What are you doing to stay in shape?

[RickP]

Not guitar related, but I’ve been working on getting healthier, and maintaining my ability to be outdoors. I was quite strong and athletic through my first 4 decades, let it slip some in my fifth, and working on fixing that in my sixth. I’m no fanatic, and don’t do fad diets or workouts… I didn’t retire to work out six days a week and eat rabbit food. But the body needs strenuous activity or it degrades, so you’re headed one way or the other. I’m all about getting the most from life, so I need to be physically up to doing the things I enjoy.

For me, adding a rowing machine (Concept 2, if you’re interested) at home was a game-changer. I’d instituted a program using them for fitness testing at the PD before I retired, and they are excellent for all around body training. I started in early 2021, and hit the 3 million meter mark today! I’m not particularly focused on weight loss, although I needed to drop some pounds, but found the regular work brought my weight down by 30 or more pounds, and it’s been there over a year now. Elimination of all the late night snacking also helped a lot there. You can’t out-row your fork!

Anyway, that’s me. I wondered if you guys and girls were doing anything exercise related to keep the Dad/Mom bods at bay, and what you might be having success with. I’ve added back some weight work (not crazy stuff, just using 30-40 pound dumbbells) and some calisthenics back to my rowing days, but was looking for ideas to alternate in.

PS- I’m a three day a week, 1-1.5 hour guy. Not looking for the Spartan thing!

 

[JasonE]

I mostly think about doing more but just don't seem to be able to get it done. I started on a low carb diet a couple of years ago. That has actually done wonders for me. I lost weight and my blood work numbers are possibly the best they have ever been since I started having them checked twice a year. My blood pressure came down several months ago and it has stayed in a good range. If I can find a way to get more activity on top of what I am doing now, it would help even more. I have a set of adjustable dumbbells and do get myself to use them once in a while but have not been able to stay with it. I don't really want to start going back to a gym. I am not fond of them, or some of the people in them, and I don't want to pay the price they charge.

 

[Warmart]

You can’t out-row your fork! Now that's a good line to live by!

 

[RickP]

I mostly think about doing more but just don't seem to be able to get it done. I started on a low carb diet a couple of years ago. That has actually done wonders for me. I lost weight and my blood work numbers are possibly the best they have ever been since I started having them checked twice a year. My blood pressure came down several months ago and it has stayed in a good range. If I can find a way to get more activity on top of what I am doing now, it would help even more. I have a set of adjustable dumbbells and do get myself to use them once in a while but have not been able to stay with it. I don't really want to start going back to a gym. I am not fond of them, or some of the people in them, and I don't want to pay the price they charge.

Those sentiments had a lot to do with making a space to exercise without leaving the house! I had a Bowflex tread climber I used for a while, bought for $250 from a girl who never used it. Once it started breaking, I found out how non-supportive Bowflex is, along with the meaning of “planned obsolescence.” That lead me to turn back to Concept 2. Not shilling for them, but it’s an excellent product, an industry standard, with equally excellent support and parts availability. You can find them at most any gym when you’re traveling to keep your routine going.

And routine is the point for me. I have to do things regularly, on a schedule, or something else will always come up and the exercising goes away. I encourage you to do that… make a reasonable workout plan to start with. Nothing crazy, just something you do a few set days every week. Even just taking a brisk walk. But do it regularly until it’s a habit, and you feel odd when you don’t do it. That’s the critical thing in my experience… you have to make it a lifestyle more than just “exercise.”

Good work on the dietary stuff! That is a bigger deal than many will admit.

 

[Tucson Thump]

Those sentiments had a lot to do with making a space to exercise without leaving the house! I had a Bowflex tread climber I used for a while, bought for $250 from a girl who never used it. Once it started breaking, I found out how non-supportive Bowflex is, along with the meaning of “planned obsolescence.” That lead me to turn back to Concept 2. Not shilling for them, but it’s an excellent product, an industry standard, with equally excellent support and parts availability. You can find them at most any gym when you’re traveling to keep your routine going.

And routine is the point for me. I have to do things regularly, on a schedule, or something else will always come up and the exercising goes away. I encourage you to do that… make a reasonable workout plan to start with. Nothing crazy, just something you do a few set days every week. Even just taking a brisk walk. But do it regularly until it’s a habit, and you feel odd when you don’t do it. That’s the critical thing in my experience… you have to make it a lifestyle more than just “exercise.”

Good work on the dietary stuff! That is a bigger deal than many will admit.

Work on balance and flexibility. You can go through days of being active but there are muscles that are being ignored.

A simple indicator is standing on one leg and having the other up and bent at the knee. How long can you stand there? What muscles are you noticing?

 

[11top]

I’ve been lifting free weights since my college days. I go religiously to our YMCA Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the summer, and every weekday in the winter. I also ride my bike and play pickleball. I’m watching what I eat more closely and have lost 25 lbs over the past two months.

