Pentagenarians & Beyond: W/B 7/21

good morning. we are having a rough patch here. our new air system is not working. it worked briefly yesterday, but is leaking coolant. we ran all units for a few hours yesterday to make sure they worked, but when we turned them off around 10 pm, they would not go back on again. main unit will need to be replaced as it was low on coolant to begin with and they filled it, but clearly a leak somewhere. we are already delaying our trip because of this. we wont know until sometime monday at the soonest, so we don't know the time line. we were supposed to be on way to MT today and pushed it back to Wed but now that looks doubtful. we do not want to leave with this unfinished. Not a happy camper.
we rode this morning, 15 miles RT. it is warm already and everything is busy so we didn't drive anywhere, but rode the close by trail.

my leg is still swollen and itchy, but better than yesterday. I had an ice pack on it yesterday, and again this morning. I couldn't have acted any faster. I have bigger reactions to stinging insects than I used to. Last summer I had a strong reaction to yellowjacket stings on the same leg.
 
Hello Ladies. This is my regular rest day, so no workout to report. Valerie, sorry about the insect sting, but it’s good that you didn’t have a stronger reaction. The situation with your new A/C must be very frustrating. I hope it is resolved sooner rather than later so that you can continue with your plans.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. Stay cool!
 
Hi Everyone,

I did a Peloton ride after work today. It was 45 minutes long and I burned 379 calories. My heart rate average was 131 and max was 152.
We lost our power last night around 6:30. It came back on this afternoon. There are so many people around here without power, it's almost as bad as it was 2 years ago. We are very fortunate to have gotten ours back so quickly. The electrical dept at HD was crazy busy with people buying supplies related to the power outage.

Valerie-I'm sorry about the insect sting and the AC issue.

Carolyn-I hope you had a nice rest day!

Hi to Deb, Diane Sue & Lori!

Judy
 
This morning I did Coffey Fit Raw Cardio Overload wearing my 8# vest. It was 31 minutes, 187 calories, heart rate average 127, max 155, 2,475 steps. This workout was not a problem at all for my shoulder and arm. I did not do the mountain climbers on the floor though. I just did some high knee runs instead. I really like the 8# vest I purchased and the way it fit. I want to get the 4# one as well so I can wear it for some of my other cardio workouts. Kelly is wearing 6# I think in her new workout dvd that is coming out. The only 6# ones I could find online were way too much money imo. I am not paying over 35 dollars for something that looks like the fit of the Cathe one when the one I got was 20.00 and 8# . I think it went up to 24 on Amazon and the 4# is 20.00. We celebrated my older daughter's birthday this afternoon at her house. It was fun. They are having problems getting their pool fixed and open. The storms ruined their pool cover and the pool liner. It is an inground pool, but has a liner. I guess the workers are not able to get it out there and install it for awhile. She said maybe next week. They are really disappointed as that is one thing they used a lot. They have it heated as well so the season can go a bit longer.
I will do something in the morning. I have my physical tomorrow so will be fasting and my appointment is not till in the afternoon.

Valerie, that is not right that you have a new air system and it is not working. I hope they can get that fixed quickly. Having plans disrupted like that is so frustrating. I remember you having the yellow jacket sting last year. Maybe it helps that you took care of the sting immediately.

Carolyn, today was my usual rest day or stretch. I was feeling better and wanted to get a little more in than I have been. My weeks are just so full of things that I take what opportunity that I have to get something in.
 
Judy, so sorry you had a long power out. we get outages here often, not as often as 10 years ago, but not usually in summer. still, inconvenient. if it happens regularly like it does here, you get a better at planning ahead for it with back up supplies etc.

Diane sue when you have a physical, is it for the blood draw you're fasting? Ask if you can come in early in the am for the blood draw. I don't ever do it the same day as the physical, but within about a week or so ahead. benefits are that the results are in the docs hands when you see him/her, and you don't have to fast all day. I pick a day, run in and get the draw, then go home and eat breakfast etc. No reason blood draw has to be the same day, as long as the lab has orders ahead of time and know what tests are ordered so can draw the right samples. wont help for this year but for the future. I always do it that way.
 
Good morning,

No workout yesterday. I started cleaning, and was exhausted when I finished. It was so hot, the last thing I wanted to do was a workout.

