I didn't teach social aspects of health and medicine to medical students (and nursing students, and physio and OT, and dental) for 3 decades for nothing, I hope. Let us know if it works!

Morning, everyone. Not much to report here, lifting wise. I managed to pick up bronchitis from The Boy, so I've spent the last week coughing and pretending to sleep. I still have a cough, but at least it can be *a* cough, instead of a 5-minute coughing fit. Ugggh. But, I felt well enough on Sat & Sun to do a bit of lifting, so now I have the good sores.

glad you like your new trainer, Tejas. And, Nellie, 5*203 means 1*213 is very close. 215 is my PR, too, although I've been working @ 185 while I get back in lifting shape.

Short week today. My gym closes Wed afternoon through Sunday, so I'll have to find an alternative for the weekend. The joys of a university gym...

b. strong,
Kim

Rhonda: Seriously?! What an interesting career! Well, thank you for your suggestion all the more. I feel a little more confident about addressing this as well. Thanks!

Lydia, maybe you should start a little gym out of your garage. That's a pretty typical way that CF gyms get started, and folks just stay there until they outgrow the space (and tolerance of neighbors, lol). Lots of times, though, neighbors get interested if they see you doing cool stuff and having fun, so they will want to get in on it. Then you could have the kind of social atmosphere and workouts that make it fun, supportive, etc. Not sure if that's an option for you, but it sounds like your town needs a new gym. You're probably not the only one craving something better.

We've got snow today. I haven't been out driving yet, but my sister said the roads were pretty icy and slick in spots, sliding even with chains on, so I guess I'm not hitting the gym today. The snow is pretty but is just annoying since the tires on my truck are not that good.

Home workouts have been sporadic, but I've quit beating myself up about it. It's just hard to see workouts and fitness goals as a real priority right now when I'm preoccupied with the job hunt and financial worries. I know that once my income has stabilized and things aren't so stressful on that front, I'll be able to focus on workouts like I normally would. In the meantime, I'm just giving myself a little slack.

Tejas - generally fat activates the gall bladder and stones come out with the bile. Of course the problem with all stones (kidney, etc) is the ducts weren't made to pass them so it can be painful. In the case of the gall bladder, a stone can block a duct and you can develop jaundice. The first time I had a gall bladder attack, I felt like I was having a heart attack, most painful thing ever.

Lydia - one reason I do love Crossfit, the comraderie is pretty good. Have you tried going at different times? I found early morning workout people are more dedicated although really I was never a social person when I went to a regular gym.

Cheryl - our CF gym apparently started in a park

Cheryl: I totally love your vision and optimism. Its well worth considering. I think what I miss most is the freedom to workout like no one is watching. I just can't do that at the current place.

Right now though my most pressing concern is healing this tendon. I'm going to be scaling back right along with you for the next month or so. If I can't squat, I really have no business doing much more than light cardio and upper body anyway.

Please be careful out there if you need to go out. Snow and ice are my least favorite things for that very reason. If nothing else, northern VA gets points for the mild weather. (Don't anyone remind me of last winter...wasn't here so it didn't happen. )

Nelie: I'm hitting the gym around 8:30am. I think what the problem is I'm used to a "community" type gym that was fully equipped. People behaved themselves because they knew they would run into one another at the kids soccer games, grocery, etc. KWIM? Anyway, I'll be fine. I'll just grumble about it until my tendon heals and then I'll move on.

Kaw: Sorry to hear about that cough. Ick. Enjoy the good pain. Its probably a good thing that your gym is closed over the holiday. Gives you a little extra time to recharge.

Lydia, yes, I'm a retired professor of public health. I loved my work and the people I met and am SO glad to be retired.

Today I threw 12 pound bags of sand around, among other things. It's funny how I feel like an Amazon with the weights but throwing the sand is so difficult

Nelie, my DH has had those kidney stones. Ouch is what they all are.

Cheryl that's a really encouraging perspective. In Toronto I used to meet with a group of 4-5 women in the local park and our trainer is using that experience to start her own gym, in someone's garage.

Sorry about the cough, Kaw. Do you do the nasal lavage thing? It sounds gross but I live in an area with lots of pollen in the area and people here aren't shy about recommending squirting water up the nose! It helps.

Here ya go Kaw:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8KOsNtpV8w

He comments that it give the sensation kind of like drowning....aack. I can barely swim. I would totally drown myself in my bathroom sink. Or better yet, this is one example of how it would be possible to drown yourself in a tea cup.

That's quite, um, gross. I did love the pink and green tiled bathroom, with the pink sink. Hello, 1950s!

I'm feeling much better today: I think I only had one or two coughing bouts. Yay! I celebrated the return to health and the upcoming holiday with a long squat workout: overheads, back, front, then lunges just because I could still walk. And then I walked home the long way (15 minutes), walked to The Boy's school (15 minutes), played on the playground for a while (yay! I can climb up the firepole!), then walked back (15 minutes). If I'm going to sit around on Thursday, it might as well be my "second-day sores" day!

Had a strength-related NSV at the playground. I was taking turns with the kids (8-10, looked like) on the monkey bars. They're of course much better at it than I am, and not just because I have to curl up my knees (and have an extra 70-90 pounds on them...). At any rate, one of the zippiest little girls said, "hey, you're pretty good at that, for an adult." Made my day!

b. strong,
Kim

I second Tejas' recommendation of nasal lavage. A little more work than popping a pill but effective, cheap and you retain control of your body and its health.

FB for me today.

Clearly I've been out of the gym too long. I read "FB for me today" and thought, "SB's spending time on facebook today."

Hello. This is me, procrastinating.

Just back from the gym. I didn't have the best workout of all time because I'm still pretty sore from the last few days. I think I yelped out loud during the warm-up back extensions, not because they are difficult but because of the pressure on my quads. But, hey, I went. I lifted. I even did cardio, which makes me feel oh-so virtuous.

This morning I couldn't sleep, so I got a head start on T-day preparations before shuffling off to work. The organic, free range, Swedish-massaged, yoga-certified, daily-detoxed turkey is in the brine. The fresh cranberry sauce with orange & ginger is in the fridge. Tonight I'll make the stuffing; I haven't decided what kind, yet, but since I don't eat it and The Boys & FIL are, umm, traditional when it comes to stuffing, I'll probably just stick to the basics.

OK, back to work.

KAW

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am SORE from yesterday's clean and double under fest.

Yoga certified turkey....I like that.

Happy T day everyone. It's our fourth wedding anniversary and we went to brunch at a fancy Inn here, and will have the family over on Saturday for a traditional meal. I ate what I wanted but managed to be modest with the portions and feel good about that. The gym is open today, and I might, just might, go. If not, I will definitely do some kind of cardio DVD workout and some weights at home.

If the nasal lavage feels like drowning to someone, that person have NEVER nearly drowned, I promise you. It feels like getting water in your nasal cavity and the saline solution prevents it from burning like plain water or swimming pool water does. It's simple really. I know, I resisted too until I had sinus infection after infection and this stopped them.