Upper-body workout, and other stuff

[avram]

I decided to push myself today, looking for levels of poundage that would challenge me to complete a set of 10 reps (after starting with a lighter set of 15).

• Weight: Forgot again.
• One-arm rows: 1 set of 15 with 12lb weight, 2 sets of 10 with 15lbs.
• Dumbbell standing shoulder press: 1 set of 15 with 9lb weights, 1 set of 10 with 12lb weights, 1 set of 10 with 15lb weights. Next time, I should probably start with the 12-pounders. My form was off on the middle set; I held the weights parallel to each other, instead of in line.
• Dumbbell shrugs: Three sets of 15, one each with 15lb, 18lb, and 21lb weights. My weight set may not be up to challenging me with this exercise.
• Dumbbell bench press: 1 set of 15 with 12lb weights, 1 set of 10 with 15lb, 1 set of 10 with 18lb. I remembered to compress my chest muscles this time, which I’d been forgetting.
• Dumbbell bicep curls: New exercise. 1 set of 15 with 12lb weights, 2 sets of 10 with 15lb weights. Had to keep reminding myself to slow down, especially on the down-stroke, resist the temptation to let momentum and gravity do the work.
• Ab crunches: 2 sets of 20 Hot Point style, 1 set of 20 penguins. No cramps this time.

I may need to get a set of those magnetic weight add-ons to get my barbells up to 24lbs. Or experiment with water-filled milk bottles or something.

I really ought to have done these in the morning, rather than letting them go till the late evening, but then I would have been up and about even later, and might not have had time to get other stuff done.

Other stuff: I cancelled my New York Sports Club membership. Should have done it last month, or earlier; I haven’t been using it.

And I called my health insurance company, just to say Hey, y’know how I filled out the little form on the back of my invoice, telling you to change my mailing address to one in New Jersey? Well, you folks have figured out that it’s because I’m living in New Jersey now, right? Well, as it turns out, no, they hadn’t. They do have a policy that covers NJ, and they’re sending me the forms to change over, and I’m still covered in the meantime. And they cover all the same doctors in NY, NJ, Connecticut and Rhode Island, so I could keep my old doctor if I liked him (which I don’t) and hadn’t just chosen him because he was convenient to my old apartment (which he was). And I surfed their website and found that they’ve got a buttload of doctors near me. Another obstacle-to-Atkins soon to be removed.