Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Of 7th-Cycle Blues and 2-Pound Sleeves

I've been having the blues lately. I'm not superstitious, but I'm convinced it has something to do with this time of the year being my seventh cycle. Certain esotericists say that you're weakest and most vulnerable during your seventh cycle, and I do believe this is true, because I've seen it from personal experience.

A person's seventh cycle is approximately the two months just before her birthday. (More precisely, it's the 52-day period before one's birthday.) At this time, you are supposed to be more prone to illness, accidents, depression, and so on. A lot of people do die on their seventh cycles--just visit a graveyard and look at the dates of births and deaths on gravestones.

As I was saying, I was feeling a bit depressed. When I get this way, what I think of is exercise. I love to run; it always cheers me up. Apart from the happy hormones I get from a good run, I derive great satisfaction just from the fact that I'm doing something healthy and positive.

Incidentally, I've just bought for myself a new exercise "toy"-- a pair of weighted forearm sleeves--that I was itching to try out. It's a product endorsed by the fearsome Jillian Michaels, one of the Biggest Loser trainers. You're supposed to wear the sleeves on each forearm while walking or running. The two-pound weights will make your walk or run more intense. That way, you'll lose more calories, while getting some workout for your arms and shoulders too, not just your legs.
 

Guess what, they do work! After just about 15 minutes on the treadmill, I was sweating more profusely than usual. I could feel the heaviness of the sleeves slowing me down. It's funny that when I first tried them on in the store, I thought two pounds on each arm was sisiw lang (chicken feed). At first, they do feel like nothing, but after running for maybe two kilometers, you'd certainly feel their effect.

I only managed to run 5 km. While finishing up, my shirt was soaked with sweat. I could feel some burning on my upper arms. At this time, I don't think I can run 10 km with them. But who knows, maybe after some time, I'll get stronger and be able to run longer distances with these sleeves on.


The sleeves have pockets for an iPhone, Wii controller, or any one of the usual gadgets people use to help them exercise better. Next time, I'll trying using them while doing my Wii Sports Active workouts. The reason I bought them was primarily to replace the resistance band I use during my (infrequent) Wii workouts.

There too are weighted calf sleeves (weighing 4 pounds each) for more serious runners. I don't think I'll ever be strong enough to wear those on a run.... but then again, who knows?

:-)