Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Congratulations on completing Ronin's Blade and the Iron Arms, Salad-a-Day, Guardian, and 12K Steps Daily Challenges!
Goal + Action = Reality
- Thread starter TopNotch
- Start date
TopNotch
Well-known member
Tsk, tsk @Laura Rainbow Dragon I've only just started with the Salads!
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 6
Salad-a-Day Day 5 - greens with olives and Greek-style feta and stuff.
Atlas Day 3
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk3, D1 - Rest Day!
Ah, one of those days that was unintentionally screwed up! Last week, I sent an email to the builder and he said he was available to meet on Monday (today) so I immediately sent back a proposal to meet at 11. This morning, once I was ready, I realised I didn't have time to do my walking and shower afterwards before 11, so I held off. As it was a weights rest day, I didn't have that to fill in the time. Anyway, 11 came. And went. And I wondered how long I should wait. I felt stood up. I had even put on a clean t-shirt and dug out my going-out jeans - the ones without paint spatters or rips. I began to feel a little aggrieved. But these must have been my Adult jeans because some synapses above my neck fired and I checked (again) my emails and texts. Then I went back to the one I had sent him. And it wasn't there! This has happened before - and I know it has happened to other people and it's a great excuse to say, Oh, I sent you an email, didn't you get it? knowing full well that sometimes they simply disappear as soon as you hit send, never to be heard from again. And that must have been what happened to the one I had sent. So I quickly sent him (another) email, saying what had happened and suggesting an afternoon meet-up. So I whipped off my clean clothes and jumped into my workout gear for a bit and that was good. Then he arrived at 3 and the rest of the afternoon was kind of swallowed up by that and the aftermath, so no shorter walk again.
I had left a couple of ears of corn to dry for the chickens. Creed grabbed one, had a fine old time tearing off the leaves and running around with it before neatly picking off the kernels, Finally he ate the bare cob too. I managed to get the other one to the chickens! Is there nothing this dog won't eat? Is he really a goat?
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 6
Salad-a-Day Day 5 - greens with olives and Greek-style feta and stuff.
Atlas Day 3
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk3, D1 - Rest Day!
Ah, one of those days that was unintentionally screwed up! Last week, I sent an email to the builder and he said he was available to meet on Monday (today) so I immediately sent back a proposal to meet at 11. This morning, once I was ready, I realised I didn't have time to do my walking and shower afterwards before 11, so I held off. As it was a weights rest day, I didn't have that to fill in the time. Anyway, 11 came. And went. And I wondered how long I should wait. I felt stood up. I had even put on a clean t-shirt and dug out my going-out jeans - the ones without paint spatters or rips. I began to feel a little aggrieved. But these must have been my Adult jeans because some synapses above my neck fired and I checked (again) my emails and texts. Then I went back to the one I had sent him. And it wasn't there! This has happened before - and I know it has happened to other people and it's a great excuse to say, Oh, I sent you an email, didn't you get it? knowing full well that sometimes they simply disappear as soon as you hit send, never to be heard from again. And that must have been what happened to the one I had sent. So I quickly sent him (another) email, saying what had happened and suggesting an afternoon meet-up. So I whipped off my clean clothes and jumped into my workout gear for a bit and that was good. Then he arrived at 3 and the rest of the afternoon was kind of swallowed up by that and the aftermath, so no shorter walk again.
I had left a couple of ears of corn to dry for the chickens. Creed grabbed one, had a fine old time tearing off the leaves and running around with it before neatly picking off the kernels, Finally he ate the bare cob too. I managed to get the other one to the chickens! Is there nothing this dog won't eat? Is he really a goat?
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
My bad. There were just so many, I lost track!
I remember this one from when I did my own Salad-a-Day challenge. (Though you recommended sorrel back then. Which is super pricey here. But tasty and well worth trying the once--even if I likely won't be able to again unless I get myself back into a situation where I can once again have my own herb garden).
TopNotch
Well-known member
@Laura Rainbow Dragon If I recollect aright, you were after salads using ingredients you hadn't used before, and you hadn't used sorrell. Yes, sorrell is very difficult to obtain and I'm not growing any here yet, and spinach is an adequate replacement. This is one of my favourite salads (it's the blue cheese!) and I had it again tonight.
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 7
Salad-a-Day Day 6
Atlas Day 4
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.7kph while reading
GE Wk3, D2 - Biceps curls x 35; Chest press x 57
And here's why sleep scores are a bit dodgy: Last night I got caught watching stuff and by the time I looked at the time, I saw it was already 1 o'clock! So I went to bed. Woke up at my usual time. Interestingly, my sleep score was 81 - Good, and the 1 hr and 55 mins of Deep sleep was commended.
BUT:
the tracker had me going to sleep at 11:20. Between then and 1 o'clock (when I started moving to get to bed), it recorded two episodes of Deep sleep, totalling an hour. While I was awake and watching videos. Hmm...
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 7
Salad-a-Day Day 6
Atlas Day 4
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.7kph while reading
GE Wk3, D2 - Biceps curls x 35; Chest press x 57
And here's why sleep scores are a bit dodgy: Last night I got caught watching stuff and by the time I looked at the time, I saw it was already 1 o'clock! So I went to bed. Woke up at my usual time. Interestingly, my sleep score was 81 - Good, and the 1 hr and 55 mins of Deep sleep was commended.
BUT:
the tracker had me going to sleep at 11:20. Between then and 1 o'clock (when I started moving to get to bed), it recorded two episodes of Deep sleep, totalling an hour. While I was awake and watching videos. Hmm...
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Yes. I ate a different salad every day for a month. It was great!
I remember studies done way back that suggested watching television did sleep-like things to one's brain. I'm not surprised it could fool a wristwatch.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 8
Salad-a-Day Day 7
Atlas Day 5
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.7kph while reading
GE Wk3, D3 - Triceps Press-down x 73; Triceps extensions x 25; Triceps kick-backs x 40
PD - 30 minutes (I've been forgetting to record this and I've averaged about 90 minutes the last few days)
It was a Good Day today - not merely productive but fun too! Oh, and I even got the washing done. New hero on the horizon - Wynne Calder. You heard it here first!
Ab challenge Day 8
Salad-a-Day Day 7
Atlas Day 5
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.7kph while reading
GE Wk3, D3 - Triceps Press-down x 73; Triceps extensions x 25; Triceps kick-backs x 40
PD - 30 minutes (I've been forgetting to record this and I've averaged about 90 minutes the last few days)
It was a Good Day today - not merely productive but fun too! Oh, and I even got the washing done. New hero on the horizon - Wynne Calder. You heard it here first!
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 9
Salad-a-Day Day 8
Atlas Day 6
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.7kph while reading, plus 100m walking backwards as finisher.
Bit of a slack day today. Well, I'll classify it as a Rest Day.
It wasn't a very Good night last night and this morning I decided that for a change I'd take it fairly easy, activity-wise. So I did. A few minutes of exercises wasn't excessive, and a walk at 3.7kph is quite gentle (though it can still get me sweaty). Having reached my usual distance and gone the usual fraction over 30 minutes, I changed things a little and tried walking backwards (tip: hold onto the handrails of the treadmill if you try this!). I'd heard that, among other things, this could also be good for knees so I thought I'd give it a go. Quite liked it but I had to keep twisting around to the display to see how far I'd gone. I'll see if I can remember to incorporate more backwards walking.
Work went well again today, so that's good.
Ab challenge Day 9
Salad-a-Day Day 8
Atlas Day 6
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.7kph while reading, plus 100m walking backwards as finisher.
Bit of a slack day today. Well, I'll classify it as a Rest Day.
It wasn't a very Good night last night and this morning I decided that for a change I'd take it fairly easy, activity-wise. So I did. A few minutes of exercises wasn't excessive, and a walk at 3.7kph is quite gentle (though it can still get me sweaty). Having reached my usual distance and gone the usual fraction over 30 minutes, I changed things a little and tried walking backwards (tip: hold onto the handrails of the treadmill if you try this!). I'd heard that, among other things, this could also be good for knees so I thought I'd give it a go. Quite liked it but I had to keep twisting around to the display to see how far I'd gone. I'll see if I can remember to incorporate more backwards walking.Work went well again today, so that's good.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 10
Salad-a-Day Day 9
Atlas Day 7
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.7kph while reading, plus 100m walking backwards as finisher.
GE Wk3, D5 - Lat pull-downs x 65; Single-arm row x 60
PD - 45 minutes
Not sure what's going to happen tomorrow. The Lad asked if he could come over and I said that he could get dropped off at my place. Fair suck of the sauce bottle - I shouldn't have to be the one who always picks him up and brings him here. It's like he's a library book that I go and borrow for a bit. I know that sounds a little petty but it's as though the OP won't stop me 'borrowing' him but won't assist me either. Anyway, we'll see what happens.
