Health & Physical Fitness/Training Thread

[Redskins4ever]

You guys stuff seems too intense for me
I’m a walker and a bike rider
I have never been a gym workout guy so I just think this works for me

 

[AngryChuckT]

One of my favorite people around my gym is "Mr." Tim. He is a 75 year old Vietnam Combat vet with an incredible life story. Quite the character. I wish he would write a book. Anyway he spars boxing every week. Yes, his defensive reaction is not that of a young person, but if he hits you, you know it. If he catches slipping on your defense and he catches you with an overhand right you are going down if not out. He even fights in smokers guys 20 years younger.

I would literally pick him to help me in a bar fight over 90% of the people in my five story office building. He always says: "Chuck you use it or lose it. Just like I tell my new girlfriend on date night." It seems he has a new girlfriend every other week. Like I said, the man is a character.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I'm working on a 10,000 steps a day "challenge" until my birthday, with one rest day per week.

So far so good. And I'm doing mostly running, though some walking. Went for an hour jog/walk yesterday. Got just about 4.6 miles in during the hour.

 

[Boone]

First day back at the gym in awhile yesterday. I have been so wasted from my garden project and moving countless bags of dirt I have literally been so sore I couldn't handle anything else.
Different kind of sore this morning, but it's good to get back to it.

 

[Chris]

I have found the fountain of youth…yoga. (I know, I know).

I have always looked sideways at it. Did one class 25 years ago and said ‘fuck that, never again’. I finally relented in an effort to correct my miserable existence with my lower back. I started doing a morning session at home of 25 minutes 1 month ago. It has been life-changing. No bs, no hyperbole.

If you think that having balky knees, ankles, shoulders, along with any back issues is just a normal part of the aging process…you’ve been misled or lying to yourself. I have found that daily mobility work is like oil for the Tinman. What an absolute blessing.

 

[Boone]

My only experience with Yoga is when I was doing P90X a decade or so ago. One of the workout routines was Yoga and it was actually one of the most challenging of them. 90 minutes of challenge. I remember at that time that it made a big difference but was very difficult even getting into a lot of the positions at the time, but that it got much easier after some practice. I probably badly need to incorporate something like this into my workout routines.

 

[Redskins4ever]

I have stopped zepbound because of an issue with dehydration when I reached the 10 mg shot and ended up in the ER
So stopped the shot and have been dealing with the hunger issues a lot but I have been pretty proud of myself I have only put back on 8 lbs and feel pretty good about that considering the stories I have heard about stopping zepbound
Still have a little exercise routine I follow no it isn’t hardcore but it works for me
Riding my bike and walking and watching what I eat have done wonders even off zepbound
Zepbound worked for me up until the 10mg shot
So I’m not really against it but having said that I wish I would have done more reading and research on the product before starting it
And my weight is at 270 not at 309 where I was before I started

 

[Chris]

My only experience with Yoga is when I was doing P90X a decade or so ago. One of the workout routines was Yoga and it was actually one of the most challenging of them. 90 minutes of challenge. I remember at that time that it made a big difference but was very difficult even getting into a lot of the positions at the time, but that it got much easier after some practice. I probably badly need to incorporate something like this into my workout routines.

I would characterize what I do as ‘yoga lite’. It’s not challenging at all and I have come to enjoy it. It’s definitely not a chore but, boy, the dividends. Oh, the dividends!

I do my ‘routine’ every morning. It is really good, especially prior to lifting sessions.

 

[Chris]

I’m continuing to diligently work toward making my back bulletproof. It’s a long road, but man, I am feeling reborn. I have already achieved a level of consistent improvement that, quite frankly, I felt was solidly in the rear-view mirror for me.

Since my last report I have executed my daily protocol on 15 of the last 17 days while continuing to do strength training at my gym. Every one of those days are not perfect…but many are. Through the use of ChatGPT I was able to identify and eliminate some movements that are not good for me having a happy back and PSIS joint, (for me that are rotational movements). That has cut down my sessions to 15 minutes in the morning and again later in the day if I feel any niggles from activity. AI has been absolutely brilliant with it’s assistance. For the first time I have found a reliable resource for all things related to fitness and strength that is even close to my level of knowledge on the subject. Kind of mind-blowing to me to be honest.

I will keep earnest in my progression and am both hopeful (not desperate 😉) and motivated to see the fruits that will ripen in the coming time.

