Plato Says Yes!

Well, what can I say.

In comparison with Virginia Tech my tragedy is vanishingly minor.  However on Monday two weeks ago, I said goodbye to my old chum Hansel  - a super greyhound friend who first came home as a retired oldster at 4 yrs old on Millennium Eve.

On Tuesday morning about 2am, his daughter Christie started to fit - she’s been an epileptic for a couple of years and has epiphen/diazepam to control it.  It took over and no amount of tranquilisers could stop it. She was hospitalised on Tuesday morning after the vet came out at 0530 and she died on Thursday without ever coming back to consciousness.

Diabetes in greyhounds is most unusual and ’status epilepticus’ is a very rare condition that basically means that the brain short-circuits and eventually the patient dies of brain damage or organ failure due to overheating as the fits are very stressful.

Christie was a super girl and I still have her sister Claudia.  In my pix Christie is the white doggy with brown brindle ears and tail.  Claudia was really lost with both Christie and Hansel both dying in 72hrs, so I soldiered on and we’ve had a new greyhound friend to keep her company.

Dido is an ex-racer so at 4 yrs old it’s a vertical learning curve - all house-training,  how to get down the stairs, hiding from the hoover and not to chase cats!

Will post pictures of all my quadruped friends shortly.

Px

PS My canaries have just had their first clutch !  4 new peach coloured birdies !  Have to find a home for them will hopefully be easy … 

Well, I’m now on week 5 of my latest contract and still haven’t been down the gym.  This is terrible and I only have myself to kick.

During the week it’s a total no-no as I have the grand total of 2 hrs to eat/tidy/look after quadrupeds and then go to bed.

This weekend I was really up for it and somehow I ended up watching 2 movies on Saturday and then today spent 3 hrs in church.

As a life-long card carrying atheist, this was rather weird.

One of my best mates has just graduated from a two year Bible School programme and this morning was her graduation ceremony. She’s never done anything like this before and I’m really chuffed with her dedication.

I’ve never had any desire to join a church, and this experience was both seductive and unpleasantly manipulative at the same time.  The pastor was very charismatic and awfully insincere, the songs joyful but hypnotic, and the mind-controlling content of the sermon made me flinch.

I’m really glad that she gets such a lot of strength and reassurance from her beliefs, however it wasn’t me at all.

I was brought up on 200yr old hymns and emotion/humour free services at school - I didn’t believe a word then, but it seemed pretty harmless. This morning’s congregation had a cultish touch to it.

At the end of the service, the pastor said that he’d challenged a lady of 75yrs in the street about life after death.  She said she hadn’t given it much thought…so he told her that the next day may be her last and that she’d better get praying for salvation and get Jesus before she was damned forever.  Nice.

Then they got down on their knees in the shopping precinct and prayed.

Is it just me or is frightening or bullying a vulnerable person into joining a gang just plain wrong ?

And justifying it as ‘I must save you as you may die tomorrow’ is appallingly manipulative.

England is a pretty irreligious sort of country these days, although most people would say that they were Christians or believed in their god.  I’m happy for it to be just so.

I don’t try to convert anyone to my vision of bugger all after death, and I’d like to think that no one will try to frighten me into thinking that I ought to pray just in case Monday 26th March is my last.

Oh a cheerier note - think that two of my pussies are going to be having kittens in the next month or so!  Can’t wait and don’t know how I will be able to let any of them go to new homes… 12 in the house is a rather a lot but hey-ho, I used to think that 4 was quite enough thank-you

Toodlepip

Px

I’m back - well almost.

I’ve been out of the gym for 5 weeks today - I overtrained and got a busted back in return for bringing my ego with me. So, it’s been 35 glorious days of chocolate, pasta, french bread and red wine.

And now that my trousers are getting rather snug, it’s about time that I stopped titting about and got back down to it… However, I wouldn’t want you to think that I’ve just been a sofa spud - hell no - I’ve been working out at home - deadlifting canines.

