Arms

Spent 30 minutes in the gym this morning.

Bike: 6 minutes @ level 7
Swimmers press: 24@ 10# each l, r
Back scratchers: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Articulated Fly: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Squat: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Gunslingers: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Side Extensions: 12 @ 5# each l, r

Glute kicks: 12 @ 45# l, r
Torso Twists: 12 l, r (forgot the weight setting)

My shoulders were a bit achy from days of swimming and reading, so tonight we dusted off the old routine.

15 minutes walking (about a mile)
Weight Room:

• 32 twisted angels
• 32 inclined twisted sit ups
• 24 swimmers presses, 7.5# each hand
• 16 kettlebell squats, 20#

20 minutes in the sauna.

Life is good.

Woke up stiff and sore, so a long hot shower was in order before heading out to yoga, where we did lots of stretching and hip work. Afterwards, I mostly rested until we took Vivian to swim lessons. Still sore, I stuck to arm weights while walking, five pull ups and some abs work.

Only 5800 steps, but still not bad for a stiff and sore day.
I'm a little concerned about tomorrow, so I took some arnica.

I got some rest, then enjoyed walking more while Vivian was in the pool. All told, I got in over six miles yesterday. Walking is my center, and when I forget to keep it central, my headspace gets all wonky.

I looked up fitbit distance badges, and the next one is the Monarch Migration badge - only 150 miles to go. Probably not this challenge, but quite possibly this summer.

Went to the gym this morning. Ten minutes elliptical, one mile walk (20 minutes), one km row (6:15), a quarter mile walk, 2-5 pound kettlebell workout: 20 each gunslinger, overhead press and deep squat, then twelve back extensions with 8 pounds and 16 inclined twist sit ups with 8 pounds.

A bit of calm before the storm.

Yesterday evening's swim lessons and gym trip were a welcome but of the day. I upped the elliptical to level 7 for 13 minutes, walked a quarter mile or so, rowed a thousand meters, walked another half mile ish, did 20 inclined sit ups, and then hit the weight machines for my arms.

The number in the weight room was 20 - twenty reps of everything, and by the time I got to the dreaded chest press, my arms were already worn out. The first time I did the machine, I could barely get four reps at the no-weight weight of 15 pounds, and last night I had to rest after a set of 8. I was pretty certain I wasn't going to get to twenty, but while resting after the second set of 8, I realized I only had 4 more to go, so, shaking a bit, and taking my sweet old-lady time of it, I got 4 more.

I felt like such a badass on my way to the hot tub.

This morning, the promised snow arrived before dawn. Itty-bitty flakes have been falling steadily, coating everything and accumulating quite nicely. It's supposed to fall continuously until Sunday morning, and I'm perfectly fine with that.

Getting to the heart of the matter

A short morning at the gym helped me focus on what really gets results: twelve minutes on the elliptical at a level higher than usual followed by five minutes (1000m) on the rowing machine, glute extension at a higher weight, and inclined situps. All in less than 30 minutes.

At home, we made breakfast (i had roast beef, hard boiled eggs, swiss cheese and a garden salad with red wine vinegar) and took Vivian to school, then got more cinnamon tea and splurged on coffee drinks -- that was absolutely nice, but overall not worth the outlay in cash, and I see a real tightening of the discretionary budget over the rest of the challenge.

Running Gets It Done

Ten minutes on the elliptical, then five minutes (1000 m) on the rowing machine. Arms arms and more arms on the machines, and inclined sit ups, glute and back extension this morning, then a nod at the pool on the way to the hot tub.
Because some days are like that.

It was a full day outside the gym. Errands and acupuncture, then a meeting and lunch, then errands and Vivian pickup and a couple more errands. I just landed at home and am nursing a sore spot with an herbal compress I whipped up. Fortunately there is just enough golden noodle soup left over today for dinner. I'm seeing a restful evening with an early bedtime.

Simple Sunday

This morning we turned the dough into bagels, and wow, is it yummy. It's so good that we are considering ditching store-bought and making our own batch of 16 every week. Feel free to stop by for Sunday brunch around 9.

After bagels and rest time, we hit the gym. It's arms day for me, which means nearly an hour in the weights room after warm up on the elliptical. I am increasing, slowly, so it must be all to the good. Drank a litre of water during my weights hour, too.

Then I donned my new suit - board shorts for the win, ladies! - and hit the pool while Vivian splashed in the kiddie area. The hot tub at the end is ridiculously soothing. At home, we all devoured some more food - I had 3 eggs, a hamburger from last night, some Swiss cheese, mushrooms and a tomato. And cinnamon tea.

It's been over 24 hours since I've had a cup of coffee, and nearly three days since a cigarette.

Again with the arms

This morning we rolled into the gym after a scant two hours of sleep. Arms, arms and more arms. Then back home to do Vivian's morning routine, and then back to the gym to finish up arms, swim six lengths and hit the hot tub for ten minutes.

I pushed the routine a bit, increasing weights or reps or both. Glute machine, inclined sit-ups and back extension continues, though I had to increase the weight on the glute and back machines. I guess I'm doing something right. Also, a whopping ten minutes on the elliptical.

Now, a nap before meeting and court.

Off schedule and off kilter, but doing it

Last night we were up late, and today's schedule was already thrown for a loop needing to reschedule an afternoon appointment, so the morning trip to the gym got rearranged. The universe must have had a completely different set of plans for us. The evening gym visit resulted in Vivian getting a chance spot in the swim lessons. She had a good time in the kid zone while I did arms in the weight room - ten different machines, with two or three sets on each - and finished with the back extension and glute machine. Yes, after four days in a row, my abs and butt are feeling it.

Some progress has also been done on the Onerous Tasks list last night and today: I have a new sponsor; I met with the guardian ad litem; I went to two new-to-me meetings.

Also, whoever came up with acupuncture was a complete genius.

Weights, again, at last

It has been forever since I was in the weight room. Today's gym visit saw a lot of arm activity on the machines, and I'm exhausted and glad to be back. As usual there were 25 inclined sit ups and a round with the glute machine. Before weights, I managed six minutes on the elliptical machine. Progress is still progress.

Half an hour of swimming rounded out the morning. Steak, eggs, Swiss cheese and fresh tomatoes were perfect at home. I'm on my third half-litre of water and heading for a nap.