Thanks for that Floydy, it looks very professional, you would make a brilliant personal trainer with your experience and attention to detail and there’s quite a bit of money in it these days…
But it’s pretty risky, Bob. There’s such a high turnaround of the PT’s at my gym because they need a constant flow of clients to make their money.
Thing is too, even though I’m still pretty fit for my age, it’s really a younger person’s career. I may be okay lifting weights and have the experience with all aspects of that bodybuilding side of training, I’m not too genned up on the general cardio side of things anymore. There’s no way I want to be jumping around like a madman showing people how to do lunges or star jumps or the HIIT training which is very popular these days.
Good point though, Bob. Thanks 
Out early for a ten mile run this morning and although the run went well it’s knocked me for six, it’s a good job I haven’t got anything to do today.
It was cool but not cold as I set off, and with wall to wall thick cloud there was no sign of the sun…
I danced the two miles along the road to the kissing gate that led me down on to the canal bank, taking care to respect the distance and not use up all of my energy in the first few miles.
I stumbled my way over mole hills and tussocks by the side of the canal, finally reaching the road at the end of this mile and a half stretch…
I cruised the long straight road sections and was relieved as I passed the farm where a yappy black dog normally gives chase…I tiptoed past and then quickened my pace just in case…
I lumbered back into the village, all the early enthusiasm and energy left on the road far behind me. There were a few people out walking dogs or visiting the paper shop as I meandered through the village. They were quite a good help really, as I had to put on a bit of style and look like I was enjoying it…
I staggered down the drive and leaned against the wall, I just knew I had dug too deep this morning and would spend the rest of the day paying for it…
Bob, 10 miles is awesome! :shock: No wonder you feel beaten up after that near half-marathon. Love your descriptive prowess there too.
Get your feet up with a mug of cocoa, a couple of Bourbon biscuits and some “Grand Piano…” 
Very sensible! 
I am in awe of a couple of young ladies who do this kind of thing at the gym I go to, as they do a killer routine. Even at my very fittest I couldn’t do what they do, and they make it look almost effortless. They are the hardest-working gym goers I have ever seen.
But they are young Tachyon. It’s a young person’s game all that stuff, although some people do still run around like crazy well into their sixties… 
I’ve decided to have a quiet and relaxing day today. The second part of my “muscle hardness” routine, which is for the legs will be split now into two consecutive days beginning tomorrow. I just haven’t got the energy or willpower today.
Yesterday’s three-hour upper body oblivion session really took it out of me and I need a rest. :o
Gym tomorrow all being well, but I’ve just arranged an appointment with my GP to see if my hunch is right and that side effects from the Methotrexate are starting to kick in. 
Because it is a “black box” medication they pulled out all the stops and I’m seeing her on Wednesday this week. I was expecting to see the GP maybe next week at best and more likely the week after that!
Fingers crossed they can sort me out. I was just getting decent in the gym and then this comes along. Story of my life. 
Just had a quick look at the uses and side effects of Methotrexate Tachyon, nasty stuff…You’re a braver man than me…:surprised:
The only medication I’m taking now is a low dose Aspirin, and a low dose Ramipril, and the Ramipril I’ve limited to 4 days per week…After having a full body scanning session it was found I had a lower red blood cell count and believe this could be down to the Aspirin, I’ll have a word with the Doc next time I visit…
One minor annoyance is I have to go to the city hospital to pick up the meds every month from the hospital pharmacy. I’m not allowed to collect it until I have had a blood test and I hand over a little purple logbook from the rheumatology department which has a note in it saying I am authorised to get it. Not one pharmacist in the county is allowed to dispense it. It’s a long and tiring trip for me by public transport, but there’s no alternative, sadly.
However, I am off to bed now - gawd, 9pm, how sad is that - to try and fortify myself for the gym. I really hope I can do something worthwhile this time…
Are you the same as me Tachyon, I’m usually all burned out by 9:00 pm but I can hold out until ten. I often wonder if I’m so tired because of the running, even though I’ve drastically cut down the mileage, but I’m loath to give it up. What would I blame the tiredness on then, because I believe that I would be just as tired…
Keep up the good work Tachyon even though it seems all uphill sometimes, I’m sure the good bits outweigh the bad and we’ll benefit in the long run…
Tachyon - Sorry I’m late with this but Bob’s spot on mate, he’s been there.
All you can do is hope that these meds don’t aggravate things too much. Possibly there is a different type your GP could prescribe which doesn’t involve all those side effects? Whatever mate, keep at it re your gym training if you can as that will keep your spirits up and diversify from thinking too much about all of this.
Did you manage to get there today mate? 
I did, Floydy, although I was making every excuse not to go. I dragged myself there though and felt I had achieved something just getting there. It was a so-so workout but the tiredness kicked in again so I called it quits. I’m seeing a GP tomorrow so I’ll be interested in what she has to say.
Take care all and keep up the good work.
You made the effort Tachyon and that’s half the battle, well done Good luck for tomorrow mate.
