Hawkwind faces life with hypothyroid...

[Hawkwind]

Monday's class:
One-on-one with Eric last night. (I am sooo spoiled and I know it!) I now know 4 more ways to damage an adversary's fingers/wrist/elbow and shoulder...as well as a nice little flip in the end. Eric was grinning about that one. He liked my little finish, instead of justing pulling my adversary down on their face it seems I naturally twist their wrist in such a way as to cause them to flip! He worked me through everything he's taught me so far again last night. I'm beginning to wonder just what he has planned for my test! I have been concentrating/practicing harder at home.

[Hawkwind]

Aight...back from seeing Kim, this time my 'script for Armour went through. She also bumped my dose up a bit. Pharmacy has it ready and I pick up the 'script tonight before class. Let's hope this works...if I'm still 'off' she wants me to see an endocrinologist. I have the name of two out in Worcester that are known for working well with thyroid patients. But let's hope it doesn't come to that. She's pretty happy with how well* I'm adjusting. It is official. My weight is coming back down...and the loss averaged out to a little more than a pound a week. Not bad for someone that is chronically exhausted of late! Might just beat this new biatches backside after all.
*Meaning to life with hypothyroidism.

Kim said I amaze her...I never take a diagnosis lying down. I get up, dust off and find out what I have to do to 'make it right'. She feels I'll be on top of this in no time. Lordy...I hope she is right. I am itchin' to get my pack on and hit the trails soon!

Tuesday class:
Class was great, my glutes sting! My test date has been moved up! Feb 25th.

Caloric intake for the day:
Calories: 1,715
Fat: 80
Carbs: 169
Protein: 91

[Hawkwind]

Holy horse-feathers! You should see the mess outside today! When I got out of the kwoon last night I had to clean my truck off to head up the mountain. It was snowing like mad. We got at least two inches on top of the 3 or so inches that had accumulated the past few days...well now it is pouring, and freezing on top of that! I was hoping to get back to the gym today and start back on heavier squats...but I am in no mood at all to dig my truck out of that slop!

So I'll train light at home today. Probably for the best all in all, my body temp has been swinging wildly when I'm training. Hot/cold/hot/cold and I noticed that if I'm not careful my muscles have been cooling/chilling faster than normal for me so I probably should keep things low-key until that stops.

It's just really starting to tick me off royally...especially with 'the call of the trails' ringing so loudly in my mind and heart lately. My wanderlust has kicked in big time and I want out of my studio and into the wilds!

Post ma training musings:
We did a lot of weighted ab/core work last night and my glutes were stinging when I got home from the combo of Monday's kick work and last nights ball toss work, (We basically 'toss' a ball to each other using only our feet.) the abs were sore last night as well...today I'm fine. I'm actually ecstatic about that as I'm starting to recover a bit faster from my training.

Moving into hypothyroidism musings as it pertains to my training:
I'm on my third book about living with hypothyroidism (and many hours of online research) and while I was with Kim yesterday I asked her (again...as I forgot to write it down) what my TSH level had been. 7.05

Shiet son! I was in a butt load of trouble when you compare that to the recommendations from 2002-03 that have still not been fully accepted in medical circles and within the labs. I missed my fasting blood work two years in a row because I had been out of state...and I never called back to reschedule. A lot of my other tests had been done, but now I wonder, how much earlier could I have picked up on this had I been a bit more determined to keep up with all of my blood work?

I'll never know and I'm not going to beat myself up over not rescheduling. I am tested twice a year for a helluva lot of other things thanks to my other health issues and I quite honestly get fed up with blood work and office visits.

Anyhow, with what I have been learning about hypothyroidism...it's a dayum good thing I am such a freak about exercise and diet! But...I am also curious as to what it would 'feel' like to experience a more 'normal' life. Meaning...I found out and was actually shocked to learn that my thyroid has probably been at the root of some of my problems for a while now...

After sorting out my meds and moving up my next follow-up/blood work appointments Kim and just sat and talked about the ramifications of hyperthyroidism in relation to my other immune and autoimmune problems over the past few years. She thinks that in a few months I'm going to feel like a 'whole new women'. I cannot begin to tell you how much that thought appeals to me. I've spent a long-assed time working around chronic pain and fatigue.