Unconventional perhaps, but at least I know that all that time in the gym has actually come in handy

Yes, I know that they have twice as many legs as me. Unfortunately, one decided to play silly buggers in the garden and bashed her ankle…£500 in vet bills later and I’m still deadlifting an 80lb greyhound down the stairs every morning (mysteriously this three legged canine can get up the steps during the night).

 Her name is Christy by the way.

And then there is my old mate Handsel - he’s a good chap but rather wobbly on his pins these days. So no hard feelings. In fact, he’s now on glucosamine so thumbs up for the Over 35s Forum

Have you ever seen a chubby greyhound ? Me neither until now - Christy could now be described as cuddly and her abs are a thing of the past. Some serious cardio for her, me thinks.

I suspect that my dirty bulking has influenced her diet recently… it’s the fairy cakes, pasta and pancakes - purely medicinal of course…

I never thought I’d consider one of my pets as a training buddy, but hey I’m an open-minded kinda girl. At least she doesn’t talk back or brag about her bench press.

Speaking of my furry friends, perhaps now would be a good time to confess about how many live with me. Just three greyhounds, eleven cats, couple of canaries… and then there’s three horses, two goats and a tank of fishies. A complete food chain

Brring brring…. that was the vet (again) … another test to check out a potential joint infection, ho hum. Perhaps it would be easier to pay my wages directly to him and just ask for pocket money

For the next exciting installment of Plato’s Animal Hospital, just pop back here next week…

That’s All Folks Px

Bugger.  Bugger. Bugger. (No Homo)

After some really good gains, I’ve busted my back

All my own fault though, lost form and carried on with an overhead shoulder press - SQUISH.  Felt like I’d been thumped between my shoulder blades, now it’s more like the middle of my back…doesn’t hurt unless I attempt anything overhead so hmmmmmm.

Haven’t quite worked out if I’ve pulled my rhombo or mushed a disc.  Heyho, that’ll teach me.  Oh, and I buggered my knees with extensions too… Perhaps being in a persistent vegetative state has more going for it than I previously thought.

On a brighter note, have made some progress on the rest of my routine - including an hilarious new wonder machine that vibrates you to death… I’m sure it was invented by someone who spent too much time sitting on the washing machine during the spin-cycle (or so I’ve been told).

This amazing bit of kit was developed for astronauts to increase their bone density, reduce muscle atrophy and stimulate blood flow after periods in zero gravity.  So of course it’s very relevent therapy for the Resolutionists in my gym

As the poor soul searching for another snake-oil saleman, I thought that I’d face down the indignity of poking out my arse, jiggling ferociously and holding onto the handles for grim death.  Why do the PTs put these contraptions opposite the entrance ?

I have to admit - it did do something quite extraordinary - after 45 secs of BRRRRRRR BRRRRRRRRR BBBBBRRRRRRRing I could stretch 3" lower and put my hands on the floor when toe-touching.

It apparently does weird things to the explosive power fibres and also warms you up by vibrating your particles at 50hz.  Does strange things to my coccyx too, but we won’t go there….just take it from me, don’t sit on it

On the training front, I’ve definitely noticed that I’ve lost my edge over the last week or so.  NO Exp just doesn’t do it for me after only three weeks, and I’m yawning after only half my sets.

It is bugging me, however the worse thing is the fact that I’m probably going back to FT work after several months lounging.  I’m a freelancer so work is up/down and I really have enjoyed just chilling/gyming.  How on earth I’m going to cope with going back to 0700-2000 and fit in training is a mystery….

Still, I have Fri/Sat and Sun to kill myself so must grumble

Off to have a naughty glass or two of plonk and listen to the hoopla surrounding Celebrity Big Brother…. nightmare scenario = waking up to discover I’m actually Jade Goody ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!
Toodlepip til next time.

