Thoughts on my life today. What follows is me sharing where I
am, health-wise with family and friends.
I’ve been going to my local gym for more than eight years now on a 2-4 times a week schedule, ever since my heart attack and quad bypass. Up until recently I have been focused on reaching and maintaining a modest level of fitness, which I have done and with which my doctor has been happy with, but it has meant not changing, not getting better, not improving, not boosting my goals (meaning increasing the the amounts of weights I have pushed or the length of time on the treadmill or laps in the pool). I have been maintaining, nothing more.
I’ve decided to change that approach and am now increasing the weights I use and adding more variety to my workouts. I don’t kid myself, I’m never going to have a “six pack” stomach (and have no desire or motivation to have one) but there is no reason why I can’t be strong enough to enjoy life, to lift my grandkids up in the air occasionally. I will plateau at another level at some point though I have not decided what that level will be.
Today is a good example of the changes I’ve made to my routine. Up until recently I’d do 45 minutes of something, whether in the pool or a combination of weights and treadmill. Today I did 15 minutes on the treadmill at a moderate pace, a 1.5 degree incline then did 20 minutes of weight training (10 different stations) and adding 15-20lbs to my usual weights so I am up to 105-110 lbs for each of 12 reps I do (up from 90 lbs at each station) which means I’m really pushing the last two or three reps and feeling the ‘burn’. When I no longer have the ‘burn’ at a certain level I will increase the weight. I decided rather than doing one or two types of training a day I’m going to do three by adding 25 minutes of lane swimming so the total active time is 60 minutes of what I think is a pretty good routine followed by 10 minutes in the hot tub. This reminds me of how I trained for the Ironman though not at the same level of intensity. I am looking to build some more muscle and burn more fat. I plan on following this routine at least three times a week for the foreseeable future.
Another part of this is eating habits. I am carrying way too much fat. Pat and I have changed eating habits starting about two weeks ago. Now we don’t eat before 10am or after 6pm as part of an intermittent fasting regime. I like the discipline needed to do this.
My rationale for all of this? I am 66 y.o. and want to be around for at least the same number of years as my father who just turned 90. With all the health problems I’ve had it is going to be hard, I’m not kidding myself. I want to see my grandkids grow to adults and to see more of the world and to do that I need to look after me wherever I can.
Growing old is hard in so many ways I’ve never appreciated before and if I can make it easier I will by extending myself for as long as I can.
I’ll never compete in another Ironman, those days are gone, but I can still run my race and that’s what I am going to do.
muscle and burn more fat. I plan on following this routine at least three times a week for the foreseeable future.
Another part of this is eating habits. I am carrying way too much fat. Pat and I have changed eating habits starting about two weeks ago. Now we don’t eat before 10am or after 6pm as part of an intermittent fasting regime. I like the discipline needed to do this.
My rationale for all of this? I am 66 y.o. and want to be around for at least the same number of years as my father who just turned 90. With all the health problems I’ve had it is going to be hard, I’m not kidding myself. I want to see my grandkids grow to adults and to see more of the world and to do that I need to look after me wherever I can.
Growing old is hard in so many ways I’ve never appreciated before and if I can make it easier I will by extending myself for as long as I can.
I’m not kidding myself, I’ll never compete in another Ironman, those days are gone, but I can still run my race and that’s what I am going to do.