Proper Posture To Keep Vertigo At Bay

I'm reminded of old flicks where a prim schoolmarm transforms her tom-boy charge into walking like a lady by having her stroll with a saucer on her head, ensuring proper posture and no abrupt unladylike gestures. If I keep my head level, the vertigo isn't that bad. But I had to really focus driving to the gym in the drizzly fog this morning. The weather appears to be perfect cover for all sorts of creatures though. This morning while at my kitchen sink, I saw a deer not more than 10 feet from the back of the house. She flicked her ear and a tiny spotted fawn came running out from under our privet hedge. It stood under its mother and repeatedly butted her belly, looking to nurse. Then a car came down the road and the deer and her baby disappeared into the swampy woods behind our property. There are snails everywhere too. Usually we find slugs. This is the first year we've seen actual shelled creatures. Perhaps we'll find some crayfish as well.

The biting bugs are out in troves. This is the time of year when I look like I have the measles. But today is Leg Day and I'm determined to do my full workout, vertigo or not. I always feel tired when I start and energized when I'm done. It's as if exercise taps all my body's stored energy and makes it finally available to me. Otherwise I'm perpetually cold and sluggish. Again, I do my 2 miles with 4 minutes of Tabata. It's harder today but still feels good.

There are a lot of new faces in the gym. I have to wait for the Smith machine because some kid is doing what looks to be calf raises. But finally he's done and I get to do my Squats. And then I do my SLDLs because it's been forever. Okay, it's been two weeks. I'm surprised at how heavy 140 lbs feels. 160 lbs is going to suck. I actually get 10 reps but my form starts to fall apart so for the next two sets, I stick to 8 reps. Everytime I grab my water or my cell, I have to remember to squat down and keep my head level. I don't want to barf on my feet and I certainly don't want to fall over because the room is spinning. I try to move very deliberately.

I do a quick Cage Stretch and have a nice chat with D who is boxing the Nexersys. She pauses it but eventually it dumps her program. "Well, it would probably help if I actually logged in," she says. She's been out with an odd viral infection as well, but hers closed up her throat so that she couldn't speak. A few days of prednisone and she feels as good as new. She tells me that I should try taking Mucinex because I'm probably all congested inside my ears. Bleah. I'd rather not. Guaifenesin is used to thin mucous. It's the expectorant in cough syrup. My sister used it to get pregnant because it thins your mucous lining everywhere in your body, not just your lungs.

I know, Leg Day but
I'm posting Arm pix

Then just three sets each of Seated Leg Extensions, Seated Leg Curls, and Glute-Ham Raises at the Lat Pull Down Station. I get back on the elliptical and do 3 more miles. After 5 minutes, I can't resist doing Tabata for 4 minutes. Then I see that the Step Mills are empty so I clamber onto one and do 10 minutes there. I see the big guy with the Daniel Ryan T-shirt. He was at the gym yesterday with his crippled girlfriend. She's been on crutches for what seems a year.

I suddenly realize that both he and M have also incorporated some sort of HIIT cardio into their workouts, albeit, on the treadmill. You can tell from the running and then sudden walking, then running. M seems to have gotten leaner. I wish I would get leaner. I'm running as fast as I can just to stay in place. Neither my weight nor body fat have changed in several weeks. I can only surmise that if I didn't do this much cardio, I'd be as fat as a house. Ah, the wonders of menopause. I might actually have to cut my calories and I worry that 1) it will make me really cranky and more importantly, 2) it will make my son even more self-conscious about his size and weight than he already is.

The mats are crowded and I'm not in the mood so I head directly to the showers instead of stretching out. I get annoyed at the woman who has planted all her gear on the bench and floor while she combs her hair in the mirror. Her locker door is open and she still has stuff in there too. Her locker is directly over my locker. I have a big shiny brass lock on my locker. It's not like you don't know that locker has someone who's going to come back to it. Uncharacteristic of me, but I just move her stuff out of the way. I don't even say nicely, "I'm going to move your stuff." I just move it. Because she's certainly old enough to know better. And after I strip off my nasty gym gear and grab my towel and soap, I cram all my stuff back in the locker. Because there's no reason to take up space in a tiny locker room if you're not actually sitting there using it.

When I get out of the shower, she's gone. I'm glad. After I dress I head to the supermarket because Cub Scouts have their Rocket Night tomorrow and our Den is to provide beverages. While I'm shopping, I see the big Daniel Ryan dude. He's shopping alone. I see a lot of people from the gym at this supermarket but I rarely speak to any of them. When I'm in the checkout line, he suddenly shows up behind me. I'm too weirded out to even turn and say Hi. Oh well...