Valerie, that is awful about the new system having problems. I would think that the company you purchased from would be doing all they can to make it right. I hope your leg is better soon. Maybe good that you are not travelling right now. My PCP also had the blood draw done a week in advance of my appointment, and I go at 5:30 am. Nice to have the results when I see him.

Judy, nice job on the ride, especially after work! Lucky that you got your power back quickly, especially with this heat/weather.

Carolyn, hope you had a relaxing rest day. :)

Diane Sue, great workout with a vest! I would never think to wear a weighted vest for cardio. I think the one I have from Cathe is 10 pounds? Good luck with your physical today.

Lori, we miss you! If you are still reading our posts, please just let us know you are ok

Take care,
 
Deb and Judy hope your heat wave is over. Hot and humid is miserable
Re the blood draw... My doc moved to a clinic a long drive away but I can go to any branch clinic for the blood draw and don’t need an appt. I’m in and out in 15 minutes. I usually plan grocery shopping when I’m done. I get a fasting sample plus results are available in time for my physical. I get a headache and feel awful if I can’t eat breakfast .
My leg is getting better but still itchy red and swollen. This is much like the yellow jacket sting I got last year (yes, diane sue, you're right) when I decided to continue hiking. I did all the right things this time but it didn’t help. I don't think it was a yellow jacket this time but it sure hurt.
Deb there were hints while the did the install that this unit might have issues. We think it will get swapped out quickly but the timing is rough because we wanted to leave yesterday. Didn’t want to let this go on unresolved for a week or two. Now we hope for wed but that might be too soon to get this installed and checked out.
 
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This morning I did Kelly Coffey Cardio Blast Plyometrics workout #2, 37 minutes, heart rate average 131, max 160, 3013 steps, 223 calories, met 7.5. This was the dvd workout choice today, the Raw one was step 2 which I did Friday. I then did Rev'd Up Rumble Calorie Crush, 9 minutes, heart rate average 134, max 158, met 8.0, 70 calories, 981 steps. I finished off with Lite extended stretch #1, 13 minutes, met 3.2, 29 calories, 22 steps. Total time was 59 minutes, 322 calories, 4,016 steps. Dr appointment for my yearly check up. Fasting today for the lab work. So, just water till later this afternoon. I am going to hit UPS in a bit so I can drop off a package. Maybe get some cleaning done before the doctor's office.

Valerie, I almost always go sometime the week before to get my blood work done before the physical, but was so busy and just did not want to make the trip. They used to be open on Saturdays for half a day and I would do it that day. Last year my doctor seemed surprised that I had already done the mammogram ahead. I did the same this year. I have wondered if she would try to send me to the place I went for the mris and ultrasounds and stuff. I have been going to the same place for years, although this is a new facility and I think they have been taken over by one of the big health groups.

Deb, my weighted vest from Cathe is 20# and when I take all of the weight packs out of it, it is 12#. To me that is too heavy for most cardio. I don't like that one that much. It tends to ride back on me so that the buckle ends up under my chin and it makes my shoulders and neck hurt from the pressure. The one I got that is 8# buckles at the sides of the waist and is like an X pattern in the front. It does not slide all over the place and move much when I am hopping around. I got it at Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O50TR7...colid=1YWOTF69BDZ1E&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1
The 4 # one is a bit different design than the 8# one.
 
This morning I did LiTE Metabolic Blast + Calorie Crush for 54 minutes and 332 calories burned. My average heart rate was 123 and maximum heart rate was 154.

Deb, the excessive heat and humidity drains the energy and makes it hard to do anything.

Valerie, I try to get my labs done prior to my appointment too. I get a migraine from going that long without eating if I wait to do it with my appointment. Also, I like to have the results available to discuss with my doctor at the time of the appointment.

Judy, I hope that you still have power. I saw that there were huge outages in your area.

Diane Sue, good luck with your physical today.

Lori, I hope that you are doing okay.
 
