It's a Start

I wanted to run outside, but it got too dark too early.
Then I wanted to do something else, but someone else was doing a thing, so I could not.
I went to the gym and did 37 minutes on the elliptical and then (in sets of 25 each): 100 pushups, 100 ab crunches (variety), 50 pikes on the ball, 50 squat jumps, 100 tricep dips, 100 supermans on the ball, 100 frogs on the ball. And that's it.

Friday and Saturday off, but not Sunday!

Gigs and stuff kept me out of trouble for two days, but on Sunday morning, I did a short but sweet run to rehearsal. It was around three miles, and the wind was supercold so that my fingers suffered even in those nice running gloves. When I got to rehearsal I did 100s of all kinds of fun exercises using the heavy resistance band. You really should get one of those, very handy.

Help me save Lynndi from herself!

If you are out there reading this, then you are probably Lynndi ('cause let's be honest, no one else is reading this blog). But, on the off chance that you AREN'T Lynndi, please help me.

Help me explain to Lynndi that if you don't rest an injury it will get worse.

Help me explain to her that she does, in fact, need to roll/stretch said injury and YES even apply ice to it.

Help me explain to her that (despite my many comments to the contrary) the elliptical is not the source of all evil and it will provide a good workout--though I will concede that it is not the same as running.

Help me explain to her that getting a quick evaluation from the sports medicine trainers, while perhaps a minor inconvenience of time, may result in knowing exactly the extent of her injury and treatment to heal the injury as quickly as possible.

Oh, and also, I ran 6 miles today and did some core stuff!!

I HOPE that you (Lynndi) did the elliptical and called it a night!

That Was a Weird One

Mostly to give my hip a rest, but also to get back to the great adventure of new exercises, I consulted the Men's Health app for tonight, and I did this:

"Build Extreme Strength" workout - 8 Iso Explosive Jump Squats 4x (with little pauses in between), then 8 Iso Explosive pushups/15 hip raises 3x, 10 inverted shoulder press/60 seconds prone cobra 3x.
"Spartacus" workout - I think you have this one from their website - I did a minute of each of the ten exercises 3x (goblet squat, mountain climber, single arm dumbbell swing, T-pushups, split jump, dumbbell row, dumbbell side lunge and touch, pushup position row, dumbbell lunge and rotation, dumbbell push press).
Parts of the "NCAA Abs" workout - 20 each of medicine ball sit-ups, Rocky solo, toe touch, suitcase crunch, and diagonal crunch.

I am thinking about food.

Just like James Brown...

..."I feel good!"

I had a really nice run today. It was on the treadmill, but it just felt good. I read an article in Runner's World magazine. And the author made a suggestion about "running the mile you are in." In other words, don't worry about how much further you have to go. Just enjoy where you are right now. Turns out, that philosophy works really well for me--it also transcends running and it a good metaphor for life--but enough waxing philosophical, back to the workout! I didn't get on the treadmill thinking "I have to run 6 miles." I simply thought "this is mile 1." With each completed mile I felt better and better...and before I knew it, 6 miles were done!

I had a really busy day today, as Monday's tend to be. 27 patients (and not a single no-show) so I went into this run slightly mentally fatigued. AFTER the run I felt fantastic and did a bit of core work. Those "penguins" kill my abs but hopefully are making them stronger!

What did you do tonight???

Foggy Sunday

I copied off of you, but when I went on my own 4.25 mile run, it was much warmer and less slick out. In fact, it was kind of amazing - foggy, wet, getting dark. I'm not really sure how far I ran because I planned a four mile run but then had to take some major detours to avoid muddy paths and high vehicle traffic in low visibility areas. And then my 'ride' wasn't at the 'destination' so I went around the block once, which might have gotten me to 4.25. Funny how when I go that far I'm really impressed with myself, but for you that's not even really a workout. Also, I wasn't naked. Not even in the sense of being without music and endless phone related distractions.

Today I did a naked run!

Don't get too excited by the title of this post. There is nothing remotely sexy about my run. In fact, I rarely wear as many layers as I did today when I was out there. BUT, I did strip myself of both my watch and my iPod (I was still the "on duty" Dr. nln until noon, so I did have my pager in one pocket and my cell phone in the other) and I just ran for the sheer pleasure of running. I highly recommend trying this...well, I highly recommend it if you are the kind of person who can turn off your brain and get out of your head and just enjoy a great run. If you a million thoughts going through your brain then I suggest putting your iPhone on the airplane setting so that no one can disturb your run, put on a pod cast and GO!!

It was a brisk (and by brisk I mean f@cking cold) morning. The weather channel app says it was 30 degrees but with the 19mph winds it felt like 18 degrees. I wore layers. Multiple layers. My core was warm but my fingers, despite the under armour cold gear gloves were FREEZING!

I only ran 4.25 miles because that's all I had time for between making rounds in the morning and the Illini game at 1:00. And NOW it's time for nap #2!!!

I'm Sorry, Doc!

I dragged Jesse Van Halen along with me, but while he was getting down to business, I stood around talking with people. I did a couple miles on the treadmill and then:
25 pikes on the ball, 25 obliques on the ball (left side), 25 obliques on the ball (right side)
25 pikes on the ball, 25 obliques on the ball (left side), 25 obliques on the ball (right side)
25 upright rows, 25 crunches with the heavy medicine ball, 25 military press
25 upright rows, 25 crunches with the heavy medicine ball, 25 military press
25 pull downs, 25 tricep dips, 10 pull downs
and then I ran another mile and then it was time to go. And now I'm eating and watching a movie about eating.

Say "ahhh"

Sometimes Dr. nln is also PATIENT nln. Those are the occupational hazards of working with children. That said, I am about to take my second dose of antibiotic for strep throat! Yep, those kids got me. I actually don't feel too sick...other than the fact that my throat feels like I have been swallowing glass shards. Even that is feeling better.

Needless to say (or, given my track record, perhaps it warrants stating) I did not work out today. And in other shocking news, I will not work out tomorrow either! In fairness, Friday is my day off from working out anyway and I plan to run on Sunday so another day off is probably good for my knees!!

What did YOU do tonight???

Tuesday Madness at the Gym

I ran two miles on a (GAG) treadmill, and it was very nice. I am still a little nervous about these recent injuries though, so I stopped while ahead.

I went to Thom's fifteen minute abs class. There was an exercise that I couldn't even do AT ALL, so there's a new goal!

I sat around and visited for a while before running another mile and a half and then doing 50 of each:
bicep curls (started with 15 lb weights but had to drop down)
shoulder raise in three positions (first 7 lb weights and then 5)
supermans on the ball
tricep dips
frogs on the ball

And then I actually took a shower. I know you are proud of me for that above all.

Dr. nln is in the house (literally)

I enjoyed a lovely evening at the Lynndi Lauper Manor yesterday. I had a lovely and delicious salad followed by a regrettable (but equally delicious) bowl, make that TWO bowls, of ice cream!!

This week, I get to make rounds in the nursery, which can sometimes make working out challenging. Sometimes the mornings are hopping busy and I am on my feet all morning, examining crying babies. Other mornings are like today: only two babies to round on! I was out of the hospital by 8:15am and on the treadmill by 8:40!! I got in a 6 mile run and then went to clinic. I skipped core work today but I will try to work in at least a little core tomorrow.

Update

Short run Friday, but a run anyway!
Nothing Saturday or Sunday HA HA HA HA HA and you know why.
So today I got outside and did the good old four mile run with not so much walking, so the iron must be kicking in. Now I'm doing 100 each of: bench press, flyes, skull crushers, that one back thing with weights, and various ab crunches with weights.
See ya!

Home Again

Well this time it was because it was snowing too hard to make the scary trip all the way over to the gym. PLUS I thought I'd take the day off from working out. I'm still really sore from whatever it was that made me sore.

So I got the Men's Health Magazine Workouts app and did these for a little over an hour:
Sculpt a V Shaped Torso #1 (but not the pull-up)
Sculpt a V Shaped Torso #2 (just these two exercises: Single Arm Leaning Shoulder Raise and Side Bridge Reach)
Ultimate Fat Fighting #2 (not the Parallel Bar Dip)
Ultimate Fat Fighting (not the Chinup)
Ultimate No Weight Workout (but not the Inverted Row or Chinup)
and part of the NCAA Abs Workout, but I ran out of time...

I'm blaming it on PMS...

...or maybe global warming. How else can you explain the fact that I am eating Lemonheads even as I type this???