Leg Day

Workout Logs

 Exercise Name

1RM

Lifting Logs

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   170 CAL
Distance: 2 mile
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:22:00

Smith Machine Squat

224

Set 1 : 30x12
Set 2 : 80x12
Set 3 : 120x12
Set 4 : 140x12
Set 5 : 160x12
Set 6 : 130x12

Smith Machine Stiff Legged Deadlift

213.33

Set 1 : 30x12
Set 2 : 80x12
Set 3 : 120x12
Set 4 : 140x12
Set 5 : 160x10
Set 6 : 160x8
Set 7 : 160x8

Leg Extensions

189

Set 1 : 105x12
Set 2 : 120x12
Set 3 : 135x12

Seated Leg Curl

105

Set 1 : 75x12
Set 2 : 75x12
Set 3 : 75x12

Glute Ham Raises at Lat Pull Down

Set 1: 10

Set 2: 10

Set 3: 10

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   255 CAL
Distance: 3 mile
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:31:00

Step Machine

N/A

Calorie :   78 CAL
Distance : --
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  532 Lap/Rep
Duration : 00:10:00

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

I'm not sure I can blame the weather although it is tempting. The cartilage in my nose throbbed this morning as if I had a sinus infection. I'm swimming through a fishbowl of apple jelly and my ears keep popping as if I'm suddenly changing altitude. I dawdle a bit in the mornings now in order to avoid the crowded locker room. The cackling, crowing and bad manners just piss me off. Why leave your locker door wide open? Why put your dirty sneakers on the bench that people sit on to change their clothes? Why strew your clothes everywhere? I also haven't been able to get on the Precors for the past several Thursdays. If I get to the gym later, maybe I have a chance.

Timing works today. I get my 2 miles on the elliptical, with 4 minutes of Tabata after the 5 minute walking warm up. My heart rate seems jumpy today. Maybe because I don't feel 100%. I'm barely sweaty by the time I get off but that doesn't concern me. A quick Cage Stretch and then off to box the machine. I do 11 rounds Beginner and then 3 rounds Intermediate, using the machine to the Left because it's less popular, and seems to register all my strikes. In Beginner mode, I stop the machine a few times and lose accuracy points. I'm tired and drenched by the time I tap in the 3 rounds Intermediate but I want to start working on the harder, faster program. I miss a few strikes but in general, I'm fairly satisfied with the workout.

Then I clamber back on to the Precor for 3 miles. And just because I want to see if I can do it, after 5 minutes of walking, I do 4 minutes of Tabata. I'm surprised I can get myself up to 260 Strides Per Minute. For a few seconds at least. I'm panting when those 4 minutes are done, but it's not hard for me to regroup and ease into a loping steady-state pace. I'm not sure if it's the machine or me, but the heart rate jumps from 89 BPM to 145 suddenly and climbs up to 190 before blanking out and reappearing at 135 where it stays for most of the run. When I'm done, I put my hoodie back on because even my hair is dripping, and I want to lay on the mat and not be gross. I knock out 3 sets of crunches, stretch out my lower back and I'm done. Yay!

I don't feel too bad until I bend over to put cream on my legs after my shower. Wow, that was a mistake. My head hurts, as if all the gray matter broke loose from their moorings. I go home for an ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine and debate whether to take them with a protein shake. If I just take the pills with water, I'll be really queasy with an upset stomach. Bleah. Well, nothing like adversity to make you stronger, right? Yep, gym rats are a stubborn bunch.

Thursday Cardio Workout

Exercise Name

1 RM

Lifting Logs

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   168 CAL
Distance: 2 mile
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:21:00

Boxing

N/A

Calorie :   --
Distance : --
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  14 Laps/Reps
Duration : 00:56:00

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   255 CAL
Distance: 3.01 mile
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:32:00

Crunches

50

Set 1 : 50 Laps/Reps
Set 2 : 50 Laps/Reps
Set 3 : 50 Laps/Reps

 photos posted for stats:

Does a Slower Heart Rate Mean I'm Healthier?

Before I went to the gym, I read an article in the NYTimes about how people overestimate the amount of cardio work they do, and hence overestimate their fitness levels. Almost as an aside, the article also mentioned how notoriously inaccurate the standard formula (220-age) was to determine maximum heart rate and training zones. Instead, it suggested using a newer formula (211-65%age) which actually increases my range from 166 to 177, and gives me a 90% rate of 158. For some reason this made me really happy. Yes, only true gym rats (and maybe wild mice) revel in "permission" to "run" faster.

