Great post Will!
I first got into great shape in 9th grade when my leg was broken in football. I spent every wrestling practice watching others learn technique while I climbed rope, dipped, pushups (one leg), sit-ups, peg board, etc. basically every exercise so could do with arms and core without two legs. Then go home and at night do barbell. Didn’t realize how strong I was until the cast came off for the first match. My longest match all season was 59 seconds. All pins. All because I broke a leg in football.
Through my career I have been in/out of shape (computer stuff). I hit forties and decided to try running. Ended up running a marathon, two half’s and several months of 20-30 mile trail runs. Then screwed up my foot on a two mile beach jog (no shoes). After several years got lazy and by the time I retired at 62 I was overweight, feet and joints hurt like hell, stiff. Every year older it takes longer her to get back in shape and it is lost faster than when younger. I started slowly doing calisthenics until I could at least do a 40 minute workout. Then did a few months of Fitness Blender which was fantastic for low impact, increase mobility and range of motion, general flexibility and muscle tone. I decided to go back to work thus time in manual labor to stay active. After 3 months of construction work I lost 35 lbs and felt ten years younger. Now I easily work 25hrs per week on my feet climbing, lifting, crawling around aircraft and feel great. I am now starting a new exercise program to drop another 25lbs and increase some of my dumbbell weight.
The point of this is: although we get more creaky with age, there is still SOMETHING we can do to be more active. The first 1-3 months may not be fun but it can dramatically increase our physical and mental well-being. We may not have use of one or more limbs. But make use of what you got. If legs don’t work then use your arms. If arms are no go then use your legs. When you strengthen one area it takes strain off others and might make it possible to do a little more somewhere else.
Although my feet and joints still hurt, it is not as bad now with more supporting muscle, AND I am still moving. Sit still and hurt and seize up, or move and do something and hurt but a tad less? My motto now is “Keep moving or I start dying!”
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! ... Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry in an address at St. John’s Church, Richmond, Virginia, on March 23, 1775.
Originally Posted by Shorts
Been managing a rotator cuff issue for the past year so my workouts were pathetically irregular and far between. At the beginning of December I finally got myself disciplined enough to get serious about my workout again. I was feeling great and made some gains in my strength program since. My eating was on point, water intake the best it's ever been. I mean, really doing well. But in the last couple weeks tennis elbow decided it wants to join the party. Being that I had no grip strength and it hurt like crazy I took time off to let it heal. I'm bummed and feeling setback. To top it off, this year I'll be 40. What the heck, is this what 39 is? Just parts stop working?
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks