Went with Donn, but unfortunately ArcTrainers were in use. Did 10 minutes on an Annoying Elliptical, went back to #3 where I thought the guy who was on it had about 8 minutes left when I started but now he was still on it and it was counting up from 48 minutes (which means ten minutes earlier it would have been counting up from 38 minutes which I am sure is not what I saw so I am confused). Anyway, I decided I would go attempt to put up with the loud noise in the Cardio Cinema section. Almost gave up on that after 10 minutes or so, but ended up doing the full 35 minutes in there, on #2. Got 1.28 distance and 787 cal (should have been 1.40 and 840). Weight was 238.4 at start, 237.2 at end.

HST 15s, Day 3, with Donn. Once again we ran out of time, and someone was using the rear delt equipment we like, so we did auxiliary triceps work instead of core rear-deltoid work. Otherwise, a normal Day 3, with squat, flat bench, and rows as the variants. (I got a pretty good burn on flat bench work, with my new raised weights, 185 lbs today.)

On my own today, Donn called late and then decided that he did not have enough time after all. Naturally I got in even later ... all the ArcTrainers in the regular cardio area were in use, I did not want to hurt my wrist on one of the Annoying Ellipticals, so I figured I'd put up with the "cardio cinema" area. Sure enough, both of those ArcTrainers were available (although someone came in and used the other while I was doing my time). So, I did 45 minutes on #2, got a measly 1.62 distance and 991 cal, decided to do another 10 minutes, forget quite what I got with that (but way more than needed to get 1.80 and 1080 totals). It was cold in there too, which was annoying for about the first 15 minutes but nice for the last however many. But that means I did not sweat as much: weight went from 238.1 to 236.9 (so probably should have set machine to 240 rather than the 235 I used).

HST 15s, with Donn ... got started slightly late, did not go nearly fast enough, ran out of time after biceps. Was especially sore today. Went for massage afterward (this is a bit backdated), after doing some more of the actual paying work; that hurt too, but hopefully will lessen the pain tomorrow.

On my own ... got in late, had to wait for an ArcTrainer, did 10 minutes on an elliptical. Switched to #4, did another 35 minutes, got 1.30 distance and just over 780 cal (I forget but I think it was 79x), figured I could do an extra ~ 2.5 minutes to get to 1.40 and 840 (target for the 35 minutes) so did that (actually got .12 distance in the time it took to get to 60 cal). Weight was 237.7 at start, 236.4 at end (set machine to 235).

HST 15s, Day 1, on my own (Donn is not back until Wednesday). Got out of here late, rushed to make it back for 6:30 PM call with China, nobody on the call. Sigh. Oh well, I did actually get everything in, from (slightly lightened, still) squats all the way to the final calf work. Did squats, incline bench, and rows as the variants.

... and their groupthink stranglehold on economic theory: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/07/priceless-how-the-federal_n_278805.html

On my own ... got in a little late, had time for just 40 minutes. Nose and throat held up better today (and I did not even take decongestant drugs first), so I got 1.57 distance and 961 cal (40 minute goals are 1.60, 960, so pretty decent). Weight was 238.0 at start, 236.8 at end, but I set the machine to 240 rather than 235 anyway.

On my own (Donn is away for a few days now) ... first day back after (well, not quite after, yet) being sick, so I figured I would set the thing for 45 minutes but stop early if necessary. About 20 minutes in my nose and throat started feeling really weird, and not in a good way, and I slowed down a bunch. I also had to stop and retrieve my iPod Nano after I managed to knock it off the little shelf on the machine: it unplugged from the earphones and landed on the floor, and somehow switched from my aerobics playlist to other stuff in the process. I was thinking I was going to stop after 30 minutes, but after all this slowing, stopping, adjusting, etc., I felt okay again, so I kept going for the usual 45 minutes.

Anyway, got 1.66 distance and 1036 (I think) cal, on #4. Weight was 238.7 at start, 237.4 at end.