I'm oddly tired today though. Odd because yesterday I only did 2 miles on the elliptical and then my standard 12 rounds of boxing, down from 14 a few weeks ago. I don't do Tabata today because I've read it's best not to do it every day. I do my 2 mile warm up and note that my heart rate seems lower than it's been in previous days. I still have mild vertigo, but it's not too bad as long as I don't turn too quickly or invert my head (like bending over to touch my nose to my shin). A few times during the 2 mile course, I had trouble getting my heart rate up high enough, it kept dipping down to 114 and I prefer it to be 130-140. Now that's definitely new.

The RG BB Rows aren't bad today. I do my 3 sets at 155 lbs, noting that I feel the erector muscles along my lower back mostly. I have to really concentrate to feel my lats, and to correct the inherent lop-sidedness of my row. The right seems to rise higher than the left, probably because it's the dominant side. But the left side is bigger. Go figure.

After my first set at 155 lbs, a guy in camo cargo shorts tells me to leave the weights on the bar when I'm done so he can use it. Fine with me. Less work for me. But I don't cut my sets short for anyone except me. Which meant he had to wait through not only the remainder 155s, but two sets of 20-reppers at 135. He's no where to be seen when I'm done but I leave the plates on the bar anyway. I'm at the Lower Back machine when I see him exit the Mens' Lockers. He slinks guiltily over to the BB and does 3 reps of BB Rows before wandering off to the machines. He doesn't even unload the plates. What a slacker. He's got no cred with me. Next time I'm going to unload the plates regardless unless the dude is standing right there.

The Lower Back Extensions feel fine. But the Close Grip Lat Pull Downs seem heavier today. I can't get the 8th rep on any of my 135 lb sets. Bummer. I'm not sure why I feel so tired. I want to do some abs and B has reminded me that I can do lower ab work like leg lifts. I plan to do about 100 knee-in kick-outs but lose count. Maybe it's 120? Whatever.

I haven't done Rip Crushers in a few weeks so I'm a bit tenuous about it. I flip the bench around so my head is at the narrower bottom portion (instead of the segmented "head" position because that's really uncomfortable). I warm up with just the EZ bar, and then add a pair of 10s, secured with my own collars. I'm probably the only one who brings their own collars but it's better than spraining my hand. 37.5 lbs isn't the heaviest I've ever done, but three sets is plenty heavy today. My left elbow complains vaguely. I have to wait for the V-grip Tricep Press Down so I plop myself down at the Seated Cable Row, wondering if I should do a few sets. I haven't done these since last July when they set off a round of sciatica in my right leg. I know I'm tired because I can only get one full set at 50 lbs. The next set I can only do 8 reps. So I do drop sets with maybe 20 seconds rest between sets. By 20 lbs, I know the weight is ridiculously light, but I can barely get my arms to press down. They are toast.

I climb back onto the cardio platform and do 3 miles on the Precor. Again, my heart rate seems very low so I up my pace from 150 to 175-190. It's a good exhilarating pace for most of the 30 minute "run", keeping my BPM between 140-150. I'm happy and sweaty when I'm done. Time for a full Mat Stretch. The JeFit app doesn't list Dive Bomber Push Ups so I list them under regular Push Ups. I still hate Planks and Knee-to-Elbow Planks but I do one set of each. The splits are easy now, but touching my nose to my shin (from a standing position) is out until the vertigo is gone. The gym scale reads 112.6 which is loads better than Monday. But ouch! I've skinned my tailbone doing that lower ab movement and it's only when I'm in the shower that I realize it. Bummer.

Back and Triceps Workout

 Exercise Name

1RM

Lifting Logs

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   172 CAL
Distance: 2.01 mile
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:22:00

Barbell Reverse Grip Bent Over Row

225

Set 1 : 45x12
Set 2 : 135x12
Set 3 : 155x12
Set 4 : 155x12
Set 5 : 155x12
Set 6 : 135x20
Set 7 : 135x20

Back Extension Machine

270

Set 1 : 180x15
Set 2 : 180x15
Set 3 : 180x15

Close Grip Front Lat Pulldown

166.5

Set 1 : 90x12
Set 2 : 120x8
Set 3 : 135x7
Set 4 : 135x7
Set 5 : 135x7

Barbell Reverse Grip Skullcrusher

52.5

Set 1 : 15x12
Set 2 : 37.5x12
Set 3 : 37.5x12
Set 4 : 37.5x12

Triceps Pushdown V Bar

70

Set 1 : 50x12
Set 2 : 50x8
Set 3 : 40x8
Set 4 : 30x10
Set 5 : 20x12

Knee In

120

Set 1 : 120 Lap/Rep

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   261 CAL
Distance: 3 mile
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:31:00

