fitarthritic.com Blog

Felt tired and weak to start.  Sometimes my muscles start humming into the workout, though.  Not today.

I completed 332 in 10 warmup, 225 in sets of 25, 80 in sets of 20 and one set of 17.  No cramp, just collapse.  I will have to start reviewing my techniques for endurance.  I had planned Starbucks in the morning after a good breakfast, chocolate milk into the 1000/hour and had not planned any other endurance enhancing products.  There are some  products that may work.  You must be careful, though.   I have had physician-patients try various body and brain enhancing products and suffer in their physical capacity due to side effects of the supplements.  Our bodies have complex and intertwined energy-related processes that are difficult to manipulate.  There are some experimental ‘exercise-in-a-pill’ chemicals that have interesting effects in rats, but offer no significant potential benefits for us homo sapiens.  http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN3132687420080731

Today is a day of rest, no pushups no pullups.  Rest can help muscles to grow in size and strength and can rest the connective tissue in the joints.  Overtraining is a common problem among athletes, one that some of my patients humorously fear even though they do little or no exercise.

Interesting article in the news today regarding interval training; shorter time and increased intensity can be as effective as longer exercise routines:  http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/02/24/1835930/interval-training-can-cut-exercise.html

15 minute time trial.  Result: 275 pushups in 15 minutes 20 seconds.  Not bad for a beginning, not good for a date of April 10, I want to be at 375 or 400 in 15 minutes, 600-700 in 30 minutes and decrease the rate from that point.  Nevertheless, I will on Sat go for a 30 minute full speed trial.    Muscles tight and in no way agreeable to 1000 in one hour today.  Right pec major http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectoralis_major_muscle had a tight band across the inferior portion.  Will try to add some muscle endurance today, pushups for lunch.

Thanks to Cindy, Katayoon and Renee for getting the donations started, now the rest will not feel so timid.

Addendum: Did 100 during lunch in two sets of 50.  Total 375 for the day.

This morning 58 pushups with my 40 lb weight vest, preceeded by a warm-up of 40 pushups.  The 58 were divided into 10 and 4 X 12 reps.  Felt weak.   Had done 100 weight vest push ups 1/10 and felt good.

The weight vest is 40 pounds made of thick nylon with a load of multiple 2.5 lb weights.  It was suggested by a power lifter friend Vangie who is a senior, grandmother and who holds multiple world powerlifting titles–she does not like my moniker for her of “Worlds Strongest Grandma”   and yes, she is stronger than I am.  The vest may have contributed to my rotator cuff impingement as I tend to roll my right shoulder forward more when I wear the vest.

Still have twinges with rotation and rapid overhead movement, no continual or burning/stinging pain.

Today, 200 pushups before work.  I was cautious to maintain good form.  I also alternated with slow controlled rows using my bowflex.  Some twinges with rotation of my shoulder and rapid overhead movement (combing my hair etc.), but the pushups were easy.

No contributions yet to the Arthritis Foundation, yet  will need to mail some of my flyers and make phone calls.

I did 225 pushups in 14 minutes 15 seconds today.  My muscles felt tight and tired.  I am coming off of a two week rest due to rotator cuff tendonitis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000438.htm .  My tricep muscles threatened to spasm in my right arm potentially stopping me in my tracks after a brief rest from my shoulder injury.

A friend, Rohit Sundrani MD, a board certified cardiologist, interventional cardiologist, vascular med and interventional vascular medicine Cardiovascular Consultants Fresno CA, (who was a orthopedist in India)  agreed with my physical therapist George Drysdale http://www.drysdalept.com/ that I needed to rest my sore shoulder.  I was able to do pushups but I was in increasing pain afterwards.   I had been  up to 600 pushups in 40 minutes, well on my way to 1000 in one hour.  The tendonitis can actually cause a tear in the tendon requiring surgical repair, needless to say it would keep me from doing any pushups.  The rest was helpful with the pain, but starting over has been difficult.

Hello everyone.  I have started my blog.  It was a slow start for my website, but now I have found a purpose.  I am raising money for the Arthritis Foundation  www.arthritis.org with a walk team (the Arthritis Walk is May 15 this year) and by an event that I am calling “Penny a Pushup.”  I will attempt 1000 pushups in one hour.  This will be held on April 10, 2010 at the GB3 on Palm www.gb3clubs.com.  I am asking for one penny per pushup (or what you can donate to raise money for research, treatment and children’s programs.  On the same day the Fresno area will host a kids camp for children affected with any of the over one hundred forms of arthritis.

PENNY a PUSHUP FUNDRAISER Flyer

To sweeten the deal, I am offering to donate $100 to the Arthritis Foundation for every Fresno area physician who can best me in my efforts.  No takers yet, but fitness among physicians is not a rarity in our area.

It is easy to donate:  go to www.fresnoarthritiswalk.org  donate to my name, Alan Kelton, or to my team, Team Fitness.  Thanks!