Year Five It's a Habit
First Year Recap "Success in Process"
Year Two "Fitness Continues"
The Journey has been more than physical "Walk in Darkness; Run in Light"
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The five year review has forced me to review my own state of progress, hopefully I have amused and encouraged a few people. I continue to amuse any number of people at the gym. Time to close and report the numbers. My heart rate at a resting pulse is in the 60’s, my resting passive heart rate according to the UP app averages in the low 50’s. Smart Coach informed me, I get above average hours of deep sleep,, for my age. Often now, I hear the addendum for your age. My muscles are toned, not just in my calves, but also my thighs, arms, chest, and back. I have some core strength and can do the ab exercises, I hate, even with the embarrassing pudge. As the birthday card my wife gave me stated, I have a cute butt. A long time running joke between Nancy and I is my having a cute butt. I weigh in the 220’s trying to get to the 210’s, I am still 5’9” with shoes. I am still not slim or sexy, but I still hope my wife will continue to overlook this and love me anyway.
My wife allows me to live in the illusion of fitness and attractiveness - she is such a good actress
My current routine when I go by myself and have a couple of hours consists of these elements. I walk three or four laps to loosen up. I have made this a habit ever since the hamstring pull. I then warm up on the elliptical for 30 minutes the setting on random with a resistance of 15. I go downstairs to the weights. I do a bicep curl on a machine. I have worked up to 60 pounds, this is the only machine I do with individual arms. I move to work on another machine for triceps. I use ninety pounds. I move to a cable machine for shoulders. I set it to either 120 or 130 pounds depending upon whether I want to mess with the 5lb increment weights. I do a reclined bench at 120 and the upright bench at 120. I do three sets of 10 or as I gain strength move up to 12 reps. I was trying to do this three times a week. Usually now just once or twice with the HIIT session once a week as my other hard train day. I have been staying at these weight levels and not moving up for awhile. I then go over and do three different leg press machines I use 180 pounds on each machine. If someone is using one of my preferred machines I skip it and try to start with it the next time. I usually go back upstairs and walk two or three laps to stretch and sometimes do an elliptical for ten or 15 minutes at a slower pace and lower resistance. Occasionally, instead of a reprise of the elliptical, I will do leg lifts, planks, or jump on a box. These are some of the crazy things the trainers have made me do. I am not crazy enough to get on the Jacob’s Ladder or balance on a bosu ball while doing squats with a kettle weight. It takes the intimidation of not wanting to disappoint my trainer to do these things.
My moral is: you can do better; you need to make it a habit. If you have to lie to yourself: you will get taller, your hair will turn brown again, or you will be a sexy senior; it is OK, whatever self-deception works for you. It doesn’t matter how well you do today. Are you better than you were before you started? Find your partner, find your motivation, start, listen to your body, the only person you should compete with is yourself. If you are an old fat, out of shape man, your family will be amazingly supportive. I got six pair of gym shorts my first Christmas after starting this process. Remember the cat does not need a butler; the cat will find another place to nap.
If I don't keep in shape I would never fit in my favorite car
Without fitness I could not enjoy hiking around my favorite places - Ft Donelson on the Cumberland River
Looks more impressive than it was -- I did not know Nancy had pulled out camera or I would have screwed it up
Next time History Channel is wanting to clutter more air time with senseless nonhistory consider a production of Forgottonia Frontiersman.
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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