Plank

N/A

Set 1 : 00:00:30

Plank with Side Kick

N/A

Set 1: 16 Lap/Rep
         00:00:30

Dive Bomber Push Up

12

Set 1 : 12 Lap/Rep
Set 2 : 12 Lap/Rep

Taking a Holiday of Sorts

Tuesday is $5 movies at the cinema next to the gym. And Maleficient is playing. So I cut my workout short today. But at least I worked out, right? Did 5 slow minutes with my heart rate actually behaving as it should (110-116 BPM), then 4 min of Tabata whereupon my heart zoomed up to 154 or so. Then an additional 11-12 minutes to get my 2 miles done. A quick Cage Stretch, yes, I still have vertigo but it's better. Then 12 rounds at the Nexersys, Beginner Follow Me Avatar.

Maybe I'll start adding a few rounds of Intermediate on Thursday. I'm at the machine that has more glare but at least registers all my kicks and punches. I'm sodden by the time it's over, and my hair is long enough to pull into a funky ponytail. It's actually better in two, like pippi-longstocking but I did that yesterday. My husband likes the longer hair. As long as it's not in my face or on my neck, I don't really care. The two ponytails make me look like I'm 12.

The first showing of Maleficient is 11:30 and I have just enough time to shower and change. The second showing is at 1:50 but with a run time of 1 hr 37 minutes, I'd risk missing my son's school bus. Better to cut the workout short. I eat a Quest bar while I'm waiting for the movie to start. There is only one other person in this theatre, a woman with a little girl. It's basically a private screening. And it's a great movie to watch. I'd watch it again. And I probably will.

Tuesday Abbreviated Cardio Workout

2 miles Precor elliptical = 22:15 minutes with 4 min Tabata (20 sec On / 10 sec Off)

Nexersys: 12 rounds Beginner Follow Me Avatar
  Accuracy 96% / Strikes 99% / Average Power 139%
Everytime I hit too hard and stop the machine, my Accuracy score drops and the Strike isn't counted. Bummer.

photo for actual stats:

Better But Not Cured

I've still got a touch of vertigo but it's definitely not as bad anymore. It does tend to catch me off-guard though, and thus, a tad off-balance. The weather's definitely not helping. I don't like to medicate before I work out so no ibuprofen, no pseudoephedrine this morning. Just my standard eggy oatmeal and instant espresso. But instead of heading straight to the gym after getting my son on his school bus, I go home to wait 30 minutes before heading to the school myself, along with other 3rd grade parents. Today is the 3rd grade recorder concert in the cafeteria. I bring my long lens camera because I know that my cell isn't good enough to find him on stage. I record their best song, We Will Rock You, to text to my husband in Boston. The concert only lasts 30 minutes but all the children are beaming. I drive back home to drop off my camera, grab my gear and finally head to the gym.

It's a bit after 10:30 am by the time I get in. There's still remnants of the morning crowd. I peddle my 2 miles steady-state but barely feel warm. I'm much happier when I'm really warmed up but I'm saving the 4 minutes of Tabata for the 2nd cardio session, after I lift. Benching makes me a bit leery. I need to hold onto the bar overhead to steady myself as I adjust to the change in head position. At least the room's not actually spinning this time. 95 lbs feel good. So I put on a pair of 10s.

The set at 115 feels pretty good too. I take my time between sets. I get my three sets of 8 reps and that makes me happy. I only do one 20-repper though because I don't want to get too tired. And my head still feels weird. I do a few Inclined Presses. Each time I lean back on the bench, I have to take a moment while my head settles. Eventually it passes and my sets feel a tiny bit easier. But I'm taking it easy today since I'm still not quite 100%.

Six sets of 12 reps with 20 lb DBs feels pretty good. I like the way my shoulders and arms look in the mirror. Meanwhile, I hear a grunting Push! Push! Push! from behind me. It's Big Glasses Dude benching three plates per side. He's very happy with his 3 reps and no spotter. I'm glad this isn't a PF gym. He's been losing some of his girth too. But I doubt he'll ever be svelte. Most people at my gym are much bigger than I am, but it's not readily apparent to me until I'm standing next to them and look in the mirror. Then I see that maybe I come up to their shoulder. Maybe. Sometimes not even.

I'm a tad more cautious with the Bent Over Rear Delt movement. The 20s are way too easy. The 30s are harder. I only do 3 sets because my head doesn't really like this position. Like last week, I decide to do Biceps instead of Triceps. So that's curls with the EZ bar, and then twisting DB curls. I skip the Reverse Grip BB Curls. My arms are so pumped that I have to loosen my elbow and wrist wraps in order to get decent blood flow to my finger so I can grip the DBs. Then back to the Precor for about 30 or so minutes of cardio. After 5 min at the low heart rate of 116, I do the 4 minutes of Tabata to get the heart really racing. Then back to the steady state pace but keeping the heart rate anywhere between 120 and 140.

I should do abs. But what? It's hard to do abs without really exacerbating the vertigo. Sit ups and crunches are still out. I settle on the plank and knee to elbow plank because it's part of my Mat Stretch routine. As is Dive Bomber Push Ups. And splits, and lower back/glute hip bridges. I'm done. Going to the Robin Hood Faire in Guilford Ct yesterday was a lot of fun, but we ate a lot of salty fatty foods like ribs, mac & cheese laced with bacon & pulled pork, fried chicken, biscuits. And my hubs kept plying me with BeeStings, a beverage mix of honey mead and hard cider. So I'm not surprised when the gym scale reads 114.8 lbs. I know a lot of that is water. Tomorrow's cardio and boxing. Yay!

Monday Workout

Workout Logs

 Exercise Name

1RM

Lifting Logs

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   170 CAL
Distance: 2.01 mile
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:23:00

Barbell Bench Press

158.33

Set 1 : 45x12
Set 2 : 95x12
Set 3 : 115x8
Set 4 : 115x8
Set 5 : 115x8
Set 6 : 95x20

Barbell Incline Bench Press

113.33

Set 1 : 45x12
Set 2 : 65x12
Set 3 : 85x10
Set 4 : 85x10
Set 5 : 85x10

Dumbbell Lateral Raise

28

Set 1 : 20x12
Set 2 : 20x12
Set 3 : 20x12
Set 4 : 20x12
Set 5 : 20x12
Set 6 : 20x12

Dumbbell Seated Bent Over Reverse Fly

42

Set 1 : 20x12
Set 2 : 30x12
Set 3 : 30x12
Set 4 : 30x12

Barbell Curl

66.5

Set 1 : 15x12
Set 2 : 37.5x12
Set 3 : 47.5x12
Set 4 : 47.5x12
Set 5 : 47.5x10
Set 6 : 37.5x12

Dumbbell Alternate Bicep Curl

28

Set 1 : 20x12
Set 2 : 20x12
Set 3 : 20x12

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   255 CAL
Distance: 3 mile
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:33:00

Plank

N/A

Set 1 : 00:00:30

Plank with Side Kick

N/A

Set 1: 16 Lap/Rep
         00:00:30

Bridge

N/A

Set 1 : 00:00:08
Set 2 : 00:00:08
Set 3 : 00:00:08

Dive Bomber Push Ups
2 x 12 

Workaround Leg Workout

Gym rats are notorious for finding alternate ways to get a workout in. Vertigo is no excuse. It's not constant, but it does make me feel like my head is filled with aspic, like head cheese, one of my mom's favorite luncheon meats. I'm not a fan. I've started adding an ibuprofen to the pseudoephedrine. Maybe it will relieve the inflammation inside my ears. Since this might be a virus related to shingles, chickenpox and fever sores, I figure adding some lysine wouldn't hurt either. All I now is that it's been a week and I still have it.

Today is Leg Day and I already know I'm not going to do Stiff Legged Dead Lifts because bending over is one of the things that really hurts my head. All the Precors are occupied so I grab the last remaining LifeFitness cross-trainer and log in a bit over 3 miles. The Smith is free so I test the waters by doing a set of just-the-bar squats. Okay. I can do this as long as I don't turn too quickly in any particular direction. I do all my regular sets and other than my right knee feeling a tad achy, I'm okay. A guy is hanging out on the Seated Leg Extension machine with two of his pals chatting over him. Okay, skip that. I do 3 light sets on the Seated Leg Curl just to do something for the hamstrings.