 

[RickP]

I’ve been lifting free weights since my college days. I go religiously to our YMCA Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the summer, and every weekday in the winter. I also ride my bike and play pickleball. I’m watching what I eat more closely and have lost 25 lbs over the past two months.

That’s awesome, Steve. It’s sure easier to keep it than to regain that fitness. Kudos for maintaining the routine!

 

[Alnus Rubra]

I’ve been lifting free weights since my college days. I go religiously to our YMCA Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the summer, and every weekday in the winter. I also ride my bike and play pickleball. I’m watching what I eat more closely and have lost 25 lbs over the past two months.

You Pfenn-rock!

 

[veinbuster]

Every morning: 20-40 minutes of stretching
3x week: 40 minutes of strength training
Until recently 3-4x week: 90-150 minutes of cycling. I’ll probably get back to that, but I switched a lot of that time to golf this summer and every week added:
55 minute yoga class - more active stretching than my morning
55 minute fitness class - lots of moving body parts with small weights

I think those 2 classes every week have contributed to improved overall fitness.

 

[JasonE]

Good work on the dietary stuff! That is a bigger deal than many will admit.

I can't believe I had to get to the age I am before I started testing out the diet stuff. I did try this once a very long time ago and had good luck with it but what I was doing was too restrictive to stick with long term. That was by design. It wasn't intended to be done more than about 6 months. It did what I wanted but when you go back to eating like you did before the change, the weight starts to creep back on. I have stayed in the same weight range, within 5 lbs., for the past two years. I haven't been down to the weight that I am at now for decades.

I had a three day gym routine but man, I hated it. I even had a couple of guys that work for me showing up and working out with me. I was the one that found the routines and was the guy organizing the workouts. I have a lot more gym time than they do, not that I have a ton of it. I just don't like hanging at the gym. I would really like to find things I can do outside that get me the movement I need so they will be more interesting.

 

[Mike Duncan]

I work 14 days a month for 12 hours per day. On my days off, I bike 20 miles.

 

[Mark Ray]

For me it's truly just 2 things:

1) Diet

2) Riding my elliptical bike

 

[RickP]

I just don't like hanging at tI would really like to find things I can do outside that get me the movement I need so they will be more interesting.

I’m not much of a gym rat myself. My son is all about it, but it’s just not my scene. I do like home workouts, walking and hiking in the forest or at the beach, that sort of thing. I have to admit, some days it’s a slog to do it. But I always feel better afterwards, even if it’s just because I didn’t let my mind talk me out of it. On days when I really struggle against my mental wall, I add to my workouts to beat that down. After some time of that my mind is more just saying “get it over with!” on those unmotivated days. It knows what happens otherwise. Lol

I work 14 days a month for 12 hours per day. On my days off, I bike 20 miles.

That‘s a pretty nice routine! Blow off that work stress, too.

For me it's truly just 2 things:

1) Diet

2) Riding my elliptical bike

Mark, you really hit the nail on the head in my opinion. You have to have both ends working together to succeed. When one or the other is out of whack, your health suffers. I know mine did, anyway!

 

[theDeepender]

I have major limitations due to artificial joints. So before I play (weight bench is in the music room), I lift 40lbs (surgeon imposed limit) with 12 presses and 12 rows and 12 squats, or 12 curls and 12 tricep curls and 12 squats, or 12 x pulling the bar up to my chin and 12 over the head presses from the chest and 12 squats. I’m also not allowed to do many reps. If I don’t lift. I don’t play. I also do walk aerobics 3 - 5 times a week.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Crushing cheese and wine and laying very still.

 

[Wakester]

Jumping to conclusions, running from responsibility, stretching the truth, flying off the handle to name a few.

Edit: left out doing diddly squats

 

[RickP]

I have major limitations due to artificial joints. So before I play (weight bench is in the music room), I lift 40lbs (surgeon imposed limit) with 12 presses and 12 rows and 12 squats, or 12 curls and 12 tricep curls and 12 squats, or 12 x pulling the bar up to my chin and 12 over the head presses from the chest and 12 squats. I’m also not allowed to do many reps. If I don’t lift. I don’t play. I also do walk aerobics 3 - 5 times a week.

Dude! You’re doing more than me, even on factory equipment! Impressed. I lost a big chunk of shoulder muscle to cancer surgery in 2019, but the outcome was positive so I count it a good thing. Been building back since, so I really admire your effort!

 

[AP515]

Carnivore diet and rucking a little more every week. Getting my stamina up for rucking a couple miles.

 

[WEDGE]

Round is a shape……

 

[SinSir]

Being in shape is easy, be mindful of what you take in and be active..no secret or fad needed. It really is that simple. Be active.

If you eat right and go out an do stuff weight management isn't an issue for those that don't have a preexisting condition. The more exercise you do helps and it can be as simple as more walking.