Ugh. Today was a terrible day. It was the Senior Center Doctor appt with my mom. She is still losing weight. Under 80 lbs today. The doctor warned her that at her next appt with her GP that a feeding tube will likely be suggested, as well as more tests to rule out cancer of some sort, since she's been losing weight so steadily. I honestly still think it's all about the food (or lack thereof), but maybe there is something else. We didn't even touch on the mental issues today because the main concern was the weight. And, my mom cried because she doesn't want to be so frail and feel so badly. It made me cry.
I am now glad that I didn't do both depletion workouts last night because I need to go to the gym to snap out of this malaise.
I don't know what else to do with my mom. This is the hardest thing I have gone through.
On a brighter note....BEFORE the doctor's appt, my sis and I took her out to lunch because my sister's birthday is Sunday and she will be on vacation at the beach. I got her a new clutch purse, which she was thrilled with. THEN, I told her that you can't give a gift of a purse without putting something in it (usually, that would be money). So, she looked in the little inside pocket and found........a new IPOD! The new ipod shuffle that is as big as a piece of Dentyne gum! She was so excited....her first ipod! So, I was glad to make someone so happy today!
Now, some playtime with Violet and then off to the gym.
Sorry about your mom. We're not there yet with my parents or hubby's Mom but we did got through this with Trav's Dad when we were in our twenties. He had Lou Gehrig's disease. It's hard.
Those aren't million bells (though I do have them out back). Those are Wave Petunias.
UD2 is going great! I'm doing 6 cycles, then a break.
whoopsie. my bad. they looked very similar to million bells at first glance, but now i see that they are too large to be the millon bells. regardless, your gardens and hanging baskets look incredible.
After the gym, I took a long walk with Violet just to clear my head and I got to thinking. I've had people mention that they are impressed with my compliance to my workouts and diet. How do I do it? Etc. Etc. And, you know what. I think a lot of is has to do with control. It's the one area in my life I can control right now and I think that might be part of what's driving me to be so focused and compliant. It's like I can get my mind off of all the things I DON'T have control over when I am planning my workouts or my food or whatever. Just to be focused on SOMETHING ELSE and to be in control of the outcome.
I guess the other end of the spectrum would have me face down in a pint or two of Ben and Jerry's or a cheesecake or a large pepperoni pie! Not sure if one way is better than the other at this point, but it is what it is......
I think I understand what you mean... When I was unemployed, people would ask me if I continued to work out, and the answer was yes, for the reason you mentioned. It was one thing I could control and succeed at.
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Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
Hi Jane. I just wanted to say thanks for stopping by my new log, and so sorry to see your mom is doing poorly. Nice work keeping things going despite everything.
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i do like the library, but i also like the gym my new log!
Big hugs comin' your way Jane! i think some sort of get-together is in order sometime soon. I just need to figure out a good place to meet! We need to figure out the exact midpoint between Cleveland, Columbus and Detroit. I'm thinking TheMiddleOfNowhere but who knows...they may have a mall!
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They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
I'm sorry to hear about your mother's continued problems. I understand about you wanting to do your workouts, because it's something you can control. I hope things improve if only that she gains a little weight. Take care.
Big hugs comin' your way Jane! i think some sort of get-together is in order sometime soon. I just need to figure out a good place to meet! We need to figure out the exact midpoint between Cleveland, Columbus and Detroit. I'm thinking TheMiddleOfNowhere but who knows...they may have a mall!
That would be somewhere around Findlay, Ohio. Not exact, but fairly close to mid-way.
Jane, you nailed it exactly right: when you are in turmoil, it feels good to have control over some aspects in your life = diet & exercise.. you are one of those persons who counterbalance the lack of control with excellent compliance.
OTOH , it's very understandable why a majority of folks go the exact other way when stressed = do a face plant in food and/or alcohol.
Meanwhile I'd love to hire you as my gardener.. sooo nice!
Have you tried the shake method already.. didn't want to go back and search for it if you've already done this. Oh, something else.. someone told me that he used to be very much against what we call 've tsin' or MSG (monosodium glutamate), but that he turned 180° when seeing the effect of it on elderly people.
Lack of appetite is a very common and worrisome problem for elderly persons as it can become dangerous when you are underweight.
He told me how in most homes for elderly people, they use it liberally to enhance the taste of food. Old folks lose their sense of taste bit by bit and everything starts to taste bland to them. Apparently MSG increases their appetite to normal levels.
That would be another idea besides increasing the amount of liquid food.
I have always turned to exercise to clear my head when things get tough. I have never had to face the things you do, but it sure was a stress reliever when I needed it. And I feel the same - something you can control when everything else is in disarray. Hope things start to look up for your Mom! That is the sweetest thing that you got her a little ipod
Espi, we have tried EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. Shakes are a NO GO. Tried repeatedly. With her Alzheimers and her physical condition, things are just going down hill fast. She now has to come OFF the Alzheimers meds because that may be contributing to the quickening weight loss. So, that's another bummer because it was my last hope to see any mental improvement. Just believe me when I tell you we have tried everything. Dealing with my Dad is a whole 'nother story -- he's more stubborn, bullheaded, and a pain in the ass than I can even put into words. It's hell, I tell ya.
Dealing with my Dad is a whole 'nother story -- he's more stubborn, bullheaded, and a pain in the ass than I can even put into words. It's hell, I tell ya.
Has he always been a kind of a PITA? If not, maybe his feelings of not being in control and grief for the wife he knew are clouding his judgment about what everyone is doing to try and help your mom. Is he her primary caregiver? He may be overwhelmed and not know how to ask for help OR think no one can help. Given how self-sufficient his generation is, I imagine he is really hard to deal with because of some of these issues.
Just my first thoughts after reading what you wrote. I don't know much about Alzheimer's.
Other than suggesting a support group, I can't think of anything that would help.
As with last week, not supposed to hit any PR's with this workout, but it happened. Felt real good working out. I am always pumped for this workout on Friday's because 1) it means a carb load is right around the corner, and 2) I am done with the crappy depletion workouts for a few days!
Squat
6x105
6x110*
*Most reps ATG at this weight
Front Squat
6x75
6x85
*most reps...hey TINA!! I got 85, too!.....ummm..well....lbs that is.
Deadlift
6x135
6x125
*most reps at this weight
Romanian Deadlift
6x135
5x135
Bench Press
6x70
6x70
BO Row with BB
6x90
6x85
DB Incline Bench Press
6x30's
5x30's
Cable Row
6x100
6x93.5
DB O/H Shoulder Press
6x25's
6x22.5's
Barbell O/H Shoulder Press
5x50
7x45
Calf Machine
6x105
6x105
Swiss Ball Crunch
2 sets of 15
Now, let the carb load games begin!! See you guys in 24 hours and 4,000 calories!
July 19, 2009
Power Workout UD2 Week 5 (aka "after the carb load!")
Look out! Red light district ahead!
Squat 4x110
4x120
4x125
Front Squat
4x85
4x90
4x95
Deadlift
4x145
1x150
4x135
4x135
*most reps at 145 and first time max at 150. A guy came up to me during one of my rest periods and told me my form looked so pretty it should be in a book. I think that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me in the gym! Nice to know my form doesn't go to shit when I am shooting for PR's.
Romanian Deadlift
4x150
4x155
3x160
*most reps at 155 and first time at 160
Flat Bench Press
5x75
3x80
6x70
B/O Row with BB
2x105
4x100
4x100
*That 105 didn't look pretty, but dropped it back to 100 and got the most reps at 100 in a workout
Now, off for a long walk with the dog and then gardening, yard work, meal prep, and mom stuff. No wonder Sunday's always end up being a 3,000+ calorie burn day! Busy!
Linear Mode
