6/29/10 - A long way yet to go
- 4/18/10 – Yikes, 7 years of Ho-Ho’s
Wow, workout almost killed me today. All I had to eat was an apple before I started and by the end of the workout, I was on my knees, with my head down, trying not to pass out. I ran my tank to zero and was trying to finish on gas fumes toward the end.
Hit the legs and shoulders. Wanted to do some obliques, but it was all I could do to finish stretching. Am I too old to be subjecting my body to this kind of abuse? No Way!
One thing, I am going to have to modify my half squats. I used the four strongest bands today and I stopped at 5 reps, because the stress on my wrist and elbows was too much. I think if I buy a short 1 or 1 and 1/2 inch round wooden bowel, thread it through the steel rings on the handles; I may be able to do much heavier squats without my wrist and elbows killing me. We’ll see.
Started doing shrugs last workout, and of course today – wow – these bands were made to do shrugs. Great feeling.
Finally got all my recovered files back today. So, I am posting how I looked when I started and how I basically look now. Come a little ways, but still a long way to go.
I think about all those infomercial and the folks that get so great looking after just 90 days (kudo’s to them), and I accept that it is going to take me longer. Fact is, I let myself go, and go badly these last 6 years or so. It will probably take longer than 3 or 4 months to recover. Plus at 49, I’m guessing it’s going to be harder recovering than if I was 30.
And I am not going to commit to an hour a day to exercise. I work out for 45 minutes or so every other day. Basically that means I am committing to working out no more than 6 or 7 times in a 2 week period. Would I get in better shape faster if I worked out an hour everyday, maybe? But I already know I would not, so every other day works for me, even if it takes me a longer to get there.
Still, I’m feeling stronger and better.
Like in all things though, life and its turns intrude themselves and I lost a little bit of focus early to mid June. A couple of weeks lost not working out and so forth. You can tell by the lack of posts through that period.
But I understand that working out on steady basis is good thing. And posting these pictures is really about me and my self-motivation – not some crazy notion that it’s the result of Bodylastics bands. Bodylastics bands (thanks for making them, Blake) are a tool – a good tool – but not the only tool.
For more info on this particular tool, you can it all here…
And for a more indepth review of Bodylastics home gym and why I think it is a darn good tool, you can check it out here.
What matters is that you find the means to work out/exercise and stick with you. I lost my way for few weeks, but that’s okay; I’m back on track.
Whatever means you have work out, be it going to the gym or doing bodyweight exercises, I urge you not to lose focus. But if you do and you miss a week or two or three – no biggie, here. Even if you were so good on your diet, that is, until you fell head over heels in lust with a luscious strawberry cheesecake – no biggie, here.
Just pick up where you left off. Poor eating habits, no desire to work out, and burning the midnight oil (the old saying - night out with owls, can’t fly during day with eagles) didn’t happen overnight. It took years to to get that way. It will take time to undo the old habits and forge new habits.
So, do as I do, take the long road, Frodo. And take some pictures, see you in 30.
