Masquerade! and an update

[mamagotcha]

A few weeks ago, I read about a local historical group resurrecting a turn-of-the-century Kansas City tradition, the Priests of Pallas Ball. It sounded like fun, but the tickets were $85 a pop... so I called and asked if they needed any volunteers. I wound up helping at the ticket booth, and needed a mask for the event.

Comments

[via_lens]

Does your doc have you taking Coromega? You don't mention by name. I swear by the stuff for Omega-3, and Logan will even take it as long as he gets it down quickly. It's orange-flavored with a weird aftertaste. There's a bit of sticker shock on it until you realize each box is a 90-day supply. (I think I pay around $20/box for it, and buy when it's on sale.)

The 10-minute cardio warmup followed by large muscle weight work is what definitely worked wonders for me when I had a trainer. And it's okay to do just weights on days when you're pressed for time. It adds up. One thing my trainer was really strict about was working to the point of "burn" but not to the point of shaking. Over time I was able to find that spot, and to determine how many reps I could do with a brief rest in between, without ever getting to the shaky stage. Now that I'm cycling every day I'm amazed at how much benefit I got from just a little bit of weight work each day (sometimes just squats across the living room for 10 minutes).

[mamagotcha]

The one she recommended was Nordic Naturals, and it's got a lemon flavor. There is a teensy aftertaste, but I must say it's the texture that gets to me. I pop an Altoid right after, to get the juices flowing and wash it all away. Brrr. A bottle was $30 on sale, but it'll last a while

[via_lens]

Coromega has a pudding/yogurt texture, and comes in what looks like a ketchup packet. I often mix mine into my morning fruit smoothie, but it does make that aftertaste last a while longer.

The "shaking" is not shaking all over, but rather when the muscles begin to quiver at the apex of the lift. The 'burn' is kind of an ache, yes. To me it's always a distinct sensation of increased heat and tingling.

One of my favorites: If you have a big ball (if you don't, get a burst-proof one, I've had one burst on me and it's no fun) you can use it to do a modification of squats that will let you keep your knee within limits: rest your lower back on the ball with your knees bent and hold a single barbell weight (I go with 10 pounds). Then slowly lower yourself forward as if you were squatting down to a range you're comfortable with, and then push yourself back up (rolling the ball a bit) to nearly straightened out, leaning back on the ball. This helps not just with the squat muscles but also with your core muscles to keep you balanced.

[mamagotcha]

Yes, we do have a ball! It WAS burst-proof... until my darling PhD decided to put the cat on it, "just to see what happens." He very kindly bought me another one.

So when I'm resting the lower back on the ball, am I essentially lying down on it? I'd sit down, lie back, and roll forward?

[via_lens]

I've been trying to find this exercise on various pages online without success. I guess my trainer taught me something. =D

[mh75]

You can also put the ball between you and the wall, and lean against it. The do the squats that way. (Basically, you lean against the ball so it takes some of your weight, and helps keep your weight back, and then it rolls so you can squat smoothly.)

Other things about squats -- make sure your weight is back, so your knees are directly above your heels (never crossing in front of your toes), AND, only going down to 90 degrees is ok.

Maybe i should work out with Sheryl - she seems to have good ideas.

[mamagotcha]

Oh, I see now. Yeah, I was imagining something pretty different from that. Thanks for the visual, it helps a lot.