Okay, so why worry about exercising

In line tonight at a spaghetti-dinner benefit and a guy I have known for years came in behind me. As a matter of fact, we happen to share the same birthday. He asked the normal question -- you still running? Okay, it has been years since I was a runner but it was a big part of my life so people ask. I admit that I am now a walker -- and almost don't mind that title, most of the time. But, I might think to myself, why bother? So, I asked this guy a question -- you still working or have you retired. Turns out he has not retired but was out of work for nearly four months, a month for each of the bypasses of his recent heart surgery. One thing regular exercise does is let you know that you are at least doing one small thing to help protect yourself from that dreaded diagnosis -- bypass time.

August 12, 2008

1 -- Got up for an okay walk this morning; it was Sylvia's first day back at work. Goal is to again get to the Y for the rest of the workout.
2 -- Have been getting to the Y with regularity and yesterday pushed a little harder on some of the exercises. Benched with dumb bells and started with 60lbs. I think I had one set of six and it might have been eight. Then went down by fives through 55, 50, 45. Other exercises worked a few more pounds and I only go up a little at a time because my goal is to continue lifting not seeing how much I lift once.
3 -- Was very glad to see the Hartsville Streets or Parks crews trimmed the branches of trees adjacent to the bike trail. That will make that part of the trail better. Those using the bike trail will find it enjoyable though a caution on the Washington Street portion -- the storm drains are too recessed and if you hit them you could be in some trouble.
4 -- Listening to MOSCOW RULES by Dan Silva while walking. It is a good story and some of the exciting parts help me move faster on those early morning walks.
5 -- Memo to self -- "It really does feel better to be at the Y than making excuses for not being at the Y."

Working More, Enjoying More

So, the past couple of weeks the Y has been the place. Got there for a pretty good upper body workout today and am starting to get back on school time, which is one way of saying I am getting out of bed before 5 so that I get those four miles in by six. Combining the walking with the lifting is feeling good. I am starting with push ups and hit 35 in one go today. Totaled at 50 and then did the workout 00 chest, shoulders, back, triceps and biceps -- staying well within limits and may have to start extending a bit because of that no pain, no gain tradition with which I grew up. Still pretty much working the body for life type of workout -- just losing most of the intensity of the increased weights. Today, I could tell I wasn't talking or wasting time between sets because I finished in 48 minutes.

Finally, a good week at the gym

Last week was a good week in that I managed to get to the Y six days. Okay, the quality of all the workouts might not have been at the A level but the first goal was getting back to being present. It felt good to finally be back in the gym. When it came to pushups I stopped at 50 instead of pushing on to the 100 and this week I have to focus on adding a bit more intensity. In addition to the Y, I did get six days of good walks -- most of them four miles.

Finished Genghis Khan and as I think I mentioned, it was a bit of an inspiration because the great Khan was in his late 50s when he began his domination of much of the known world in the late 1100s and early 1200s.

And, began this week with a good walk on Sunday, no Y, and a good four-mile walk this morning. Reading a Ken Blanchard book on leadership as I move through the miles.

First Question -- You still walking, still lifting

When people know you exercise they are curious to see if you are still an exerciser. At a minimum exercise for people over 60 is a conversation starter. Happened again this noon, at lunch of all places. And, happily, today's answer is Yes.

This morning was another good morning walk. I probably should be increasing the pressure of these early morning walks to cut down on time and increase heart rate but it was still a good four miles. The other good thing was that finally, after weeks of not darkening the Y door, I was there and put up some weight. Not enough but now that I have taken so much time off it will be a little slow building back up.

So I can keep track, Monday night 7-21 was dumb bell benches with leg extensions using forty pound dumb bells for four sets of 12 each and 45 pounders for one set of 12. Then I did the chest fly with 35 pounders -- one set of 12. Shoulders were using 20lb dumb bells with shoulder raises. First set were simultaneous. second set was alternating, third was simultaneous and four set was alternating. Then, used sitting dumb bell of 25 pounds for shoulder press. Tried that standing and could barely budge it. Back was on the machine using the 140 resistance for four sets of 12 and one set of 155 and then the rower lift where I pulled the 250 stack but only for 10 reps and one set used a 15 pounder to start the tricept and did both arms for one set of 12. Then moved over to the machine and went 70 for 12, 80 for 12, 90 for 12 and 100 for seven. Biceps were 25 pound dumb bell sitting curls for one set of 12 then standing small bar with 50lbs, then one more set of sitting curls and three more of the barbell curls. Put the lever at 140 on the pull up machine and did one set of 13.

understand that if someone else is reading this that is way too much info but it will help me keep up with me.

And, again, the answer to the question is yes, still walking and again lifting.

Morning is great time to walk

The other day I purchased a new Creative Muvo because I have been missing reading by ear while exercising. My Ipod Nano had been ripped off and the other devices I have tried just were not doing well with Audible books. Listening to a Harold Lamb book called Ghengis Khan; a time in history I know absolutely nothing about.

So, what does that have to do with morning being a great time to walk? Well, this morning was beautiful in a July pre-dawn way. At 5:37 it was still dawning yet the way was brightly lit by a moon that appeared to have no desire to surrender its role to the sun. Birds were excited about this Monday morning, a much better attitude sounding from their tree perches than I would imagine coming from those getting ready to turn off their morning alarms. Air was already a little leaden with heat that did not dissipate from the day before and anticipating what might be to come. But, it was also not oppressive and helped add a little sweat so that the 15-minute-mile pace felt like it might be doing some good. Ghengis Khan coming from the earpod assured that even if the heart wasn't pumping as fast as it should, there was something accomplished in this first hour of the day.

And, the days are getting shorter. Dawn appeared to really break about 5:55 and that means summer is moving toward fall.

Motivation still not kicking in

Great news from Rome, New York. LeRyiah and Russ welcomed Ruby into the world at 11:55 p.m. last night. My brother Mark, the new grandfather, and sister-in-law Debbie, the new grandmother, are excited at these new roles.

What does that have to do with this blog? There should be many reasons for getting and staying and shape. The chief reason is that we all know that if you do what you should in the gym you build up your energy and enjoy more zest in regular activities -- like playing with new babies. In talks I am having with myself I am noticing the lack of energy and motivation and are beginning to wonder if the very FACT that I am not darkening the doors of the Y gym might not be the exact CAUSE of the lack of energy and motivation.

I think it is time to experiment or do some researh - as we like to say at the college. So, I hope the next post notes that the Y has again become part of the regular activities and I can report on the effect it has on the energy and motivation level.