Fitness motivation and goals!

So I'll be honest, I've done terribly thr past month. Wife and I had our 4th on February 1st, and thr way the hospital rules were, we were being really cautious to not catch cooties before going in. Otherwise, I couldn't be in the room! We've been putting in a pool in the backyard and just finished a couple weeks ago for the most part. Then to make it worse, its been stupid cold for us Cajuns in the south. So it's tough to go outside to run/work out during all that. Hoping in the near future I can get back in my routine of running and working out. I've put on about 10 lbs in the past 4-6 weeks and I feel it unfortunately. Just typical of what happens when we have our kids. We both get caught up taking care of the kids and don't get to focus much on ourselves.

 

Congratulations!!

 

Haha, I've known a few people who pushed it too hard and regretted it. I'm the type that would do something like that too but have learned as much and really work at training appropriately.

In my 20s I should have done more races but I was having kids and getting a head start on my "dad bod". Now in my late 30s I'm getting back into running and competing (to get rid of dad bod). It's definitely gets harder with age.

 

Congrats!

I love running in the cold and will run/bike in the 20s regularly. Throw on a long sleeve and light hat and gloves and it's best time of year to train. Beats training in the heat!

I stopped training for about 10 years with young kids, so I hear ya.

 

Congrats - you'll get back in the groove.

 

I’ve been eating like straight garbage for the better part of a month. Had a vasectomy done and that just derailed me. Trying hard to get back on track.

 

That'll do it. I fluctuate with my eating habits quite a bit. I rediscovered cupcakes and donuts the last two weeks. I'm tired of them again so I'm back to eating right.

 

saw this had about 40% off today for those wanting a kettlebell

$149 BowFlex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell

https://smile.amazon.com/Bowflex-10...45465094&sprefix=bowflex+kettl,aps,146&sr=8-2

 

That's pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

Even on sale at Bestbuy now!

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/bowfle...able-kettlebell-black/6414639.p?skuId=6414639

 

sup guys. just checking in.
after about 4 months of no gym, i'm finally back in. the wife was out of work for 12 weeks with the baby and just went back today. about 4-6 weeks before she went out, things got hectic at work and couldn't break to go to the gym. now i'm back. going to start off just doing cardio to build up my stamina. i also got the few co-workers to go back to playin basketball one day a week during lunch. always a nice way to break it up and motivate each other to drive past the 15 fast food joints and go to the park under the pavillion. i got a golf tournament i was asked to play in this friday, so i need to build up stamina anyway. although drinkin michelobs on my lunch break at the gym is frowned upon by both work and the establishment.

 

Jogged 5-7 miles 4 days a week in my 20s. In my 30s kids and life happened and got a dad bod. Tried to get back on it in my 40s and just could not due to knee issues and life. I just walk 3 miles 4 days a week and dad bod is not disappearing but went from a size 40 to 36 pants..I’ll never see size 30 again but I’m ok with that lol

 

I lost a chunk of weight for a weight loss challenge. I went from 186 to 153 I think. Wife DID NOT like that look. Got to 165-170 of healthier weight and wife liked that a lot. At 36, wearing a size 30 wouldn't feel or look good. I'm heavier than i want at about 185, but trying to keep hitting gym to get rid of belly and lil extra chunk. But as a dad to 4 kids, I just want my stamina to stay there to be able to come home and play/interact with them and not want to just go lay down.
Keep at it man! Get to feeling healthy and that usually overcomes trying to look like you're at a prime state. Scale isn't anything but a reference for me personally

 

Oh those wives. I spent my late teens and most of my 20s bodybuilding, then got married just before 30. While I continued to train (although nowhere near the same level), I put on some inches on my waist. I got back into it in my late 30s, cut back on the Doritos, and got that "V taper" back. SHE HATED IT lol. Doritos went back on the menu.

 

My main motivation is my back pain.
If I don’t exercise, it becomes worse and bothers me all the time. And if I do, then I am much better. I exercised because my doctor told me this was the only sure way to help me and that medication could not help in this case.
And I believe him because it works, and I am the owner of my own body. I take some supplements like peptides from Buy Peptides to improve my results and maintain the level I have achieved. But that’s not the most important and what is important is perseverance. If you do what you do every day, you will gradually become better and better.

 

I've always believed exercise (and a good diet) is the best medicine, as long as you're able to do it.

Keep it up!

 

I took a year off from the gym during the shut down, enjoyed it other than the increased back pain. Back in the gym for little over a year other than 6 weeks off due to illness. Progress so far up to last week, on target to be 167 lbs. this week. Have to get to 165 lbs. before the stupid scale quits calling me obese. Back pain is completely manageable, only minor discomfort that is inevitable.

 

Fitness motivation is to be more active, manage current injuries, and prevent any new ailments.



Hiked up wiliwilinui ridge trail in hawaii hot humid but was well worth it at the top.

 

I'm just now getting back into it myself heavily. I won't say I took time off from exercising completely - in fact, I've lost about 45# - but I took time off from heavy lifting, and concentrated just on calisthenics, cardio, mostly bodyweight HIIT and the like.

