Don't make me laugh. Abs in bad shape today.
The brother told me a while back "The simpler the workout looks, the more in trouble you are." You ain't kidding.
Take, for instance, yesterday.
Warmup almost as usual, but finally had the strength to go to the next level with developing a solid pushup. Until yesterday, I'd start laying down, push up, descend wobbily, recover for a moment, rinse, repeat. Yesterday, I had the strength to start up in plank pose, at the "up" portion of the pushup, descend wobbily, push up, and recover up in plank pose. Massive difference. It means my core was engaged the whole time. Getting up I thought, gee... that's gonna hurt tomorrow.
I was right.
The workout for yesterday was tremendously simple - scaled down to buttercup level it was "5 pullups 5 times" subbing as necessary if you can't do a pullup.
I can't do a pullup. If I was at my ideal body weight, I think I'd be close, but I'm about 60 pounds overweight right now. I had been working on doing pulldowns, and have tried unsuccessfully to work on jumping pullups. Then I discovered the standing pulldown. Really engages your core - I can't lift as much standing as I can sitting on the squashy seat.
So I start with something easy: 110# 5 times. Work, but not too hard.
Again 110# 5 times. Harder, but not hard enough.
120# 5 times. Um. Have to jump a bit to get it started.
130# 5 times. Gosh, I must look ridiculous. Have to jump quite a bit to get it started. Really working at controlling the nadir before letting the weight down.
140# 5 times. Even with jumping, I failed on the final three.
Ow.
Onto other news. My weight today is officially EXACTLY the same as it was on 10/30/2007. You don't get to know the number though - state secret.
The good news is that my body measurements are down by 3.25 inches
Thigh: 27.25" to 26.5"
Belly: 44.5" to 43.5"
Bum: 46.5" to 46"
Boobs (No Bra): 47.75" to 47"
Chest (Above Boobs): 44.5" to 43.5"
Upper Arm: 14" to 14.75" (bigger!)
10/30 total is 224.5"
11/27 total is 221.25"
If this continues, I might just be out of plus sizes by summertime!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Just occurred to me
It just occurred to me that my brother and I were the only ones at the gym yesterday sucking wind and sweating buckets.
Granted, there weren't many people there, and there was a guy sweating a bit as we were leaving. However, I'm constantly amazed at how often I'm at the gym and I'm the only one who is red faced, sweaty, and breathing hard. Was very glad to have brother along.
Misery loves company. ;)
Granted, there weren't many people there, and there was a guy sweating a bit as we were leaving. However, I'm constantly amazed at how often I'm at the gym and I'm the only one who is red faced, sweaty, and breathing hard. Was very glad to have brother along.
Misery loves company. ;)
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Oh My, Michael
Today's workout is something called the Filthy Fifty. Think of a dozen evil exercises, and do about twenty of them each. Yikes.
Luckily, I missed yesterday's workout. A deceptively simple one called "Michael". The buttercup version looks pretty darned easy.
Three rounds for time of:
Run 400 Meters
10 Back Extensions
20 Situps
(from http://forum.brandxmartialarts.com/)
Easy peasy, right? Riiiight. Just you try it.
Well, in another stroke of luck, my brother also needed to do this workout today. He joined me. He's an absolute monster and can do the full workout:
Three rounds for time of:
Run 800 meters
50 Back Extensions
50 Sit-ups
So we go to the gym. We compared notebooks and it looked like my times from the last attempt were pretty close to his. Nice! Of course, he's doing a bigger workout, but I'm pudgy and unfit so it's fair.
I ran the first 400 m. Felt pretty good. Ran at 8.8 kmph which is an improvement over my last run at 8.5 kmph. 8.8 kmph = 5.46 mph = 10.97 minute miles. At the end I walked for a minute, and by then brother was done with his 800 m.
Back extensions were awesome. I think they're fun, and am sorely tempted to do 20 and then just do 10 situps. V. naughty.
Situps sucked, but so very much easier than last time!
Second run, less fun this time. Went down to 8.5 kmph. Again, walked a bit at the end.
Back extensions still fail to feel like exercise.
Situps sucked so much more. Still did better than last time where I failed partway through. At this point I'm panting hard. Not gasping, and not puking. Both are positive points. Brother seems to be hurting a similar amount, so I taunt him when I finish a couple of seconds ahead of him.
Third run. Not pretty. 8.2 kmph, then 7.9 kmph, then 7.5 kmph, then walk with a stitch, and finish last 100 at 8.5 kmph. Pretty close to gasping at the end, with a wicked stitch. Walk for a moment, and leave the treadmills a mere moment before brother does.
Back extensions become a lovely rest time. Love 'em. Brother suffers mightily during them, so as I leave to do my situps, I mock him again. Luckily he was tangled up on the back extension rack and couldn't reach me to hit me.
The situps went better than the second round, but I had to grunt on the last ten to finish. How ladylike! I did finish a few moments before brother.
All in all, I improved my time from last time by over a minute a round. Yay! Brother did well too, wasn't a personal record, but it was a highly respectable showing.
He also gave me a ginormous compliment - he said it looked like I was really working hard. That's nice to hear - I don't want to waste my time out there, and it's fun to have someone notice. He also gave me a molasses cookie, which was awesome.
It was really fun to do the workout with someone who knows what's going on, and has an idea of how I feel. Even though my workout was a much easier version of his, I was proud to even remotely keep up. I could have done even better for time if I hadn't taken a minute at the end of each run to recover a bit, but I'm still pleased with how I did.
Let's see how Michael the Third goes when it comes back up in the queue. Will have to invite brother along again and see how we both do.
Luckily, I missed yesterday's workout. A deceptively simple one called "Michael". The buttercup version looks pretty darned easy.
Three rounds for time of:
Run 400 Meters
10 Back Extensions
20 Situps
(from http://forum.brandxmartialarts.com/)
Easy peasy, right? Riiiight. Just you try it.
Well, in another stroke of luck, my brother also needed to do this workout today. He joined me. He's an absolute monster and can do the full workout:
Three rounds for time of:
Run 800 meters
50 Back Extensions
50 Sit-ups
So we go to the gym. We compared notebooks and it looked like my times from the last attempt were pretty close to his. Nice! Of course, he's doing a bigger workout, but I'm pudgy and unfit so it's fair.
I ran the first 400 m. Felt pretty good. Ran at 8.8 kmph which is an improvement over my last run at 8.5 kmph. 8.8 kmph = 5.46 mph = 10.97 minute miles. At the end I walked for a minute, and by then brother was done with his 800 m.
Back extensions were awesome. I think they're fun, and am sorely tempted to do 20 and then just do 10 situps. V. naughty.
Situps sucked, but so very much easier than last time!
Second run, less fun this time. Went down to 8.5 kmph. Again, walked a bit at the end.
Back extensions still fail to feel like exercise.
Situps sucked so much more. Still did better than last time where I failed partway through. At this point I'm panting hard. Not gasping, and not puking. Both are positive points. Brother seems to be hurting a similar amount, so I taunt him when I finish a couple of seconds ahead of him.
Third run. Not pretty. 8.2 kmph, then 7.9 kmph, then 7.5 kmph, then walk with a stitch, and finish last 100 at 8.5 kmph. Pretty close to gasping at the end, with a wicked stitch. Walk for a moment, and leave the treadmills a mere moment before brother does.
Back extensions become a lovely rest time. Love 'em. Brother suffers mightily during them, so as I leave to do my situps, I mock him again. Luckily he was tangled up on the back extension rack and couldn't reach me to hit me.
The situps went better than the second round, but I had to grunt on the last ten to finish. How ladylike! I did finish a few moments before brother.
All in all, I improved my time from last time by over a minute a round. Yay! Brother did well too, wasn't a personal record, but it was a highly respectable showing.
He also gave me a ginormous compliment - he said it looked like I was really working hard. That's nice to hear - I don't want to waste my time out there, and it's fun to have someone notice. He also gave me a molasses cookie, which was awesome.
It was really fun to do the workout with someone who knows what's going on, and has an idea of how I feel. Even though my workout was a much easier version of his, I was proud to even remotely keep up. I could have done even better for time if I hadn't taken a minute at the end of each run to recover a bit, but I'm still pleased with how I did.
Let's see how Michael the Third goes when it comes back up in the queue. Will have to invite brother along again and see how we both do.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Hungry
Back to the new normal now, just about. Energy level is high again, and the bloat seems to be on its way out. Tummy is still bigger than it was, but my cheekbones have re-emerged from the podge, and I'm very glad to see them.
It's still hard to say for sure if I've lost weight, since it fluctuates so much on a day to day basis. It seems to be averaging about 2 pounds down from the beginning of this adventure. However, since the advent of the Big Bloat of '07, it's hard to tell.
Today has been a really hungry day. Woke up hungry, was hungry again for lunch, and was hungry enough when I got home that I had a snack. I'm already really looking forwards to my dinner. I'm really enjoying the hunger, and I find I delay eating a bit to revel in the novel sensation. I'm also trying hard to eat moderate portions of high quality foods (especially given the sins of last week), so pushing the hunger just a little bit is just fine. It helps me gauge my eating, and I hope it indicates that I'm not overeating.
Last time I had a truly hungry day was the day after my workout included a run. Yesterday, my workout included a run. Ding ding ding! This requires further testing, but I think I'm going to modify my workouts slightly, and add a bit of running to the warmup when appropriate. If running is the secret to triggering hunger, and if hunger is some kind of indicator of a metabolism, and if a metabolism will help me de-fattify, then all is good. That's quite a stack of if's though.
I didn't run much, mind you. I ran as prescribed in the buttercups portion of the workout of the day - 400 meters three times. 3/4 of a mile, total. I ran at 8.5 km/h, or 5.28 mph. 11.5 minute mile pace.
In other news, I checked myself out in my workout gear and though my figure wasn't impressive in general, I've got a great butt. :)
I announced this to husband, upon returning home, and he grinned. He also said that my "shape was different." I asked him if my shape was "better" and he grinned. He's not one for splashing around compliments, and doesn't tend to tell me things that he thinks I should know. I've told him that, being a girl, knowing isn't enough. You need to tell us again and again - not every day, and not every week, but just once isn't enough for girls. Aren't we silly? However, I'm taking this one as a big ol' compliment, and am subsequently fairly pleased.
Trainer dude was at the gym again yesterday, and as I was walking the gauntlet from the treadmills to the back room, all red and sweaty, he asked grinningly if I was having fun yet. I replied "Of course! I'm red and sweaty, aren't I?".
It's still hard to say for sure if I've lost weight, since it fluctuates so much on a day to day basis. It seems to be averaging about 2 pounds down from the beginning of this adventure. However, since the advent of the Big Bloat of '07, it's hard to tell.
Today has been a really hungry day. Woke up hungry, was hungry again for lunch, and was hungry enough when I got home that I had a snack. I'm already really looking forwards to my dinner. I'm really enjoying the hunger, and I find I delay eating a bit to revel in the novel sensation. I'm also trying hard to eat moderate portions of high quality foods (especially given the sins of last week), so pushing the hunger just a little bit is just fine. It helps me gauge my eating, and I hope it indicates that I'm not overeating.
Last time I had a truly hungry day was the day after my workout included a run. Yesterday, my workout included a run. Ding ding ding! This requires further testing, but I think I'm going to modify my workouts slightly, and add a bit of running to the warmup when appropriate. If running is the secret to triggering hunger, and if hunger is some kind of indicator of a metabolism, and if a metabolism will help me de-fattify, then all is good. That's quite a stack of if's though.
I didn't run much, mind you. I ran as prescribed in the buttercups portion of the workout of the day - 400 meters three times. 3/4 of a mile, total. I ran at 8.5 km/h, or 5.28 mph. 11.5 minute mile pace.