Thank you for taking part in my Ted Talk.

 

[Boone]

I use AI every day and have found it to be an amazing tool. On the fitness front, I have been back at my full 3x week lifting routine for the last 4 weeks. One issue I am having is pretty bad arthritic pain and stiffness in my elbows. It's weird because my shoulders and other joints are pain-free, but my elbows are really giving me fits. The only thing I have found that is helpful is to do a rep of an exercise with greatly reduced weight just to get the full motion down. That seems to loosen them up enough so that I can do the rest of my routine as planned.

I am guessing (hoping?) that I irritated my elbow joints back in July when I was moving hundreds of bags of soil to my garden, and that maybe with time the inflammation will subside and I can lift without major pain and stiffness. I am also still dealing with a healing pulled hamstring from that same project, although that is slowly getting better.

Old age is not for the faint of heart.

 

[Chris]

I use AI every day and have found it to be an amazing tool. On the fitness front, I have been back at my full 3x week lifting routine for the last 4 weeks. One issue I am having is pretty bad arthritic pain and stiffness in my elbows. It's weird because my shoulders and other joints are pain-free, but my elbows are really giving me fits. The only thing I have found that is helpful is to do a rep of an exercise with greatly reduced weight just to get the full motion down. That seems to loosen them up enough so that I can do the rest of my routine as planned.

I am guessing (hoping?) that I irritated my elbow joints back in July when I was moving hundreds of bags of soil to my garden, and that maybe with time the inflammation will subside and I can lift without major pain and stiffness. I am also still dealing with a healing pulled hamstring from that same project, although that is slowly getting better.

Old age is not for the faint of heart.

Any chance it is connected to a tennis elbow or golf elbow type of pain? It’s both elbows, right?

I personally do a warm-up set or two at a lower resistance but only for the first compound lift of the day (ie- chest pressing, pulldowns, etc) to kind of prime the pump or grease the wheels.

 

[Boone]

It is both elbows. It does get better with activity so I'm leaning towards arthritis but I think it could also be a simple as that I put a lot of repetitive strain on my elbows during my recent backyard project and it is just going to take time for me to recover. I don't think there is a whole lot I can do about it so I'm just trying to work through it and be smart about it. I sort of suspect if I took 6 months off, it would probably resolve on it's own (or return to my normal baseline) but I'm not willing to take that kind of a break.

 

[Chris]

I’m not someone who regularly bitches about things, far from it. But today I’m making an exception.

Today was a scheduled gym day and I woke early ready and motivated to ‘just do it’.

But, it’s raining quite heavily and that it is forecasted to continue nearly all day. I walk to my gym and it takes on average 15 minutes. The decision I have/had to make is ‘just how wet do I want to get’? Three times I have decided to go. Three times it has just started raining harder. Must be a sign. 🤪

I will get it in at some point but would prefer it not be at 10pm tonight. Some problems, even 1st world ones, can be frustrating as a MFer.

 

[AngryChuckT]

I’m not someone who regularly bitches about things, far from it. But today I’m making an exception.

Today was a scheduled gym day and I woke early ready and motivated to ‘just do it’.

But, it’s raining quite heavily and that it is forecasted to continue nearly all day. I walk to my gym and it takes on average 15 minutes. The decision I have/had to make is ‘just how wet do I want to get’? Three times I have decided to go. Three times it has just started raining harder. Must be a sign. 🤪

I will get it in at some point but would prefer it not be at 10pm tonight. Some problems, even 1st world ones, can be frustrating as a MFer.

Mine lately is as simple as putting the darn fork down. There are many people in the world that don’t know where their next meal will be and I can’t stop snacking or excercise portion control lately.

I have 15 lbs to lose that I put on in the winter that I usually have off by mid spring. But those 15 are the most stubborn and between coming back from injury - and not being disciplined in the kitchen (mostly kitchen) - the scale floats back and forth the about 2lbs. In my 50s it gets harder to lose that winter weight every year and lack of discipline does not help. I am putting in plenty of time in the gym and miles on the road, but you can’t out train a poor diet.

 

[Chris]

Mine lately is as simple as putting the darn fork down. There are many people in the world that don’t know where their next meal will be and I can’t stop snacking or excercise portion control lately.

