Fitness Thread

[Hoosier]

Do you guys have a routine/activities that you do and if so, what?

I lift weights a few days per week and try to get a good amount of walking in on most days of the week.  Sometimes I'll run a little bit here and there, but not very much.  

I tweaked my wrist about a month ago.  Not sure how as there wasn't an acute "oh crap" moment, but it was either the weights or while working outside.  Had enough discomfort that it forced me to change my lifting routine to lighter weights and less sets, but I really tried to dial in technique to perfection and do slow eccentrics (like 5 seconds down) to be at/very close to failure in the 10-12 rep range on every set, with some rest-pause sets tacked on.  Been doing significantly less sets per muscle group per week compared to what I had been doing, but have actually gained a little bit of muscle in that time.  This has been a revelation as I was just hoping to hold onto muscle and totally wasn't expecting to gain anything as I just turned 41 and am a seasoned lifter.  The wrist feels totally healed but I think I'm going to ride out this kind of routine until progress stalls.  As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Deweydog]

I have always been a long distance runner, but the last seven weeks I’ve been doing a ridiculous amount of landscaping/hardscaping. It has made me feel like I’m carved out of wood and I’ve lost about 15 pounds. Probably the best shape I’ve been in for ~20 years and it served to rehab (probably not wisely) a shoulder injury I suffered in May. An injury I thought would shut me down for a couple months. Weird how things work out sometimes. And the funny thing is, I haven’t been running at all. Probably the longest I’ve gone since I started when I was 13.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

I try to get around as much as possible by bicycle (which, given that I live in a pretty bicycle-friendly place, means almost exclusively by bicycle). I really could benefit from some weight training to improve my upper body strength.

[Black Hole]

Lots of walks with my family that aren't usually overly rigorous. I'll run once in a while. I do some basketball once a week and that is helping to get me into some semblance of shape. 

[Hoosier]

19 hours ago, Rubus Leucodermis said:

I try to get around as much as possible by bicycle (which, given that I live in a pretty bicycle-friendly place, means almost exclusively by bicycle). I really could benefit from some weight training to improve my upper body strength.

Don't know how old you are, but it's especially useful to have some muscle as one gets older.  Obviously the aesthetics is one reason why some people like to have muscle, but there are a range of benefits including better strength, stronger bones and better metabolic health.  

Now that I'm in my 40s, I've really noticed the chasm between people my age who take care of themselves vs those who don't.  It was noticeable even 10 years ago, but the gap just gets wider over time.  

[SnarkyGoblin]

6 hours ago, Hoosier said:

Don't know how old you are, but it's especially useful to have some muscle as one gets older.  Obviously the aesthetics is one reason why some people like to have muscle, but there are a range of benefits including better strength, stronger bones and better metabolic health.  

Now that I'm in my 40s, I've really noticed the chasm between people my age who take care of themselves vs those who don't.  It was noticeable even 10 years ago, but the gap just gets wider over time.  

God D**n I need to start working out again.  That's something you don't realize until it just happens.  

Hoping having a house with my own yard will motivate me to work outside. God knows I'm a cheapskate and will not want to pay for all that labor.

@Deweydogdid you have someone come out for outdoor design advice or are you pretty artistic yourself?

[Deweydog]

13 minutes ago, SnarkyGoblin said:

God D**n I need to start working out again.  That's something you don't realize until it just happens.  

Hoping having a house with my own yard will motivate me to work outside. God knows I'm a cheapskate and will not want to pay for all that labor.

@Deweydogdid you have someone come out for outdoor design advice or are you pretty artistic yourself?

I have a tendency to be pretty impulsive when it comes to landscape design. I get a thought in my head and it will consume me until I put the plan in motion, which means I’ll pour every spare moment into it until it’s done. I rarely put anything on paper and at most will mark footprints with spray paint. Hardscape is definitely my thing as my wife does most of the planting planning.

The only exception to the off-the-cuff approach was the big retaining wall last month. I got the plans from our builders’ landscape contractor. They gave us a quote to do it for us which was sky high, but they were at least nice enough to give me the plans and I followed them pretty much to a T seeing as though you don’t want to mess up a wall.  

[Thermal Trough]

On 7/27/2024 at 6:18 PM, Hoosier said:

Do you guys have a routine/activities that you do and if so, what?

I lift weights a few days per week and try to get a good amount of walking in on most days of the week.  Sometimes I'll run a little bit here and there, but not very much.  

I tweaked my wrist about a month ago.  Not sure how as there wasn't an acute "oh crap" moment, but it was either the weights or while working outside.  Had enough discomfort that it forced me to change my lifting routine to lighter weights and less sets, but I really tried to dial in technique to perfection and do slow eccentrics (like 5 seconds down) to be at/very close to failure in the 10-12 rep range on every set, with some rest-pause sets tacked on.  Been doing significantly less sets per muscle group per week compared to what I had been doing, but have actually gained a little bit of muscle in that time.  This has been a revelation as I was just hoping to hold onto muscle and totally wasn't expecting to gain anything as I just turned 41 and am a seasoned lifter.  The wrist feels totally healed but I think I'm going to ride out this kind of routine until progress stalls.  As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I work out around an hour each day. 3x a week I’ll focus on resistance training. 2x a week I’ll do HIIT and 1x a week I’ll do some cardio like jogging or biking. I reserve another day just to rest or go for a long walk/hike. What are your fitness goals? Do you want to lose fat, gain muscle or both?

[Andie]

As likely the oldest active member and retired I’ll leave it at that.   
I taught martial arts in my younger years. Fitness not only made me physically strong, but mentally resilient.  
Eat smart, and stay fit. The pay off is huge.  Men, watch your heart health and back off from red meat. Just less if you can’t quit it. More vedge/ preferably organic. 
Now I battle arthritis instead.  Mobility is an everyday challenge, pain my motivator.  
I have a stationary bike that keeps things in fair shape. I used to bike 25 miles 2x/ wk.  Not any more. 
Keep your muscle mass in a healthy zone, but don’t ignore your aerobic health.  It pays off in huge bonuses (heart and mind). 
You’re worth the effort.

 

 

[Hoosier]

On 8/13/2024 at 10:04 PM, Thermal Trough said:

I work out around an hour each day. 3x a week I’ll focus on resistance training. 2x a week I’ll do HIIT and 1x a week I’ll do some cardio like jogging or biking. I reserve another day just to rest or go for a long walk/hike. What are your fitness goals? Do you want to lose fat, gain muscle or both?

Sorry I've been neglecting this thread.

More often that not, it's try to gain muscle.  But I just started a fat loss phase because I've been creeping up a little too much.  Will probably run that for 4-6 weeks or so.  

[Hoosier]

2 hours ago, Andie said:

As likely the oldest active member and retired I’ll leave it at that.   
I taught martial arts in my younger years. Fitness not only made me physically strong, but mentally resilient.  
Eat smart, and stay fit. The pay off is huge.  Men, watch your heart health and back off from red meat. Just less if you can’t quit it. More vedge/ preferably organic. 
Now I battle arthritis instead.  Mobility is an everyday challenge, pain my motivator.  
I have a stationary bike that keeps things in fair shape. I used to bike 25 miles 2x/ wk.  Not any more. 
Keep your muscle mass in a healthy zone, but don’t ignore your aerobic health.  It pays off in huge bonuses (heart and mind). 
You’re worth the effort.

 

 

I am appreciating the bolded more and more as the years go by.  Also, I start to notice a change in mood even if I take a week or two off.