Take care of yourself

My problem is I continually judge myself against what I used to be when I was heavy into crossfit. I was a fairly buff, fairly strong dude, could crank out 15 pullups at a time, squat more than 225, run 3:15 half miles, clean and jerk 140, etc. I'm nowhere near that now, and it's just depressing.

But, today was a start. And tomorrow is another day, another opportunity to work toward my goals.

Joe

 

I can see that. It's way more motivating to be breaking new barriers than to just be trying to get back to your old self.

 

Just now, after writing an elder care article:

Ten rounds of 1 half pullup, 5 pushups, 3 stairs down and up.

Half-pullup is on the Door Gym pullup bar I have. Stand, grasp handles, pull up, release to full extension. Pushups pretty much belly to ground. Stairs walked at more than 60-steps-per-minute pace, but only full-out hoofing it on the last set.

I'm not bothering to keep time yet, but in a couple of weeks I will.

Joe

 

Seeking an inexpensive workout situation, I recalled years ago reading how Walter Payton ran sprints up a steep riverbank at his Mississippi home. Bears teammates who joined him more often than not collapsed in pools of their own vomit. There's a hilltop park in my town that was formerly a missile defense installation. The army built a mile-long access road straight up the mountain that has inclines of more than 10%. It's not a wilderness trail but for someone who hasn't exercised since a herniated disk ended my hockey playing a few years ago, it's a brutally efficient run than just on a flat surface, especially in the heat of summer. I try to rope somebody in to help push me. My back is great, and I haven't felt this good in years.

 

Weighed in yesterday at 292, a pound less than the last time I went to the doctor in September.

Frustrating. I've gone to the gym 6 mornings a week since September. I do up to an hour of cardio a day, a combo of fast walking or slower climbing and then elliptical. For the last several weeks I've added an abs thing before the cardio. I sweat a good sweat. But I can't take off the pounds. I am much more spry than I was in September and have much more energy and move around much more easily. I *am* leaner except for the belly.

It really does come down to nutrition.

I don't eat like a maniac (anymore) but I do eat cheeses, and ice cream, and processed foods here and there, and drink Red Bull but rarely have Coke and am not doing the enough-mashed-potatoes-for-Patton's-army thing nearly as much -- haven't made a batch in a month or longer. I eat plenty of fruits and veggies and drink enough water and coffee and eat a lot of chicken, lean turkey and occasionally red meat. But I snack more than I should.

I'm best at 235-240. I'll be pleased if I can get to 250 again.

 

Yep, those snacks are killer. Dig in on cutting them out. Maybe you should start vigilantly counting calories for a while.

 

I've found Myfitnesspal.com to be helpful.

 

Today was Day 16 of my increasing pullups, and tomorrow will see 17 pullups from me. It's a 100-day program with an extra pullup each day. So in the last 16 days, I've done 136. When I'm done with the 10 days, it will be in the thousands. With the Door Gym, it's more like a 3/4 no-kip pullup, mainly because I'm a good 20 pounds above my fighting weight.

20 minutes on the eliptical.

Three rounds of eight forearm curls using towels to make it a thick bar. About 45 pounds.

Joe

 

17 yesterday after taking the oldest daughter to the zoo and walking around that focker for about six hours.

18 today after fishing.

Onward!

 

19 on Friday.

20 on Saturday.

Working on 21 today. From Day 20 to Day 30, I'll wind up doing 255 in those 10 days.

Joe

 

21 done. And nine more.

I'm starting to have issues with my joints and my wrists, so I think I'll back off doing extra for a week or so and just do that day's prescription. As is, I've probably done 75 or so extra in the 21 days I've been on this regimen.

When I get to 100 on this, I think I'll still do 25 or 50 a day, but I'll also start doing the 100 pushup challenge. I should do the 100 burpees challenge, but the thought of that gives me nightmares — although burpees might be the most perfect body-weight exercise there is. Maybe after the pushups.

Joe

 

22 yesterday, and 23 today.

My arms are already bigger and more solid than they were three weeks ago, forearms and upper arms, and my back is stronger. I'm still way too fat, and as the numbers go higher I need to drop about 10 pounds — minimum — or these pullups are going to get so hard as to be an all-day job.

Joe