And on a lighter note - it was a bit awkward this evening when I needed the loo...
Yeah, I was a brute, right?
Ab challenge Day 10
Salad-a-Day Day 9
Atlas Day 7
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.7kph while reading, plus 100m walking backwards as finisher.
GE Wk3, D5 - Lat pull-downs x 65; Single-arm row x 60
PD - 45 minutes
Not sure what's going to happen tomorrow. The Lad asked if he could come over and I said that he could get dropped off at my place. Fair suck of the sauce bottle - I shouldn't have to be the one who always picks him up and brings him here. It's like he's a library book that I go and borrow for a bit. I know that sounds a little petty but it's as though the OP won't stop me 'borrowing' him but won't assist me either. Anyway, we'll see what happens.
And on a lighter note - it was a bit awkward this evening when I needed the loo...
Yeah, I was a brute, right?
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Aww... That's so sweet how Creed tries so hard to be close to you.
for the situation with your human boy.
for the situation with your human boy.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 10
Salad-a-Day Day 9
Atlas Day 8
GE Wk3, D6 - Shoulder Press x 50; Lateral raise x 65; Upright rows x 50
I didn't get anything else done today. I thought that if the Lad were coming today, he'd come in the morning because #2 goes to Aikido lessons that are held just past the halfway mark to here and the Lad said that generally he and OP go to the local shopping area 7 minutes away from me. Easy to drop him off here. So I waited. But nothing. Turns out #2 didn't go to Aikido today. But the Lad snapped me just after 12 and said he'd be leaving at 1:30. Arrived at my place shortly before 2. This is a long weekend and he asked if he could stay two nights. I said it was fine with me. He's chosen the menu for the next couple of days. We had to go shopping once he got here and I bought things I wouldn't normally have (like the crème caramels we had for dessert!) and it's nice to have a treat. We will start tomorrow with pikelets because he reckons I make the best.
But he wasn't getting all this free! He sleeps in the library (as will I when my mum gets here) and there are no over-curtains in there, so I let him use my drill - well, the screw-driver attachment and by standing on the highest stool he could just reach - to fix in brackets for a rod. Then I gave him two curtains and he hung them up. They are too long but they'll do. Then I let him drill holes and screw in three hooks in a shelf in the bathroom. I directed and told him how to get the drill-bit out again (don't just tug!) and he was chuffed. Loved playing with a power tool. Well, who doesn't? Tomorrow, the back gate!
Ab challenge Day 10
Salad-a-Day Day 9
Atlas Day 8
GE Wk3, D6 - Shoulder Press x 50; Lateral raise x 65; Upright rows x 50
I didn't get anything else done today. I thought that if the Lad were coming today, he'd come in the morning because #2 goes to Aikido lessons that are held just past the halfway mark to here and the Lad said that generally he and OP go to the local shopping area 7 minutes away from me. Easy to drop him off here. So I waited. But nothing. Turns out #2 didn't go to Aikido today. But the Lad snapped me just after 12 and said he'd be leaving at 1:30. Arrived at my place shortly before 2. This is a long weekend and he asked if he could stay two nights. I said it was fine with me. He's chosen the menu for the next couple of days. We had to go shopping once he got here and I bought things I wouldn't normally have (like the crème caramels we had for dessert!) and it's nice to have a treat. We will start tomorrow with pikelets because he reckons I make the best.
But he wasn't getting all this free! He sleeps in the library (as will I when my mum gets here) and there are no over-curtains in there, so I let him use my drill - well, the screw-driver attachment and by standing on the highest stool he could just reach - to fix in brackets for a rod. Then I gave him two curtains and he hung them up. They are too long but they'll do. Then I let him drill holes and screw in three hooks in a shelf in the bathroom. I directed and told him how to get the drill-bit out again (don't just tug!) and he was chuffed. Loved playing with a power tool. Well, who doesn't? Tomorrow, the back gate!
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TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 11
Salad-a-Day Day 10
Atlas Day 9
Hike - 3.24km
All last week we'd been promised a deluge for today and I was looking forward to it. My water butts are almost empty. But yesterday that changed and it was simply cloudy for the morning instead.
The Lad had asked for buttermilk pikelets (I used ordinary milk that I soured with lemon juice) for breakfast and they went down a treat. Then I suggested we go for a hike up in Tidbinbilla. So I packed some tins of herring, a couple of eggs, two bread rolls, and a bottle of water and off we went. We took a favourite route - the trail to the Cascades (which sound grander than they actually are, but it's a lovely walk). Initially he rushed ahead but I kept calling him back, pointing things out and he photographed a lot. Ultimately, he was going slower than I was and photographing almost everything! It was a very slow hike - almost two hours - but lovely. Then we had a bit of a picnic lunch, sitting on logs that bordered the carpark, and got home around three in the afternoon.
Moss:
Believe it or not, this was a split log. The colours were truly amazing.
Mushroom:
At home, we pulled out the drill again and this time hung a hook on the chicken coop for the waterer. He insisted that he had to crawl inside the run to go it (I could have reached from the door). So he had fun with power tools again.
Got him to chop up the mushrooms for the chicken and mushroom risotto. As I was packing away the leftovers, he asked if he could take a box back with him. When he found out that there was also leftover chili con carne in the fridge, he earmarked a box of that too. He's come down with a cold this evening but the flush on his cheeks was from sunburn (though he insisted he'd sunscreened his face. He got me to do his neck).
A good day.
Ab challenge Day 11
Salad-a-Day Day 10
Atlas Day 9
Hike - 3.24km
All last week we'd been promised a deluge for today and I was looking forward to it. My water butts are almost empty. But yesterday that changed and it was simply cloudy for the morning instead.
The Lad had asked for buttermilk pikelets (I used ordinary milk that I soured with lemon juice) for breakfast and they went down a treat. Then I suggested we go for a hike up in Tidbinbilla. So I packed some tins of herring, a couple of eggs, two bread rolls, and a bottle of water and off we went. We took a favourite route - the trail to the Cascades (which sound grander than they actually are, but it's a lovely walk). Initially he rushed ahead but I kept calling him back, pointing things out and he photographed a lot. Ultimately, he was going slower than I was and photographing almost everything! It was a very slow hike - almost two hours - but lovely. Then we had a bit of a picnic lunch, sitting on logs that bordered the carpark, and got home around three in the afternoon.Moss:
Believe it or not, this was a split log. The colours were truly amazing.
Mushroom:
At home, we pulled out the drill again and this time hung a hook on the chicken coop for the waterer. He insisted that he had to crawl inside the run to go it (I could have reached from the door). So he had fun with power tools again.
Got him to chop up the mushrooms for the chicken and mushroom risotto. As I was packing away the leftovers, he asked if he could take a box back with him. When he found out that there was also leftover chili con carne in the fridge, he earmarked a box of that too. He's come down with a cold this evening but the flush on his cheeks was from sunburn (though he insisted he'd sunscreened his face. He got me to do his neck).
A good day.
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TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 12
Salad-a-Day - not today
Atlas Day 10
GE Wk4, D1 - Chest Press x 57; Biceps Curls x 35
Last night, once I'd sent the Lad to bed, I got onto my computer and started doing some work. And before I knew it, it was 1:15! So I was only asleep around 1:30. That wouldn't have been so bad except the Lad woke around 4:30 and went to the loo, and that woke me. Then he said that the air mattress had deflated so I invited him to pop in with me which was a bit squashy as I have a single bed. So I'm lying on my side, feeling my hip start to ache from the unmoving pressure, and the cat decides it's time for her to slide under the doona and press warmly against my chest, all the while purring loudly. Eventually she fell asleep. Eventually the Lad fell asleep. Creed was snoring away so I figured he was also asleep. But I couldn't. I think I must have dozed off some time around 6 briefly, and maybe again a little later. But as a result, I'm really looking forward to my bed tonight! It was kinda nice, though, feeling his little hand on my ribs or shoulder as he slept.
Fried eggs on the menu for breakfast this morning. Apparently I do them better too (I knew that). Then we played some games. The Lad went into the back yard with the dog and my harmonica and proceeded to annoy the heck out of everyone (pettily, I hope it irritated the neighbours with the excessively barky dogs!). We ate lunch watching funny cat videos. I told him it was time for him to get packed but he insisted we play some games of Sjoelen - I keep the board in the library so it was obvious to him. He got the highest score and eventually around 3:30, I took him to the Other House. On my way home, the skies opened and the deluge we had been promised and then told wasn't coming arrived and despite the windscreen wipers going full-bore, I actually had to slow down a bit! I do love rain.
Things back to normal now, and I'm off to bed.
Ab challenge Day 12
Salad-a-Day - not today
Atlas Day 10
GE Wk4, D1 - Chest Press x 57; Biceps Curls x 35
Last night, once I'd sent the Lad to bed, I got onto my computer and started doing some work. And before I knew it, it was 1:15! So I was only asleep around 1:30. That wouldn't have been so bad except the Lad woke around 4:30 and went to the loo, and that woke me. Then he said that the air mattress had deflated so I invited him to pop in with me which was a bit squashy as I have a single bed. So I'm lying on my side, feeling my hip start to ache from the unmoving pressure, and the cat decides it's time for her to slide under the doona and press warmly against my chest, all the while purring loudly. Eventually she fell asleep. Eventually the Lad fell asleep. Creed was snoring away so I figured he was also asleep. But I couldn't. I think I must have dozed off some time around 6 briefly, and maybe again a little later. But as a result, I'm really looking forward to my bed tonight! It was kinda nice, though, feeling his little hand on my ribs or shoulder as he slept.
Fried eggs on the menu for breakfast this morning. Apparently I do them better too (I knew that). Then we played some games. The Lad went into the back yard with the dog and my harmonica and proceeded to annoy the heck out of everyone (pettily, I hope it irritated the neighbours with the excessively barky dogs!). We ate lunch watching funny cat videos. I told him it was time for him to get packed but he insisted we play some games of Sjoelen - I keep the board in the library so it was obvious to him. He got the highest score and eventually around 3:30, I took him to the Other House. On my way home, the skies opened and the deluge we had been promised and then told wasn't coming arrived and despite the windscreen wipers going full-bore, I actually had to slow down a bit! I do love rain.
Things back to normal now, and I'm off to bed.
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TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 12
Atlas Day 11
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.8kph while reading
GE Wk4, D2 - Triceps press-down x 75; Triceps o/h extension x 26; Triceps kick-backs x 40
PD - 45 minutes
Tonight I sent an email agreeing to the quote from the builder and this is the total most money I have ever committed to anything (yes, even more than buying this house in the first place because I bought before the prices went crazy) and that's rather scary. But exciting.
Feeling a little miffed. Was talking to my mum on the phone and just began telling her about my weekend with the Lad when she interrupted me and started talking about a lady I don't know, completely changing the topic. Guess that showed how much attention she was paying - or wanted to pay - to what I was saying.
Ab challenge Day 12
Atlas Day 11
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.8kph while reading
GE Wk4, D2 - Triceps press-down x 75; Triceps o/h extension x 26; Triceps kick-backs x 40
PD - 45 minutes
Tonight I sent an email agreeing to the quote from the builder and this is the total most money I have ever committed to anything (yes, even more than buying this house in the first place because I bought before the prices went crazy) and that's rather scary. But exciting.
Feeling a little miffed. Was talking to my mum on the phone and just began telling her about my weekend with the Lad when she interrupted me and started talking about a lady I don't know, completely changing the topic. Guess that showed how much attention she was paying - or wanted to pay - to what I was saying.
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TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 13
Atlas Day 12
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.8kph while reading
GE Wk4, D3 - Lat pull-downs x 65; Single-arm rows x 60es
PD - 1 hour
Ab challenge Day 13
Atlas Day 12
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
Treadmill walking-with-soft-knees, 30 mins at 3.8kph while reading
GE Wk4, D3 - Lat pull-downs x 65; Single-arm rows x 60es
PD - 1 hour
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TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 14
Atlas Day 13
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk4, D4 - Shoulder Press x 50; Upright rows x 50; Lateral raise x 65
PD - hardly worth mentioning today but there was some.
Ab challenge Day 14
Atlas Day 13
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk4, D4 - Shoulder Press x 50; Upright rows x 50; Lateral raise x 65
PD - hardly worth mentioning today but there was some.
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TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 15
Atlas Day 14
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk4, D5 - Rest day today - so I did the dishes instead
PD - 40 minutes
You know when you're working on a project and you decide to go back and just tweak it a little, not a major tweak but you reckon it really needs that tweak, and then you realise it wasn't just a tweak - it was that damned butterfly! So you spend the rest of the day adapting everything else to accomodate that tweak. But that's okay. Even though you essentially wasted the last few days because everything you did then has now to be redone, that tweak makes things 100% better. Or so you tell yourself...
Ab challenge Day 15
Atlas Day 14
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk4, D5 - Rest day today - so I did the dishes instead
PD - 40 minutes
You know when you're working on a project and you decide to go back and just tweak it a little, not a major tweak but you reckon it really needs that tweak, and then you realise it wasn't just a tweak - it was that damned butterfly! So you spend the rest of the day adapting everything else to accomodate that tweak. But that's okay. Even though you essentially wasted the last few days because everything you did then has now to be redone, that tweak makes things 100% better. Or so you tell yourself...
Chinese warships circumnavigating the country, including sailing in our exclusive economic zone. Testing the waters, so to speak, while watching how the US treats its allies. Worrisome...
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TopNotch
Well-known member
I believe there is a Chinese curse that says, May you live in interesting times...
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 16
Atlas Day 15
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk4, D6 - Biceps curls x 35; Chest press x 67
PD - 20 minutes
Ab challenge Day 16
Atlas Day 15
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk4, D6 - Biceps curls x 35; Chest press x 67
PD - 20 minutes
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TopNotch
Well-known member
Actually, the Covid shutdowns were about the best time of my life! I could be the anti-social shut-in I usually like to be and everyone would just think how responsible I was being!Yes, exactlyand we thought COVID was the worst that could happen to us
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 17
Atlas Day 16
GE Wk4, D7 - Triceps press-downs x 75; Triceps o/h extensions x 25; Triceps kick-backs x 40
Today could hardly have got much slacker. I woke feeling tired and decided that it would be best not to push myself but rather rest up and recover. At least, that's the fiction I told myself and I didn't fight that narrative very hard at all. My head, you see, was buzzing with words and ideas and I spent much of the day in my study. Even Creed got tired of sleeping in the doorway and went back to his bed in the lounge. So hours spent over a hot computer. And it did get a bit hot. It's a laptop so my left hand noticed when the machine heated up. I shut it down for a while and went to depress myself by watching some stupidity and then I got back to it. So it may have been (and indeed was) a lazy day physically, but my creative muscle was so exercised! Gotta love days like that.
Ab challenge Day 17
Atlas Day 16
GE Wk4, D7 - Triceps press-downs x 75; Triceps o/h extensions x 25; Triceps kick-backs x 40
Today could hardly have got much slacker. I woke feeling tired and decided that it would be best not to push myself but rather rest up and recover. At least, that's the fiction I told myself and I didn't fight that narrative very hard at all. My head, you see, was buzzing with words and ideas and I spent much of the day in my study. Even Creed got tired of sleeping in the doorway and went back to his bed in the lounge. So hours spent over a hot computer. And it did get a bit hot. It's a laptop so my left hand noticed when the machine heated up. I shut it down for a while and went to depress myself by watching some stupidity and then I got back to it. So it may have been (and indeed was) a lazy day physically, but my creative muscle was so exercised! Gotta love days like that.
Fremen
Well-known member
Mercenary
from
Italy
Posts: 6,293
from
Italy
Posts: 6,293
"“Keep an eye on the staircases. They like to change.” Percy Weasley, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone."
I had to do the shopping for my mother-in-law... other than that it was a breezeActually, the Covid shutdowns were about the best time of my life! I could be the anti-social shut-in I usually like to be and everyone would just think how responsible I was being!
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 18
Atlas Day 17
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk5, D1 - Lat pull-downs x 65; Single-arm rows x 60
There is a variously phrased saying that goes, "If you do what you love, you won't work a single day of your life". I think that's a load of hogwash - to put it mildly. Just because you're doing something you enjoy doesn't mean it's not still work, that you're not still striving, becoming frustrated, learning - in short, working. I love what I do but boy, sometimes my brain gets to hurting, and sometimes, just sometimes, like this morning, it gets me out of bed too damned early because that same brain is buzzing.
Saturday we had the warmest day so far this month, almost reaching 35 degrees. Today, on the other hand, just two days later, we managed to climb up to 20.6. When I let Creed out this morning, that sneaky breeze creeping in through the open door made me begin to rethink my pyjama policy. Is it already time to begin wearing them?
