back to the gym

[redbird]

Based on my doctor's advice, I've decided to try alternating (more or less) between lifting heavier weights (which has been the direction I've been moving) and lighter weights for more repetitions. I discussed this with Bob, my favorite trainer at my gym, and he agrees that it makes sense. He doesn't think I'm bulking up (I don't either), and cautioned against dropping the weight too much.


Hip adduction: 100 pounds, 18, 15, 15
Hip abduction: 90 pounds, 3 sets of 15

Cardio, 33 minutes, top heart rate 153

Bench press: 40 pounds, 3 sets of 15
Seated leg curl, 75 pounds, 3 sets of 17
Triceps pulldown: 1 at 50 pounds because I didn't look at what had been left on it; 40 pounds, 11 (right after the 50-pound pulldown), then 2 sets of 12. Having managed the 50 pounds, I decided I could get away with raising my weight on this one from 35 to 40, and dropped the number of reps back to 12.

Crunches, 3 sets of 20
Lift with physio ball, 2 sets of 15
Back arch, 15
Yoga tree, balance not as good as it has been (not terribly surprising, given that it's been over a week)

Adjustable row, 110 pounds, 2 sets of 15
Biceps curl, 40 pounds, 3 sets of 15
Overhand wrist curls, 3 pounds per hand, 3 sets of 12

Stretches


Then down to Chinatown for an excellent bowl of duck congee at Great NY Noodletown--it's always good, but they were particularly generous with the ginger today--and tangerine sorbet for dessert at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. (I tasted the blueberry but was unimpressed.) Then I picked up a half roast duck, which I just turned into a very fine pilaf, with homemade broth and dried cherries.

Comments

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

He doesn't think I'm bulking up (I don't either), and cautioned against dropping the weight too much.

Heh, it's not clear from this whether you want to bulk up or want to avoid doing so, but if the latter, know that it's almost totally impossible for women to "bulk up", so if you're not actively trying, it won't happen :-) If the former, well, ignore what I said.

[elusis.livejournal.com]

Ditto the above. Have a look at my post containing the gym rant from the past day or so, and the links I posted in dialogue with trinker. Good info there.

You go with your bad self at the gym, and work to whatever your capability and motivation level is (without hurting yourself, obviously.)

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

Heh, I loved your rant. That could be a description of my gym, except the skinny women aren't just on the thigh machines but also doing bicep curls with 5-pound dumbbells, side presses on the ab crunch machine with almost no weight, etc, etc... Of course, the boys doing bicep curls and throwing their torsos back and jumping up on their toes in order to get their whole body into it are just as irritating, and I bet it isn't women who leave the 75-pound dumbbells randomly in the middle of the floor and don't restack them.

Oh, by the way, I recognize you from the Whore Code... I spent quite a bit of time updating mine back in the day :-)

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Can you describe a good duck congee, and speculate as to recipe?

[redbird]

I don't care whether I bulk up. I'm building muscle, strength, and I hope balance and endurance; I don't care whether it shows to the casual viewer. And yes, I know it's almost impossible for women to bulk up.

A good duck congee is good, smooth, not-too-thin congee (i.e. rice porridge), with good roast duck, ginger, and scallions (green onions) in it. I've googled for congee recipes but never made it myself, so can't really help you here.