Daily Exercise Log August 2026
Welcome to August 2026. The weather is hot, as we approach the Fall Season.
Links to prior 2026 months in June version.
The 6 day cycle: 1) Weights A, 2)walk, 3)row, 4)Weights B, 5)walk, 6)row. Then, do it again.
The 12 cycle cycle: repeat the 6 day cycle 12 times. Then, a deload - no weights. Then, do it again.
August 24, 2026
Day 4, weights B
Day 4, weights B, is the lighter side of the A/B split. Started the tracker sometime early in the 5 min warmup row.
All went well. I tried 08_ w/ 2 plates, and decided against it. 1 was enuf.
Not sure yet about when the next deload will be. I feel better than yesterday, right now. Things happen, tho ... (in edit, about 3 hours later) All in all, I feel good. My left foot is less annoying than usual, my left lower back lit up when I did the 04_ and 08 exercises. Felt good afterwards too. My left shoulder was ok with everything. So, 1) I think these 2 newish exercises caused the left side issue and 2) dunno about deload then.
August 23, 2026
Day 3, row
Day 3, row, is a recovery day. It took about 15 minutes to even think I'd warmed up. Was a constant load of "old, tired, slow - row harder!" and it didn't work great. The mechanical stretch & flex on the rower felt way too useful. Not exactly sure how come, but I didn't bring my best self to the gym.
I went anyway.
The tracker and I seem to be having relationship issues. I forget to put it on (adjust dressing habits), forget to start it before exercise (no known fix), forget to turn it off post exercise (op cit). I entered the world of work trackers w/ a Cateye 8 on my trail bike. It started when I did, and stopped when I did. Now, 20 years later, not the same.
August 22, 2026
Day 2, walk
Day 2, walk, is a recovery day from the A side of Weights A/B.
Goal for today was to walk on the new sidewalk, just poured a few days past, where I cross Paul Rd. to start the uphill to Chili Ave. I live the thrill life. It was a good walk, except for starting the tracker a bit late. 10PAI points isn't shabby.
I am noticing that the little aches and annoyances are accumulating recently. Left foot, left knee, left shoulder, left lower back. If only I had a clue ... I do note that I'm in cycle 7 of twelve before a week off - sorry, a deload cycle. The 12 was an arbitrary number picked for the length of this program. It's 10 weeks. I've seen 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 week programs. If I had a reason, other than accumulated fatigue shortening the 12 to 8, i'd pick any of those numbers.
August 21, 2026
Day 1, weights A
Day 1, weights A, is the heavier of the A/B split. It's also day 1 of cycle 7 of twelve.
All was mostly OK before. During, I could feel the work draining energy. That's not good. On 04_, I was doing fine until the last 2 reps of the last set. Didn't maintain my balance, which is annoying. All at once, 'too heavy'. F that. did 2 more reps.
08_ was seemingly more better in the grove, at almost no weight. Next time, I'll add a plate.
Duration was 40 minutes, not counting the 5 minute rower warmup. That's only slightly long. It takes about 1.5 minutes per set. Adding another 4x8 flyes takes about 6 minutes. All's OK.
August 20, 2026
Day 6, row
Day 6, row is a recovery day. And, today is the last day of the current 6 day cycle, which is cycle 6 of twelve. Half way to deload, and fantasies of taking a week off...
Do the 40 rower minutes, stretch out, do 2x20 bench crunches. Yes, I am a beast.
August 19, 2026
Day 5, walk
Day 5, walk, is a recovery day. Today was different. Usually I get up, get a cup or two in, get the dog outside, then go to workout. Today, got the dog out early, and went to walk, with the threat of thunderstorms in 20 minutes. Gotta go ...
August 18, 2026
Day 4, weights B
Day 4, weights B, is the lighter of the A/B split. It'll probably get less 'lighter ' over time, as the weight increases. so what?
5 minutes warmup on rower, not included in tracker into. 02_ still needs more work on form. 04_ should move to 4x8, cause that extra plate made a BIG difference. first time for 08_, and I dropped the weight from 2 plates to 1. keep working that form.
duration of the session was 42 min. added 08_ to this session, f'ked around w/ cable positioning. Long handle posn (down by (15)) still fussy.
August 17, 2026
Day 3, row
Day 3, row, is a recovery day from weights A. I did like 41 minutes on the machine, and none of it fast or hard. Then 2x20 bench crunches, because it makes my back feel better. Then completely forgot about the tracker. Sometimes, I wonder.
Exercise has conflicting rewards and benefits. My odds of living longer improve w/ the exercise discipline. Fine. But, I want to feel better - not old, not ground into the dust, not sore - better. And, I do. Consider that as the daily drug to keep me engaged.
August 16, 2026
Day 2, walk
Day 2, walk is a recovery day, and usually one that I need. Other than taking this usual route rather backwards, was a nothing special glorious summer's morning. I liked it.
August 15, 2026
Day 1, weights A
Day 1, weights A, is the start of cycle 6 of 12. Again, I'm looking forwards to the deload. Hey, I'm old.
There were no memorable or realized issues today. The usual left knee / shoulder 'warnings' about joint abuse. 36 minute duration, which is great and which I find remarkable. Unless I skipped sets or something. Counting to 4 is harder than I make it seem.
August 14, 2026
Day 6, row
Day 6 row is part of the recovery pair for the A/B split. Just the rowing motion makes my muscles et al feel better. And, as always, I can play with my form slightly enuf now to tell whether it makes any difference. Move the 'pull to row here' timing, and the speed on the meter changes. cool ...
For the record, I rowed 40 minutes, then did 2x20 bench crunches. The tracker, OTOH, ran on and on
August 13, 2026
Day 5, walk
Day 5, walk, is intended to be a recovery day. Yeah, well. I'm fighting w/ my BG numbers, and a transition to a new insulin type - Toujeo - overnight. Shot was 'too big', so my BG number was lower than I'd prefer.
Regardless, my heart rate expands rapidly if my fuel supply is 'low'. If I sleep BADLY, and am pissed off about that, I drive my legs harder. Good for my cardio, provided I don't stroke out, and for my PAI score.
August 12, 2026
Day 4, weights B
Day 4, weights B, is the lighter side of the A/B split
August 11, 2026
Day 3, row - yeah, no.
Day 3, row, is a recovery day. Unless i have a MD/GP visit. Then, the afternoon 4 store shopping trip is cardio.
August 10, 2026
Day 2, walk
Day 2, walk, is supposed to be a recovery day. Instead, I ate an ice cream treat at 8:40pm, had a modestly high BG at bedtime, shot it, and went to bed. Next day, awoke a little higher. Annoying. Shot 6 units Novolog then, and went for the longest walk in the bag.
I need keep in mind, this is a one time thing. This time, anyway ...
August 9, 2026
Day 1, Weights A
Day 1, weights A, is the heavier of the A/B split. Today is also Day 1 of cycle 5 of 12. I, for one, am looking forward to a deload week.
Started the tracker b/4 5 min warmup row. I'd swear I can count to 8, but 4 seems hard this morning.
August 8, 2026
Day 6, row
Day 6, row, is a recovery day. This was one of those.
August 7, 2026
Day 5, walk
Day 5, walk, is a recovery day. Needed it. Hips tight, left knee wondering, rest of me's OK. Poor day, humid, hot, cloudy. It'll rain soon.
August 6, 2026
Day 4, weights B
the set is 'lighter', so, in flight, I tend towards assuming I won't run out of gas, and push faster/harder some. That's all positive, and implies 'go heavier'. Starting to track what feels "too light". Here, both 01_ and 03_ could use more weight. Duration on the setlist paper was 35minutes, which is was good, and didn't include the 5min row warmup.
August 5, 2026
Day 3, row
August 4, 2026
Day 2, walk
Day 2, walk, is a recovery day, from weights A, the heavier of the A/B split. Today I needed the recovery day, and didn't do anything about the pace. Got this, which is just fine.
Except for the PAI stuff. I'm not getting much juice from the cardio-side of the house. It's seems less easy to drive my heart rate higher. in this town that's called progress, but I dunno.
August 3, 2026
Day 1, weights A
Day 1, weights A, is the heavier of the A/B split. PAI is calc'd continually, independent of my failing to start an exercise session on the tracker. Like it matters ...
Blew thru the set list in close to record duration. Had no issue getting the handles right on 02_ cable chest press. The rest was just straight fwd work. About f'ing time.
My phone's app Zepp and my tracker tell me my training is 'balanced' between endurance and strength training. Useful to know. It tells me I can get heavier. What I want, though, is to do the weights A/B splits until I fill the sheet w/o any big changes. Until then, I'll enjoy feeling better after weights. It's a big deal, to me.
August 2, 2026
Day 6, row
Day 6, row, is a recovery day, which means that I generally figure out how I feel as I get to the gym and get a few minutes in to the row. Need to stretch and relax? Take it easy. Feeling good and pissed off, go for it, Beastie. Just remember, 1) don't hurt yourself, and 2) tomorrow is weights A - don't burn all your fuel. And, then 2x20 bench crunches.
August 1, 2026
Day 5, walk
Day 5, walk, is a recovery day from weights B. It's funny that way, but I started out not thinking that I wanted a recovery day.
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