Just about have the diet sorted, the supplementation and timing thing sorted, have all the other meds I take sorted. I've been able to keep up with my MA training, so that's fine. Only thing I want to bring 'back on line' is my trail conditioning and lifting, oh yeah...and the sleep thing, insomnia is a biatch and daily groggies are no better! Then as far as I'm concerned...life will be 'sorted' health wise for me again.

Will I feel 'like a whole new woman'? Only time will tell. I'm not sure I want to 'look forward' to that day. (could prove to be a let down) I'd rather get my way of living back in order and if it gets better and improves...alrighty then...bonus.

After Kim and I sorted through a small mountain of information yesterday I looked at her and said, "Good thing I'm so hyper..." I paused and started to laugh and we both shook our heads. I added, "Now who would have thought you could find a 'hyper' hypothyroid?!"

For the first time since 'the winter blues' took me out again and I held those freakin' test results in my shaking hands barely two months later I'm starting to see a light at the end of this tunnel. Let's pray it's not another freakin' train coming in to mow my ass down!

[narcsarge]

Hit the light head on and hit it first!

Here's praying that things are going your way Hawkie! Healing thoughts too!

[Hawkwind]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

Hit the light head on and hit it first!

Here's praying that things are going your way Hawkie! Healing thoughts too!

I keep trying to! It's a sneaky sucker! Thank you N-sarge. It's staring to look up a bit finally.

Lower body work:
Good mornings
2 sets/10 reps - 27#

Cable pull throughs
2 sets/10 reps - 50#

Zercher squats
2 sets/10 reps - 55#

Romanian deads
2 sets/10 reps - 55#

BB calf raises
2 sets/10 reps - 55#

Notes:
I kept the weight low again since I'm still at home and still suffering dizzy spells, but I did drop a set off each exercise and bring the reps up. My plan for next leg day if I'm still at home is to bring the weight up a bit more and possibly drop back to my normal 8 rep count. Quite honestly...it killed me not to just say the hellz with it and knock out 2 sets of 20 reps on everything (think fat burning, I want back to 18% bf badly!!!)...but when my stamina is shot...it takes days to recover lately. So, I have decided that regardless of how 'good' I feel as I adjust to my new meds that it is time for me to do upper/lower splits and keep away from full body for a few months. Especially as I will be starting backpacking anytime now.

Today's intake:
Calories: 1,543
Fat: 95
Carbs: 75
Protein: 111

Aight...sort of a strange day. I know that intake was low for a training day...I didn't feel like eating, but I was craving peanut butter. So I snacked on the natty pb I was craving today between meals. I only missed one meal. Just couldn't convince myself to eat.

I feel 'better' today...only one mild hot/cold spell today and it was early in the am. My stomach has been better today. None of the sudden cramping pain I was suffering the past couple of weeks. I was tired as hellz this afternoon. But I didn't crash. Nice. That might mean I actually will sleep tonight. That would be a very nice change as the insomnia has crept back in on me.

[Hawkwind]

Hey all! Sorry I have not been around. I have learned so much more about my condition that I want to share...but just when you think life cannot get any more complicated...dayum doesn't it just go and do that on ya!

-My mil collapsed on the family recently. So I'm helping out even more.
-I just got through another change in my meds and I'm feeling a little better, but still not quite 100%.
-I'm 'mega-dosing' with Vitamin D3 to see if that helps a bit...too early to tell. (I'll eventually write up more about supplementation for hypothyroidism.)
-I'm still lifting...as a matter of fact I just joined a new (to me) gym today because I needed to move to a cage for some of my training and my gym couldn't accommodate my needs.
-I tested for my gold sash...and got it.
-I sustained a slight ham tear. But not enough to put me out of training.
-I have a thru-hike of the Midstate trail planned for this coming summer.
-I've lost 7 pounds...a huge success with all I've been going through with this dayumed thyroid crud!

Hope everyone is doing well! I'll catch ya'll when I have a chance. {{{Hugs}}}

[TRACE]

Hey Amy glad to see your doing better. Congrats on the gold, bummer on the hammy. Your training has changed up alot since I last viewed your journal.

I'm trying to get back into the gym durn sinuses, but atleast I got some bad/good news out of going to the doc for the sinus crud. I can finally get back on track with my training now and finally get some actualy results since I'm on TRT now.

[Hawkwind]

Originally Posted by TRACE

Hey Amy glad to see your doing better. Congrats on the gold, bummer on the hammy. Your training has changed up alot since I last viewed your journal.

I'm trying to get back into the gym durn sinuses, but atleast I got some bad/good news out of going to the doc for the sinus crud. I can finally get back on track with my training now and finally get some actualy results since I'm on TRT now.

Thanks! The hammy will heal. Oh yeah...my training has really changed up! I've been lifting rather light the past couple of months while the knee ligament healed up. I just started back heavy this week. And now my focus on lifting is lifts that support my backpacking and my ma training. Lots of auxiliary lifts. (Which I love!)

Sorry to hear about the sinuses! That stuff sucks! I had to have surgery for mine at one point...was it ever heaven to be able to breath again!

So here is from Wednesday's training:
So...I got back to the gym today. The knee is healed up...I've been feeling a little bit better from day to day so I figured I'd give it a try...

Well...I got in there and they had replaced every single machine in there as well as my beloved squat rack!

I'm not a fan of the new rack. The side bars are not adjustable and they are too high to help catch me if things go bad with my zerchers. I had to do my zerchers out of the rack. Went through my routine...got a little cranky because I had to lift up on my toes a bit more than usual to get the bar re-racked between sets and that was awkward. And then I went looking for the back extension machine...and it's totally gone...and not replaced! I loved that thing...

So...here's the work:

Lower body day

Squats
warm-ups 8 reps - 95#
set 1/8 reps - 135#
set 2/8 reps - 135#
*Adjusted to my 'working' weight fine

Zerchers
set 1/8 reps - 95#
set 2/8 reps - 95#
*same as above

Romanians
set 1/8 reps - 95#
set 2/8 reps - 95#
*same as above

Good mornings
set 1/8 reps - 95#
set 2/8 reps - 95#
*same as above

Hyper extensions
2 sets - bodyweight

Hip Adductions
2 sets/8 reps 70#
*I struggled with these! So very bummed about these as my working weight before my lay off was well above 100#.

Hip Abductions
2 sets/8 reps 70#
*No struggle with these...but definitely not as strong as I was prior to my lay-off.

Machine Calf Raises
Set 1/15 reps - 60#
Set 2/15 reps - 70#
Set 3/15 reps - 70#
*I did not like the new machine. It felt awkward as hellz and I felt that even at the tallest setting my legs are just too long! I guess next time I go back to seated cr's.

I'm really not happy about the changes at my gym. I just 'tolerated' the rack they used to have. It also was not adjustable...but I 'fit' it fairly well. I've been thinking about checking out a gym that opened a year or so ago that is 10 minutes closer to me. I may take a trip over there early next week to see what they have for equipment.

Eh.../rant over

Today's gym hunting adventure...
So I went hunting for a gym today...I was biatching pretty badly about the changes at my old gym when I got to my ma class on Thursday night. Eric told me I should check out his gym...in his words, "They are all about free weights there."

So I took a ride over this afternoon and....
When I walked into the gym I said to the manager "If you can answer this in the affirmative for me you will have a new client...is this club equipped so that I can do zerchers, bottom up zerchers and good mornings as well as rack deads? And...can I bring my loaded backpack in to do my cardio because it's almost backpacking season for me and I need to train in my pack?"

He looked at me smiled nice and wide and said, "Let me show you around." He brought me to the stepper/step mill and then straight to the racks and cage. I took one look at the cage and the set of bars with a pretty little hex bar standing nearby and said, "Sold!" He grinned and told me..."you do realize that everyone is going to be watching you?" I laughed and told him that as long as they stayed out of my way I didn't care.

[Hawkwind]

I know...I've been away a while. My sil ran into complications, but my mil is doing well. I just had a two+ week run-in with bronchitis. So today was my first day back to the gym...I'm thinking positive and that it's finally time to start a 10 week training cycle countdown.

Sooo, this is: Week 1 - Day 1
Lower body - ham/glute/lower-mid back/abs and calves

Rack Romanian deads
set 1/8r - 65#
set 2/8r - 85#
set 3/8r - 95#

Rack deads
set 1/8r - 95#
set 2/8r - 105#
set 3/8r - 115# *last 3 were gettin' ugly

Pin-suspended/arched-back/gm's
set 1/8r - 45#
set 2/8r - 55#
set 3/8r - 65#
*Oh! I like these...they will come in very handy for bringing stability to my backpacking.

Conv. gm's
set 1/8r - 45#
set 2/8r - 65# *I know...a bit of a jump here...I was doing them at 95 before my break and 45 was just too light.
set 3/8r - 75#

Machine back extensions
set 1/8r - pin set in stack at #4
set 2/8r - pin set in stack at #5
set 3/8r - same as above. *I have no idea what the bricks weigh on this machine.

Seated calf raises
set 1/15@ 50#
set 2/12@ 50#
set 3/10 @ 50#
Rested a few moments and walked off the burn...then did it all over again.
set 1/15@ 50#
set 2/12@ 50#
set 3/10 @ 50#

Abs - decline plate crunches
set 1/15r - 5#
set 2/15r - 5#
set 3/15r - 10#

Abs - decline oblique crunches - body weight
3 sets/10r each side.

[Hawkwind]

One-on-one with Eric last night.

Man! He wore my backside down last night...if he keeps this up my last 9#'s will be off in no time! We spent 3/4 of the class on punches and kicks. I loved it and I'm a whole lotta sore this morning. It's time for me to get my own gloves though. Everything at the kwoon was a bit small for me. I ended up with a pair of Eric's gloves. They worked but were a little too big. Looks like I'm making a trip into the city this weekend for gloves.

I'm going to 'rest' today instead of lift as I will be meeting up with a friend from the Trybe to train tomorrow night. I'm skipping out of my Thursday MA class but I'm looking forward to this. I haven't lifted with a partner since Jer left for the Air Force. Anyhow...Eric told me to come in on Saturdays...that way Becky has an adult to work with. I love training with Becky...so that works out fine in my book.

[Hawkwind]

I trained with my friend Phoenixphyre tonight.
Tonights work for me:

45*sled/Leg Press
3 sets/8r - 180#
*Pheezy worked her way up to 6 plates on either side! She is my hero!

C-deads
3 sets/8r - 95#

Leg Extentions
3 sets/8r - 90#

Machine calf raises
3 sets/15r - 65#

Hypers
3 sets/8r - 10#

Abs
6 sets/15r - bodyweight

[Hawkwind]

Time to 'catch up'...life it still very hectic. My sil is not doing well. And my husband is now going through testing as well...never seems to end lately.

Saturday March 23rd:
Saturday...
MA class went very well. Cranky glutes and quads held up fine. Although this afternoon I'm feeling the burn again. I gotta get up earlier and eat another meal if I'm going to do that class on Saturday's though! Got a tiny bit light-headed towards the end of class.

I was hoping to do upper body today...but Kate called before I left and needed help with errands. By the time I got home this afternoon...I was at the end of my energy for the day. The stores were packed today and crowds drive me nuts! I hate being in stores on the weekends.

But I did find a Mio sport watch for myself. I also bought batteries and reset my digital calipers. I took two readings. 20.1% and 19%...close enough together that I'll say my bodyfat % is just about where it was last year before I started my backpacking season.

Next thing on my 'to do' list for this coming week: Settle my butt down and get measurements. I haven't done them in a year if I remember correctly. Probably should take progress pics too since I'm back to my pre-season starting weight as well. The idea of pics is a little more daunting though!

I still haven't gotten to start any of my yard work! And I have fence repairs waiting for me as well!

Saturday PM cardio:
30 minutes - elliptical
*Just had to check out how well my mio works.

[Hawkwind]

March 25th
So...I was feeling a bit under-the-weather yesterday AM...so I didn't get to the gym as planned. Did cardio instead.

Monday AM Cardio: 25 minutes - elliptical

Monday MA Class: Started weapons training. I really enjoyed that!

Lower back/leg day
Week 2 - Day 1

Squats
3 sets/8r - 135#
*OMG! For the first time ever I dumped a plate! I inadvertently set the hooks a bit high in the cage and when I stepped back to rack the bar on my first set I missed the hook on the right. I noticed the clips were not that strong when I had secured the plate...and sure enough...one side slipped off and crashed to the rubber mat. I was soooo embarrassed!

Zerchers
sets 1 and 2/8r - 95#
set 3/8r - 105#

Bottom-up Zerchers
sets 1 and 2/8r - 95#
set 3/8r - 105#

PS GM's
2 sets/8r - 105#

C-GMs
2 sets/8r - 105#

Hack Squats
2 sets/8r - 90#
*Gassing out

Machine back extensions
3 sets/8r - pin set @ 4

Hip Adductions
2 sets/8r - 110#

Hip Abductions
2 sets/8r - 65#

Seated calf
3 sets/8r - 50#

Decline abs
2 sets/15r - 10#
*That's it! Body said QUIT!

[Hawkwind]

March 26th
Tuesday MA: Lots and lots of kick work! I thought that I would be a hurtin' pup today between a heavy leg day and 30 minutes of kick work. Especially since Eric wanted my kicks full out since my aim is good. Tomorrow might prove to be a different matter though!

So...let's file this one under the "only Hawk..." category in life...

Around quarter of four this morning I hear a little 'squeek' and felt something small and furry land on my arm in bed...

I 'squeeked' a bit myself and flung my arm up to hear the little furry body hit the wall and give another little 'squeek'. I turned on my reading lamp and look down expecting to see a mouse scramblin' for cover...to find a little bat looking very confused and disoriented.

So...I laid there on my stomach for a few moments pondering what to do about the little bat. I remembered an empty plastic container I keep on my self that I store my 'trail food' in during my backpacking season. So I jumped out of bed hoping that little batty stayed and grabbed the container.

Laying back on my stomach across my bed I checked and the bat had only crawled a foot or so away from the wall I knocked him into. So I dropped the container over him and slid the lid under it as far as it would go without mowing the little guy into the side of the container.

I had to wait a couple minute for little batty boy to crawl on to the lid so I could slide the container bottom the rest of the way over the lid. I now had myself a live little bat.

So what the hellz was I going to do with him? So I padded quietly up to the main floor trying to keep the dogs and cats from catching wind of my mission. I made it past all my sleeping critters to the atrium door. Of course you would know it had to snow last night...so there I am in my jammies and barefoot on my back deck with a little bat in a container.

And you just know the container lid didn't want to slide off, so I'm out in the snow trying to open the container and not have little bat boy fly up into my face, hair or jammies...

I did manage to get the container apart and watched as little bat boy crawled under the deck railing. I have no idea where he went to afterwards. I went back to bed...of course I couldn't sleep afterwards. I kept glaring up at my ceiling wondering if there are more bats hanging around in my house.

So...that was my excitement for the night...

[Hawkwind]

March 27th
Week 2 - Day 2

T-bar rows
3 sets/8r - 55#
WG/Lat pull downs
3 sets/ 8r - 50/65/65#

Alt DB press
3 sets/8r - 20/15/15#
DB lateral raises
3 sets/8r - 10/10/8#

DB bench
3 sets/8r - 20/20/15#
Pec Dec flyes
3 sets/8r - 45/45/30#

EZ bar curls
2 sets/8r - 25/30#
EZ bar reverse curls
2 sets/8r - 25#

Machine triceps press
2 sets/8r - 50/60# outer setting
2 sets/8r - 50# inner setting

*I wanted to walk into the locker room and kick a few lockers in a temper fit. I was sooo not happy with today's work. I was looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time. It was my first 'official' upper body day in the gym since my lay-off...but it was so disappointing that I have lost so much upper body strength.

One of the things I kept coming across in my research about hypothyroidism is that one loses upper body strength. I have to say...I prayed it wouldn't prove to be so for me. It was. I finished up shaking like a leaf and that frustrated the hellz out of me. I have been recovering so much better with my lower body work and having to struggle with my upper work left me feeling a bit blue.

I know this will pass and my strength will return. I always manage to get 'r' done regardless of what happens to me. It is just so irritating to constantly have to 'start over' with various aspects of my training.