Gym stuff; a museum; shopping; heat

My wrists were sore this morning, I think from the amount of weight they took during yesterday's yoga. Ibuprofen helped, so I went off to the gym when cattitude did.

Hip adduction and abduction, still at 100 and 90 pounds, respectively. Three sets of 15, except last set of ab was only 14 reps, and I cheated slightly on the last rep of the adduction (used my hands to get the legs all the way together). 25 minutes of cardio, more of a struggle than usual, and heart rate mostly in the 136-140 range. Bench press, 3 sets of 15 reps at 45 pounds. Seated leg curl, I did two sets of 15 at 60 pounds, and in the second set the left calf was feeling tense, so I dropped to 50 pounds for the third set, and it worked out okay. Row, still at 90 pounds, did three sets but again it seemed harder than it has lately. Triceps, two sets of 15 with the bar handle at 70 pounds; one set with the rope handle at 45.

Then over to the mat, and a few minutes working on the yoga balancing exercise where you stand on one leg and hold the other foot against that leg; the wall was handy, but I'm improving a little, I think, or maybe the thicker mat is easier for my feet to grip. Three sets each of crunches and back arches, as long as I was at the mat, then one-leg-at-a-time leg extensions, still at ten pounds, 3 sets, only 12 reps a set this time.

Tea Den for lunch again, and then--thanks to aiglet for the idea--I went up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and spent an hour or so playing "oh, shiny!" in the upstairs galleries. I let my eye light where it would, rather than being systematic about anything. A few 19th century Dutch paintings, a Monet or two, some Babylonian gold, Chinese pottery. No companion, no agenda, and when I got tired I left, having maybe learned a bit about Cypriot culture, most of which has either slipped away or lodged in the corners of memory where it will lurk until something pokes at it.

From there, I took the 5 train down to Brooklyn to pick up some useful and tasty things at Sahadi's. Most of downtown Brooklyn wasn't too hot--noticeably cooler than either midtown or the Upper East Side--and then I turned onto Atlantic Avenue, with the sun directly in front of me. Yow! Fortunately, it was only half a block, and now I have tea and chocolate and pita bread.

That was the last stop; I started feeling wiped out and uncomfortable on the way home, when I was already sitting on an air-conditioned train, so there was little to do but continue home, not stopping at the supermarket. I've been in and out of the air conditioning more than usual this evening; dinner was turkey on the pita bread, and I've been drinking lots of water and juice.

Gym stuff; a museum; shopping; heat

My wrists were sore this morning, I think from the amount of weight they took during yesterday's yoga. Ibuprofen helped, so I went off to the gym when cattitude did.

Hip adduction and abduction, still at 100 and 90 pounds, respectively. Three sets of 15, except last set of ab was only 14 reps, and I cheated slightly on the last rep of the adduction (used my hands to get the legs all the way together). 25 minutes of cardio, more of a struggle than usual, and heart rate mostly in the 136-140 range. Bench press, 3 sets of 15 reps at 45 pounds. Seated leg curl, I did two sets of 15 at 60 pounds, and in the second set the left calf was feeling tense, so I dropped to 50 pounds for the third set, and it worked out okay. Row, still at 90 pounds, did three sets but again it seemed harder than it has lately. Triceps, two sets of 15 with the bar handle at 70 pounds; one set with the rope handle at 45.

Then over to the mat, and a few minutes working on the yoga balancing exercise where you stand on one leg and hold the other foot against that leg; the wall was handy, but I'm improving a little, I think, or maybe the thicker mat is easier for my feet to grip. Three sets each of crunches and back arches, as long as I was at the mat, then one-leg-at-a-time leg extensions, still at ten pounds, 3 sets, only 12 reps a set this time.

Tea Den for lunch again, and then--thanks to aiglet for the idea--I went up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and spent an hour or so playing "oh, shiny!" in the upstairs galleries. I let my eye light where it would, rather than being systematic about anything. A few 19th century Dutch paintings, a Monet or two, some Babylonian gold, Chinese pottery. No companion, no agenda, and when I got tired I left, having maybe learned a bit about Cypriot culture, most of which has either slipped away or lodged in the corners of memory where it will lurk until something pokes at it.

From there, I took the 5 train down to Brooklyn to pick up some useful and tasty things at Sahadi's. Most of downtown Brooklyn wasn't too hot--noticeably cooler than either midtown or the Upper East Side--and then I turned onto Atlantic Avenue, with the sun directly in front of me. Yow! Fortunately, it was only half a block, and now I have tea and chocolate and pita bread.

That was the last stop; I started feeling wiped out and uncomfortable on the way home, when I was already sitting on an air-conditioned train, so there was little to do but continue home, not stopping at the supermarket. I've been in and out of the air conditioning more than usual this evening; dinner was turkey on the pita bread, and I've been drinking lots of water and juice.