In other news, I checked myself out in my workout gear and though my figure wasn't impressive in general, I've got a great butt. :)
I announced this to husband, upon returning home, and he grinned. He also said that my "shape was different." I asked him if my shape was "better" and he grinned. He's not one for splashing around compliments, and doesn't tend to tell me things that he thinks I should know. I've told him that, being a girl, knowing isn't enough. You need to tell us again and again - not every day, and not every week, but just once isn't enough for girls. Aren't we silly? However, I'm taking this one as a big ol' compliment, and am subsequently fairly pleased.
Trainer dude was at the gym again yesterday, and as I was walking the gauntlet from the treadmills to the back room, all red and sweaty, he asked grinningly if I was having fun yet. I replied "Of course! I'm red and sweaty, aren't I?".
Monday, November 12, 2007
Three Dog Night
Three Post Day. Slightly different, but I digress.
Am feeling a bit better now. If, that is, you intend "better" to mean; shaky legs, sweaty, weak arms.
I was a good girl, took the bitter pill, and went and worked out. Couldn't quite remember what I was supposed to do as I left my note in the car. Ah well.
I was supposed to do:
Complete as many rounds as you can in twelve minutes of:
3 Handstand Push-ups
6 L Pull-ups
9 Steps, Walking Lunge
(from http://forum.brandxmartialarts.com/viewtopic.php?t=3592&sid=ae4aa62e1845a6c3e0bbb84ae37926a7)
Instead I did:
Complete as many rounds as you can in twelve minutes of:
3 Ugly half push-ups with my feet up on a bench.
3 Pull-downs
15 Steps, Walking Lunge
I only made it two rounds in the twelve minutes, but I think I'd have made it three if I had only done 9 walking lunges. D'oh.
I also forgot to practice L-Sits at the end, so if it is compatible I'll add that to tomorrow's workout.
The first 3 pull-downs were 120#, the second 3 were 130#.
Total case of shaky leg right now.
I'm still Ol' Bloaty right now, but as I was changing in the locker room I noticed a bit more definition in my deltoids. :) Squee! My legs look lumpier too. Lumpier in the good way.
My destiny may still be fat girl, but at least it will be fat muscly girl. That's a much happier girl to be.
Am feeling a bit better now. If, that is, you intend "better" to mean; shaky legs, sweaty, weak arms.
I was a good girl, took the bitter pill, and went and worked out. Couldn't quite remember what I was supposed to do as I left my note in the car. Ah well.
I was supposed to do:
Complete as many rounds as you can in twelve minutes of:
3 Handstand Push-ups
6 L Pull-ups
9 Steps, Walking Lunge
(from http://forum.brandxmartialarts.com/viewtopic.php?t=3592&sid=ae4aa62e1845a6c3e0bbb84ae37926a7)
Instead I did:
Complete as many rounds as you can in twelve minutes of:
3 Ugly half push-ups with my feet up on a bench.
3 Pull-downs
15 Steps, Walking Lunge
I only made it two rounds in the twelve minutes, but I think I'd have made it three if I had only done 9 walking lunges. D'oh.
I also forgot to practice L-Sits at the end, so if it is compatible I'll add that to tomorrow's workout.
The first 3 pull-downs were 120#, the second 3 were 130#.
Total case of shaky leg right now.
I'm still Ol' Bloaty right now, but as I was changing in the locker room I noticed a bit more definition in my deltoids. :) Squee! My legs look lumpier too. Lumpier in the good way.
My destiny may still be fat girl, but at least it will be fat muscly girl. That's a much happier girl to be.
*laughing*
Just had to share this. Very very few people visit this blog, and that's fine with me. Ultimately I write this for myself, though I'm incredibly honored and flattered when *anyone* else comes for a visit. Welcome!
I've had a few random visitors, and they found me by googling the following:
"vici shoes" 2 visitors
"abnormal swiss cheese thyroid" 1 visitor
"alentejo pork head cheese" 1 visitor
"breadfast nooks" 1 visitor
"gondoliers shoes" 1 visitor
A lot of the googlings involve shoes, so in that honor, I give you a Feets shot from Portugal, and one from Venice. Enjoy!
Red Shoes in Lisbon
Red Shoes in Venice
I've had a few random visitors, and they found me by googling the following:
"vici shoes" 2 visitors
"abnormal swiss cheese thyroid" 1 visitor
"alentejo pork head cheese" 1 visitor
"breadfast nooks" 1 visitor
"gondoliers shoes" 1 visitor
A lot of the googlings involve shoes, so in that honor, I give you a Feets shot from Portugal, and one from Venice. Enjoy!
Red Shoes in Lisbon
Red Shoes in Venice
It was bound to happen eventually...
It was bound to happen eventually. Didn't have a good day yesterday. I was draggy all day, even had a three hour nap in the afternoon. Bleah.
There are various points of note, however, that I'd like to mark down for posterity.
1. I used to feel like that all the time, and I don't now. This was a short sharp reminder of how wonderful things are now, in general.
2. I do feel much better today, not totally back to 'awesome', but definitely coming out of the blahs. I'd like to note that this isn't a mood swing - my mood has been fine, this has been an issue of energy level.
3. *girly part* I got my period last Thursday evening and it ended this morning. That's a four day period. Massive improvement over the 8 day festivals I've been having up until this month. The blahs could be related. *end girly part*
4. Today, I weighed in at my all time highest weight EVER. Last week I was starting to think I'd lost some weight, since my average seemed to be down a couple of pounds. Now, my belly is swollen, my face is very round again (cheekbones! I miss you cheekbones!). This seriously feels like a twelve pound bloat. I'm afraid I'm not exaggerating.
5. In all fairness, I've eaten like crap lately. Pizza last Thursday, Indian food Friday, party food (including cake, crackers, grapes, and other crap) on Saturday, and chips yesterday. Writing this down horrifies me. I'm mad that I might have done this at myself, and as of this moment am going to toe the line a bit better.
The good news is that it's a Crossfit day, so I've got that to look forwards to. I really enjoy the workouts. Today it's lunges (love doing lunges!), handstand pushups or the closest you can manage, pullups or the closest you can manage, and l-sits (at which, I suck). Should be fun!
There are various points of note, however, that I'd like to mark down for posterity.
1. I used to feel like that all the time, and I don't now. This was a short sharp reminder of how wonderful things are now, in general.
2. I do feel much better today, not totally back to 'awesome', but definitely coming out of the blahs. I'd like to note that this isn't a mood swing - my mood has been fine, this has been an issue of energy level.
3. *girly part* I got my period last Thursday evening and it ended this morning. That's a four day period. Massive improvement over the 8 day festivals I've been having up until this month. The blahs could be related. *end girly part*
4. Today, I weighed in at my all time highest weight EVER. Last week I was starting to think I'd lost some weight, since my average seemed to be down a couple of pounds. Now, my belly is swollen, my face is very round again (cheekbones! I miss you cheekbones!). This seriously feels like a twelve pound bloat. I'm afraid I'm not exaggerating.
5. In all fairness, I've eaten like crap lately. Pizza last Thursday, Indian food Friday, party food (including cake, crackers, grapes, and other crap) on Saturday, and chips yesterday. Writing this down horrifies me. I'm mad that I might have done this at myself, and as of this moment am going to toe the line a bit better.
The good news is that it's a Crossfit day, so I've got that to look forwards to. I really enjoy the workouts. Today it's lunges (love doing lunges!), handstand pushups or the closest you can manage, pullups or the closest you can manage, and l-sits (at which, I suck). Should be fun!
Friday, November 09, 2007
One Month
Today I took the last pill in my first 30 day supply of levothyroxine. I am continuing to feel awesome. I'm sleeping though the night better. I have fewer sugar cravings. I wasn't eating a huge amount of sugar before, but if I walked past exquisite pastries or similar, I wanted them. Now, not so much. Sometimes they look really scrummy, sometimes not.
My appetite is still really changeable, most days are low appetite like before, but I get the occasional day when I get hungry three times. I like those days, dinner is extra delicious.
My energy level remains high, but not stressy high like grad school. It's awesome. I only had two naps this month, and those were on days following very short nights of sleep. It used to be a good week if I only had two naps.
My self-esteem is higher too. This one is hard to quantify, but rather than looking at things I haven't done and seeing them as a personal failure I just see them as things I ought to do. That's an important distinction. I'm also much more likely to say 'just deal with it' when someone presents me with a personal flaw or mistake. My poor husband has to withstand more practical jokes now too. Poor guy.
I'm warmer in general, I wear fewer clothes and no longer have to sit wrapped in a blanket on the couch. This one's a bit harder to quantify as well since we're deep in late fall/early winter here in Minnesota. It's getting chilly! We had a little bit of snow while I was writing this, and all of the trees I can see right now have lost their leaves except for my gorgeous little red maple. That is a stubborn tree!
I have been told that I look a bit thinner and seem more energetic. I'm not much lighter - maybe averaging a pound or two down, but I've been exercising a whole bunch so I'm willing to accept that I might be thinner but not lighter. I'm definitely more muscly.
All in all, it's been a good month. I'm thrilled with my progress, and incredibly grateful for everyone's support. Thank you!
As a postscript to yesterday's workout. I am quite uncomfortable today - legs a bit sore, lower back very sore. It's not the bad sore, like I've hurt myself, just good sore. I'm also feeling it in my hips a bit.
My appetite is still really changeable, most days are low appetite like before, but I get the occasional day when I get hungry three times. I like those days, dinner is extra delicious.
My energy level remains high, but not stressy high like grad school. It's awesome. I only had two naps this month, and those were on days following very short nights of sleep. It used to be a good week if I only had two naps.
My self-esteem is higher too. This one is hard to quantify, but rather than looking at things I haven't done and seeing them as a personal failure I just see them as things I ought to do. That's an important distinction. I'm also much more likely to say 'just deal with it' when someone presents me with a personal flaw or mistake. My poor husband has to withstand more practical jokes now too. Poor guy.
I'm warmer in general, I wear fewer clothes and no longer have to sit wrapped in a blanket on the couch. This one's a bit harder to quantify as well since we're deep in late fall/early winter here in Minnesota. It's getting chilly! We had a little bit of snow while I was writing this, and all of the trees I can see right now have lost their leaves except for my gorgeous little red maple. That is a stubborn tree!
I have been told that I look a bit thinner and seem more energetic. I'm not much lighter - maybe averaging a pound or two down, but I've been exercising a whole bunch so I'm willing to accept that I might be thinner but not lighter. I'm definitely more muscly.
All in all, it's been a good month. I'm thrilled with my progress, and incredibly grateful for everyone's support. Thank you!
As a postscript to yesterday's workout. I am quite uncomfortable today - legs a bit sore, lower back very sore. It's not the bad sore, like I've hurt myself, just good sore. I'm also feeling it in my hips a bit.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Dead
I can't decide if I feel great or awful right now.
Deadlift 3-3-3-3-3
So off to the gym I go, do the warmup. Good news there. Though my pushups are still mightily ugly, they are less ugly than they used to be. We're all about the less-ugly round here. Everything else went fine. Got bored with the back extensions so instead of having my arms at cross-your-heart I went up to hands-behind-head. The goal is to work up to the full superman.
While I was doing the matwork portion of working out there was a woman getting a training consult from a guy and she never stopped talking. Never. Not once. I was in awe. She also prefaced all exercise with either 'I can't do that' or 'Can I really do that?". Now I'm all in favor of modesty and trying to be reasonable up front about anticipated limits, but I hope like heck I've never done *that*. Dude was being great with her though and saying awesome things to her like "Yeah you can do that", "See, you've got muscles!".
So I pop next door in buffdude central, the room with all the big weights and bigger fellas.
Fwaw.
There are two barbell stations where you can do deadlifts, and one of them has three big gorgeous fellas at it. They're doing big lifting.
Chin high, trying to look cool but not bitchy, I go over to the other station and I've got to set up the barbell. Last time I did this, my brother helped me. This time, I've got to solo it because there's NO WAY IN HECK that I am asking for help. Unless I crush a toe.
Okay, first things first, the 45# bar. Good, it's already there.
Next I need the lever bar thing for holding it up. Check.
Okay, I'm aiming for 135# for the first lift, so I find the 45# doughnuts, grab one and lever up the bar. Stabilizing it with my foot, I put on one doughnut, then the other. So far so good.
Get all lined up. I'd watched the instructional video today, so I knew in theory what to do. Feet under bar, shins 2" away, bend, grab, arch back for the duck butt, deep breath, look up...
and they're all looking at me.
Great. Let's hope that I can lift this, that I look tidy doing so, and that I don't break wind or similar.
135 135 135
Ok. Not so bad. Put it down. They're all off doing their own things now, so am much less self-conscious.
135 135 135
Starting to feel it in my back a bit. Still, going to step it up a touch.
145 145 145
Okay, that's feeling like exercise.
145 145 145 145
Got a little back rounding on the third one, so aborted the put down. Stood back up, then did it properly. Then lost count and did it all again. Whoops. Are we seeing a theme here?
Last one now
155 155 155
Back is on the verge of failure, arms have a bit of a tremor, and a forgotten hamstring injury just woke up.
Okay, I admit it. I feel great.
:)
I managed to put the bar away without embarrassing myself and then got to enjoy the walk to the locker room with the feeling like my back has just relaxed from a huge cramp. Hard to describe the feeling. I felt great, but awful. Mostly great though.
Deadlift 3-3-3-3-3
So off to the gym I go, do the warmup. Good news there. Though my pushups are still mightily ugly, they are less ugly than they used to be. We're all about the less-ugly round here. Everything else went fine. Got bored with the back extensions so instead of having my arms at cross-your-heart I went up to hands-behind-head. The goal is to work up to the full superman.
While I was doing the matwork portion of working out there was a woman getting a training consult from a guy and she never stopped talking. Never. Not once. I was in awe. She also prefaced all exercise with either 'I can't do that' or 'Can I really do that?". Now I'm all in favor of modesty and trying to be reasonable up front about anticipated limits, but I hope like heck I've never done *that*. Dude was being great with her though and saying awesome things to her like "Yeah you can do that", "See, you've got muscles!".
So I pop next door in buffdude central, the room with all the big weights and bigger fellas.
Fwaw.
There are two barbell stations where you can do deadlifts, and one of them has three big gorgeous fellas at it. They're doing big lifting.
Chin high, trying to look cool but not bitchy, I go over to the other station and I've got to set up the barbell. Last time I did this, my brother helped me. This time, I've got to solo it because there's NO WAY IN HECK that I am asking for help. Unless I crush a toe.
Okay, first things first, the 45# bar. Good, it's already there.
Next I need the lever bar thing for holding it up. Check.
Okay, I'm aiming for 135# for the first lift, so I find the 45# doughnuts, grab one and lever up the bar. Stabilizing it with my foot, I put on one doughnut, then the other. So far so good.
Get all lined up. I'd watched the instructional video today, so I knew in theory what to do. Feet under bar, shins 2" away, bend, grab, arch back for the duck butt, deep breath, look up...
and they're all looking at me.
Great. Let's hope that I can lift this, that I look tidy doing so, and that I don't break wind or similar.
135 135 135
Ok. Not so bad. Put it down. They're all off doing their own things now, so am much less self-conscious.
135 135 135
Starting to feel it in my back a bit. Still, going to step it up a touch.
145 145 145
Okay, that's feeling like exercise.
145 145 145 145
Got a little back rounding on the third one, so aborted the put down. Stood back up, then did it properly. Then lost count and did it all again. Whoops. Are we seeing a theme here?
Last one now
155 155 155
Back is on the verge of failure, arms have a bit of a tremor, and a forgotten hamstring injury just woke up.
Okay, I admit it. I feel great.
:)
I managed to put the bar away without embarrassing myself and then got to enjoy the walk to the locker room with the feeling like my back has just relaxed from a huge cramp. Hard to describe the feeling. I felt great, but awful. Mostly great though.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Heavy
Everything is still going wonderfully, but that's getting boring.
Went to the gym today for my ritual humiliation. The exercise of the day was announced as:
Front Squat 5-5-5-5-5 reps
Followed by "Everyone do this as Rx'd"
Darnit. Gonna have to do the big one today. Okay. Look up how to do a front squat, grab my keys, head to the gym. Gym was nice and empty. There was a girl on the stairstepper machine, physique similar to mine, and she was going very slowly for the brief moment while I was watching. She was also bright red, and drenched in sweat. I was thrilled - she's obviously pushing hard, not just doing the time. I was remotely proud, and wished her silent luck.
So I suppose I do understand a bit more why awesome-you're-red-and-sweaty guy spoke up last time. Note to self.
So, I head back to the back room and do the warmup. My pushups are ugly as heck, but at least they're full body pushups now, not just the knee-massagers. I'm doing dips between two benches so I can scooch my legs under myself for a bit of support. Hard to notice any progress on these. Everything else was total piece-of-cake.
So on to 'front squats'. I head through to the area that's got lighter dumbells and grab the 30 pounder. Just to see how it goes.
1.2.3.4.5 Okay done. Easy in fact.
Grab the 40 pounder.
1.2.3.4.5 Done. Not as easy. Harder to lift up to the shoulder-chest-rest zone, so I had to shrug and toss it just a bit. AHA. Okay, note to self. Next time I do cleans, try it with some weight - much easier! Also easier to get elbows pointing north with the heavier weight.
Grab the 50 pounder.
1.2.3.4.5. Ooof. Done. Not as easy again, but not feeling like I'm close to my limit.
Grab the 60 pounder.
1.2.3.4.5. Ooof. Oof. Done. Feels like exercise! Also noticing some muscles starting to make themselves known.
Grab the 70 pounder.
Ooopsies. Fumbled the shrugtosscatch. Try again. Fumble again. Needs work.
Grab the 60 pounder.
1.2.3.4.5. Done. Not putting it down. Just wait a second. Harder to catch breath with 60 extra pounds on my chest. Wonder idly if this is easier because of my big boobs. Hm. Okay, two more sets and done.