After Sunday’s poor recovery I had a surprising five mile run this morning. I felt really good with everything working well, and managed to continue my day without incident, just the obligatory power nap after lunch…
Good luck for tomorrow Tachyon, keep us posted…
Well done Bob, five miles more is five miles added to your fitness goals 
Wednesday 10/4/19: “Muscle hardness training”
Slow, controlled, flexed 6-set exercises.
Part 2. Legs 1 hour.
(All weights in kgs)
I was meant to be doing this on Sunday a day after the three-hour upper body workout, but that latterly-mentioned session took everything out of me, so it was postponed. With things to do Monday and yesterday, I finally got to grips with the workout today.
I do wish to mention theta the upper body workout was extremely effective by the way. Although it was incredibly difficult to perform at the time, the results appear to have benefited me in a very pleasing way; the muscles are stronger and firmer and unlike a usual workout they have actually stayed like this rather than last about three hours then settled back down again. I shall be continuing with this form of exercising for some considerable time, adding weight each session to my exercises but splitting the time into two sessions rather than one unholy marathon event!
So to the leg training of today on a similar theme, and things went very well. I did however curtail my training at one hour as there’s work tonight and the way things were going I would have found it rather difficult to even walk, never mind tramp around a warehouse for eight hours, so I shelved the sled press until next Sunday – everything else on my list was carried out well with the legs feeling fit, looking very strong and after some stretches, nice and supple afterwards for a change.
So to recap, it’s five sets of increasing weight with the usual paused reps on the heaviest set. The “+” on the heavy set is for as many extra reps as possible after a pause for breath – this actually builds the muscles but is extremely hard and takes a lot of effort to accomplish. The final set is a standard ‘cooldown’ set; upgraded to 15 reps for each leg muscle group on each exercise.
Lying ham curl:
20x20, 15x25, 10x32.5
8x40 +2
15x20
Incline press:
Feet low on plate -
20x150, 15x200, 10x250
4x300 +2
15x100
Feet high on plate, reverse sets –
6x250 +3
10x220, 15x200, 20x150
15x100
*As you see, the weights were in reverse order when I changed my foot position for no other reason that it saved me time taking off the weights and adding them back on each time again! Rather different but at least it gave my legs a bit of a breather looking forward to the lighter weight each time. Both the 15x100 sets were done at the same time.
Seated ham curl:
20x40, 15x50, 10x60
6x70 +1
15x30
Extensions:
20x40, 15x60, 10x80
6x100 +2
Extensions extra ‘bounce’ sets:
20x60, 15x80, 10x90
8x100 +6
*Legs stretched almost fully without locking, with a bounce at full stretch to ‘flex’ the inner knee quads.
Extensions, slow rep finish:
15x50, 15x30
Adductor:
20x50, 15x55, 10x60
8x60 +2
15x40
Abductor:
20x40, 15x45, 10x50
8x60 +2
15x35
Knackered but feeling very powerful. I’ll be splitting this down to enable me to do two legs sessions per week from next time. An upper body session will take place either tomorrow (Thursday) or on Friday evening.
Thanks for reading
Oo, oo, ow, ow, Floydy. I’d be a wobbly mess the day after that leg workout. Superbly done. I am off to the gym tomorrow and will give many of you exercises a go - minus a pound or two 
Tachyon, what’s the word from your GP? I really applaud you for willing yourself to complete a workout despite your body and brain trying to talk you in to a day with your feet up. You have the mind and determination of an athlete. I have a lot of respect for that. That determination should help you press through this frustrating issue with your medications. I’ll be interested in hearing how you navigate it. 
OGF, you mentioned a poor recovery on Sunday, but that is ancient history! It’s a such a good feeling to have a satisfying run after nature beats you back somewhat. 
Heaven knows I’ve had my share of that with my sporadic running of late, but I am once again able to prioritize it above almost everything. I’ve been out for four days in a row, and though I am feeling a little sluggish, I’m getting my breathing back mile by mile. 5.5 today through little prairie towns.
I’m sitting here looking at my new exercise bike 
I went on my ‘old’ exercise bike today, I’m ashamed to say I managed just 5 minutes
Hi Surfermom. 
She is sending me for a chest X-ray as she noted how much I coughed if I fill my lungs beyond a certain point. It’s rare for Methotrexate to harm the lungs, but it needs checking.
There was some good news though, in that my blood tests were remarkably good, which has to be a first. She is a bit puzzled that my glucose background levels have dropped again, despite me stopping insulin in October last year. I told the GP surgery I was doing this, of course, as I’m not THAT irresponsible and contrary to expectations it is somehow working. It was 107 (on whatever scale they use) and it had dropped to 85 after 3 months and it is now about 73 and when I was on 4 doses of insulin a day it wasn’t making any difference at all. Most odd. She puts it down to the exercise I am doing but there are possibly other factors she can’t figure out as yet. It was reassuring that haemoglobin, liver and kidney markers in the blood were all excellent. As I say, a first for me, as every time I have had tests in the last umpteen years there was always something abnormal.
So, on the strength of that I will hit the gym tomorrow with a lighter heart. I hope I can come out seeing an improvement, lol.
Take care all, and keep up all your good works.