Today was an odd day. I was supposed to cover night clinic this evening for the person on call. But then, it turns out, her daughter's basketball game was cancelled due to the "horrible weather." Well, in anticipation of working till 8:00 this evening, I got up at 6am, went to the gym and got on the treadmill at 6:30. I won't say that I loved every minute of my run, but I was happy to get my workout done early. And then I found out that I DIDN'T have to cover night clinic. WTF?? I could have slept for another hour!!!!! Well, the workout was done and now I am home, watching the snow fall, hoping it will be melted by morning (a girl can dream can't she?), sipping wine and (say it with me now) eating Lemonheads!!!!

The Home

I like the Men's Health Workouts app, and I did a bunch of them. They're short, so don't worry about that, but somewhat repetitive. Tonight included loads of pushups, but that's okay.

Beach Ready Workout (but I had to substitute underhand inverted rows with standing rows)
Better Metabolism (without the alternating cable row)
Build Explosive Strength Fast! (this was much fun)
The Elite Athlete Regimen
The Fat-Melting, Weight-Free Workout

I think you should spend the $1.98 too! But probably I'll see you at the gym tomorrow. Maybe I'll even brave a treadmill!

I am so proud of Lynndi!

It amazes and shocks me, Lynndi, that you are actually listening to your body and modifying your workouts. As much as I hate the elliptical (and allow me to clarify that my hatred for the elliptical comes from the fact that when I am on the elliptical it is because I am injured and unable to run) it really is a great workout! I think the Fitness Center is trying to send you a message. They have 2 classes on the schedule this winter: "The Abs class" and "Healthy Backs" the only thing they left out was "Lynndi, these classes are for YOU." It seems to me that the universe is aligned to help make you healthy. Now, WHAT can I do to convince you that if you actually got a little more sleep you would heal more quickly???

I also have to comment on your comment of my previous post. YES, it is true, I actually ate the Lemonheads and I have a bunch leftover for the NEXT movie I go to...wanna go see a movie sometime????

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday News All in One Place

So, nln.

On Saturday, because I had worked out Friday night and because if I worked out too much on Saturday BEFORE the gig, I could maybe hurt my hip all over again, I just did 75 pushups and sit-ups. I did not get hurt before, during, or after the gig.

On Sunday, I got up too late to join you at Peg's class, so I made a plan to try a bunch of exercises from Men's Health. We were getting ready for lunch and rearranging the gear so that everyone would be able to get to their stuff and also to the delicious party leftovers, when suddenly I picked up two guitars - light as can be AND about the same weight on each side - and screwed up my lower back. Since even an ab crunch seemed dangerous, my workout consisted of moping, ibuprofen, and television.

I was hesistant today cause my back AND hip still hurt, but we went to the gym, and I managed the following: 40 minutes on the elliptical (shades of last year!), 100 pushups (some of which were included in that fun plank walk/burpee thing we've done with Peg), 100 crunches (no obliques cause my back sent a stern warning), 50 crosses with 5 lb weights, 100 tricep dips, 100 of this lunge/curl/press combination exercise, 100 frogs. I messed around with a couple of other exercises but felt like I should quit while I was ahead.

I know you were there before we were. What did you do?

If this is global warming...

...then give me an aerosol can! Seriously, this weather is just fantastic! I have been out and about all day today, in the middle of January, with NO COAT!!

I started the day with a lovely run outside with Miss W. She is recovering from some kind of knee issue, so she only ran 4 miles. I had planned on running 6 miles so I left W at the four mile mark and kept going. It was so lovely and sunny outside that I ended up running 6.35 miles. I might have gone further, but as I am not training for anything right now, I thought it best to quit while I was ahead! This was a far cry from the run Miss W and I did LAST year, when it was 8 degrees outside and I came dangerously close to frostbite on my hands!!!

After my run (and a shower and a protein shake) I went to the Illini basketball game. Although the Illini won, it was a horrible game and at several points my heart race was as high as (if not higher than) it was while I was running! good times.

Tonight I am going to a movie, and guess what I am going to have while I am there? LEMONHEADS! Yes, the ultimate in HFCS and sugar! Not one ounce of nutrition in the entire 12 oz package!!!!!

I am still concerned about Lynndi...I will contemplate how to help her heal as I eat my Lemonheads!!

A Breakthrough?

I realized that the only thing that hurts about walking is the little twists at the beginning and end of each step in a walking or running gait, so we rode bikes tonight! Three miles to the gym, where I did 100 of each:
shoulder raises with five pound hand weights, three positions (forward, diagonal, sides)
side bends with five pound weights, each side
bicep curls with 15 pound weights but toward the end I went to 12s
upright rows, elbows out to the sides, 15 lbs
upright rows, elbows to the back, 15 lbs
woodchoppers with medicine ball, on knees, each side
ab crunches on the ball, feet on the wall
oblique crunches on the ball, feet at bottom of the wall, each side
supermans
frogs
And then three miles on the bike to home!
The trick is that walking really is a challenge because of those little rotations, so I still have to take this seriously. Oh well.

My New Year's Resolution Worked Out Pretty Well

What was it anyway? I think my NY resolution was to execute one pull-up. That sounds like it's not asking much, but you and I both know that I am so far from being able to do one single stinking pull-up that this is a great goal to set and work on.

Sadly, I chose to take the Alex in Chains' Fitness Challenge. As if I could keep up with a 21 year old ex-cheerleader. I took her plan to heart though and hurt myself pretty badly. This is the FOURTH CONSECUTIVE DAY of not working out at all! I even went to the ER today! How sad.

So tomorrow I might go to Sports Med for a more extensive evaluation. I will do at least 100 pushups, situps, tricep dips. Maybe more than 100 and maybe a bunch of strength and core exercises too because time DOES permit when you don't have a gig and can't go outside for a life-threatening six mile run and are too humiliated to hit the gym. So kick it, nln, you're doing the cardio for both of us now.

Anyway, I dare our loyal readers to attempt the Alex in Chains' Fitness Challenge. It truly does hurt.

WHAT DID YOU DO???????

Nothing puts the fear of God in nln more than any type of leg injury. Just hearing about your injury makes me want to cry...and roll, and stretch and ice my knees! We may have to change the title of this blog from "What are you doing tonight" to "what did you do LAST night?" in order to keep up with any injuries!

I was proud to see Lynndi Lauper not only eat, but enjoy carbs! Although in fairness, Lynndi, you did go for the sugar-free whipped cream/sugar-free angel food cake/strawberry dessert even though an entire DELICIOUS looking cheesecake was sitting right next to it!! I chose to drink my carbs. Mmmmmm, champagne! tasty!!

Well, I will have to do the cardio work for both of us. Today was another 6 mile run. Surprisingly, the resoluters were NOT at the gym. I got my pick of the treadmills and then had ample space to do all the core work I wanted to do (which really wasn't much).

Oops

The NYE gig was fine, no injuries.

Then Sunday Renegade ABC was great, very challenging but not so hard I had to sit down and cry over it. Smooth sailing all day really, as we raced around shopping and cleaning. At the Brat Pack Christmas party last night, I dared to eat carbs for carbs' sake, as you know cause you kept sticking them in my face. Anyway, no one got hurt, not even their feelings!

Sadly later, at the band-only after party, I swear we were doing nothing more challenging than dancing, and suddenly it felt like someone punched me really hard in the hip, and I fell down and couldn't put any weight on it for a while. It's still painful today, not bearing weight very well and not tolerating any kind of rotation. I have a good solid cane for walking, but I probably won't see you at the gym for a day or two. I can lift weights at home in the meantime and feel sorry for myself.

Happy New Year!!

Welcome to 2012! And what better way to ring in the new year than with a group workout? ABC was fun, if not painful. It is amazing how, when I am sitting on my sofa eating nachos and watching football, the workout doesn't seem to be that heavy in shoulder work. But in REALITY, it ended up being a whole lotta shoulder work...and apparently, I have very wimpy shoulders because even with a mere 5 pound weight it was TOUGH!

Dr. nln tends to shy away from making new year's resolutions...

If I DO make any, I usually keep them to myself. However, I will make one exception for this blog--in the hopes that readers (and let's be honest, that means YOU Lynndi) will hold me accountable! I would really like to incorporate speedwork and hillwork in my running. I am very good at doing that when I am training for a marathon, but once the race is done, I just go back to my usual 6 mile runs. There! I have said it. Let's hope that come June I won't be blogging about failed resolutions!!

Renegade ABC Today

It's going to be great! And humiliating!