Ab challenge Day 18
Atlas Day 17
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk5, D1 - Lat pull-downs x 65; Single-arm rows x 60
There is a variously phrased saying that goes, "If you do what you love, you won't work a single day of your life". I think that's a load of hogwash - to put it mildly. Just because you're doing something you enjoy doesn't mean it's not still work, that you're not still striving, becoming frustrated, learning - in short, working. I love what I do but boy, sometimes my brain gets to hurting, and sometimes, just sometimes, like this morning, it gets me out of bed too damned early because that same brain is buzzing.
Saturday we had the warmest day so far this month, almost reaching 35 degrees. Today, on the other hand, just two days later, we managed to climb up to 20.6. When I let Creed out this morning, that sneaky breeze creeping in through the open door made me begin to rethink my pyjama policy. Is it already time to begin wearing them?
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 19
Atlas Day 18
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk5, D2 - Shoulder press x 50; Lateral raise x 65; Upright row x 50
PD - a shade over one hour
I had a good sleep last night. Perhaps because it was cooler. Looking forward to the cooler weather.
Ab challenge Day 19
Atlas Day 18
Treadmill Walk, 50 mins, incline 3 (last 5 mins incline 5)
GE Wk5, D2 - Shoulder press x 50; Lateral raise x 65; Upright row x 50
PD - a shade over one hour
I had a good sleep last night. Perhaps because it was cooler. Looking forward to the cooler weather.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 20
Atlas Day 19
GE Wk5, D3 - Rest day
PD - 45 minutes
As it was a scheduled rest day, I'd programmed in doing the shopping. There were so many things I had to get from a number of different places, and I had to get one in particular which was why I decided to go today. And when I got home, I realised I had forgotten that one thing so I have to go out again tomorrow and get it.
But the chickens needed food and grit, I wanted some new pens, the dog food was running low, I needed a desk lamp - that alone was four different shops in four different places. Oh, and some food - I got some of that, too. All up, over three hours out and a 60km round trip. But as much as I hate shopping, two little instances occurred that made me feel respected. The first, I was exiting one shop, and the bloke by the door called me "sir". Now, I'm okay with "mate" or "love", casual is fine by me. But "sir"! Later I wondered if it were just because going shopping ages me... The other one was when I encouraged the woman behind me at the checkout to go first, given she had two items and I had a lot. The elderly bloke behind her then came up to me and commended me. Found that a little odd, I must confess. I generally do it. It's just good manners, isn't it? But I left the shops on an up note.
Ab challenge Day 20
Atlas Day 19
GE Wk5, D3 - Rest day
PD - 45 minutes
As it was a scheduled rest day, I'd programmed in doing the shopping. There were so many things I had to get from a number of different places, and I had to get one in particular which was why I decided to go today. And when I got home, I realised I had forgotten that one thing so I have to go out again tomorrow and get it.
But the chickens needed food and grit, I wanted some new pens, the dog food was running low, I needed a desk lamp - that alone was four different shops in four different places. Oh, and some food - I got some of that, too. All up, over three hours out and a 60km round trip. But as much as I hate shopping, two little instances occurred that made me feel respected. The first, I was exiting one shop, and the bloke by the door called me "sir". Now, I'm okay with "mate" or "love", casual is fine by me. But "sir"! Later I wondered if it were just because going shopping ages me... The other one was when I encouraged the woman behind me at the checkout to go first, given she had two items and I had a lot. The elderly bloke behind her then came up to me and commended me. Found that a little odd, I must confess. I generally do it. It's just good manners, isn't it? But I left the shops on an up note.
Lady Celerity
Well-known member
from
The Woods. NorCal
Posts: 1,320
"..one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on.."
It is good manners and shouldn't be uncommon but unfortunately these days it is. I regularly teach and encourage manners to the students I interact with each day. It's amazing how many of them don't know how to enter a room, or greet someone, ask politely for something or even have an intelligible telephone conversation.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 21
Atlas Day 20
Treadmill walk with "soft knees" - 30 mins, 3.7kph, incline 2, while reading
GE Wk5, D4 - Biceps curl x 35; chest press x 60
PD - 1 hour, though possibly some more before I get to bed
'Tis the equinox.
And I'm so digging that badge! Pity it'll only be temporary...
Ab challenge Day 21
Atlas Day 20
Treadmill walk with "soft knees" - 30 mins, 3.7kph, incline 2, while reading
GE Wk5, D4 - Biceps curl x 35; chest press x 60
PD - 1 hour, though possibly some more before I get to bed
'Tis the equinox.
And I'm so digging that badge! Pity it'll only be temporary...
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 22
Atlas Day 21
Treadmill walk - 40mins at 5.5, incline 3 (incline 5 for last five minutes)
GE Wk5, D5 - Triceps press-down x 75; Triceps o/h extension x 25; Triceps kickbacks x 40
PD - 45 minutes
I'm trying to be compassionate with regard to what's happening in a certain country but it's getting harder and harder. (I wonder how many who are complaining even actually voted. You shouldn't expect other people to stand up for your democratic rights if you can't be bothered to do so.) But things do get harder when your own country begins to be attacked, and I'm not talking militarily, nor just via tariffs, but your institutions and policies. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which ensures that we don't generally have to pay more than $40 for medicines (and generally much less, especially if a pensioner or on social security when it's about $7.50); our policy with regard to streaming services whereby we insist on a certain percentage of local content; our policy with regard to children's access to social media. These are our policies, agreed upon by our people, and nobody else has any right to threaten them.
I've vented now.
Ab challenge Day 22
Atlas Day 21
Treadmill walk - 40mins at 5.5, incline 3 (incline 5 for last five minutes)
GE Wk5, D5 - Triceps press-down x 75; Triceps o/h extension x 25; Triceps kickbacks x 40
PD - 45 minutes
I'm trying to be compassionate with regard to what's happening in a certain country but it's getting harder and harder. (I wonder how many who are complaining even actually voted. You shouldn't expect other people to stand up for your democratic rights if you can't be bothered to do so.) But things do get harder when your own country begins to be attacked, and I'm not talking militarily, nor just via tariffs, but your institutions and policies. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which ensures that we don't generally have to pay more than $40 for medicines (and generally much less, especially if a pensioner or on social security when it's about $7.50); our policy with regard to streaming services whereby we insist on a certain percentage of local content; our policy with regard to children's access to social media. These are our policies, agreed upon by our people, and nobody else has any right to threaten them.
I've vented now.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 23
Atlas Day 22
Wall pushups Day 1 - The last couple of weeks, while I'm in bed, I've noticed my shoulder getting really sore because while sleeping, I get into positions I don't while awake. So I thought I'd revisit one of the physio's recommendations, which was one-armed wall pushups. So I'll do this challenge but split between each arm individually.
GE Wk5, D6 - Lat pull-downs x 66; Single-arm rows x 60
PD - 45 minutes
For the Cake - 300, comprising a variety of kicks (I forgot that turning kick on carpet gives you carpet burn!), punches, and strikes.
Ab challenge Day 23
Atlas Day 22
Wall pushups Day 1 - The last couple of weeks, while I'm in bed, I've noticed my shoulder getting really sore because while sleeping, I get into positions I don't while awake. So I thought I'd revisit one of the physio's recommendations, which was one-armed wall pushups. So I'll do this challenge but split between each arm individually.
GE Wk5, D6 - Lat pull-downs x 66; Single-arm rows x 60
PD - 45 minutes
For the Cake - 300, comprising a variety of kicks (I forgot that turning kick on carpet gives you carpet burn!), punches, and strikes.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 24
Atlas Day 23
Wall pushups Day 2
Treadmill walk - 50 mins at 5kph, incline 3 (incline 5 for last five minutes)
GE Wk5, D7 - Shoulder press x 60 (should have been 50 but I misread my own scrawl); Lateral raise x 65; Upright row x 50
PD - 45 minutes
For the Cake - 400: kicks, knee strikes, hand strikes, punches, back fists. Made me want to take out my arnis again, but they don't count.
Went out today to the tip shop and found a small cupboard (probably a bedside thing) that was just what I wanted to put my printer on so I can get it off the desk. And the spare printer paper can be neatly hidden away in the cupboard. Only $12 and in pretty good condition. Just need to give it a clean. Was confident it would easily fit in the back of my car. Lifted the hatch. Oops, guess who had forgotten to remove the 18kg bag of dog food, the 2 x 10kg bags of kitty litter, the 2 x 20kg sacks of chicken pellets, and the little 2kg bag of shell grit which brought it all up to a neat 80kg that shouldn't still have been there. The cupboard was not going to fit. So it went into the back seat and when I got home, I had a lot of hefting to do. Glad I got the cupboard; I really don't like the printer on the desk.