I have 15 lbs to lose that I put on in the winter that I usually have off by mid spring. But those 15 are the most stubborn and between coming back from injury - and not being disciplined in the kitchen (mostly kitchen) - the scale floats back and forth the about 2lbs. In my 50s it gets harder to lose that winter weight every year and lack of discipline does not help. I am putting in plenty of time in the gym and miles on the road, but you can’t out train a poor diet.

Indeed. One of my favorite sayings is- ‘If it’s not in your house, it’s not in your mouth’. Granted that was before the advent of Uber Eats and Door Dash.

 

[Boone]

I feel compelled to say that as 'If ith not in your houth, ith not in your mouth'.

 

[Chris]

An interesting framing that I came across today and thought it was worth sharing with the two handfuls of people here who are interested in this thread.

The vast majority of people who are financially able to put away money for retirement do so. They do so not because it is more enjoyable to save rather than spend, but because they know it will be beneficial for later in life.

Having the safety and security that is derived from socking away money for a future benefit is a wonderful and empowering thing

At the same time, the vast majority of people who are physically able to put effort into the physical training of their bodies fail to do so.

So why are so many overlooking, ignoring, or flat out uninterested in also investing into the obvious benefits, both current and future, of exercise and fitness?

(I am also going to post a version of this in the retirement thread to reach that audience.)

 

[AngryChuckT]

An interesting framing that I came across today and thought it was worth sharing with the two handfuls of people here who are interested in this thread.

The vast majority of people who are financially able to put away money for retirement do so. They do so not because it is more enjoyable to save rather than spend, but because they know it will be beneficial for later in life.

Having the safety and security that is derived from socking away money for a future benefit is a wonderful and empowering thing

At the same time, the vast majority of people who are physically able to put effort into the physical training of their bodies fail to do so.

So why are so many overlooking, ignoring, or flat out uninterested in also investing into the obvious benefits, both current and future, of exercise and fitness?

(I am also going to post a version of this in the retirement thread to reach that audience.)

I get on my soapbox and beat this drum with my more sedentary friends all the time.

I let myself go in my mid-30s and ended up 100lbs over weight. I started a course correction two month shy of my 38th birthday. Ended up losing the weight, got in the best shape of my entire life (got abs in my 40s!) and maintained that up until now in my early 50s.

Retirement and financials are important to me, but my physical health including my very physical hobbies are just as important. I was well on my way to my first coronary in my late 30s with my obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Having young kids late in life and watching people I went to high school or college with suffering from obesity related diseases and death really shook me so I made the change.

My daily workouts are just as important if not more, than professional tasks. I have turned down jobs many times including significant pay increases (30+%) because it would effect my daily physical activity routine.

You can't take it with you and a nicer car in retirement or nicer vacation doesn't mean much if you are dead or in such poor shape you can't enjoy it.

 

[Chris]

I get on my soapbox and beat this drum with my more sedentary friends all the time.

I let myself go in my mid-30s and ended up 100lbs over weight. I started a course correction two month shy of my 38th birthday. Ended up losing the weight, got in the best shape of my entire life (got abs in my 40s!) and maintained that up until now in my early 50s.

Retirement and financials are important to me, but my physical health including my very physical hobbies are just as important. I was well on my way to my first coronary in my late 30s with my obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Having young kids late in life and watching people I went to high school or college with suffering from obesity related diseases and death really shook me so I made the change.

My daily workouts are just as important if not more, than professional tasks. I have turned down jobs many times including significant pay increases (30+%) because it would effect my daily physical activity routine.

You can't take it with you and a nicer car in retirement or nicer vacation doesn't mean much if you are dead or in such poor shape you can't enjoy it.

I have never faced a serious weight issue but did let things go physically in the 2nd half of my 30s. At the turn of 40 I got back on the train and have never gotten off again.

I believe that now, 2 months shy of the last year in my 60s, I am reaping the rewards of that effort. Aside from a health scare 2 years ago (funny enough… I took quite a bit of shit from the doctors for putting in an average of about 15k steps in my hospital room’s hallway plus 30 flights of stairs per day) I am in much better shape than all of my peers age wise in the gym, and I am really in better shape than most that are 2-3 decades my junior, if truth be told.

 

[Boone]

Chris has helped me get to a level of fitness I have not been seen for decades. I think his approach/philosophy that exercise and getting stronger and nutrition are all habits we need to build into our lives is the key to it all. I'm not an angel and I still enjoy some things that are not healthy, but the vast majority of time I am sticking to positive changes. I feel good.