Year Three and counting
First Year Recap "Success in Process"
Year Two "Fitness Continues"
The Journey has been more than physical "Walk in Darkness; Run in Light"
Many things have changed as I do an update. It is actually year three and one half. The gym remains a habit. It is one year since my change of work out routine. ML left Gold’s and my wife wanted me to have sessions with her trainer Jenna. I have gone down on the floor and started weight routines. I began in January of 2015. Jenna is very insistent on form. We started with five upper body machines. Jenna assisted finding the right settings. The height of the seat changes an exercise a lot. We started with low weights doing three sets of ten on each machine. Once I got started I do these by myself. Once a week Jenna has designed some new series of exercises (humiliating torturous movements) to improve some part of my body. New activity sets which trainers like to call circuits provide amusement to anyone watching my lack of agility. Athleticism was never one of my strengths, and age doesn’t improve my skills. I have developed a new exercise routine when I hit the gym. I gave up the 4 x 15 routine. I had accomplished all the upper body I was going to get out of the rowing machine. On some days I come in and do an elliptical for sixty minutes at a resistance setting of 16. On alternate days I do a warm up on the elliptical at 15 for 30 minutes and then head down to the floor for my upper body set. I have found coming back up after doing the five machines then cooling down with another 15 minutes seems be good for reducing soreness. If I come with my wife or can’t stay so long I adapt my elliptical to the hour or time allowed.
You too could improve (torture) your body
Anyway back to the circuits of torture, Jenna said I think all the time on the elliptical has done enough for your calves. We are going concentrate on your thighs. I am thinking how could my thighs not have been building up on the elliptical. They must have been doing something pedaling along through all those sweat soaked miles. I knew they were firmer than when I started. We began our first series of exercises. The one with a barbell on my shoulders and stepping up and back triggered an avalanche in my knees. The pops were so loud I began think they would drown out the music in the gym. Jenna looked at me and said are you all-right? I said yeah I can hear it, but it doesn’t hurt. My knees feel fine. The popping stopped after the first week or two, but the two days following this new circuit I could barely walk when I stood up. Jenna was right about my thighs apparently they had been sloughing off on the elliptical. She claims to change my routine on a schedule. I think after several weeks when I have finally trained my body to do a set without causing hilarity; she observes it is time to teach me another lesson in humility. Also I find some other part of my body will become surprisingly sore for the first two weeks.
Nancy and Steve at the bacpack 5k charity run October 2015
Where has the journey brought me after one year of upper body and three and half of seeking fitness? I have been building muscle. After a year I have redefined my chest and shoulders. I feel good and have attained excellent cardio health. Starting this November we have added lower body weight sets. I have incorporated those into my weight days. Along with feeling good and building muscle, I have gradually been gaining weight. I was reading through my previous posts thinking that the weight goal of just below 200 a very distance memory. I would be happy to be back at the 210. I do not have a clear path other than more food discipline and more frequent visits to the gym – I am not eating anything while I am at the gym. I suppose not keeping portion control and snacks are the culprits. Food diary I can hear it – do a food diary – yeah maybe. I have apps, but do not find it easy to match the food I prepare – without anything to offer a reader on new weight loss success; I have stalled writing this update.
In December I picked up a very heavy box with documents to be shredded, I was not having a problem with the box but my vision was blocked. I forgot to dodge the rocking chair and tripped. I did not fall, but did set the box down carefully and quickly. I hobbled in anguish to hold on to the back of a chair. The unexpected trip caused my hamstring on the back of my left thigh to become severely pulled. My life became ice, ibuprofen, and later heat. When moving it was hobble, hobble, and hobble. I went about life in a limping stride when I was not sitting uncomfortably. My ever laden with good fitness advice son, said yes he had pulled a hamstring in high school track, I could expect a long drawn out healing process since I was so old. I could not go to gym, plus it was Christmas and New Years. As inactivity was compounded by wonderful food I added more weight. My hamstring has almost completely heeled so I am back at the gym. I think it was an eight-pound set back or fat up, however you define it. It never matters where you have been, what counts is where you are going to go. I have to start here and get back below 220. First I have to get back below 230 each day a small step forward, at least not back.
Old folks at church called me Chester - young people wondered what they were talking about.
My perspective after three and half years is I am grateful. I am healthy, I enjoy my fitness, and I am spiritually grounded. Walk in Darkness, Run in the Light. I went to the Chaco Culture National Historic Park on Aug 30th to Sept 2nd. After I pitched my tent in the no frills campsite I went to the ranger talks then on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday hiked the four loop trails. I left early afternoon on the 2nd after finishing the fourth loop trail. I was pleased I had the fitness to do this. Not having normal food or appetite I did lose weight. An apple in my pack for lunch was amazing nourishment, sweet moist, and good. I tried to keep to myself but did talk to a few people. The older visitors sometimes observed you must be in pretty good shape; I said I had made dramatic progress after turning sixty. Drinkable water is available only at visitor center. Take four water bottles on each hike it is arid and hot in the summer. My sons decided if I had lost weight, maybe I should take another trip into the wilderness and spend 40 days instead of just the four. This would also confirm my crazy old coot status as a resume item. This year included walking around Civil War battlefields at Appomattox Courthouse and the actual Wilderness. I also followed along with Nancy on her endurance beach walks, and completing a charity 5k with her. If she is walking why am I running to keep up? I did get 2nd in my age group; there were only two entries. The other guy besting my 40-minute finish by a mere seventeen minutes. I am up for more hikes and battlefield tours – not so up for 5ks.
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Wilderness Battlefield and Chaco structure from bluff photos from my hikes
I do not want to pretend fitness requires gyms and trainers. Both cost money, but it was what I needed to gain structure and discipline. Simply walking is a good start find an enjoyable place. Examine your routine are you driving and parking when you could just walk? When it is too cold go inside find an indoor location. I have found my step count on Sunday mornings at church is very high. I would encourage everyone to find a way to increase his or her movement. It doesn’t have to involve yuppie costly things. You do not need a fitness band but I like my Up that syncs with my phone as a Bluetooth device. The Up wrist band Nancy gave me has shown my resting heart rate is averaging in the 50’s – somehow the first one in the morning is an indicator of heart health. Mine averaged 55 the first month and 54 the next. I will try to take in fewer food units – whether I diary or not. If I continue the muscle development and get back to 210 again I will look good. Many at the gym must wonder how I can work so hard and still be so fat. I catch them looking at me, maybe it is just my hair that amuses them. If I bring amusement to the lives of those around me I guess I am contributing to a better world. My first cautious return to the gym after the hamstring pull I walked on the track then got on the elliptical at a 4 resistance. After ten minutes as my heart rate increased I felt a surge of “this is good.” My body seems to love the exercise habit more than I do, but I am lucky that God blessed me with it. I will try to continue to keep it going. Fitness allows me to do good things, enjoy challenging hikes, and explore where my curiosity leads.
Fitness allows me to lead a life that at least is a source of comic relief to my family and friends.
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Steve Davis after three and a half years, one year of upper body. Is it the hair, muscle tone, or the fat but anyway this is how it is.
Forgottonia is a place where you can endlessly wander the lonely roads, and never once miss the fast lane. The name Forgottonia captures an image of a region, off the beaten path, which is very true of Western Illinois.
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