Multiple Sets
I'm starting to add in a more organized routine of weight lifting into my fitness program. Back on day 1, June 30, I decided to make the aerobic activity the priority. For the first two weeks, I didn't do any kind of weight lifting, instead working on making 30 minutes working out by swimming, or stationary bike, or elipse, something I could get into.
After two weeks, I slowly added some weights using machines. I'd just try to hit the major muscle groups as I remembered them from years ago. One quick set on each machine without any breaks, sort of as an addendum to my aerobics routine.
Then I became more faithful to the weights. I picked out specific machines to work specific muscle groups, but still used only one set. Since I wasn't using a workout diary or notebook, I was not making much progress.
Now I've pulled out my old workout sheets and re-worked them for the machines in my gym. I've started to record how much weight I used, and mark each set with an "L" for "light" -- meaning I need to up the weight, or "H" for "heavy" -- meaning I need to stay at that weight. I also recorded the seat settings so I don't have to spend minutes on each machine getting the adjustments right.
I'm not one for using a pencil at the gym. Every time I've tried it, I end up losing the pencil. So I've organized the sheets so that each exercise has a column where I can check anywhere from 8 to 15 reps. But instead of putting a check in the box, I fold the paper over that box, and make a small tear. I also have columns for the "L" and "H", and if I need to mark a weight as too light or too heavy, I make a small tear there. No pencils.
After my workouts, I take a new sheet, and write any new weights, and place circles where the next progressive set should end (if I did 9 reps last time, I should do at least 10 next time).
Yes, it means I print off a new sheet every workout, but that's not a problem with all of the computers at my disposal.
Every other day with weights. Well, at the very least, I'll sleep well...
A Weekend of Experienced Nurses... a crowd of mourners...
Don't know how I managed it, but this particular weekend is staffed with mostly experienced nurses. Last night was a quiet one, as years of experienced and well-honed instinct prevented most problems long before they manifested themselves. I did make my usual rounds, and I'd come out to the nurses' station and ask about this and that ("did you notice how hard he's breathing," or "any results yet from his chest CT angiogram," or "how's her serial cardiac enzymes?") My queries were never a surprise, no furrowed brows, no shrugging of neophyte shoulders.
I spent most of the night working on various projects. I even got to take a brief walk around the building and watched a helicopter land, dropping off a bloody mess strapped to a rigid backboard, flight EMTs squeezing bags of clear fluid into the veins. I heard she made it.
On my return trip, I stood quietly as a young hispanic mother wailed the hopeless mourning wail of a mother who will never see her 3-year-old daughter make it to grade school. The news freshly broken, she ran out into the street, screaming and crying. Family members poured out of the building behind her, weeping. As I negotiated around the small crowd of a dozen or so, the mother was beating her fists against the chest of (I presume) her husband. The wails.., it sends chills down my spine as I recall them.
I'm back for two more nights.
no moleskine?
Posted by: Karen | August 29, 2005 at 07:28 PM
John: I have ruined a lot of technology at gyms. I've dropped god only knows how many CD players, radios and other gadgets. There is a palm app for tracking body-building, but I'd drop it. So when in the gym, I decide to go low-tech because I keep dropping stuff...
Posted by: Eric | August 28, 2005 at 09:06 AM
Folding over paper corners at the gym?
For you, surprisingly low tech....
I would have expected the palm pilot, with "weight to reps" excel graphs, to say the least...
I'm sure the low tech approach won't last long.. I have faith in you!
John
Posted by: DisappearingJohn | August 27, 2005 at 10:55 PM