Ab challenge Day 24
Atlas Day 23
Wall pushups Day 2
Treadmill walk - 50 mins at 5kph, incline 3 (incline 5 for last five minutes)
GE Wk5, D7 - Shoulder press x 60 (should have been 50 but I misread my own scrawl); Lateral raise x 65; Upright row x 50
PD - 45 minutes
For the Cake - 400: kicks, knee strikes, hand strikes, punches, back fists. Made me want to take out my arnis again, but they don't count.
Went out today to the tip shop and found a small cupboard (probably a bedside thing) that was just what I wanted to put my printer on so I can get it off the desk. And the spare printer paper can be neatly hidden away in the cupboard. Only $12 and in pretty good condition. Just need to give it a clean. Was confident it would easily fit in the back of my car. Lifted the hatch. Oops, guess who had forgotten to remove the 18kg bag of dog food, the 2 x 10kg bags of kitty litter, the 2 x 20kg sacks of chicken pellets, and the little 2kg bag of shell grit which brought it all up to a neat 80kg that shouldn't still have been there. The cupboard was not going to fit. So it went into the back seat and when I got home, I had a lot of hefting to do. Glad I got the cupboard; I really don't like the printer on the desk.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 25
Atlas Day 24
Wall pushups Day 3
GE Wk6, D1 - this should have been a rest day but I want to get one more cycle done before my mum arrives on Thursday evening. Biceps curls x 35; Chest press x 60
PD - 30 min
Stuff for the Cake.
With the Advent Of The Mother louring, I started looking around to see what needed to be tidied up. Er, pretty much everything! So I turned on a Zombies, Run! non-Zombies Run story which had exercises rather than running and I finally folded away the washing that's been sitting around, in between biceps curls, squats, stair-stepping, and commando crawling. New towels and such so I was in no hurry for them. Neatly away now. More washing on the line. Tidied up small bits and pieces here and there. Major things yet to do are vacuuming and the mowing. Yay...
I'd been in bed for about half an hour last night when Footsy started making peculiar noises. So I got up and turned on the lights.
Ab challenge Day 25
Atlas Day 24
Wall pushups Day 3
GE Wk6, D1 - this should have been a rest day but I want to get one more cycle done before my mum arrives on Thursday evening. Biceps curls x 35; Chest press x 60
PD - 30 min
Stuff for the Cake.
With the Advent Of The Mother louring, I started looking around to see what needed to be tidied up. Er, pretty much everything! So I turned on a Zombies, Run! non-Zombies Run story which had exercises rather than running and I finally folded away the washing that's been sitting around, in between biceps curls, squats, stair-stepping, and commando crawling. New towels and such so I was in no hurry for them. Neatly away now. More washing on the line. Tidied up small bits and pieces here and there. Major things yet to do are vacuuming and the mowing. Yay...
I'd been in bed for about half an hour last night when Footsy started making peculiar noises. So I got up and turned on the lights.
She'd caught that little mouse again and was playing with it, carrying it around in her mouth and putting it down, batting it with her paws. I took a phot of her lying fully on her side next to it, and reaching out to touch it - lazy sod! After a while I got bored watching and turned off the light and went back to bed. This morning, there was a little stiff body just outside my bedroom door. Glad she hadn't brought it in, but I guess she knows I don't eat in bed! Still, I guess my mouse issue is solved.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 26
Atlas Day 25
Wall pushups Day 4
GE Wk6, D2 - Triceps press-down x 75; Triceps o/h extension x 25; Triceps kick-back x 40
PD - 45 min
The back yard was looking scary again. Plus there was the tall patch that I hadn't got around to mowing last time. It hadn't magically died down. The day started beautifully cloudy. Warm, but not very humid, so shortly before 10, I started cleaning up Creed's generous deposits and then got to mowing. Must have had a rush of blood to the head because I even opened the gate and mowed the tall weeds (as in, about my height) between the carport and the gate which I had never mowed before. Looks pretty good now. By the time that was all done, it was not far off midday! Had a bit of a giggle at the news - well, you've got to laugh or go mad, right? Then a lovely shower.Thought I'd better give the locks a bit of a hacking back - probably inspired by the mowing. Spent the evening wrestling with the printer: it's offline (why?? It prints fine from the android); delete it and reinstall; print one document, fail to print the next; offline; delete and reinstall; think about printing document then decide to go offline... Ggrrr! So much easier when you just plugged the darned things in! Eventually beat it into submission. Until next time...
Ab challenge Day 26
Atlas Day 25
Wall pushups Day 4
GE Wk6, D2 - Triceps press-down x 75; Triceps o/h extension x 25; Triceps kick-back x 40
PD - 45 min
The back yard was looking scary again. Plus there was the tall patch that I hadn't got around to mowing last time. It hadn't magically died down.
The day started beautifully cloudy. Warm, but not very humid, so shortly before 10, I started cleaning up Creed's generous deposits and then got to mowing. Must have had a rush of blood to the head because I even opened the gate and mowed the tall weeds (as in, about my height) between the carport and the gate which I had never mowed before. Looks pretty good now. By the time that was all done, it was not far off midday! Had a bit of a giggle at the news - well, you've got to laugh or go mad, right? Then a lovely shower.Thought I'd better give the locks a bit of a hacking back - probably inspired by the mowing. Spent the evening wrestling with the printer: it's offline (why?? It prints fine from the android); delete it and reinstall; print one document, fail to print the next; offline; delete and reinstall; think about printing document then decide to go offline... Ggrrr! So much easier when you just plugged the darned things in! Eventually beat it into submission. Until next time...
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 27
Atlas Day 26
Wall pushups Day 5
GE Wk6, D3 - Lat pull-downs x 65; Single-arm row x 60es
PD - 40 min
So, another busy preparatory day. Started off with laundry, another couple of loads on the line. Then the bathroom. Sorting out the fridge. Dusting. Then finally I gritted my teeth and did the indoor mowing, aka vacuuming. I had built it up to be some fearful horrible thing, and it didn't disappoint! I ache for the day when this carpet goes! It's quite interesting how engaged the core gets while vacuuming... But it's done now and, apart from the vacuuming because Creed does tend to shed, my house wasn't nearly as mucky as I had thought it might be. Tomorrow there's just dishes, folding of the washing, and making up the beds. I'd better go shopping and get some food in too, though my veg box is due on Saturday.
Ab challenge Day 27
Atlas Day 26
Wall pushups Day 5
GE Wk6, D3 - Lat pull-downs x 65; Single-arm row x 60es
PD - 40 min
So, another busy preparatory day. Started off with laundry, another couple of loads on the line. Then the bathroom. Sorting out the fridge. Dusting. Then finally I gritted my teeth and did the indoor mowing, aka vacuuming. I had built it up to be some fearful horrible thing, and it didn't disappoint! I ache for the day when this carpet goes! It's quite interesting how engaged the core gets while vacuuming... But it's done now and, apart from the vacuuming because Creed does tend to shed, my house wasn't nearly as mucky as I had thought it might be. Tomorrow there's just dishes, folding of the washing, and making up the beds. I'd better go shopping and get some food in too, though my veg box is due on Saturday.
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
I really dislike vacuuming (got no carpet, but a few "carpets', and a kitty...), and windows cleaning! But I have invested in the roomba - the automatic vacuum , and program it to work daily in my appartment, that saves me lots of aggravation.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 28
Atlas Day 27
Wall pushups Day 6
GE Wk6, D4 - Shoulder press x 60; Lateral raise x 65; Upright rows x 50
PD - 1 hour
Okay, so today I officially draw a lone across my Grand Experiment. The verdict?
My intention with this experiment was to see if I could gain strength not by doing the standard 12 rep and 3 sets (or similar variant) but by doing only a few reps of an exercise multiple times throughout the day, lifting a similar total weight. I tested myself to find the weight at which I could do 2-5 reps (depending on the exercise and slightly limited by the weights I have) of a very limited set of exercises, focusing on the upper body. There were four targets - biceps and chest, triceps, back, and shoulders - and I would hit one each day and then have a rest day. The rest day was not strictly necessary as the focus muscles would generally have three days off anyway, but I wanted one, partly to make sure, and partly just to give the whole body a break from lifting weights. This experiment was done on the fly, and as such, my protocols were not well fixed. During the first couple of weeks (about three cycles), I found myself wanted to increase the number of reps, to chalenge myself to do more, more, every time - but that wasn't the experiment. Realising what I was doing, I put an immediate stop to it and returned to what I had intended initially - to lift the same total amount of weight as I otherwise would in order to see whether or not I would gain strength.
The Issues:
There was a number of issues, some insurmountable, others unintentional.