I took the Drinkwell pet fountain apart to clean and de-scale it. When I took the motor apart, a pin that is not supposed to come out, came out. (The rotating part of the motor, the permanent magnet that spins on the pin, got stuck to the pin due to lime buildup.) Supposedly, after this happens, you must replace the motor.

Naturally the company is closed today (until Monday). So, I managed to separate the pin from the magnet, scrape off the rest of the scale, re-insert the pin into the motor, and reassemble it all. The motor now makes extra noise (presumably the pin is not quite perfectly centered anymore) but at least the fountain is running.

Three from today, because I needed to get current photos. :-)

( cut as usual )

Went with Donn, did the usual, got 1.73 distance and 1076 cal (on #4). Weight was 238.6 at start, 237.1 at end (not surprising, along with Friday's workout, I moved the Friday Feast to Saturday).

HST overload, Day 6, with Donn (moved from Friday). Leg press, dips, and chins as the variants ... once again I went easy on leg press (doing 540 and 630 today; 540 was no problem, 630 I could feel a bit in the knee). I went up to +155 on dips, and after goofing up the first rep of the first set, did 3 plus 2 negatives, but I did better on the 2nd set, actually getting all 5 (if not very deep). I just need to get my own weight down so that I can do five of those consistently, and then I can set my 5RM at 155. Stuck with +45 on chins, managed 4 reps on the first set (fourth pretty poor though), but did 3+2 on the 2nd set.

Of the aux stuff, skipped leg curls, but did everything else.

Donn could not do gym today so we moved weights to tomorrow. I went in and did the usual 45 minutes; got 1.72 distance and 1057 cal (on #4). Weight was 237.1 at start, 235.8 at end. Knee is now a little bit stiff but not too bad....

On my own today ... went in pretty late but got an ArcTrainer anyway. Forgot to take ibuprofen in advance, but with going easy, it seems to have been OK anyway. Did 45 minutes on #3, got 1.66 distance and 1024 cal. Weight was 238.5 at start, 237.4 at end (a bit disappointing, I had hoped it would drop more since Tuesday given that I did not have lots of Red Robin burgers, fries, and freckled-lemonade on Wednesday :-) ).

HST overload, Day 5, with Donn. I went very light on squats (135 and 185 lbs, using the knee wrap on the bad knee) and had no problem there. Did flat bench and rows as the other main variants, and discovered (I think) how I managed to cause the knee problem in the first place (doing rows, torquing the leg/foot). We ran out of time during the aux work, so skipped triceps and calves (and shrugs for me).

Donn and I went in separately since I wanted to be able to cut mine short in case of knee pain. Sure enough, I had some knee pain. Not too bad but I decided to stop after 30 minutes. So, did 30 (and a half or so) minutes on #4, got 1.15 distance and 720 cal, which was pretty good considering the knee complaints mainly happened if I tried to go fast (to get enough distance). Weight was up a lot, not really a surprise considering a week off of aerobics plus going out to Red Robin last night for dinner with a friend: 239.something at start, 238.3 (or .2 or something) at end.

Knee does not hurt now but it feels a little odd / stiff. I took 600 mg of ibuprofen before I left for the gym ... will have to see how it is tonight and tomorrow, I guess.

HST overload, Day 4, with Donn. Continuing with my knee caution, I did very light leg presses (450 lbs on the machine, which Donn was using as a warm-up weight) ... no problem with that. I also did extra-light leg curls, which were also not a problem. Otherwise, did a typical overload session, with +145 on dips today (did 2 sets of 5 although the 2nd set was particularly poor), +45 chins (4+1, 3+2), and maximal weights on everything else.

HST overload, Day 3, with Donn. Moved this workout from Friday for various reasons ... still stayed off my knee, too, so skipped squats entirely, and did chins (which put no stress on the knee) instead of rows (which do, given the way we do rows). So, incline bench and rows as the main variants today. Did my best weight ever for incline bench though (265 lbs), and an extra 5 lbs on the biceps aux work too. Not sure if it was skipping squats that made those possible....

(It's been an "interesting" week, as in the supposed Chinese curse.)