I agree. 
I won’t actually lose my job (I was a little too disgruntled yesterday).
Our work policy says that we are “allowed” three bouts of sickness in one calendar year. The first is noted by the team leader, the second you need to have a discussion with the Operations Manager and the third is a final written warning.
It makes absolutely no difference what the sickness entails. It’s a rotten company to work for.
I’ve only had one day off work so far this year for my flu/chest coughing episode, but I’m still unsure whether I can get in to work tonight. Still can’t hear a thing and it’s dangerous to drive more than anything else.
Floydy, I somehow missed that you have an antibiotic. That’s really good news. Just remember that ears are super sensitive and it make take a little while to resolve. You sure can’t drive if it’s causing you vertigo.
The sun was spectacular in the cloudless North Carolina sky, but with howling winds and wind chill factors below freezing, I could only manage two miles in my light gear. Despite the sub-zero conditions, the air was incredibly refreshing after breathing the antiseptic air in the hospital. Though I was a little frustrated, I was at least able to walk another four miles to bring my total up to six.
Looks like I’ll have to do a little online shopping for a hat, gloves, and a fireplace lest I start burning the hospital furniture …
No wind chill here yesterday morning Surfermom…
Although it was a cool 3*C it turned out to be a very pleasant eight mile run in dry and calm conditions.
I had made my mind up not to leave my best bits out on the road and would settle for six miles, but as I approached the fork in the road that determined the length of the run, I just turned for the eight.
I witnessed a beautiful sunrise as I arrived at the six mile mark, and watched as it scampered from the horizon to the waiting clouds just above. Some visions just stay with you forever…
Glad to hear you got out there today, OGF. We were prisoners of our pink cell - a room sweetly painted bubble gum pink and covered throughout with large wallpaper cutouts of Disney princesses. (I was told that invariable some poor teenage boy gets stuck with this room). So while we didn’t get our sunset hues along the horizon, they enveloped us vertically from four distinct corners.
I was able to do some stair climbing for a good hour and do some yoga with Snow White above cheering me on while my daughter was off for physical therapy. It’s amazing how quickly those stairs can get your heart rate up; that and the occasional distinguished doctor or two choosing the stairs over the elevators ;-).
Why don’t hospitals have swimming pools? Wouldn’t that be a phenomenal way for people to ease back into activity?
Hummmmphhh, I thought the pool would be very quiet this morning with all the snow and heavy frost. Was it heck, everyone turned up and then some. 
I even had to go into a faster lane as I kept catching up with folks who were all in tortoise mode…sigh.
I would have loved that room Surfermom… Being an only child, and my Mother preferring a daughter, she used to dress me up in skirts and dresses and decorate my bedroom in pink…
…Only joking!..
It was probably my Mum’s side that my running came from, Dad was more of a cyclist. He would work down the pit through the week and on Friday night would cycle from Doncaster to Leicester (about 60 miles) with his Dad, to spend the weekend with relations. (All Dad’s side came from Leicester) and then cycle home on Sunday afternoon in time to start work on Monday.
In their later years they loved to see me run and supported me on many a long distance adventure. They supported two friends and myself on an 84 mile run through the night across the moors, only leaving us at midnight. We carried on to finish in around 30 hours…It was only after my heart attack in 2004 that they started worrying about me and suggested that I might perhaps slow down a little and not run quite so far…
After sixty years of marriage they both passed away within five months of each other back in 2009…They would have had no need to worry as Mother Nature has intervened and slowed me down naturally…
I wonder if they were looking down on me this morning when at 7 am I closed the door behind me and stepped out into the dark. The road glistened with diamonds and I panted up the steep climb of the deserted railway bridge, barred to vehicles and soon to be demolished ‘we are both coming to the end of our usefulness my friend’ I thought as I crested the summit and notched up the pace.
The path across the field was lit from the light of a waning moon still big and bright in a cloudless sky, the cold breeze caressed my face and legs, but avoiding puddles became my main priority, wet feet so early in my run would be quite uncomfortable and there was still a long way to go.
As I reached the cycle track I became aware of the occasional patch of ice as my feet struggled for traction, a smile crept across my face as I thought ‘I couldn’t walk on this, but here I am floating over it’…You still need to tread lightly though.
I managed to stay upright all the way to the sideroad that led to the lane, but as I turned away from the main road I realised I was running on a sheet of Ice. Trying to run in a straight line with arms flailing it was so difficult not to go crashing to the floor, but I regained my balance and tip toed over the slippy surface. A lady runner coming the opposite way, and was now walking, warned me of the treacherous conditions, I thanked her and carried on until I reached the lane.
Running on rough ground was heaven, no ice here, just the occasional protruding rock to be avoided, but with daylight now taking over from the moonlight they were easy to spot, but with tired legs I was not quite so nimble, and the odd stubbed toe woke me from my hypnotic trance. I reached the slippy tarmac of my street, and a couple out walking their dogs stepped back in amazement as this ageing runner dressed only in shorts and thin fleece top came sliding around the corner oblivious to the cold and conditions underfoot, another decent and testing five miles for the journal…
Feeling a little tired now but warm and happy after a shower and breakfast.
