Return to the gym, with mixed win and fail
Going back to the gym after not being there regularly for some while (didn't go while sick, went briefly once better, then didn't go during the holidays due to being busy plus reduced holiday hours): good.
Warming up with 5-10 minutes on cardio machine before hitting the weights: also good.
Trying new cardio machine never tried before (crossramp, I think it was called - basically a slanted version of an elliptical trainer, so it's like cross-country skiing uphill, more or less): potentially good.
Discovering that while using said machine felt fine at the time, a mere 6.5 minutes on it was enough to make my calf muscles seize up and get crampy and painful within minutes of getting off said machine: NOT good.
Getting to find out which of the weight machines, unbeknownst to me before now, put some degree of stress on the calf muscles in addition to whatever muscle group they're aimed at: educational, I suppose, but would have preferred to find out by some means other than ow-ow-ow-fuck-ow.
Discovering, however, that despite having been away, I could still do the same level of weight on most of the machines as before I got sick: VERY good. I only had to reduce the weight on, I think, two of them, and only by 5 pounds.
New exercise clothes, including, FINALLY, a proper sports bra: doubleplusverygood.
Stupid calf muscles still being seriously sore the next day, to the point where going up and down stairs requires determination: really not so good. (Triceps, all shoulder muscles, and pectorals also sore, but only when I move certain ways. Calves are sore even at rest. What the hell is up with that? 6.5 minutes!)
May or may not go to gym again tomorrow, depending how recovered I'm feeling. I have a pretty full day tomorrow anyway. But whenever I do go back, I am feeling a strange urge to get back on the evil calf-killing machine again and see if repeated exposure will allow me to eventually beat it into submission. Possibly, I am insane. But I am fortified with new exercise clothes, which make me feel like I can do anything. Only my calves disagree.
How the hell did it get to be 4am? I could have sworn it was only 2:00 a minute ago. Bed. NOW.
Warming up with 5-10 minutes on cardio machine before hitting the weights: also good.
Trying new cardio machine never tried before (crossramp, I think it was called - basically a slanted version of an elliptical trainer, so it's like cross-country skiing uphill, more or less): potentially good.
Discovering that while using said machine felt fine at the time, a mere 6.5 minutes on it was enough to make my calf muscles seize up and get crampy and painful within minutes of getting off said machine: NOT good.
Getting to find out which of the weight machines, unbeknownst to me before now, put some degree of stress on the calf muscles in addition to whatever muscle group they're aimed at: educational, I suppose, but would have preferred to find out by some means other than ow-ow-ow-fuck-ow.
Discovering, however, that despite having been away, I could still do the same level of weight on most of the machines as before I got sick: VERY good. I only had to reduce the weight on, I think, two of them, and only by 5 pounds.
New exercise clothes, including, FINALLY, a proper sports bra: doubleplusverygood.
Stupid calf muscles still being seriously sore the next day, to the point where going up and down stairs requires determination: really not so good. (Triceps, all shoulder muscles, and pectorals also sore, but only when I move certain ways. Calves are sore even at rest. What the hell is up with that? 6.5 minutes!)
May or may not go to gym again tomorrow, depending how recovered I'm feeling. I have a pretty full day tomorrow anyway. But whenever I do go back, I am feeling a strange urge to get back on the evil calf-killing machine again and see if repeated exposure will allow me to eventually beat it into submission. Possibly, I am insane. But I am fortified with new exercise clothes, which make me feel like I can do anything. Only my calves disagree.
How the hell did it get to be 4am? I could have sworn it was only 2:00 a minute ago. Bed. NOW.