Did 32 minutes of rowing last night during "The Blacklist," which raised my heart rate by 10 points according to my cheapo heart monitor/pedometer/watch, the
Smart Health Walking FIT (paid $40 for it at Walgreen's when it sells for $26 on Amazon - sob). One reviewer compared it favorably to a Nike Fuel Band.
Kept raising the resistance on the rower until I hit level 4 but stopped there. Didn't want to overdo it. I'm waiting for a fitness tracker that can track all types of physical activity, from walking and cycling to rowing. I only did 32 minutes because I didn't want to aggravate my blisters. I rowed commando, which seemed to work because I didn't feel any discomfort. Rowing produces a fair amount of heat with the piston, which would be OK in the winter. I don't know whether it helps the piston but I take a break during commercials - that's what passes for my interval training. Too bad I can't power a lamp or tv.
In contrast, I did 40 minutes on the stationary cycle while watching "Father Brown" and it didn't raise my heart rate at all, which seems to me makes it useless for cardio. I looked at buying a stationary bike that's a step up. However, for $20 more, I could get an accessory which would convert my folding bike into a stationary bike with magnetic resistance (the faster you pedal, the more the resistance). Between the stationary bike, the rowing, the ThunderBell (see below) and the occasional bike trip, that should give me enough cardio. I decided to burn my bridges and put the stationary cycle on FreeCycle. If it doesn't force me to get a backup cardio method, at least it will reduce the clutter. It may be useful for someone with limited mobility who wants to work out their arms and legs.
Got my sleep on - about seven hours of regular sleep and two hours of drifting in and out. Cool last night but it's starting to inch back up - 88 and in the high eighties for a while, then back into the low nineties. Twenty minutes of stretching in bed, 25 minutes of Harvard Medical gentle core exercises, 10 minutes of stretches. Thirty minutes of posture, neck and trunk, and flexibility exercises from "Age Defying Fitness."
FatSecret member classicrocker recommends kettlebells. When I saw the ThunderBell on Woot, I decided to give it a shot. It's $60 less than Amazon and has two more DVDs. I like the grips which look easier than holding a dumbbell when doing the overhead crunch in my whole body dumbbell program. Aimed at all levels of fitness (hey, that's me.) I watched a video of a 74-year-old guy doing the program so it looks like something I could swing (pun intended). I like the fact that it combines strength training and cardio. I'm looking for cardio that will get my heart rate up since the stationary bike hasn't been cutting the mustard.
I bought a book, "Cardio Core 4x4: The 20-Minute, No-Gym Workout That Will Transform Your Body!" in the bargain bin at Amazon for $8.80 back in February. It combines cardio and body weight resistance but it was too strenuous for me. Maybe I will try it again when I get further down the fitness road. Also, another workout program means variety, which is the spice of life and keeps you interested. I may try this program after I finish the third months of the whole body dumbbell conditioning (third month starts in August). As you can see, I'm throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. I'm taking small steps rather than making radical, big changes.
I'm trying to take better care of my neck and back in hopes of easing the tension. I ordered a memory foam pillow as recommended by "Age Defying Fitness." I will use the pillow I already have under my knees. I'm putting my feet on the Rubbermaid step stool as per "Age Defying Fitness" which is supposed to help with your back but the stool isn't the recommended six-to-eight inch height - more like 12. I decided to order a six inch fitness step which I can also use with dumbbells - neither the footstool or a phone book were that satisfactory with the dumbbells. Unfortunately, the yoga block is only four inches tall so it can't do double duty. The 12-inch stool goes back into the kitchen.
I jumped the gun on weighing in. I will wait until the next FatSecret weigh-in reminder to arrive by email before weighing in again.