Now…let’s try out this ‘Shuffle Dancing’…
Worth it in the end though Roxy…
Mods - Just wondering why a link wasn’t allowed here, unless it was for advertising? We add links on the forum in virtually every thread normally without an issue?
Roxy, you’ve been holding out on us that you are Olympic material Do you track your lap time or do you just swim for distance?
OGF, besides the gifts of distance DNA passed down to you, it sounds like you won one of life’s lotteries with your parents. How thoroughly interesting to read about your dad and grandad’s cycling endeavors, and I am sure you greatly miss them.
You made me think about my great-grandfather who walked/jogged to his job supervision railroad repairs beginning at the beginning of the 20th century. Every day he walked 25 miles round trip to work. Apparently he was also a very good figure skater.
I have to say that I cringed a little at the account of your run. I don’t know how you are so fortunate on the ice. Invariably I am the opposite, slip-sliding my way into an eventual fall. Apparently I don’t take after my great-grandad 
. Extremely well done do you and the lady runner. That’s dedication! 
We walked five miles today all indoors, though admittedly slow to accommodate my daughter’s current abilities. No matter, I found the nine story stairway and made my way up and down twice to get my heart rate up to a decent enough pace.
Lovely to catch up with you all in here, espcially reading about your early years’ exercising, Bob. It’s always a pleasure to hear about those formulative years.
Suzie - that’s one hospital that you’re transforming into your very own little exercise suite. Keep on perstering the authorities with your needs for more healthy options for the relatives. Regards to your daughter on her progression
You’re all flying the flag in here, it’s as busy as it always has been. Well done
About time there was an update from me I suppose…
My hearing is much better although I’m probably listenining to sounds and voices at 70% of my full capacity but the antibiotics have helped greatly. There now is that risk of every time I go for an ear syringe that I am likely to happen on an ear infection once more, such is state of play with my ear canals now. I need an operation and I’m still waiting on the clinic to get back to me or my GP with an appointment.
My chesty cough is still present even though the chest x-ray was clear (which is good but there is still a problem). Next GP appointment is on the 4th of Feb, so here we go again.
So with me feeling rather better it’s time to get back into my training schedule, which I’ll be doing today. I have some plans but seeing as I’ve been away so long I’ll be changing things slightly as those “Week 1,2,3 etc” routines are now obsolete! I’ll be back this afternoon with some kind of changes!
Hi
My exercise regime has gone up the spout.
Another spinal abscess, same place as the previous, so face down on the sofa for a few days.
I need to be up and about late Monday night, I have an airport run to do at 3.30 am Tuesday Morning,
Sorry to hear this, Swimmy. Can nobody else do the airport run…how about a taxi? Surely you cannot be expected to pick/drop off people if you’re ill like this, you’ll probably make things worse bud 
Thursday 24/1/19 1hr. 20mins.
Following my pretty awful combined chesty cough and ear problems which knocked me virtually useless for a week, I’m feeling much better (although the coughing is still under scrutiny by the docs plus the ENT appointment still hasn’t materialised either) and I recommenced my training.
As I mentioned in a brief post last night the weekly programmes I began have had to take a fall by the wayside as I’ve missed too much time and my body would need to go back and start again with many of the routines so it’s best to ditch it all. Besides, it was very time-consuming with the write-ups and confusing to understand for you guys at that; too in-depth and rather pointless and I need to simplify things.
However, I will still be doing those exercise plans – the 40-30-20-10 100 reps programme and the “7’s” as well but I have amalgamated them into one complete weekly template plus an alternative 5-set structured routine whereby it’s a basic increase in weight, old-school style. This way I can pick and choose from my list which types I feel like doing on the spot without being forced to go for any goals which don’t take into account missed sessions. I now have a full list of all 42 of my exercises which include variants for the above methods, I simply pick from the list which I wish to do on the day.
On with today’s training then and it’s basically a catch-up just to get my ligaments working again…
2xDB press (totals for both arms):
12x44, 10x52, 8x60, 5x68, 3x36
Chest press:
21x35, 10x50, 6x60, 4x70, 2x80
Tricep extensions:
40x30, 30x40, 20x50, 10x60
Fly delt dec:
25x65, 15x80, 12x95, 10x110, 8x125
6x142.5 full stack
*That final set was the heaviest I have ever gone on this machine and indeed on any apparatus on the upper body for a very long time, bar leg training (which is much heavier). I utilised all my shoulder and considerable bicep strength and surprised myself with my efforts. It’s all a tad meaningless but it’s good to know that I still have some pretty powerful upper body strength post-50.
E-Z preacher curl:
15x28, 12x33, 10x38, 8x43, 6x48
10x28, 15x18
Sled press:
20x150
Nice to get back into it once more, my next session should be tomorrow where I’ll be cranking things up a little more.
Thanks for reading.
Friday 25/1/19 2hr. 15mins.
For my late week and very welcome training workout today I decided to do a full session utilising the tried and tested “40-30-20-10” (or 100-reppers) routine. Since December I’ve been fine tuning this particular workout with suitable weights and today was my first real stab at a real shot of it. What’s more, instead of selecting a few exercises to do I had so much energy that I performed the whole lot, and then some other exercises to boot. Two and a quarter hours later I completed quite an impressive programme of events.