1. There is only one of me. Therefore I could not perform both parts of the experiment and see which gave the best results. Neither could I do them sequentially, as one might expect that from the first iteration I would gain some degree of additional strength. Therefore, I could only do the one test and, of course, as I do not have access to high-tech monitoring machines and muscle biopsies, etc, all my observations are empirical.
2. I failed to note for which exercises I could perform only 2 reps, which more. As the experiment continued, I continued not to note how many reps at a go I could now perform.
3. The exercises chosen were based mostly on those I could perform without frequent (and annoying) jiggling around with the plates on my little dumbbells, and as a consequence, might not have been the best choice (and certainly I know I missed working muscles I'd otherwise have liked to have hit), but at the time I thought they were a good enough selection.
Results:
So. Was the experiment a success? Have I gained strength over this past six weeks of regular weight lifting?
First and perhaps foremost, I'd like to hope that almost anyone who doesn't lift regularly, when embarking on a regular schedule of weight lifting does get stronger. Did I get stronger? Yep. Although I didn't take careful note of reps per 'set' I did, today, for example, I did 20 reps of lateral raises. Shoulder presses tanked out at 12. Greatest improvement was in my triceps and that doesn't surprise me as they were my weakest. I did manage to crank the overhead triceps extensions to 10, though that was a fair struggle and I generally stopped at 8. Kick-backs were too easy, and I did the 40 reps (each side) in just two sets. I was very tempted to increase the weight for them, but that would have spoilt things so I didn't. Lat pull-downs hit 15 reps. Bicep curls went from 2 (I remember that one!) to 6, though that's still a struggle. A significant improvement though. I'm looking forward to playing around to see how much weight I can now lift for just two reps!
Final verdict:
Would I have seen similar strength gains if I had followed the same schedule but performed all the reps in a briefer window, using lighter weights? No idea. It's that issue of light weight/high rep vs heavy weights/low rep. Not that I went heavy. Overall, though, I enjoyed this experiment. I'd do it again - or rather, something similar, but I'd have a greater variety of exercises, perhaps having two or three different programmes for each group, and maybe add in an outlier, like a forearm workout. I am stronger, and that's nice. And I have proven to myself that for me, it doesn't really matter if I heft the weights in one session or whenever I peel myself away from my work and want to get the blood flowing again for a brief moment - I still see some gains. And that was the whole point. Therefore, yes, this experiment was a success.
And from here?
I am thinking of this in context of body-weight exercises and how to assess improvement there. I think I'd have to select exercises, record how many I can comfortably do (push myself but not quite to failure) and then set a total daily limit based on that. Eg, if I can comfortably with my dodgy knees, do, say 5 deep squats in a row, then I'd set myself a target of say, 15 in a day. Don't want to irritate those knees, and I could then do just 2 each time, or even just one. Then, if my knees feel up to it, I could do a set of 3 occasionally, but still sticking to the total of 15. Throughout the period, I'd stick to the same total of whatever exercise (push-ups, single-leg whatevers, side plank dips), and simply see how many sets I need to do in order to complete all the reps. So there won't actually be progression along the lines of: week 1, do 5 push-ups, week 2, do 7 push-ups, but there would be a lot of "greasing the groove". But as I said, I'm just thinking about this right now. Once my mum's left again, I'll get down to more experimentation.
So today the house got its final polish up. Even got out to the shops to buy in some food (I think my mum will appreciate that). By about 3 o'clock, everything was ready. I'd even clipped the dog's nails (I'd forgotten the cat but I did her later). Mum's flight was due in at 7:20. At 6:20 she phoned. Problem with the plane; she's delayed. At 7:05 she called again and said the flight had been cancelled and she's going back home. She'll be here tomorrow. You know, if she'd cancelled the flight and wanted to reschedule, the airline would have charged her for the privilege, but when the airline does it, all she can do is go back home. So tonight, for no particular reason, I get to sleep on the air mattress because I've already made up her bed. At least I can test to see if it is going to deflate again as it did when the Lad was last here, in which case I can sleep the rest of the night in my bed again!
Ab challenge Day 28
Atlas Day 27
Wall pushups Day 6
GE Wk6, D4 - Shoulder press x 60; Lateral raise x 65; Upright rows x 50
PD - 1 hour
Okay, so today I officially draw a lone across my Grand Experiment. The verdict?
My intention with this experiment was to see if I could gain strength not by doing the standard 12 rep and 3 sets (or similar variant) but by doing only a few reps of an exercise multiple times throughout the day, lifting a similar total weight. I tested myself to find the weight at which I could do 2-5 reps (depending on the exercise and slightly limited by the weights I have) of a very limited set of exercises, focusing on the upper body. There were four targets - biceps and chest, triceps, back, and shoulders - and I would hit one each day and then have a rest day. The rest day was not strictly necessary as the focus muscles would generally have three days off anyway, but I wanted one, partly to make sure, and partly just to give the whole body a break from lifting weights. This experiment was done on the fly, and as such, my protocols were not well fixed. During the first couple of weeks (about three cycles), I found myself wanted to increase the number of reps, to chalenge myself to do more, more, every time - but that wasn't the experiment. Realising what I was doing, I put an immediate stop to it and returned to what I had intended initially - to lift the same total amount of weight as I otherwise would in order to see whether or not I would gain strength.
The Issues:
There was a number of issues, some insurmountable, others unintentional.
1. There is only one of me. Therefore I could not perform both parts of the experiment and see which gave the best results. Neither could I do them sequentially, as one might expect that from the first iteration I would gain some degree of additional strength. Therefore, I could only do the one test and, of course, as I do not have access to high-tech monitoring machines and muscle biopsies, etc, all my observations are empirical.
2. I failed to note for which exercises I could perform only 2 reps, which more. As the experiment continued, I continued not to note how many reps at a go I could now perform.
3. The exercises chosen were based mostly on those I could perform without frequent (and annoying) jiggling around with the plates on my little dumbbells, and as a consequence, might not have been the best choice (and certainly I know I missed working muscles I'd otherwise have liked to have hit), but at the time I thought they were a good enough selection.
Results:
So. Was the experiment a success? Have I gained strength over this past six weeks of regular weight lifting?
First and perhaps foremost, I'd like to hope that almost anyone who doesn't lift regularly, when embarking on a regular schedule of weight lifting does get stronger. Did I get stronger? Yep. Although I didn't take careful note of reps per 'set' I did, today, for example, I did 20 reps of lateral raises. Shoulder presses tanked out at 12. Greatest improvement was in my triceps and that doesn't surprise me as they were my weakest. I did manage to crank the overhead triceps extensions to 10, though that was a fair struggle and I generally stopped at 8. Kick-backs were too easy, and I did the 40 reps (each side) in just two sets. I was very tempted to increase the weight for them, but that would have spoilt things so I didn't. Lat pull-downs hit 15 reps. Bicep curls went from 2 (I remember that one!) to 6, though that's still a struggle. A significant improvement though. I'm looking forward to playing around to see how much weight I can now lift for just two reps!
Final verdict:
Would I have seen similar strength gains if I had followed the same schedule but performed all the reps in a briefer window, using lighter weights? No idea. It's that issue of light weight/high rep vs heavy weights/low rep. Not that I went heavy. Overall, though, I enjoyed this experiment. I'd do it again - or rather, something similar, but I'd have a greater variety of exercises, perhaps having two or three different programmes for each group, and maybe add in an outlier, like a forearm workout. I am stronger, and that's nice. And I have proven to myself that for me, it doesn't really matter if I heft the weights in one session or whenever I peel myself away from my work and want to get the blood flowing again for a brief moment - I still see some gains. And that was the whole point. Therefore, yes, this experiment was a success.
And from here?
I am thinking of this in context of body-weight exercises and how to assess improvement there. I think I'd have to select exercises, record how many I can comfortably do (push myself but not quite to failure) and then set a total daily limit based on that. Eg, if I can comfortably with my dodgy knees, do, say 5 deep squats in a row, then I'd set myself a target of say, 15 in a day. Don't want to irritate those knees, and I could then do just 2 each time, or even just one. Then, if my knees feel up to it, I could do a set of 3 occasionally, but still sticking to the total of 15. Throughout the period, I'd stick to the same total of whatever exercise (push-ups, single-leg whatevers, side plank dips), and simply see how many sets I need to do in order to complete all the reps. So there won't actually be progression along the lines of: week 1, do 5 push-ups, week 2, do 7 push-ups, but there would be a lot of "greasing the groove". But as I said, I'm just thinking about this right now. Once my mum's left again, I'll get down to more experimentation.
So today the house got its final polish up. Even got out to the shops to buy in some food (I think my mum will appreciate that). By about 3 o'clock, everything was ready. I'd even clipped the dog's nails (I'd forgotten the cat but I did her later). Mum's flight was due in at 7:20. At 6:20 she phoned. Problem with the plane; she's delayed. At 7:05 she called again and said the flight had been cancelled and she's going back home. She'll be here tomorrow. You know, if she'd cancelled the flight and wanted to reschedule, the airline would have charged her for the privilege, but when the airline does it, all she can do is go back home. So tonight, for no particular reason, I get to sleep on the air mattress because I've already made up her bed. At least I can test to see if it is going to deflate again as it did when the Lad was last here, in which case I can sleep the rest of the night in my bed again!
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Ab challenge Day 29
Atlas Day 28
Wall pushups Day 7
Treadmill walk, 50 min, 5.5kph, incline 3 (last 5 mins, incline 5)
PD - 30 minutes
So my mum's plane departed late and therefore arrived late. But she's here now, finding my Kloudsac extremely comfortable (she can get up out of it and her back doesn't hurt) and Creed has a new best friend whom he follows around and sooks up to. I feel quite neglected. Thank goodness for Footsy! The air mattress last night was fine and the neighbours' dogs let me sleep in an extra hour this morning and only started barking just before 7...
Ab challenge Day 29
Atlas Day 28
Wall pushups Day 7
Treadmill walk, 50 min, 5.5kph, incline 3 (last 5 mins, incline 5)
PD - 30 minutes
So my mum's plane departed late and therefore arrived late. But she's here now, finding my Kloudsac extremely comfortable (she can get up out of it and her back doesn't hurt) and Creed has a new best friend whom he follows around and sooks up to. I feel quite neglected. Thank goodness for Footsy! The air mattress last night was fine and the neighbours' dogs let me sleep in an extra hour this morning and only started barking just before 7...
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Atlas Day 29
Wall pushups Day 8
PD - 2 hours
A very slack day today! Oh, I mean, a 'rest' day.
Got to bed very late last night - or rather, early this morning because mum wouldn't go to bed. I'll be firmer tonight. At least on the weekend, the neighbours's dogs don't go off so much. Mum demanded we go to the shops and buy her a pillow. Apparently the crappy spare pillow that had been shoved in my cupboard wasn't up to snuff. Of course, if it had been, it wouldn't have been a 'spare' pillow but rather one that I was using! So we went out early afternoon and first bought some more pens. She liked the ones I'd recently bought and decided to get some for herself. Then off to find a pillow. We did, and by becoming a 'friend' of the shop (which didn't cost me anything and which I'll probably ignore henceforth), saved $162 on the pillow, spending only $37.99! Now that's a saving! I just hope it's a good pillow.
My veg box came this afternoon and it's always fun to see what's in it. Nothing particularly exciting today, but some zucchini which is nice because i have a new recipe for using them, and a couple of capsicum which I was hoping for. A small head of broccoli, and a good handful of brushed potatoes. Mum wants me to show her how to use the airfryer so I'm thinking chips.
Atlas Day 29
Wall pushups Day 8
PD - 2 hours
A very slack day today! Oh, I mean, a 'rest' day.
Got to bed very late last night - or rather, early this morning because mum wouldn't go to bed. I'll be firmer tonight. At least on the weekend, the neighbours's dogs don't go off so much. Mum demanded we go to the shops and buy her a pillow. Apparently the crappy spare pillow that had been shoved in my cupboard wasn't up to snuff. Of course, if it had been, it wouldn't have been a 'spare' pillow but rather one that I was using! So we went out early afternoon and first bought some more pens. She liked the ones I'd recently bought and decided to get some for herself. Then off to find a pillow. We did, and by becoming a 'friend' of the shop (which didn't cost me anything and which I'll probably ignore henceforth), saved $162 on the pillow, spending only $37.99! Now that's a saving! I just hope it's a good pillow.
My veg box came this afternoon and it's always fun to see what's in it. Nothing particularly exciting today, but some zucchini which is nice because i have a new recipe for using them, and a couple of capsicum which I was hoping for. A small head of broccoli, and a good handful of brushed potatoes. Mum wants me to show her how to use the airfryer so I'm thinking chips.
aku-chan
Well-known member
That sounds like a lot for a pillow! 
TopNotch
Well-known member
I know! Truly shocking if you want a decent pillow - essential to a good night's sleep.That sounds like a lot for a pillow!
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Wall pushups Day 9
Treadmill walking, 30min at 4kph while reading
PD - 1 hour 50 minutes
Another pretty slack day. This weekend was the Canberra two-day walk. Mum's been coming down and doing it for the last twenty years but this year she wasn't up to doing the walking - too much trouble with her back and leg. Even came off the aeroplane in a wheelchair! And actually, it was a relief not to do the walk. A relief for me, that is. Aside from the fact that a new mob took over about 7 years ago and they recycle the same routes every year. Now, that wouldn't be so bad if they were interesting routes, but they're not; they're just easy for them to work out. I've done them six times and I'm well over them. The previous mob made different routes and that was far more interesting. Anyway, this year was also the first year that it rained the whole of one day. All yesterday, aside from very brief pauses, it drizzled and misted and was generally wet. Relatively cool, too - only up to 18 degrees. It wouldn't have been very pleasant, especially on a boring route. Today started sunny but was very windy, and with everything being damp, also wouldn't have been particularly pleasant. So though I am sorry mum couldn't do the walk and get her 20-year pin (and couldn't do the walk because of being in pain), I am glad that we didn't have to do so in horrible weather. Today we stayed at home and drank tea. Mum had brought me a bag of lemon pepper spice mix so I rubbed that on the chicken and cooked the chips and dinner was lovely.
Mum said the pillow was very nice.
Wall pushups Day 9
Treadmill walking, 30min at 4kph while reading
PD - 1 hour 50 minutes
Another pretty slack day. This weekend was the Canberra two-day walk. Mum's been coming down and doing it for the last twenty years but this year she wasn't up to doing the walking - too much trouble with her back and leg. Even came off the aeroplane in a wheelchair! And actually, it was a relief not to do the walk. A relief for me, that is. Aside from the fact that a new mob took over about 7 years ago and they recycle the same routes every year. Now, that wouldn't be so bad if they were interesting routes, but they're not; they're just easy for them to work out. I've done them six times and I'm well over them. The previous mob made different routes and that was far more interesting. Anyway, this year was also the first year that it rained the whole of one day. All yesterday, aside from very brief pauses, it drizzled and misted and was generally wet. Relatively cool, too - only up to 18 degrees. It wouldn't have been very pleasant, especially on a boring route. Today started sunny but was very windy, and with everything being damp, also wouldn't have been particularly pleasant. So though I am sorry mum couldn't do the walk and get her 20-year pin (and couldn't do the walk because of being in pain), I am glad that we didn't have to do so in horrible weather. Today we stayed at home and drank tea. Mum had brought me a bag of lemon pepper spice mix so I rubbed that on the chicken and cooked the chips and dinner was lovely.
Mum said the pillow was very nice.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Wall pushups Day 10
PD - 3 hours +
Really don't know where the day went today. With mum's being here, I'm a little loath to do my usual sort of stuff because I don't want it to seem as though I'm neglecting her, so instead of working in my study, I worked at a small computer table in the lounge. We watched some of the news and, as a counterpoint, I shared stories of my time dealing with classified and AUSTEO information - a very interesting period of my life. We did a lot of studying together and I shared some of my knowledge - that was how we spent much of the day. Before I knew it, it was time for me to start making dinner and I hadn't even done a walk! Well, there's tomorrow. There's always tomorrow.
Wall pushups Day 10
PD - 3 hours +
Really don't know where the day went today. With mum's being here, I'm a little loath to do my usual sort of stuff because I don't want it to seem as though I'm neglecting her, so instead of working in my study, I worked at a small computer table in the lounge. We watched some of the news and, as a counterpoint, I shared stories of my time dealing with classified and AUSTEO information - a very interesting period of my life. We did a lot of studying together and I shared some of my knowledge - that was how we spent much of the day. Before I knew it, it was time for me to start making dinner and I hadn't even done a walk! Well, there's tomorrow. There's always tomorrow.
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Enjoy your mom's visit, take care!
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Wall pushups Day 11
Daily Crunch Day 1
Treadmill walk 50mins, 5.5kph, incline 3 (last five minutes incline 5) Threw in some running intervals just because I felt like it.
PD - 2 hours
Despite not being the most comfortable on that air mattress (and occasionally crashing into the bookshelf next to me because it's quite narrow), I've actually been sleeping quite well. Had some wonderful (though vaguely disturbing) dreams last night. Plus the neighbours's dogs were quiet!
