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This is my entry for Week 8 of LJ Idol: Wheel of Chaos. The topic this week was "Infrastructure."
Infrastructure
And begin again.
First is leg day: building power
in my hamstrings, glutes, and quads.
Drenched, I push through lunges,
deadlifts, and squats. My calves
tighten with double-dumbbell raises.
My hamstrings vibrate as I walk.
Next, chest and back day: increasing
support for upper body movement.
Exhaling with control, I squeeze out
chest presses, rows, and pushups.
My pecs and lats fortified, a muscular
bird cage around my heart.
Then comes shoulder day: buttressing
my deltoids, my traps, even
my rotator cuffs. The smallest tissues,
capable of heaving more than
expected. Over time, annealing
into trimmer lines, lightening
my perceived load as I carry groceries.
Fourth, another leg day: revisiting
that power center, so important
for everyday tasks. Balance
and strength; posterior chain of
hamstring, glutes, and lower back.
Today, like every day, underpinned
by core: toning abs and obliques,
anchoring all my efforts to sit,
stand and move about.
Finally, arm day: bolstering
biceps and triceps. Curls in
several positions, kick-backs,
tricep presses, and dips. Building up
stamina for lifting and carrying.
I hug myself to feel the hardening.
A week's work to check off: invigoration
and triumph, cruising into two days of renewal.
Me a week ago, making a muscle. I put it through a filter from the Voila app to make it look like a pop art painting.
Over the past year, I suffered a number of physical setbacks that led to me getting out of the habit of lifting weights. Despite all the aqua fitness classes I teach, I noticed that I was losing my muscle tone and feeling bloated and fatigued. At the beginning of summer, I challenged myself to get back into it, telling my husband so that he could support me. Every day when I finish my weightlifting workout, he gives me two thumbs up. While that doesn't seem to be much incentive, it's been enough to spur me to six weeks of regular workouts, beginning my seventh week today!
Infrastructure
And begin again.
First is leg day: building power
in my hamstrings, glutes, and quads.
Drenched, I push through lunges,
deadlifts, and squats. My calves
tighten with double-dumbbell raises.
My hamstrings vibrate as I walk.
Next, chest and back day: increasing
support for upper body movement.
Exhaling with control, I squeeze out
chest presses, rows, and pushups.
My pecs and lats fortified, a muscular
bird cage around my heart.
Then comes shoulder day: buttressing
my deltoids, my traps, even
my rotator cuffs. The smallest tissues,
capable of heaving more than
expected. Over time, annealing
into trimmer lines, lightening
my perceived load as I carry groceries.
Fourth, another leg day: revisiting
that power center, so important
for everyday tasks. Balance
and strength; posterior chain of
hamstring, glutes, and lower back.
Today, like every day, underpinned
by core: toning abs and obliques,
anchoring all my efforts to sit,
stand and move about.
Finally, arm day: bolstering
biceps and triceps. Curls in
several positions, kick-backs,
tricep presses, and dips. Building up
stamina for lifting and carrying.
I hug myself to feel the hardening.
A week's work to check off: invigoration
and triumph, cruising into two days of renewal.
Me a week ago, making a muscle. I put it through a filter from the Voila app to make it look like a pop art painting.
Over the past year, I suffered a number of physical setbacks that led to me getting out of the habit of lifting weights. Despite all the aqua fitness classes I teach, I noticed that I was losing my muscle tone and feeling bloated and fatigued. At the beginning of summer, I challenged myself to get back into it, telling my husband so that he could support me. Every day when I finish my weightlifting workout, he gives me two thumbs up. While that doesn't seem to be much incentive, it's been enough to spur me to six weeks of regular workouts, beginning my seventh week today!
no subject
Date: 2025-09-02 04:11 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-09-02 04:53 pm (UTC)From:Gear Dog, I love that sentence!!
Dear new friend,
Peri is slobbering its gross breath all over my life... for someone with no experience formally lifting anything other than for ... you know life stuff (but with a long love for and practice of yoga) ... what's an easy way in?
yours, new friend
no subject
Date: 2025-09-03 09:49 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-09-03 04:22 pm (UTC)From:I'm very glad you're having so much success getting back into your exercise routine. I had a good run going a couple of years ago, and then stopped. Given the results from my latest annual physical, it's time to start up again. (sigh)
I liked, "My pecs and lats fortified, a muscular bird cage around my heart."
Great poem.
Dan
no subject
Date: 2025-09-03 08:37 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-09-04 02:08 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-09-04 09:12 pm (UTC)From:Keep on keeping on!
no subject
Date: 2025-09-05 10:39 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-09-05 11:29 pm (UTC)From: