The physical fitness encouragement and accountability thread.

[Voros]

Once my local swim pass lapsed I was so caught up and stressed with work I didn't get it renewed.

But now that it's getting warm again my true love, swimming outside, is close to becoming a viable option.

And with the beaches so nearby I'm looking forward to taking full advantage this spring and summer.

 

[MoonHunter]

Warfare sure has applicability when dealing with Chaos warriors...

But not the ranking. 1-5th? nope. Just your raw number of points and your amber ranking.

 

[AsenRG]

But not the ranking. 1-5th? nope. Just your raw number of points and your amber ranking.

It would surprise me, if a GM never adds a Chaos Beast that's equal to the Third Ranking.

 

[MoonHunter]

Today was 10 loops in the AM. I think I should have a by day. As I have been struggling continuously these last seven days.

 

[AsenRG]

After finally receiving permission by my physio therapist, I'm doing daily mobility exercises of the kind that makes weaklings cry and call mommy. But that's just pain...

Basically, it feels like pushing your own joint to the breaking point and staying there until it adapts. So, normal stretching, in my book. It's just that I've never really liked stretching too much!
Ah well, in order to be able to get back to the gym, I'm willing to stretch as much as necessary.

As a bonus, my therapist believes I need massage and exercises to correct my spinal alignment. I'm looking forward to him torturing me in more ways!

 

[Giganotosaurus]

I've been taking the kids at my job on bike rides lately since apparently I'm the only one willing (or physically able) to do so. We did 3 loops around the facility property today and my lungs have never burned more.

 

[bleys21]

I've been taking the kids at my job on bike rides lately since apparently I'm the only one willing (or physically able) to do so. We did 3 loops around the facility property today and my lungs have never burned more.

Its the start of your new exercise routine!

Plus, I bet the kids loved it...and you loved it too, just admit it

 

[MoonHunter]

Today AM - I did 12 loops figuring I would do more later.

Today PM - I ended up doing 20 minutes on the elliptical because the rain predicted for 2100, came in at 1500. Sigh.

 

[AsenRG]

I've been prevented to go to my physio specialist lately, and probably shall be at least until Thursday. OTOH, I enlisted the help of the wife to help me do more-or-less the same exercises every day.

I don't have a deep-warming machine* or anything like it, so I'm just putting a hand warmer on the front of the joint, and one on the back, and waiting for them to start cooling off!

After that? Well, stretching time is all about pain, stopping at your limit, relaxing, then stretching some more! I can do that just fine, and I don't go easy on myself...

*Whatever it's called in English. I suspect that's not even the name in Bulgarian, just a professional slang name.

 

[chuckdee]

I wonder if a TENS unit would help with warming up the muscles.

 

[AsenRG]

I wonder if a TENS unit would help with warming up the muscles.

They're using something like this on me before the procedures. Not sure if it's the same thing, though!

 

[chuckdee]

They're using something like this on me before the procedures. Not sure if it's the same thing, though!

If it is, they have some pretty inexpensive ones on Amazon. I got one to help with my back issues, and it feels like the muscles are being worked by a human and not electrical impulses.

 

[AsenRG]

If it is, they have some pretty inexpensive ones on Amazon. I got one to help with my back issues, and it feels like the muscles are being worked by a human and not electrical impulses.

I guess I'm just a cheapskate, since I hadn't even considered that option. But I expect to get to the health center ASAP, anyway, and shipping from Amazon takes forever and a day, usually...


Also, is this apparatus the analogue of ChatGPT for physio?

 

[MoonHunter]

AM: Today we have unseasonable rain, as dry seasons should of started in march. So I did 20 minutes on the elliptical.

My BP is still silly low. I need it a bit higher to think straight. (Like remembering to mention it in the thread... which I had to come back and do.)

My brain is feeling a little flat now, but I am currently thinking it is the post workout drop. Even after a five minute walking cool down, I still feel it.

PM: I did 30 minutes of high intensity high resistance elliptical. (I do 60-90 minutes of walking at some clip, but the elliptical is more work.) I managed an extra 10% speed boost in revolutions/minute today. I recommend doing any exercise to a Super Eurobeat mix or Initial D mix (much the same thing). The higher-intensity rhythm is inspirational and much better than "dance music" with the same bpm.