One of the Precors is free so I grab the opportunity to finish up my mileage. After 5 minutes, I decide to try something I haven't done before: do 4 minutes of Tabata after lifting. I certainly tire quicker but I can still do it. Then I kick back and lope along for the remaining 12 or so minutes until I get my 2 miles. I've been meaning to play on the Step Mill as well. There are two and usually they're busy but sometimes they're vacant for hours. I clamber on for 20 minutes. Then a quick 3 sets of Glue-Ham Raises at the Lat Pull Down machine. Vertigo doesn't seem to bother me when I do this, or push ups. Probably something to do with my head position. Done! Time for a hot shower and home to wait for the water softener service guy.

Leg Day Workout

 Exercise Name

1RM

Lifting Logs

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   143 CAL
Distance: 3.09 mile
Speed :    6.14 mph
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:30:00

Smith Machine Squat

224

Set 1 : 30x12
Set 2 : 80x12
Set 3 : 120x12
Set 4 : 140x12
Set 5 : 160x12
Set 6 : 130x12

Seated Leg Curl

105

Set 1 : 45x12
Set 2 : 60x12
Set 3 : 75x12

Elliptical Training

N/A

Calorie :   167 CAL
Distance: 2 mile
Speed :    --
Lap/Rep :  --
Duration : 00:22:00

Step Machine

N/A

Calorie :   150 CAL
Distance : --
Speed :    50 mph
Lap/Rep :  1020 Lap/Rep
Duration : 00:20:00

Glute Ham Raises 3x10 (there's no entry on JeFit for this movement)

Another Cardio Vertigo Workout

My head is definitely not better today although for some reason my cardio and boxing seemed really good. Yesterday, my husband came home early and gave me a full body massage with scented oils. That was great! He's very frisky lately. Then we decided neither of us wanted to cook and he had to get up super early this morning to "commute" to Boston, so we went out to one of our favorite eateries, a Latin American bistro. My son brought his DS and happily munched on fries and chicken quesadillas. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are drink special nights, so of course I had to have a $5 mojito.We shared the tostones and mini pulled pork taco appetizers. And because we have similar tastes in most foods, we both ordered the Ropa Vièjo, a savory, seasoned, shredded skirt steak on a bed of rice with a fried egg on top. Most Ropa Vièjo dishes are more like beef stew in a spicy tomato base. This reminds me of the Hawaiian loco moco burgers. Yum. For dessert, we shared a slice of mango-flavored cheesecake and the molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.

I know I'm suppose to mix up my cardio machines so as not to get too comfortable, but the Precor elliptical is the only one that doesn't stress my joints in bad ways. I could use the recumbent bike but I honestly don't see the point to it. Plus, you must be an orangutan to reach the handles in order to monitor heart rate, not that peddling on these machines has ever caused me to worry. I do my 2 miles on the Precor, again with 4 minutes of Tabata after 5 minutes of loping along. I'm actually getting better at keeping my heart rate in the proper zones! I'm not even all that sweaty when I stretch out at the Cage. Vertigo keeps me from putting my nose on my shin, but I still manage to get all my stretches done without falling on my face. Yay!

Out of habit, I start at the Right side Nexersys machine but again it doesn't register my Power (right) kicks so I immediately jump to the other machine. Tuesday, that machine kicked my butt. Today I do much better, but I am a bit annoyed at the final recommendation after I'm done: Ramp it up a bit and add rounds to get to the next level. Really? I'm already doing 12 rounds. Jeeze. Today, in spite of feeling as if I'm swimming through jelly, in spite of intermittent aches in different parts of my face and inside my ears, my accuracy is better and my power is great. Probably because I'm not lifting weights. I do miss that, but cardio makes me happy.

I go back to the Precor just to log in 3 more miles and then a full Mat Stretch with Dive Bomber Push Ups, plank and plank with knee to elbow. Tomorrow's an abbreviated workout because I have the water softener service guy showing up between 12 and 4 to replace the RO filter and recharge the ion system in the basement. Tomorrow is also suppose to be Leg Day. I'm not sure if I'm going to do anything besides 5 miles. I'll have to see if I have time.

Cardio Vertigo Workout

2 miles elliptical (with 4 min Tabata) = 23 min

Cage Stretch with BW heel dips, calf raises, side kicks and stretchs, hamstring stretch

12 rounds Nexersys Beginner Follow Me Avatar program
  Accuracy 98% / Strikes 100% / Average Power 137%

3 miles elliptical = 34 min

Mat Stretch with 2x12 DBPUs, 30 sec plank, 30 sec plank knee to elbow (16 per side), splits, upper and lower back and hip stretches

photos for actual stats:

Performance Recommendation

12 rounds Beginner Follow Me Avatar program