I must get my April entry in. I made a resolution to type once a month, and I’m not going to abandon it.
I injured my left knee a couple of weeks ago, I think. I’m not sure what I did, or even if my injury constitutes an actual injury. Several years ago, I tore my meniscus in my right knee and had to get surgery. The doctor wasn’t able to fix it to the point I would have a full recovery, but my life would not be inhibited in any significant way. I had to give up Tae Kwon Do, but I’m still able to be active in most of the ways I would like to. My surgeon advised me that the best thing I could do is build muscle in my legs. The more muscle I built, the more support my knees would have.
I’ve been remarkably consistent, not that being consistent in going to the gym has historically been a problem for me. It is a bit of a challenge in my middle age. When I was younger, exercise was a catharsis for me, a way to productively manage all my negative emotions and thoughts. In my 40s, I find myself very comfortable with who I am and mostly at peace with my failings, so self improvement feels more chore-like than ever. That aside, I have consistently gone to the gym 3 to 4 times each week, barring sickness or travel obligations.
To build muscle in my legs, I forewent my regular barbell squats. I could easily imagine loading heavier and heavier weight on my back leading to compressed vertebrae or some such affliction, so I started doing Bulgarian split squats instead. I don’t do it with free weights, though. There is a Hammer Strength machine in my gym that duplicates that movement. I even plant my base foot on a step bench so I can get a deeper squat. It’s worked like charm, if this charm also causes my glutes to grow so much that I out-arse my pants. I know it works because not only am I getting stronger, my legs have been so sore for at least one day after, that walking is painful (in a good way).
I’m getting to the level in that exercise that I’m ready to increase the weights for each of my sets, so a couple of weeks ago, I tried doing a 5th set with the weight that will become my maximum payload when I level up. I was able to squeeze out 4 reps without issue. I could have even gone for more, but when I woke up the next day, my left knee joint was swollen and causing me to walk like a newborn dear. It didn’t actually hurt though. It just felt stiff and unsupported.
I haven’t done any squats since then, but I’m still able to do my hamstring curls and hex bar deadlift. I’ve replaced running on the elliptical with climbing the stair master, and I’m able to do most of my shadow boxing cardio. I want to return to my split squats, but I’m afraid I might worsen whatever condition is afflicting it. I was making such good and steady progress, though.
I’ve also started utilizing a new cardio machine called a Krankcycle. It’s like a recumbent exercise bike, but the crank is up towards your chest, and it has hand grips instead of pedals. Basically, it’s like an exercise bike, but you operate the crank with your arms instead of your legs. Of course, you can adjust the resistance level and even which way the resistance is applied; you can work your arms by “pedaling” the crank away from you to focus on your upper chest, shoulders, and triceps, or to you to work your lower chest, biceps, and lats. I currently do at least 10 minutes cranking it away from me, increasing the resistance every 2 minutes, then another 10 minutes cranking it towards me, again, increasing the resistance every 2 minutes. Mein Gott, I don’t know how I ever exercised without it.
It’s the sweetest torture I’ve ever experienced. While I’m working out on it, my arms feel like they’re screaming and I’d rather do anything but keep going, then I look at my arms as they’re pumping and think, “I want to do this forever.” As soon as I’m done, I have to “cool down” by walking through the free weight area to appreciate my arms in the mirrors (without being conspicuous). If my gym ever got rid of those machines, I would have to buy one for myself.
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