 

[E-Rocker]

Rest days tomorrow and Saturday, half-marathon on Sunday.

 

[MoonHunter]

Today I did 12 loops strongly while it was dry.

 

[MoonHunter]

Yesterday PM I did 12 more loops.

This morning AM I did 12 loops.

This PM I was going to do 12-15 loops, but rain canceled it after two.

 

[E-Rocker]

My 45-year-old self and 76-year-old dad completed the Chicagoland half-marathon this morning.

 

[MoonHunter]

Yesterday was a by day because of the weather and the fact that I was writing up a storm here.

Today:
AM - tried twice to walk, but I was rained out each time. I managed four loops.

I did a little writing "there" and one last Guest Post character to be put up next week.

Really early PM: I did 13 loops at good speed. My BP is still low, but I am adjusting.

Later PM: I tried to walk in the afternoon, but I was rained out again. Maybe I will elliptical later.

 

[MoonHunter]

Today AM- I did 30 minutes of elliptical at full resistance and average speed (100 r/m)

Today PM (a few minutes ago) - I did 10 minutes at full rush full resistance for 10 minutes. I managed an extra 10% of speed (110 average r/m)

 

[thebigh]

I had to poke a new hole in my belt to stop my trousers falling down, which is always a nice little chore to have to do.

 

[bleys21]

My 45-year-old self and 76-year-old dad completed the Chicagoland half-marathon this morning.

Since you wrote this after said half-marathon, it seems you both lived through it. How'd it go? I know you've been preparing for it, was that enough?

 

[MoonHunter]

Today AM - I broke the 12 loop mark for the first time in the last couple of weeks of low BP. I made it to 15. I think I am finally getting use to operating in the 105-125 BP range. Okay, I know for most of you, that is a normal number. My BP has been 185-220 for the last twenty five years (and was 150 on average for all my life up to that point). This is a remarkable level for me. I was operating at around 125-140 since I came home for the medical centers.

Add on:
Today PM - I did 13 loops. I would have done 15, but sprinkles started (and I do not mean donut condiments). The BP was a bit wobbly, but I am on it.

 

[E-Rocker]

Since you wrote this after said half-marathon, it seems you both lived through it. How'd it go? I know you've been preparing for it, was that enough?

I'll write a more in-depth reply later, but the short version is, the starting line up through the 11-mile marker went fine. From the 11-mile marker to the 13.1-mile finish line was really hard.

 

[MoonHunter]

This AM was 17 loops. Woohoo

This PM was only 8 loops. I had a moment of odd bp and decided to not risk.

 

[MoonHunter]

Yesterday became a by day. I did nothing in the morning because of appointments and errands. I did 8 loops in the afternoon. My BP was low and there was no need to push on a by day.

Today AM: I did 15 loops. By BP was low, but not awful. (In the end I came back and it was 80/55). The amazement of today's fifteen loops is I was back on my pace. So I was 20% faster than I have been going recently. (4 min a loop)

Today PM: I did 12 loops. Again the BP was low but not awful. I was back on pace (20% faster).

 

[MoonHunter]

Today was insanely hot, in comparison to the last six weeks. (It was slightly warm this last week). It was 88F /31C in the afternoon, and 75f /24C in the late AM. My BP was running low

AM: I managed 10 loops

PM: I managed 6 loops and was dripping sweat.

 

[MoonHunter]

AM was still warm, but not as warm as yesterday. My BP was low, but as I had said before, I was adapting to the lower BP. I managed fifteen loops (1.5 miles with the up and down).

 

[Dr. Gnome]

I recently started up a fitness program again when I had really good results last year. (I combined last year's fitness program with a keto diet, but that's another story altogether.) I am going a little slower this time, remembering to take rest days, and incorporating breathing and stretching into the regemin with a hope that I can keep it up as a lifestyle instead of burning out too quickly.

 

[BedrockBrendan]

Been staying pretty consistent by keeping it light and sticking to mornings (am finding that if I wake up a half hour early, do some weighs, some light drills and a short run that works pretty well). Will be trying to attend a tai chi course Thursday or Monday to see how that goes as well

 

[E-Rocker]

Today I did my first run since the May 7th half-marathon. I took a deliberately slow pace and went for time rather than distance. Ended up doing 4.5 miles in one hour, which left me with just enough time to clean up & get to work on time.

 

[AsenRG]

I'm exercising every day. Progress was noted, but I still can't do as much of the yoga-pilates combo that the local gym is offering, as I used to be able.
Yes, I tried it yesterday...and now my muscles are burning, as if I haven't been exercising for months. Oh wait, I haven't been!

Also, I need more elastics, it seems.

 

[MoonHunter]

Sunday PM: 8 loops, but at 4 minute loops (20% improvement)

Monday AM: 12 loops (again at 4 min)

Monday PM: 8 loops (4ish minutes)
My BP has been sinking lower... getting to be too low upon occasion


Tuesday AM: 12 loops (4 minute loops)
Tuesday PM: BP Lower than I like, will give it a by.

 

[chuckdee]

Haven't been updating here... was cleared for my bariatric surgery, but probably won't be scheduled until late July/early August, so I'm not going to keep eating like this and gaining weight until then- going back to actually trying to lose a bit of weight.

Health issues have mostly cleared up, so back to my mile+ a day. Also just got by eBike, so am riding 2.5-5 miles a day.

 

[Toadmaster]

I'm finally at a stage where the diet and exercise are established habit, which makes keeping at it easier. I'm down a full 30lbs from Sept 2021 and slowly continuing down. If I can drop another 20lbs over the next year I will be thrilled.

The diet is just eating healthier and watching the amount, but I'm really watching the added sugar aspect. Not eliminating it completely, just making sure where it pops up, it is worth it, not just mindless "that looks tasty."

I've settled into a routine of swimming 2-3 days (40 laps = a hair over 1/2 mile) when I'm home and 30min daily on a stair stepper or exercise bike when I'm working. This week I've added 10 squats, 10 lunges, 10 pushups and 60 sec of planks, repeated 2-4 times throughout the day as I can fit them in.

I'm feeling better than I have in a very long time.

 

[E-Rocker]

That's awesome, Toadmaster ! Congratulations.

 

[Toadmaster]

That's awesome, Toadmaster ! Congratulations.

It has been years in the making. Through my job I had to maintain a certain amount of fitness, but I finally hit a point where I hit my "rock bottom".

As I've gotten older my weight crept up year by year, just 5 or 10 lbs over time, but that went from the fit and trim 230lbs (I'm a big guy so 220-230 is my ideal weight) in my late 20s, to 260 by my late 30s, and 280 by my mid 40s. The fact that I had a physical job masked, the weight as I wasn't easily winded, and could do hard physical work.

I had my gall bladder removed in Sept 2021, and when they weighed me in at 307, something snapped in my brain and said enough of this, no more excuses. No more its normal to gain some weight as I age.

I got on the scale this morning, and for the first time in maybe 20 years I weighed in the 260s (269, but hey I'll take it ). That was just a daily dip in the weight, as I'm a pretty steady 174-176, but nice to see myself starting to break under 270, even if just for a few hours on one day.

 

[MoonHunter]

Wednesday - AM - I did 12 loops.

Wednesday - PM - I did 6 loops

Thursday AM - I did 8 loops and regretted it.

Thursday - PM I should not have even tried, but of course I did. I took the dog for a walk in my four loops. I was done.

Friday - Low BP By Day

 

[Dr. Gnome]

I was reading some information on Healthline about a "brisk walk" of around 3.5mph is considered moderate/intense exercise, and an hour a day is considered optimal by most US gov't agencies that care about such things so I am going to try and just incorporate that. It's easy enough to do on a treadmill while watching the news or even messing with a phone. For more intensity you can just bump up the incline or use hand weights.

I notice that I tend to stick to that which is easy and I find enjoyable. The more I have to force myself into an activity the less likely I am to do it, but I suspect that is likely for many folk.

 

[chuckdee]

So I've been riding and walking each day- even yesterday when I walked 3 miles for the heart walk, I still rode 5 miles.

Today, I only walked. And it was grueling. Went out to a park for a give back opportunity instead of going to work. Going down the trail and working on the water irrigation. It was about 2.5 miles of trail that we worked- I packed it in after lunch, because I knew it would take me forever to get back up. Took me over an hour and I was completely wiped. They put those log stairs there to supposedly help with inclines, but I hate them! And it had a whole area of them.