Back from the doctor's office. I ended up getting the pneumonia shot and a tetanus shot since I have not had one of those since 2008. She suggested I get the Shingles vaccine. I have to go to a pharmacy to do that though because medicare wants it done through the Prescription coverage. Anyway, the doctor suggested I get on the list as they were out and had a waiting list. So, I suppose I should call CVS and see. She also says I should get a heart scan due to family history of heart disease. Actually it is on my Dad's side. I guess insurance covers if there is a family history. She says even though I exercise and take care of myself a screening could help foresee any problems coming on. I had them do the Tetanus shot in the left arm since my right has been sore and tender. I got such a headache and foggy feeling by the time I got there fasted. I won't do that again. I had one of my husbands Adkins bars in my purse so ate it before I left. It doesn't take more than 10 minutes to get home though. I brewed some coffee and ate some yogurt when I go home. I wish my office would get their portal up and running. Their site always says coming soon. She had mentioned singulair for my allergies maybe working. I don't know anything about it and it's side affects. She brought up the allergies after she checked my nose and throat. Grass pollen is up right now. I have been lax on the natural allergy medicine as it makes my mouth dry. I also had run out of local bee pollen, which I just got in the mail a couple of days ago. I ordered double what I usually do this time and keep it in the refrigerator. She also mentioned something to help me sleep, but I said no. It was some medication they use for older patients in smaller doses than they use for depression.

Carolyn, nice work. I looked at the Calorie Crush on that one this morning, but it had more to the floor stuff than I wanted to do. As it is, there was one segment of burpees on the R&R lite one. I got a terrible headache from not eating. I took two Excedrin and two Tumeric Moringa capsules and it is still not going all the way away. I hope this does not hang on. It is nice going in and they have the results already from the labs.
 
I still haven't found a place with shingrix available. I may change my Medicare coverage soon so I will wait a bit. last I checked I had to pay for the vaccine and it was something like $280 for a series of 2 shots. pharmacies are the only places to get immunizations here. when I last checked, they were holding vaccine for people who'd had the first shot but not the second, and weren't adding to the wait list. I will get the shot even if I need to pay for it, but no luck getting the option yet. DH is finally medicare age so we are meeting with someone to decide on coverage. Will be easier to keep track of things if we use the same program.

Diane sue that's why I get the draw done ahead. if I have to wait until afternoon I won't be fasting because I would eat or drink something. to get rid of the headache. I run down to a clinic 10 min away early in the morning, get the blood draw and I'm done.

they replaced the main cooling unit today, it had a defect. hopefully all will work right now.

my poor leg is still swollen and itchy. the swelling has gone downward. next time I get stung I might need to take some prednisone to head off this kind of ridiculously extreme reaction. I never want to take that stuff, but one days worth might be enough to stop this before it swells.
 
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Good morning,

No workout yesterday...had a busy day with class, appointments etc

Valerie, it seems like the heat wave is over, nice weather right now, 75-77 for the highs. We still really need rain though. Glad your leg is getting better. Good that you jumped right on it when you did. I wonder why they would hint at an issue during the install, but not just get a new unit right then and there if they suspected something was wrong. Good they replaced the main unit.

Diane Sue, I hope the blood work appointment ran smoothly, especially since you were fasting all that time. Sounds like your doctor covered everything! I don't remember being able to take weights out of my Cathe vest.. The vest in the link looks more comfortable than the Cathe one was.

Carolyn, we probably would be considered "whiners" when compared to the heat and humidity they get in Florida for example, but for us, this was pretty bad. When we walked the dogs, it was like slogging through heavy air.

Hi to Judy & Lori,

Take care,
 
Today I did Low Impact Sweat, both workouts. Total time was 47 minutes with 352 calories burned. My average heart rate was 133 and maximum heart rate was 160.

Diane Sue, it sounds like you had a thorough physical. I don’t always feel that my primary care doctor is very thorough. Other than labs and ekg, it’s not very different from other appointments. I think of him as a medical gatekeeper since I see several specialists. I got the first dose of the Shingrix vaccine this morning. Fortunately, I didn’t have to go on a waiting list.

Valerie, my Shingrix vaccination was $45.00 co-pay. The actual cost was $181.99, according to my receipt. I’m glad that your A/C has been replaced.

Deb, I can be a whiner too when the weather becomes really hot and humid. I’m from Louisiana and have always lived in the south (including Texas), I still hate extreme heat.

Hello to Judy and Lori.
 
Carolyn that is good to know about shingrix. the plan I'm on, medicare plus advantage, does not cover it. it seems a lot of people here got the first but had to wait a long time for the second, so new people were not getting added to the wait list.

I am talking to a consultant in a couple weeks about switching plans for next year. DH wants to talk to someone about what plan he is going to sign up for, so we have an appt in about 2 weeks.

we mt biked this morning 2 hrs 15 min.

I would take the prize as biggest whiner. world class! I hate hot and humid. I left the Midwest because I could not stand it anymore. I don't like to visit tropical places. had to go a few times, but I don't enjoy it.

