I’ve done that in the past, but it didn’t work this time. And the Liquid Plumber type stuff didn’t work, either – plus we’re on a septic system and I understand it’s not a good idea to use a lot of the nasty chemicals. Then I remembered D telling me how her landlord recently came to her (& roommate’s) apartment to unclog their shower drain with a plunger, Figuring I had nothing to lose, I tried it. Just put the plunger cup over the drain and start “plunging.” It took quite a while, but the most disgusting clumps of gunk, etc came up. It’s something I hope I don’t have to repeat – ever!</p>
<p>Drains usually trap hair with a protrusion and then the gunk gets caught on the hair and so pulling the hair out will get most of the gunk. I guess that the gunk can go below the level of the hair if too much accumulates. We’ve never had that problem as the water would back up too much. At any rate, I’ll remember the plunger thing if we have a clog that I can’t fix.</p>
<p>I had to deal with another clog recently - paper in the toilet. It took me almost two weeks to clear out and I did it with a snake (6-foot metal coil in a tube with a turning handle). It takes a moderate amount of effort to use too.</p>
<p>This is the last time. I’m actually in between the sizes in a lot of pants with the 36s being loose and the 34s being just a bit of “muffin top”. I figure I’ve probably got a max of 3 to 8 more potential pounds if the slow drift downward continues. If I don’t lose weight, I expect my waist to continue shrinking a bit, shoulders and arms could get a little bigger. I think I have another six to eight weeks of New Rules of Lifting for Abs with Phase III coming up. Phase III is a little more “metabolic/weight loss” oriented (medicine ball, maximum reps in ten minute timed sets, etc), where Phase II was more lifting/strength oriented.</p>
<p>It might just be bad lighting, but I can almost see some hints of abs. My Tanita scale is known for reading consistently high, but it broke below 20% body fat the other day for the first time (telling it my real age). If I tell it I’m 25 years old, it says I’m down to 17% body fat. I definitely ended up with some of chintzy’s “loose skin”, but it is what it is. I’m no spring chicken.</p>
<p>I had posted a long time ago about my H’s heart rate being very high at the beginning of his runs and then dropping dramatically about mile five and staying low thereafter. Just in case anybody else has this issue, I thought I would post an update. He was running a marathon today and chatting with someone who said that the static electricity in the dry wick t-shirts skews the reading until the heart monitor gets wet. He usually starts to sweat about mile five. The garmin people apparently suggest wearing a cotton t-shirt, but he isn’t going to do that. The other runner said pouring water on the monitor before putting it on apparently helps get a more accurate reading. I guess I could also buy some static guard and spray his shirts.</p>
<p>I wear tech shirts, jog bras (tech fabric) and singlets all the time and have NEVER had that problem with my HR monitor. You need to spit on the sensors (or put some of the gel on them that they sell) before you start running. That’s all it takes. No need to do anything to the fabric.</p>
<p>Congrats on the pants size and continued shrinking, idad!</p>
<p>You are right- most campuses are quite runable. Drexel- maybe not. Penn- well, you need to get to the river trail.</p>
<p>We should start a new thread called “Best Campuses for Running.” Or perhaps it should become a consideration when our offspring are trying to decide on which school “fits” best.</p>
<p>Boston College has this set of stairs to get from lower campus to middle campus that will provide quite a good workout. One could always run the circumference of the campus for a good running workout.</p>
<p>I am happy with the scale at the gym today - new low - so now I really have lost 20 lbs since the beginning of last year. Given how much exercise I got (minimal - though I did get some walks in) and food (maximal) I’m happy.</p>
<p>There may well be something to that. Mine won’t even give a reading until there is little moisture. In the summer, no problem. In the dry winter, I just moisten the two sensors as I put the strap on. I get a reading right away, although I have noticed some flakey readings, often in the early stages of a workout – very high readings when I’m obviously not at very high heart rates.</p>
<p>I mostly just want some humidity to return because my hands are completely torn up from being so dry.</p>
<p>20 pounds is a lot of weight to lose. Especially because you’ve dropped it slowly over time and are probably very likely to keep it off. Think of all the people out there who would kill to lose 20 pounds!</p>
<p>My goal has been to lose slowly on a diet I can live with forever. It seems like a snail’s pace compared with some. I’d like the steady state to be about ten to fifteen pounds less than what I weigh now, but I suspect, it will be a little higher than that.</p>
<p>After a week on break (and being sick…) I’m getting back into the swing of my exercise routine. I’m really excited for it to get warm enough to be outside for workouts - running, kayaking, the possibilities are endless and great!</p>
<p>But for now, while the temperature hovers around 45…
gym MWF mornings for an hour, team practice TTh nights for two hours, yoga once every two weeks, pilates once every two weeks, and the occasional jaunt to the rock climbing wall for fun.</p>
<p>4 sets of 5 reps each @95# for Hang Clean and Front Squat. I’m starting to like the front squats. Today I went lighter than I did last week, but I need to work on the form for that specific lift. </p>
<p>I also did a little bit of self myofascial release work this evening and plan to do some more still tonight…</p>
<p>If I’m not mistaken, Boyle uses that combo with his athletes: </p>
<p>Hang Clean
Front Squat
Push press</p>
<p>All in one continuous motion. I believe he uses it as more of an explosive power move, looking for speed more than loading it really heavy. That’s above my pay grade. I don’t think the ol’ (formerly) fat guy is ready for that one yet.</p>
<p>Hey y’all! Just back from sunny Charleston, S.C. to face cold and <em>!@@%</em> snow!!! Aaargh! Congrats idad and mathmom on your great results! Welcome back CBBBlinker. I ate my shrimp and grits. I ate BBQ. I drank beer with my BBQ. I tried pralines. Ran for the first time since Christmas and didn’t have too much pain. Couldn’t resist the sunshine! Our hotel actually had a rack of free weights and I was able to get a decent workout in one day. I came back weighing exactly what I weighed when I left. As the great philosopher Charlie Sheen would say “Winning!”</p>
<p>I feel like Charlie Sheen. I spent the weekend with a bucket of bleach cleaner, emptying every kitchen cabinet and drawer, and attacking them with a scrub brush. Every bone in my body aches, especially my knees. I shoulda used the Airex pad for kneeling. Ruined a nice shirt, which now has a nice psychedelic bleached look. Workout may not be in the cards today.</p>
<p>I can’t believe snow today and on Thursday. Sheesh. Enough already.</p>