Px

Well, it’s Day 100 and Christmas Eve - I’ve been foodie cleanie since 17th Sept and not sure how I can manage an xmas pudding without thinking NO NO NO BAD BAD BAD

Just got back from the gym and have killed my right hip - I knew better than to ATG squat again too soon, but did it anyway so no sympathy for me.  Boo hoo.

On a plus point, I did something else which made it much worse (see told you I was stupid) and this is bizarrely positive…I adjusted the angle of my right knee on the leg press and BINGO - I felt it work my glute rather than the inside of my thigh!!!

All this may sound very odd, but I’ve been struggling to get my right glute to engage ever since I busted my sciatic nerve at L5S1.  Using a lot of leg ups, I’ve built up a really perky upper glute shape…unfortunately the bottom half is just flat on the outside and doesn’t crease at all against my ham.  Nice look not. Particularly as the other side is peachy even though I say so myself

Anyway, this peed me off something rotten as I was all out of ideas - it’s meant to be ONE muscle so how could it do this too me ??? ARGH.  My right leg is also quite weak and squats are pushed up by my left leg even with light weights.

Then I stumbled over a superb posture correction article on t-nation and it looked liked my slight knock-knees weren’t helping either as my legs pronate on the rise - hence the right hip stress trying to compensate for it.

Soooo, I tried the leg press and twisted my knee out so that the cap was over the centre of my foot - and that was it!  It felt SO GOOD to feel that dull ache and pull.  Now I’m paying for it and walking like one leg is longer than the other.

Wondering what to do next is the issue.  I think I need to lay off the squats completely until the pain goes properly, as I’ve been aggravating it over the last week in my frustration to make progress. 

Also I may have to eat my NO Explode words.  Tried it and nothing happened except a bit of distracting heart-rate pulsing.  Tried it again today - no distraction, more focus and maybe it’s off-day rest but I upped my good-morning reps, recovered faster and completed the first full 5×5 db curl at a new weight with my weaker left arm.  I failed twice on 2.5 reps two days ago…

Back in the gym on Boxing Day and hopefully able to use both legs to get there

Merry Christmas!

Px

Well, after abusing my metabolism for more years than I want to admit - I’ve finally worked out my AMR at 1900.

YEAH!

That’s only 500-900kcal more a day than I was eating before so no wonder I was skinny fat/fat fat

Am continuing to move up on all my free weights and hope that all my leg work will eventually fix the serious imbalance between my them.  ATM, my right is about 25% weaker than my left, so I’m concentrating on single leg presses and leg ups.  My right hip is complaining something rotten about plie squats, so I’ll have to give these a rest for a while until it settles down.

On a cuddlier note, I’ve just got two more kitties  (Godiva and Gatling) so that now makes 11 in the house, plus 3 dogs and other wildlife. Another kitty is arriving in the next month and hopefully then I can start breeding in earnest. I specialise in Maine Coons - lovely furry and very affectionate. ~Ahhh…

Til next time.

Px

Day 89

Well, something must be working - my weight is still creeping down and my t-shirts have got tight around my chest and arms. Legs and hips are getting very hard too - ohh err.

Have discovered something quite unexpected over this last week - my strength is really off balance.  I never really noticed this before but now that I’m going as heavy as I can - it’s become quite noticeable.

My left arm bi strength is 80% of my right, and my right tri is feeble!  I was doing two hand tricep dbs and after having elbow pain, thought I’d try using single grip instead.  I almost nutted myself with the db

My right leg (the numb one) is coming on quite well and isolation exercises are making an impact at last.  The funniest thing is my odd bum cheeks - one is all peachy, the other has a slow puncture.  Heel pressure bodyweight leg raises, bridges and glute kick-backs have been good and I’ve started to single leg press too - so fingers crossed.

My squats have stalled because of my weaker right leg and balance issues.  It’s so frustrating to know that I can’t move up again until I get this really knocked on the head.  My weight shifts to the right and my knee really wants to move inwards, so I know I’ll just have to be patient.

Funny thing happened in gym last night (well not that amusing, but hey I’m the only one reading this).  A really thug looking bloke with mail order Thai wife decided to try and get her to do Good Mornings.  I’ve never seen him (or anyone else now I come to think of it) do them and can only assume he’s been eyeballing me.

He put a towel across her back and then handed her a 8kg bar - then she managed about a 45degree angle and one rep before pulling a wtf face.  Then they left. Can’t wait to see them try again…

Now I’m no Arnie, but she must down that much weight just unloading the shopping.  Bizarre.

Toodlepip and off to eat more oatmeal…

Px

This is weird.  I’ve sustained a sudden drop of 2lbs for 3days.  No limbs missing so assume it must be the guarana I’ve just tried out. Boy does it give me a hot flush - rather nice though like a large neat scotch… I wish.

I don’t think I have ever drunk as much tea, been to the bog so much and still not managed to put the water weight back on.  Had a serious search on all the boards/Google to see if this is the cause, but no luck.

Lots on it being a diuretic, nothing on overall weight drop.  Ho hum, guess that’s my BF back up again

Now, I’ve decided that the glass is actually half full and I’ve now dropped to a steady 145lbs from 161lb on 17th Sept. YIPPEE.

Just found what looks like a great site in the UK www.myprotein.co.uk that was set up by a group of bbs who were tired of paying OTT for almost everything.

Placed an order for 90% whey protein (1kg for £9.50) that is reported to mix easily and taste like UHT milk. Let’s see… if it lives up to the ‘testmonials’ then I’ll be back for more.

Time for pwo now - urgh, I hate sweet drinks and dextrose makes my fillings ache just looking at the glass.  I’ve now got a straw handy so hopefully will help!

Going to attempt some deep squats today for the first time - my knees have been complaining up to now so fingers crossed that they’ll cooperate this time.

Cheerio and thanks for looking me up.

Px

Thanks for looking me up

Well, it’s now day 65 of my Getting Sexy plan and 4 weeks since I bought my BF scales.

I swear that tea-leaves would be about as accurate so I’ve now averaged out my daily readings so that at least it’s started to make sense.  Depressingly slow but steady progress - now down from 31%ish to 29%ish. Started off at 161lbs and this was so urgh

Last week I bought the Burn The Fat book and have to say I thought it makes a lot of good sense - luckily I’ve got a couple of science A levels or bits of it would be gobbledegooky. 341 pages is a bit ARGH too but got there in the end.

If you’d like to know more about, just drop me a line. 

I joined their discussion boards and the female one is PANTS - all pancake recipies and other naff pink-dumbell stuff.  Won’t be going back there.

Cheerio

P458

After a couple of years out through injury (chronic sciatica at L5 S1 in case you’re curious), I managed to go to seed completely.

35lbs of extra fat, BF at 32+% and all my clothes didn’t fit. ;-(

I went from a UK size 8 to a generous size 14 and knew that I was getting so chubby that soon I would be searching for height/weight charts that didn’t call me obese.

I was drinking too much, eating too well and used to lounging on the sofa with a book.  I didn’t like my lifestyle, felt self-conscious and didn’t want to try boyfriend hunting under any circumstances.

On 17th Sept this year, I woke up and decided that was all going to change.  I booked myself a gorilla trekking holiday in Rwanda and knew that I had to be fit enough to battle through jungle undergrowth for 6 hrs a day within 4 months. My friends thought I was insane.

I started off at 161lbs, lost 10lbs in six weeks and began to worry about losing lean mass.  Bought a Tanita BF scales and was APPALLED at my 31% BF rating.

I’m now 147lbs, 29% BF and haven’t lost any lean mass in the last month - may even have added a pound or two but the readings are so eratic it’s difficult to tell.

Well, guess that’s the main boring background stuff done.