My primary care is nice enough, but she refers you to someone else for everything. Its one reason why I want to switch plans, I may want to go elsewhere. she moved to an office that's a fair drive, so if someone were closer, I might switch.
 
This morning I did Kelly's Build and Burn Cardio Core, 28 minutes, heart rate average 122, max 160, 1,643 steps, met 8.5, 170 calories. I went to ladies game day and we did not finish till 12:30. So, I stopped at the store and came home and took a nap :) Not much energy today. Maybe it is the immunizations, but I am so tired!

Deb, I think we all get used to the temperatures in the areas we live in. So what is hot for some might not be hot for others. You think about the settlers years ago and the heat in some areas that they endured and you know they had to be somewhat acclimated to living with it. I remember my grandmother talking about it. She said the old sod houses were cool inside.

Carolyn, this doctor is always very thorough and will keep asking questions. I have never had one hit on everything like she does. And when she starts and before she leaves she asks if there is anything else I think needs addressed. Most doctors leave you feeling like they do what they have to and get you out the door. She checked my pulse in my ankles, wrists, neck and checked to see if their was any swelling anywhere. I really do like her. I think I lucked out. I hope she stays. Which prescription coverage do you have. I have Silver Script. I am guessing that is who covers the Shingrix.
 
Diane Sue, I have United Healthcare Medicare Advantage. It was the only option when I retired, but I have been pleased with it. Other plans have been added since then, but I don’t want to change.
 
Good morning,

No workout yesterday. I did get over 10,000 steps though, so I don't feel like a complete sludge.

Carolyn, good job on the 2 workouts! I have been reading a couple of novels in a series that takes place in Louisiana, and by the way they describe it, it can be horribly hot and humid.

Valerie, do you get your Medicare plan through a group, for example, we use Independent Health. It is a pretty good plan, and compared to what I was paying when I first retired and was not yet eligible for Medicare, it is darn right cheap!

Diane Sue, you may be right and the immunizations may cause you to be more tired. Afternoon naps are the best. I find it sometimes hard to actually fall asleep though, and end up just reading.

Hi to Judy & Lori,

Take care,
 
This morning I did Kelly Coffey Cardio Quick Fix, both workouts combined, 45 minutes, 4,615 steps, heart rate average 149, max 183, 346 calories. I then did the Bonus abs/hips and glutes from Cardio Quick Fix, 16 minutes, heart rate average 110, max 150, 363 steps, 54 calories. I finished off with Coffey Fit Raw Abs Finisher, I used 8# dumbbell, 19 minutes, 61 calories, heart rate average 98, max 127, 296 steps. Total time was 80 minutes, 461 calories, 5,274 steps.

Deb, generally I feel tired and lay down and read, but actual napping doesn't come often. Yesterday I could not focus on reading. I just went to sleep. I find I am paying a little less with my supplements and medicare, but I save due to co pays and that sort of thing so it is way better than what we had. You must have been busy to get 10,000 steps without a workout ;)
 
I cant sleep during the day no matter how tired, unless I am sick. I rarely try to nap. just doesn't work.

we have an appt in 2 weeks with a business that consults on medicare plans. we may change the one I am on. it is a united medicare advantage but unlike Carolyn, I got no break on the shingles vaccine but never found a place with vaccine available anyway. I got the older vaccine Zostavax long ago. I had shingles when I was in my 20's and do NOT want to revisit it. right now I pay a $50 co pay for all visits to specialists. my annual visit to my primary is covered at no cost. I need to get referrals from her when I go outside network, which is regularly since I have long histories with a few specialists. we might change my plan. I want to talk to someone who works in this field to make sure we understand the options. DH is thrilled to get on Medicare because he has been on a very expensive and limiting ACA plan. we did not have any good options, all were terrible. I think there is a huge variation between states as to options available. makes no sense. I am older than DH and retired a long time now. we need to review and make sure this is still the best choice.

the only side effects from vaccines I have gotten is a sore arm but mine have been spaced out.

our HVAC unit is not working right. we need to have them back to look at it again. what a pain.

never been to Louisiana but to florida multiple times. of sales meetings there. hideous place. I would never go there willingly, or any other place that is hot and humid. Ugh. my hair frizzes, my skin breaks out, I cant sleep. I don't want to live anywhere I'm dependent on air conditioning to keep it tolerable most of the year. I'm fine with some cold and snow, actually I like it a lot.
 
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