So to clarify, it’s four sets of decreasing reps with light weights…
Smith press, flat bench:
40x20, 30x20 wide grip
20x20, 10x20 close-grip
*I decided on the close grip for the final two sets as they are much more difficult to execute. With the hands only a few inches apart they work the inner pectorals rather than the outer ones. I’ll add 2.5kg next time.
Chest press:
40x25, 30x25, 20x25, 10x25
*Adding another 5kgs next time.
Tricep extensions:
40x30, 30x30, 20x30, 10x30
Single DB press, flat bench:
40x42, 30x42, 20x42, 10x42
Lat pulldown, hammer bar:
40x30, 30x30, 20x30, 10x30
Arm curl machine, both arms simultaneous:
40x20, 30x20, 20x20, 10x20
Seated row:
40x35, 30x35, 20x35, 10x35
Pec dec:
40x25, 30x25, 20x25, 10x25
*Up to 30kg next time.
E-Z Bar preacher curl:
40x18, 30x18, 20x18, 10x18
*Despite using ultra-light weights on the bar the amount of reps which become more difficult to lift as the sets decrease makes the biceps blow up crazy-style!
Fly delt dec:
40x65, 30x65, 20x65, 10x65
*After yesterday’s all-too-recent stint on this machine I found this a killer. Still, I managed the task though with aching inner shoulder muscles.
Sled press:
40x130, 30x130, 20x130, 10x130
*A nice taster for Sunday’s mega legs effort.
Miscellaneous Extras:
Standing bicep pinwheel curls, alt.:
10x10, 10x12.5, 8x15, 6x16, 4x17.5
Seated concentration curls, alt.:
5x14, 5x14, 5x16, 5x17.5, 5x18
Triceps bar behind head raise (lying on bench):
10x28, 10x28, 10x28, 10x28, 10x28
*This was a new exercise to my programme, or at least something I haven’t been doing for years. Watching someone else doing it it brought back memories, so I gave it another whirl. Really puts some force on the triceps, neck and core muscles.
E-Z preacher curl, standing:
10x28, 10x28, 10x28, 10x28, 10x28
*Just a final finish for the biceps.
All went very well, back in the frame once again. Next session Sunday.
Thanks for reading.
Hey everyone
I’ve gone from forcing myself to go to the gym to actually really enjoying it. The hardest part for me was being around so many people but they are very nice, friendly people so I’m coming out of my shell some.
I usually go every second day. My routine used to be to jog 2 kilometres but today I did 3 kilometres. Bicycling used to be 3.5 miles but I increased it to 4.5 miles . The stationary equipment is USA made so us in miles. While bicycling I noticed a man running while pulling weights so I think I might try that next time.
I’ve also started weight lifting for my arms which I’m really enjoying and I finish my workout with 20 minutes of floor work- leg exercises, stretching / yoga.
Then I go come and walk the dogs. Today was only 2 kilometres.
I’m really enjoying going to the gym.
It pumps up my normal exercise routine and walking and yoga.
I’m glad to learn you are feeling better Floydy.
Good news to hear about your ears, Floydy. While we surfers have always used a combination of alcohol and hydrogen peroxide to keep our ears clear and dry , you sure don’t want to trap any liquid behind your ears until your ear infection is clear and you’ve had a good plumbing! Very respectable workouts especially given that you still haven’t completely knocked down your virus. Aside from the resident ice runner, it seems like most of us are looking forward to knocking away an obstacle or two before we can get back to full fitness.
Swimmy, that’s abscess sounds concerning. I hope you are behaving and following doctors’ orders. It sounds painful too, but you have shown that you can battle your way back from worse. Speedy healing to you.
Bratti, what phenomenal news that you are finally to that place in which going to workout is something you want to do rather than something you have to do. I’m sure the dogs are loving the long outings. One of the things I like best about your workouts is that you mix it up, and your body will reward you for it! 
No running today, but I saw the first signs of improvement in my daughter today. We walked and walked, even venturing outside in the chilly air for a while. She is terribly thin so it’s not just her mother who was happier indoors today. We only managed about a mile outdoors before she finally was D O N E. 
. 4 miles with step aerobics here in a few.
Roxy, are you still leaving your fellow swimmers in the proverbial dust?
Go, go, and good health, everyone.
Bratti, it’s always such a joy to hear people branching out and trying new things when exercising. Your return to the gym and actually enjoying what you do there by fitting in with everyone else is awesome - after all, nobody is going to bother you as we all do our own varieties of training. I have said before that if you want to exercise you will make gains as opposed to those who visit the gym (or go running for that matter) because they only need to - those are the ones who lack the effort. Well done there
Any advice or tips I can give you would be my pleasure 
Suzie - that’s promising news about your daughter. One day at a time, her recovery sounds like it’s going well
I tied my Fitbit to next doors horse and my doctor is amazed at my fitness results … he says I’m the only guy in the village that can jump 6 feet but questions my running at 45 mph
…:-D…Now that’s an idea!..:shock: