I just got back from YMCA workout. Last one of the year.
It is almost one year since I started working out there.
So far no serious injuries, knock on wood.
I kept my distance and just worked out alone for several
years after leaving the homo musclehead gym where I
was employed as a massage therapist. I survived in that
place, just barely, for 7.5 years. The management let
the gym fall apart and ignored the calls to repair equipment
and at same time they increased cost of membership.
They lost many good members and my work dried up.
I found a website that showed people how to train to
do 100 continuous pushups and I was hooked. I ran in
the 3 warm months in the huge sprawling wooded park
right beside my shack, and integrated the pushup sets
into the run. In winter I walked for two hours and then
did pushups, followed by lunges, abdominals, and then
stretches. Naked pushups back at the shack with my
aged cat encouraging me.
When I was following the program and doing pushups
3 times a week I was doing 300 pushups in one session.
The highest number in a sequence workout was 89. The
highest I got in the single exhaustion sets was 84, I think.
Last summer I was doing pushups just twice a week after
a run or during a run, and stayed right around 200-217 per
session, sometimes up to 74 in exhaustion sets.
Due to some very warm weather last week I did 71 in an
exhaustion set in the middle of a 30 minute run. I am terrified
of ice and do not run much at all outdoors.
Today at the gym I ran on treadmill for 16 minutes with some
good speed & cooldown. Then 50 pushups right after. Took
a 90 second rest, picked up a jumbo 14 lb. medicine ball
and threw it against the wall for 25 reps. Rest for 90 seconds
then 50 pushups again. Rest 90-120 seconds and repeat the
medicine ball throws against brick wall. The third set of push-
ups was total killer, but I did it. Waited 90 seonds and threw
medicine ball until my arms fell off.
Also did lateral shoulder raises w dumb bells, abdominals and
full 20- minute stretch routine.
I would not be able to work out like this if it was not for trad-
itional chinese herbal medicine. I cannot afford the best herbs,
but after 22 years I have learned which herbs are essential,
according to the seasons.
Hurray for ling zhi mushroom! Hurray for chinese red ginseng!
Hurray for astragulus! I have good friends in chinatown who
take very good care of me.
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