1.2.3.4.5. Ugh. Almost there. Must be using something in my abs because the front of my stomach hurts now.
1.2.3.4.5. Done. Done done. Back tired now too. Interesting. Now to try and put this thing down gracefully so I don't embarrass myself in front of gnarly guy.
Make notes.
40 50 60 not70 60 60 60
Ummmm...
Oops. Did an extra set.
Note to self regarding ability to count to five reliably. Needs work.
Went to the gym today for my ritual humiliation. The exercise of the day was announced as:
Front Squat 5-5-5-5-5 reps
Followed by "Everyone do this as Rx'd"
Darnit. Gonna have to do the big one today. Okay. Look up how to do a front squat, grab my keys, head to the gym. Gym was nice and empty. There was a girl on the stairstepper machine, physique similar to mine, and she was going very slowly for the brief moment while I was watching. She was also bright red, and drenched in sweat. I was thrilled - she's obviously pushing hard, not just doing the time. I was remotely proud, and wished her silent luck.
So I suppose I do understand a bit more why awesome-you're-red-and-sweaty guy spoke up last time. Note to self.
So, I head back to the back room and do the warmup. My pushups are ugly as heck, but at least they're full body pushups now, not just the knee-massagers. I'm doing dips between two benches so I can scooch my legs under myself for a bit of support. Hard to notice any progress on these. Everything else was total piece-of-cake.
So on to 'front squats'. I head through to the area that's got lighter dumbells and grab the 30 pounder. Just to see how it goes.
1.2.3.4.5 Okay done. Easy in fact.
Grab the 40 pounder.
1.2.3.4.5 Done. Not as easy. Harder to lift up to the shoulder-chest-rest zone, so I had to shrug and toss it just a bit. AHA. Okay, note to self. Next time I do cleans, try it with some weight - much easier! Also easier to get elbows pointing north with the heavier weight.
Grab the 50 pounder.
1.2.3.4.5. Ooof. Done. Not as easy again, but not feeling like I'm close to my limit.
Grab the 60 pounder.
1.2.3.4.5. Ooof. Oof. Done. Feels like exercise! Also noticing some muscles starting to make themselves known.
Grab the 70 pounder.
Ooopsies. Fumbled the shrugtosscatch. Try again. Fumble again. Needs work.
Grab the 60 pounder.
1.2.3.4.5. Done. Not putting it down. Just wait a second. Harder to catch breath with 60 extra pounds on my chest. Wonder idly if this is easier because of my big boobs. Hm. Okay, two more sets and done.
1.2.3.4.5. Ugh. Almost there. Must be using something in my abs because the front of my stomach hurts now.
1.2.3.4.5. Done. Done done. Back tired now too. Interesting. Now to try and put this thing down gracefully so I don't embarrass myself in front of gnarly guy.
Make notes.
40 50 60 not70 60 60 60
Ummmm...
Oops. Did an extra set.
Note to self regarding ability to count to five reliably. Needs work.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Quickie
Big grin time. I'm not lighter, but I think I'm just the barest smidge thinner. Yay!
Confirmation at lunch today when my friend Joy, who hasn't seen me since spring, said "You seem thinner, and more energetic!"
:)
Confirmation at lunch today when my friend Joy, who hasn't seen me since spring, said "You seem thinner, and more energetic!"
:)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Stomachache
My digestion has not gone awry... it's just that I've just discovered that I can't do 60 situps. Boo. Well, I probably *can* do sixty situps, but not as a part of the workout I did today.
http://forum.brandxmartialarts.com/viewtopic.php?t=3532&sid=b678dbf6207017bc10f16b4ab22ba435
The realdeal workout for gnarly types is:
Warmup
"Michael"
Three rounds for time of:
Run 800 meters
50 Back Extensions
50 Sit-ups
Dilute this down to Buttercup strength and you get:
Warmup
Three rounds for time of:
Run 400 meters
10 Back Extensions
20 Sit-ups
The running is no problem now, I'm a bit slow but I make it.
The back extensions are super easy - apparently I've got a strong back. I get done with my 10 and seriously feel like I've been cheating. Not hard at all.
The sit-ups, well, different story. First 20 went fine. Second 20, not so much. Third 20, much better than second, but still didn't make it to the end. Boo.
While I was in the back room at the gym trying not to embarrass myself doing situps, there was a guy in there who is obviously a competetive bodybuilder. He was huge and brown and muscly and wearing nothing but his knickers. His girlfriend was videoing him and he was practicing for a competition, trying to find the most "interesting" poses. Don't mind me over here in the corner, sweating over situps. *blush*
Speaking of blushing. When I exercise I turn bright red. Always have done. It has nothing to do with how fit (or not) I am at any given time. Simply put, I exercise, I turn red. So I'm doing the running bit of today's workout, I'm actually rather pleased because it went really really well. No funny pains. Only got a sidestitch twice. Ran the whole time at a proper running speed. Yay! Also bright red. Also sweating inelegantly.
As this is happening, I look around the gym. There are quite a few people in, and the people watching here is pretty good. Nobody else is sweating. No one. No one else is red. There's a girl who often works out at the same time I do while I'm running round the gym looking confusedly at the directions I wrote myself at home and muttering to myself (what's tabata again? wait, was that 10 back extensions and 20 situps, or 20 back extensions and 10 situps? darn, that guy took my pulldown machine. ack, gonna puke. phew. didn't puke. whoops, shirt flipped up on the extension machine, good job I'm wearing my brunhilda bra, must remember to wear cute undies - pants creep down butt during squats... you get the idea).
She is a very elegant exerciser. No sweat. No red face. Cute hairdo. Perfect little outfit. No muscles ;) She comes in, does half an hour on the elliptical machine, then leaves. Seems boring to me, but I guess it must work for her.
So, I stagger off the treadmill and start the walk of shame back to the room with Mr. Incredible in it posing for a video camera and this other buff dude looks me up and down and says, very nicely, "Wow! You're red! Did you just go tanning?"
*laughing* "Nope! I'm just really unfit!"
He replies "Well it looks AWESOME!"
*again laughing* "Thanks! This is what happens every time I exercise... charming, eh?"
He replies "Wow... I wish *I* could do that"
Ummmm... okay. Trade ya.
Weird interchange. Nice guy though, next time I saw him he was helping someone use the equipment, so there's a decent chance he's a trainer there.
http://forum.brandxmartialarts.com/viewtopic.php?t=3532&sid=b678dbf6207017bc10f16b4ab22ba435
The realdeal workout for gnarly types is:
Warmup
"Michael"
Three rounds for time of:
Run 800 meters
50 Back Extensions
50 Sit-ups
Dilute this down to Buttercup strength and you get:
Warmup
Three rounds for time of:
Run 400 meters
10 Back Extensions
20 Sit-ups
The running is no problem now, I'm a bit slow but I make it.
The back extensions are super easy - apparently I've got a strong back. I get done with my 10 and seriously feel like I've been cheating. Not hard at all.
The sit-ups, well, different story. First 20 went fine. Second 20, not so much. Third 20, much better than second, but still didn't make it to the end. Boo.
While I was in the back room at the gym trying not to embarrass myself doing situps, there was a guy in there who is obviously a competetive bodybuilder. He was huge and brown and muscly and wearing nothing but his knickers. His girlfriend was videoing him and he was practicing for a competition, trying to find the most "interesting" poses. Don't mind me over here in the corner, sweating over situps. *blush*
Speaking of blushing. When I exercise I turn bright red. Always have done. It has nothing to do with how fit (or not) I am at any given time. Simply put, I exercise, I turn red. So I'm doing the running bit of today's workout, I'm actually rather pleased because it went really really well. No funny pains. Only got a sidestitch twice. Ran the whole time at a proper running speed. Yay! Also bright red. Also sweating inelegantly.
As this is happening, I look around the gym. There are quite a few people in, and the people watching here is pretty good. Nobody else is sweating. No one. No one else is red. There's a girl who often works out at the same time I do while I'm running round the gym looking confusedly at the directions I wrote myself at home and muttering to myself (what's tabata again? wait, was that 10 back extensions and 20 situps, or 20 back extensions and 10 situps? darn, that guy took my pulldown machine. ack, gonna puke. phew. didn't puke. whoops, shirt flipped up on the extension machine, good job I'm wearing my brunhilda bra, must remember to wear cute undies - pants creep down butt during squats... you get the idea).
She is a very elegant exerciser. No sweat. No red face. Cute hairdo. Perfect little outfit. No muscles ;) She comes in, does half an hour on the elliptical machine, then leaves. Seems boring to me, but I guess it must work for her.
So, I stagger off the treadmill and start the walk of shame back to the room with Mr. Incredible in it posing for a video camera and this other buff dude looks me up and down and says, very nicely, "Wow! You're red! Did you just go tanning?"
*laughing* "Nope! I'm just really unfit!"
He replies "Well it looks AWESOME!"
*again laughing* "Thanks! This is what happens every time I exercise... charming, eh?"
He replies "Wow... I wish *I* could do that"
Ummmm... okay. Trade ya.
Weird interchange. Nice guy though, next time I saw him he was helping someone use the equipment, so there's a decent chance he's a trainer there.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Normal
Saw an awesome post on alt.support.thyroid today on the concept of the "normal" range on lab test results.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.thyroid/browse_thread/thread/a5ee2a2b8f6fe91f?hl=en Poster: kgrhoads at alum dot mit dot edu, Oct 22, 9:28 AM
"When doctors talk "normal" ranges, they seem to be unaware (or have totally forgotten) that the "normal" here is the technical statistical usage, being the Gaussian distribution, a.k.a., "normal" distribution, and has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with "normality" in the common usage sense. A value can be within the Gaussian reference range for the lab and be highly ABnormal. "
"Now, that does not mean that this value is ABnormal. It just means that being within the reference range is NOT PROOF OF NORMALITY in the common meaning for "normality". "
"Personally, I believe the use of "normal" for labs should be abolished, and only "Gaussian" should be used. That way people are not being set up for misinterpretation of the meaning of the lab values. "
Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from my brother: "I'm right, because I proved my point with math."
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.thyroid/browse_thread/thread/a5ee2a2b8f6fe91f?hl=en Poster: kgrhoads at alum dot mit dot edu, Oct 22, 9:28 AM
"When doctors talk "normal" ranges, they seem to be unaware (or have totally forgotten) that the "normal" here is the technical statistical usage, being the Gaussian distribution, a.k.a., "normal" distribution, and has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with "normality" in the common usage sense. A value can be within the Gaussian reference range for the lab and be highly ABnormal. "
"Now, that does not mean that this value is ABnormal. It just means that being within the reference range is NOT PROOF OF NORMALITY in the common meaning for "normality". "
"Personally, I believe the use of "normal" for labs should be abolished, and only "Gaussian" should be used. That way people are not being set up for misinterpretation of the meaning of the lab values. "
Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from my brother: "I'm right, because I proved my point with math."
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Requesting a do-over, please.
Well, things continue to be great. I'm sleeping a bit better, haven't had a nap yet (woohooo!), and am feeling energetic all day. I don't think my metabolism is at full roar yet, I'm having non-hungry days back to back with hungry days.
I would like to request a do-over though. The master's degree would have been *SO* much easier with this level of energy. I honestly do not know how I did it.
Hm.. Thinking about it, I think I do know how I did it. Adrenaline. I kept myself at a high stress level so I could function successfully. The second I relaxed, I'd do nothing but sleep. My uncle called me Rip-Van-Richardson and my husband was very kind about me sleeping away my free time. If I had a day off (rare!) I'd generally sleep until mid morning, drift around the house for a while, then have a five hour nap in the afternoon, then be in bed at a decent hour for the night's sleep. Why didn't I think this was weird? Why didn't I ask questions sooner? Why didn't my doctors ask any questions about this? Every time I went in for some random little thing - headaches, tendinitis (I was swimming 4 to 6 hours a week, and royally bollocking up my joints in the meantime), neck pain, etc. they would *always* ask "Is anything else going on?" I would follow with the usual fat girl litany - I'm overweight, I exercise a lot, I don't eat much sugar or starch, I don't sleep well.