I can't deny that another 10 nights on that mattress don't seem daunting, though...
This morning I got on the treadmill before mum was up. She'd initially scolded me for not waking her but I reckon if she's asleep, she needs the sleep (especially as she gets up several times during the night), and there's no rush to get up - we're not going anywhere. Except tomorrow. Need food. She complained that she was keeping me from my breakfast and it was hard to convince her that I habitually eat a late breakfast - around 11, even 12 o'clock. She's mostly stopped fussing about that now.
I've been happily working on my next Grand Experiment. At first I thought this, but now I'm pretty decided that it'll be that. More fiddling and finessing to do but I have time because I won't start it until mum leaves. I'm reticent to exercise in front of people who aren't exercising. I guess it's a hold-over from the last almost decade of being... well, shamed is perhaps too strong a word so water it down a little... for indulging in physical exercise of any sort, including going for brisk (and I've got a good line in 'brisk') walks. Oh well. That's over now - except for the reticence, that is.
Wall pushups Day 11
Daily Crunch Day 1
Treadmill walk 50mins, 5.5kph, incline 3 (last five minutes incline 5) Threw in some running intervals just because I felt like it.
PD - 2 hours
Despite not being the most comfortable on that air mattress (and occasionally crashing into the bookshelf next to me because it's quite narrow), I've actually been sleeping quite well. Had some wonderful (though vaguely disturbing) dreams last night. Plus the neighbours's dogs were quiet!
I can't deny that another 10 nights on that mattress don't seem daunting, though...This morning I got on the treadmill before mum was up. She'd initially scolded me for not waking her but I reckon if she's asleep, she needs the sleep (especially as she gets up several times during the night), and there's no rush to get up - we're not going anywhere. Except tomorrow. Need food. She complained that she was keeping me from my breakfast and it was hard to convince her that I habitually eat a late breakfast - around 11, even 12 o'clock. She's mostly stopped fussing about that now.
I've been happily working on my next Grand Experiment. At first I thought this, but now I'm pretty decided that it'll be that. More fiddling and finessing to do but I have time because I won't start it until mum leaves. I'm reticent to exercise in front of people who aren't exercising. I guess it's a hold-over from the last almost decade of being... well, shamed is perhaps too strong a word so water it down a little... for indulging in physical exercise of any sort, including going for brisk (and I've got a good line in 'brisk') walks. Oh well. That's over now - except for the reticence, that is.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Wall pushups Day 12
Daily Crunch Day 2
Treadmill walk 30mins, 4kph while reading
PD - 2-3 hours
Another good sleep! A lovely sunny day - we do good autumns here. Two eggs from the chooks. All in all, a rather pleasant day.
Wall pushups Day 12
Daily Crunch Day 2
Treadmill walk 30mins, 4kph while reading
PD - 2-3 hours
Another good sleep! A lovely sunny day - we do good autumns here. Two eggs from the chooks. All in all, a rather pleasant day.
TopNotch
Well-known member
First Thing Water
Wall pushups Day 13
Daily Crunch Day 3
PD - 30 minutes
Well, today certainly didn't go quite to plan! Not as good a sleep as the last few nights but still pretty good - a decent amount of REM and rather dystopian dreams, which I find odd as I don't tend to read or watch dystopian stories... Guess my nighttime brain is making up for the deficit! I hadn't slept so well because I was cold. The weather is chiling and I need to add a blanket to my bed tonight. The cat curled up under the doona all night. Mum had instructed I wake her at 9:30 so I opened her door, yelled "Good morning" and sent Creed in. That did it. She showered; we had breakfast; watched a bit of news; then went out to the Tip Shop to look for books and DVDs. First thing we found was a chair that will do nicely in my study. We got to the books and began looking through, and then mum complained that she was feeling horrible and had to sit down. So I rushed back and grabbed the chair, bringing it back for her to sit on. We continued browsing and from time to time she had to put her head down. Fast-forward about twenty minutes and she decides to go very peculiar, staring unresponsible eyes and slack mouth, clammy and sweating. A nearby lady came to our assistance and helped me hold mum up in the chair while I phoned an ambulance. After about fifteen minutes, the ambos arrived and were shown to the back of the shed where we were and they did their stuff and then loaded her into the ambulance and took her off to the hospital. I bought the books and DVDs we'd selected - and the chair - loaded them into the car and set off for the hospital. I was lucky to find a parking spot and made my way to Emergency where she had been offloaded. It was about 2 by this time. She had tests and mostly they looked good and on the whole, people were happy that she hadn't had a heart attack or thrown a clot or something horrible like that. Then she was moved from Emergency to Acute Care. I did my push-ups against the wall there. Around 4, she was moved again to a quieter area and we were told she could leave at 6. A bit after 5, she got dinner. She ate most of the pumpkin soup but didn't really like the meat stew, complained that the broccoli was tough (but she ate it anyway), and drank down the orange juice. I got the dessert because she doesn't like custard. Shortly after 6, thoroughly bored from having spent most of the day sitting on hard chairs, I tackled a nurse, saying we wanted to leave. Finally got let out shortly after 7 and back home again by 7:40. Creed was very happy to see us. Dinner, you see, was late. So, that was a fun day... Good news is, nothing seems to be wrong with mum. I supposed this enlivened an otherwise tame Wednesday. At home she had a cheese sandwich and we had a pot of tea. I was so dry! Probably hungry too but I couldn't be bothered to eat. I'd had breakfast and scoffed half the sandwich she had been given around 3 - it was pretty horrible but I was hungry.
Good to have universal health care, hey?
Wall pushups Day 13
Daily Crunch Day 3
PD - 30 minutes
Well, today certainly didn't go quite to plan! Not as good a sleep as the last few nights but still pretty good - a decent amount of REM and rather dystopian dreams, which I find odd as I don't tend to read or watch dystopian stories... Guess my nighttime brain is making up for the deficit! I hadn't slept so well because I was cold. The weather is chiling and I need to add a blanket to my bed tonight. The cat curled up under the doona all night. Mum had instructed I wake her at 9:30 so I opened her door, yelled "Good morning" and sent Creed in. That did it. She showered; we had breakfast; watched a bit of news; then went out to the Tip Shop to look for books and DVDs. First thing we found was a chair that will do nicely in my study. We got to the books and began looking through, and then mum complained that she was feeling horrible and had to sit down. So I rushed back and grabbed the chair, bringing it back for her to sit on. We continued browsing and from time to time she had to put her head down. Fast-forward about twenty minutes and she decides to go very peculiar, staring unresponsible eyes and slack mouth, clammy and sweating. A nearby lady came to our assistance and helped me hold mum up in the chair while I phoned an ambulance. After about fifteen minutes, the ambos arrived and were shown to the back of the shed where we were and they did their stuff and then loaded her into the ambulance and took her off to the hospital. I bought the books and DVDs we'd selected - and the chair - loaded them into the car and set off for the hospital. I was lucky to find a parking spot and made my way to Emergency where she had been offloaded. It was about 2 by this time. She had tests and mostly they looked good and on the whole, people were happy that she hadn't had a heart attack or thrown a clot or something horrible like that. Then she was moved from Emergency to Acute Care. I did my push-ups against the wall there. Around 4, she was moved again to a quieter area and we were told she could leave at 6. A bit after 5, she got dinner. She ate most of the pumpkin soup but didn't really like the meat stew, complained that the broccoli was tough (but she ate it anyway), and drank down the orange juice. I got the dessert because she doesn't like custard. Shortly after 6, thoroughly bored from having spent most of the day sitting on hard chairs, I tackled a nurse, saying we wanted to leave. Finally got let out shortly after 7 and back home again by 7:40. Creed was very happy to see us. Dinner, you see, was late. So, that was a fun day... Good news is, nothing seems to be wrong with mum. I supposed this enlivened an otherwise tame Wednesday. At home she had a cheese sandwich and we had a pot of tea. I was so dry! Probably hungry too but I couldn't be bothered to eat. I'd had breakfast and scoffed half the sandwich she had been given around 3 - it was pretty horrible but I was hungry.
Good to have universal health care, hey?
Mamatigerj
Well-known member
Glad your mum is okay! Hugs to you both.
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Glad your mum seems OK, looks like hypotension or hypoglycemia... Tell her the bees are sending buzzs
Maegaranthelas
Moderator
from
hugs to you both, that is rather a stressful day!
Lady Celerity
Well-known member
from
The Woods. NorCal
Posts: 1,320
"..one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on.."
What a stressful day for you both! Thank goodness your mom seems to be okay. Please have her get a thorough check up when she gets back home. 