Thanks for the movie tip! I missed it when it was playing in the theaters.
@sabaray, my kid’s asthma turned out to be VCD-complicated. The test could be quite simple: the doc will look at the vocal cords after doing something that causes the symptom (like running up a hill).
https://www.nationaljewish.org/conditions/vocal-cord-dysfunction-vcd/diagnosis
Not saying that it is what you have, but it is one thing that often gets overlooked!
Chamomile, could you work with a trainer in your regular residence at a boutique place? Are there any places like that where you live? A small, privately owned place might be more ready to cut a deal. Any YMCAs or JCCs? I like that senior center suggestion, too. Maybe some city rec center has a seniors space?
I’d probably join the cheap PF or 24 Hour place and just not expect any worthwhile help from trainers. I’d focus on my six months at the vacation home with the good trainers and take some classes to make it more fun and less lonely.
Update:
My “golfer elbow” pain is still there but not as intense. Switching to neutral grip chins and decreasing the volume may have helped.
I had a big day yesterday, hitting a 60# Press for five sets of three.
Earlier in the week, I surpassed the squat weight where I tweaked my back in September. I did 136#
Not bad for an old lady! 
I bought a A7 Bar Grip shirt to see if it helps the bar stay put on my back and so my arms (elbows) don’t tense up during squats. We shall see! The fabric is soooo comfy.
I skipped hiking today & opted for more sleep. I’m leading next week’s hike.
I hope everyone is doing well & stays healthy.
Holidays really make it challenging to stick to a routine, that’s for sure.
I’ve been plodding along with running - only limits on my activity are with respect to HIIT workouts and “heavy” weights, so running and Pilates will have to do. I had entered the lottery for Chicago and was happily surprised to be selected, so that will be my big goal for 2020 - just finishing. I’m really excited. I’m also headed to a Pilates/yoga retreat out of the States in a few months and am really looking forward to that as well. I want to get as much out of life as I can while I’m able to.
I’m always impressed with how much improvement you make each time you post. That’s wonderful. Honestly, for mere mortals like us, a press of 60 lbs and a squat of 136 lbs is amazing.
A male friend of mine who’s over 6’ and athletically-built just hit 3 pull-ups. So there!
You want a “power bar” with a **center/b knurl (grip). The center knurl will “grab” your shirt and act as a bar stabilizer on your back. If your bar has a center knurl already, then you probably need one with a more aggressive knurl. The cheaper alternative is to have someone or yourself chalk your back where your bar would sit.
An example:
https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-ohio-power-bar
I have worked out for many days in a row and decided to switch my day off from Sunday to Saturday. The old body was feeling sore just about everywhere. So, my typically long Saturday workout was performed yesterday, Sunday. I’m thinking I may prioritze cardio tonight, since yesterday was mostly heavy lifting and working on skills (mechanics).
It took me MONTHS to realize that my Rogue Bella Bar — the 33# smaller diameter women’s bar — has no center knurl!
An A7 shirt is less expensive than an Ohio Bar.
Maybe I’ll reward myself with a new bar, from the Rogue Bone Yard, sometime in 2020…
Thanks for the encouraging words!
Yep, I’m always watching for an appealing (something with color, maybe) boneyard bar too.
For anyone who might be reading along and curious…
I got my squat rack around Memorial Day of 2019.
At that time, my starting weights were:
Squat 75#
DL 145#
Bench 55#
Press 33# <—empty bar!
Band-assisted chin-ups
As a novice lifter, I can add a little weight to the bar every single training session.
I lost two months in my linear progression (for lower body lifts) due to my back tweak. And, I’ve eased off chin-ups in hopes of getting my elbows to calm down.
Current lifts:
Squat 136#
DL 182# (PR is 193#)
Bench 88#
Press 60#
Chin-ups – 4 is my PR, but I’m currently unable to do more than 3 for sets.
This progression has been slow, but steady. And listen, I’m no athletic Wonder Woman. I don’t particularly like getting all hot and sweaty. I’m not into “working out”. I don’t run. I don’t bike. (I do hike.) I wouldn’t even say I LOVE lifting weights, but I LOVE feeling strong(er).
ANYBODY can do this. Get a little stronger, every week. Build some muscle and some bone density!
One of the strength training podcasts I listen to said, speaking to older women, Hey, so what if you are only adding 1/2 a pound to the bar every week? In a year? That’s going to be a LOT of weight added. Just be consistent. Show up and train. Get strong.
Just heard this one on the news today. Scary. I thought we were headed the other way.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/health/american-obesity-trends-wellness/index.html
@sushiritto Our local free health clinic (serving people who have no health insurance) just shared this same article on fb. They deal with this problem every day and have so many clients suffering from chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease that are often a direct result of obesity.
I was recently at a food bank roundtable where they discussed the problems with obesity and health in the population they serve. A new initiative for them is offering fresh produce with recipes throughout the week - usually tied to another service specific for children. We have a grant funded bus which visits neighborhoods and offers books to the children - now they are also offering fruits, vegetables and recipes to the parents. It seems to be going well but as always the issue will be funding. I truly do not believe people want to be overweight, but often they’re limited by funds, access to stores, or just don’t know how to prepare healthier meals. I often feel like we’re turning into a country of the fat, sick and dying. Pretty depressing.
^^^^ @sabaray a step beyond that (as an literacy based professional) is to gather children’s books that have a health/wellness theme. I’m guessing the books they are giving are gently used and not newly purchased(?) but this is something I do in my literacy program which is based in primary care offices - our docs give both early literacy advice and health-wellness advice and then the book given to the family will help to reinforce the health-wellness message. Lots of good children’s picture books out there that emphasize healthy food, learning about fruits/veggies, cooking, movement/exercise, etc. The duel messenging is pretty effective.
We are drowning in a sea of yummy dopamine-hit inducing, sugar & fat laden foods, accessible by exerting almost no time or effort.
So delicious, so hard to resist, just the anticipation of eating that thing gets our dopamine pump going!
I’m afraid it’s going to get worse, as food & drink businesses are popping up everywhere. What else can compete with Amazon? Seems like we are left with food, drink, and services like a hair salon or doctors office.
One of the podcasts I listen to said it’s no wonder that many people who are working hard on their health & fitness have a lot of “rules” about food. It’s like a shield of armor against the non-stop marketing to our monkey brains.
Dr. Fung (diabetes, fasting) points out that we went from a nation that simply did. not. snack between meals to a nation that suddenly cannot go 2 hours without eating or drinking something. And portion sizes? Yikes. Thank you, marketing people.
It’s tough out there.
Yep, I have a lot of rules about eating but they seem to be working. The IF thread has been interesting for me, particularly the discussion around the 10/14 time frame being beneficial. I never thought of myself as doing IF, but that’s the way I’ve always eaten. Losing weight has involved restricting calories within that time period.
The other thing I have noticed with food/drink businesses is the emphasis on “local”, “craft” or “farm to table”. The implication is that these businesses are somehow good for you or better than a chain. A farm to table donut is pretty much the same thing as Dunkin.
@abasket, the bus is more of a lending library, I should have phrased that better. They have a schedule of locations and offer reading and literacy activities including tutoring. Children can borrow books from the bus. It was quite popular even before food was tied in with it and now it is even more so.
^^^ Well that is excellent as well! Maybe they can feature a shelf or basket of books in an attractive way that have content about health and wellness including kids cookbooks!
My dream “retirement” job will be working with kids to teach health and wellness through community gardening, cooking, etc. I too am involved somewhat locally with programs like you describe.
That’s a great idea. I have quite the collection of cookbooks that started when I was a kid. I will suggest it, thank you for planting that seed. The adults receive a pamphlet of recipes tailored to the produce offering that week, but it would be great to have something on a child’s level as well.
I have “preached” to anyone who will listen over the years about healthy eating, whether coaching youth sports, speaking with folks in the gym, or helping co-workers, hopefully, without being condescending or judgemental. I’m certainly not perfect, and my diet has evolved over the decades, but I just tried to help where I could along the way. I’ve actually recently found a convert with a 27-year old powerlifter in the gym. He’s lost weight and making healthy changes.
At the moment, the only other way I can help, is by donating to the local food banks each year, which serve healthy food to their customers here.
People are obviously social creatures, and eating is certainly part of it!
I do wish there was less tension (is that the word I’m looking for?) around food choices and food sharing (partaking or not).
Even declining a food or drink politely, without comment or giving a reason, can make those who are partaking say weird things.
On other threads, I’ve read similar observations by non-drinkers when being offered alcohol.
I don’t drink alcohol (bad carbs, hurts performance, never really liked the taste) and, I tell ya, over the years, I’ve had to explain myself so MANY times why I’m not drinking.
The old line, “if I had a nickel for every…” applies here.