They'd always nod, but never say anything. Perhaps passing judgement - not exercising enough, not eating right, etc. They'd send me to physical therapy where I would be pronounced very strong.
Finally, this last spring, I went to the doctor because I had some brown mottling on my back. Looked a bit like leopard spots. I basically wanted reassurance that this wasn't the creeping death, and found out that it was tinea versicolor, a yeast infection of the skin that turns it brown. Easily fixed, not a problem. Yay! Also not the creeping death, big plus there. She asked the usual "Anything else?" question, I responded with the Fat Girl Litany, and she said "You should get your thyroid checked."
Whuh? Never occurred to me. So, being a grad student, I made an appointment with a new physician and then I Googled it. Holy buckets - I think I'm hypothyroid! I read the encyclopedic sites with lists of symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments. I read the anecdote sites with the usual assortment of the highly knowledgable, the frustrated who haven't found the right treatment yet, and the enthusiastic people who *have* found the right treatment who tell the frustrated to try what worked for them. I then found citations for papers in medical journals, and read them. I then read the papers that *they* cited.
Thus armed, I danced off to my appointment, and the doctor gave me a good bollocking for not coming in sooner. She pronounced the thyroid "big" and said I had a compelling list of symptoms. When the blood test came back my TSH was 2.94 - right on the edge of "normal" with the new guidelines. She said, well, you're not hypothyroid so get on the ball with diet and exercise.
I was a bit upset, did some more research, and then found a great little paper. The paper describes patients who are clinically euthyroid, but diagnostically hypothyroid, and remarks that they benefitted from treatment. That's me! I asked for some followup tests - total T4, free T4, T3, thyroid antibodies. Doctor referred me to an endocrinologist.
Endocrinologist tested all this stuff, and found out that I have Hashimoto's Thyroidits. My numbers all came back awesome, except for T4 which was in the very low end of the "normal" range. This is good, it means that my injured thyroid is keeping up pretty well, even if it is pretty huge.
Endo started me on a teeny weeny dose of T4 to see if it would help with my symptoms, and voila, it has.
Thus, I declare myself Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, clinically euthyroid, symptomatically hypothyroid, responding AMAZINGLY to treatment.
In retrospect, I don't think I'll do that Master's degree over again. That was a heck of a lot of work ;) Plus, it now becomes a point of pride. Master's. Hypothyroid. Uphill, both ways, barefoot, in the snow... So began the legend ;)
I would like to request a do-over though. The master's degree would have been *SO* much easier with this level of energy. I honestly do not know how I did it.
Hm.. Thinking about it, I think I do know how I did it. Adrenaline. I kept myself at a high stress level so I could function successfully. The second I relaxed, I'd do nothing but sleep. My uncle called me Rip-Van-Richardson and my husband was very kind about me sleeping away my free time. If I had a day off (rare!) I'd generally sleep until mid morning, drift around the house for a while, then have a five hour nap in the afternoon, then be in bed at a decent hour for the night's sleep. Why didn't I think this was weird? Why didn't I ask questions sooner? Why didn't my doctors ask any questions about this? Every time I went in for some random little thing - headaches, tendinitis (I was swimming 4 to 6 hours a week, and royally bollocking up my joints in the meantime), neck pain, etc. they would *always* ask "Is anything else going on?" I would follow with the usual fat girl litany - I'm overweight, I exercise a lot, I don't eat much sugar or starch, I don't sleep well.
They'd always nod, but never say anything. Perhaps passing judgement - not exercising enough, not eating right, etc. They'd send me to physical therapy where I would be pronounced very strong.
Finally, this last spring, I went to the doctor because I had some brown mottling on my back. Looked a bit like leopard spots. I basically wanted reassurance that this wasn't the creeping death, and found out that it was tinea versicolor, a yeast infection of the skin that turns it brown. Easily fixed, not a problem. Yay! Also not the creeping death, big plus there. She asked the usual "Anything else?" question, I responded with the Fat Girl Litany, and she said "You should get your thyroid checked."
Whuh? Never occurred to me. So, being a grad student, I made an appointment with a new physician and then I Googled it. Holy buckets - I think I'm hypothyroid! I read the encyclopedic sites with lists of symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments. I read the anecdote sites with the usual assortment of the highly knowledgable, the frustrated who haven't found the right treatment yet, and the enthusiastic people who *have* found the right treatment who tell the frustrated to try what worked for them. I then found citations for papers in medical journals, and read them. I then read the papers that *they* cited.
Thus armed, I danced off to my appointment, and the doctor gave me a good bollocking for not coming in sooner. She pronounced the thyroid "big" and said I had a compelling list of symptoms. When the blood test came back my TSH was 2.94 - right on the edge of "normal" with the new guidelines. She said, well, you're not hypothyroid so get on the ball with diet and exercise.
I was a bit upset, did some more research, and then found a great little paper. The paper describes patients who are clinically euthyroid, but diagnostically hypothyroid, and remarks that they benefitted from treatment. That's me! I asked for some followup tests - total T4, free T4, T3, thyroid antibodies. Doctor referred me to an endocrinologist.
Endocrinologist tested all this stuff, and found out that I have Hashimoto's Thyroidits. My numbers all came back awesome, except for T4 which was in the very low end of the "normal" range. This is good, it means that my injured thyroid is keeping up pretty well, even if it is pretty huge.
Endo started me on a teeny weeny dose of T4 to see if it would help with my symptoms, and voila, it has.
Thus, I declare myself Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, clinically euthyroid, symptomatically hypothyroid, responding AMAZINGLY to treatment.
In retrospect, I don't think I'll do that Master's degree over again. That was a heck of a lot of work ;) Plus, it now becomes a point of pride. Master's. Hypothyroid. Uphill, both ways, barefoot, in the snow... So began the legend ;)
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