With A Grain of Salt

I did an abbreviated Whack the Machine workout yesterday, with just 12 rounds instead of the usual 15. Yeah, I skipped the Advance rounds because I had a doctor's appointment and needed extra travel time. Traffic is always unpredictable, especially on a Friday before a big holiday weekend.

It's been very humid lately so I got warmed up quickly. That's both a blessing and a curse. My lungs don't burn from dehydration. Instead, I feel like I'm drowning but only momentarily. I'd like to think that my adherence to the HIIT cardio training I do a few times a week has increased my endurance. It's rare that I feel any sort of muscular fatigue or lactic acid burn. The only pain I feel is in my right elbow while I'm doing a set of pull-ups afterward. It's a bit distressing since I'd skipped Thursday at the gym and my elbows should have been well-rested. Perhaps throwing punches, crosses, hooks, and jabs have inflamed those delicate tendons?

This week I read an article on Vice exploring the ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3, aka baking soda) and creatine as an athletic supplement to aid recuperation and increase performance. The use of baking soda as a pH buffer to reduce blood and muscle acidity has been common knowledge for some years now. It is being touted as not only an ergogenic aid that aids "physical performance, stamina, and recovery," but also as a way to reduce post-workout fatigue and soreness.

The addition of creatine, a popular supplement that increases ATP production (cellular energy), muscle size, and strength has been shown to not only prolong endurance but also provide a bigger spike in power. It's tempting, but like all additives, there are caveats. The accepted effective dosing is ridiculously large at 200-500 mg of baking soda per kg of body weight. That translates to 10,000-25,000 mg for someone of my size (111 lbs or 50 kg). The FDA recommendation for daily sodium intake is less than 2,300 mg. For someone who is sodium-sensitive (like me), that number drops to 1,500.

Taking baking soda would skyrocket my blood pressure, maybe my IOPs and definitely make me feel awful. Since I don't feel particularly sore, nor am I having any issues with my endurance or performance, I'll pass. But it's something to consider if you're looking for a nutritional enhancement if you aren't sodium-sensitive.

Whacking Good Friday

10 min x-trainer
Calories 81
Miles 1.22

T, Y & I Raises
5lbs x 15 x 2

Mid-Band Pulls 15
High Band Pulls 15
Cage Stretch

Nexersys FM
Beginner 7r
Intermediate 5r

HGPU 22

Quick Mat Stretch

Damned Otoconia

Last night, at a Cub Scout Halloween Pack meeting where our Scouts helped out with the activities, I ran into a fellow who has been suffering for the past 11 weeks from vertigo. It started with a cruise he and his wife took over the summer. After numerous trips to specialists and the emergency room, it's been determined that he's suffering from a rare vertigo disorder called Mal de Barquement Syndrome. Of course, this morning, I spent too much time laying on my right side this morning, rolled over and developed another bout of BPPV. Ugh. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is caused by those little otoliths floating free in the middle ear when they should be firmly embedded.

This makes my work out a bit more challenging. It's cold but bright and sunny, even though torrential rain (and possibly snow) is forecast for the evening and tomorrow, courtesy of the first nor'easter of the season (with Hurricane Willa's moisture). At least the Boy Scout Camporee, scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed due to weather concerns. Hurray for little things.

My routine warm-up gets me limber. I opt to do just 7 easy Beginner rounds of Follow Me. I already know that I'm out of practice, out of shape for this type of exercise. By round 3, I'm breathing hard and sweaty, but of course, I'm also whacking so hard that I've stopped the programming a good half dozen times. Yep.

My hands aren't used to whacking the machine so even though I've taken precautions, like I always do with moleskin, tape, wraps and padded gloves, my knuckles are bruised when I'm done. But I still feel pretty good. A quick stretch and then a last set of pull ups. Done.

Vertigo Friday
10 min elliptical
Calories 91
Miles 0.81
HR 147-190

T, Y & I Raises
3lbs x 15
5lbs x 15

Mid Band Pulls 15
High Band Pulls 15

Nexersys Follow Me
7r Beginner

HGPU 20

Stretch