressure is 13-15. Today it's 18. Whoa! Is it the Milk Thistle I'm taking? It's an anti-inflammatory so does that mean it's increasing bodily fluids? Medications are limited. I've tried a lot of different ones and they're either ineffective or I'm allergic to them. Next choice: SLT or Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. The diagram to the left shows the structure of the eyeball. Diagram to the right shows how the SLT is suppose to work, by burning holes in the meshwork of the eye to allow fluid drainage, and theorectically lower the pressure that's damaging the optic nerve. My eye doc says I should be able to drive home just fine after the procedure. The brochure she gives me says some people might suffer from blurry vision and need someone else to drive them home. Uh oh.

Yesterday was Labor Day and we went to the The NY Ren Faire in Tuxedo, NY. It was disappointing, Not as good as it's been. Music is the missing key ingredient. Cue Peter Griffin in Family Guy with his own personal soundtrack where ever he goes. Same said for movies at the box office. No good tunes, not a good movie. I've got Feels Like Summer in my head from Shaun the Sheep! It makes me feel good and I'm tempted to download it to my iPod. All the good movies I've seen this summer had soundtracks that added to the visual experience. Even my grocery store knows this: they pipe in great songs and every is humming to the tunes as they shop.

None of our favorite bands were there (Wolgemut, Cujo), and the one band we did see was so underwhelming, or their venue totally sucked all their energy out, that we got up and left not 10 minutes after we'd found a place to sit. We could see them moving and playing their instruments, but there wasn't anything even remotely akin to music emanating from the stage. It wasn't even noise. It had no beat, no rhythm. It was a void. Worse, our favorite comedy act, Hey Nunny Nunny was also absent, having been called away for a "family emergency". So we ate some mediocre food, drank a lot of mead and cider, slurped ice cream and tried to stay cool in the shade, but ultimately, we were largely unsatisfied. Not how I like to waste a Monday.

Got to the gym a bit before 1 pm. Not usually here so late. Hungry and annoyed. Eager to get moving. Skipped through the 30 seconds of preamble. Skipping through the down time between rounds. Have to adjust the white tape around my right hand. Too tight and cutting into my fist. That's a first. A girl puts on gloves and does three rounds of speed body punches. I used to do that when I played with the Sparring program.

I feel I get a better workout doing Follow Me because it forces me to do moves and combinations I would not otherwise do. It's a good way to stretch your abilities, and build endurance strength. She leaves to do something else, cardio or weights, and then returns for another round or two of speed punching. I'm not really sure what she's getting out of it but it's good to see other women using the kickboxing machine even if they don't kick, sweep, knee, elbow or hook.

Pizza for dinner last night has me retaining some water. My knuckles are a tad stiff. I take a selfie post workout. Those are some big arms! Tomorrow I'll do cardio, core, push ups and pull ups. This will be the 3rd week of this program. Next week my son only has 3 days of school because our school district has taken both Monday and Tuesday off instead of just Monday like other school districts. I'm glad I'm comfortable with the shorter full body workouts. It's a dang good workout!


Tuesday Workout

10 minute elliptical warm up = 0.86 miles

5 rounds Beginner Follow Me

9 rounds Intermediate Follow Me