Current weight is 230#, although at my absolute *best* shape in the military I was 190# and something like 12% bodyfat, so as a 46 year old man, if I can make it to 210-215 I'll be happy as hell. Main goal, however, is simply to build up stamina, feel good, and stay healthy as I can.

For now I'll continue to do the workout stuff I do above, although I'll throw in heavy workouts 2-3x a week (am looking at the StrongLifts 5x5 program).

 

I've incorporated some of the 5x5 concepts into my routine. I've lifted pretty much all my life since my teens, but I'm finding getting older even if I can still train somewhat heavy, recovery takes longer. The hardest thing for me though is being that I trained on a 2-day split for so long, it's hard for me to not push myself since my muscles still feel like they can can keep going during the workout. I gotta get that "one more set/exercise" mentality out of my system.

 

I did the 5x5 for a while but I get bored easily. I recently completed the M.A.X. Muscle Plan 2.0 and enjoyed the mix and variety of exercises.

$21 The M.A.X. Muscle Plan 2.0

https://www.amazon.com/M-X-Muscle-P...85743&sprefix=max+workout+book,aps,111&sr=8-1

 

Just a quick comment for those looking for a fun way to do HIIT... If you live in an area with good hills/mountains, mountain biking not only has nice High Intensity Intervals, but it is also FUN!!

Unlike road bikes, MTB really forces you into periods of HII's since the pitch of the trail is so varied. Out here in SoCal (or anywhere west of the Rockies or along the Appalachian range), we have sections on the trails with nick-names suck as "The 3 B's" or "Puke Hill". As their names suggest, these are short sections about 2-5 minutes long where you have to give 100% to clean them, followed by a minute or two of recovery before the next steep section. There is no way to cheat on them or cut them a little short (unless you get off and walk). Plus, they totally mix up the interval strength/time so it isn't the same thing over and over. Add in some chunky rock sections and you are going to throw some little power moves into the mix. With trails that take over an hour to ride (bottom to top) with all kinds of HI sections throughout, you get a killer workout.

When you are ready to go back down the hill, if you are riding it fast/aggressive enough, you get some strength moves in there as well. The one DH trail I ride on a consistent basis probably has the equivalent of 20-30 squats (hard hits and G-outs) that push 2.5 G's and an equal number of push-up maneuvers (to keep your grill from slamming into the bars) and a "row" motion to lift the bars up to your chest for hopping over logs/rocks.

My wife always assumes that going DOWN the trail is zero effort, but if you are charging it, then a 5 min downhill can leave you gasping for air by the bottom.

So really, if I had to summarize, all I'd say is that there are FUN ways to get in fabulous workouts and when you can make your workout FUN, you are more likely to stick with it!!

 

Yep, this is my cardio. I've been mountain biking since the 90s, but I don't ride too intense anymore as I can't suck down the calories like I did when I was younger, which would otherwise be a mass killer. I like to maintain what muscle I have left after years of sweat I put into my workouts, being that age alone is also already a factor.

Speaking of SoCal, Greer Ranch is up the street from me. My favorite place to ride, although I don't hit the heavier trails anymore. I'm happy with flowy stuff these days and tend to be more on Jumping Mouse.

Edit: Evidently I edited out the blurb I had about MTB as a workout routine. I can attest to what @DividedSky mentioned as even for all the years I'd spent lifting weights - and I used to life pretty heavy - mountain biking would STILL leave me sore at times. Granted I'm using my muscles differently on a mountain bike than in the the gym, but there have very few activities over the years that I could list that made me feel my muscles work hard outside of the gym, and mountain biking is easily at the top.

 

I rode Greer for teh first time last winter and it was a pretty sweet place. I'm over on the OC side of the "hill" so summer temps aren't quite as brutal.

 

Well speaking of OC , I was in Laguna over the weekend, and I always see riders on that 133 canyon drive just passed El Toro Rd leading up to Laguna. I've been wanting to scope it out, but I haven't gotten around to it. The wife pointed out the entrance to me so we were talking about bringing our bikes next time. I still haven't checked any trail maps, but I'd venture to guess there aren't any lighter trails there, especially for her. But I still plan to scope it out soon.

As for the heat, it's all about late afternoon riding here for me during the summer. Less people on the trails, too.

 

You all are gonna have to speak up. It's hard to hear you over the helicopter engine.

 

There are some "light" trails out there if you want...
As you drive into LB, on your left is Laguna Wilderness which connects to El Moro Canyon. There are some fairly scenic fire-roads that overlook the ocean up there. FenceLine and Missing Link are decent singletracks as well. On the right is Aliso and Wood Canyon park. Coyote is pretty tame over there.
Check out TrailForks... they have all the goods on what to ride. Overall though, YES... there are some trails there that easily compare to or exceed the toughest Greer has to offer.

 

Cool, thanks for the tip! Fire roads with a view would be right up her alley, but honestly I can appreciate that kind of thing more these days, too. Like for example, the last few times we rode the 22-mile gravel trail at Diamond Valley Lake Loop, I actually had as much fun as I do on single-track (I think it's an age thing ). The views help too, of course.

Yeah I use Trailforks, but I just haven't used it yet to check out the Laguna area.

 

There was a discrepancy from when I did this (twice as many). A pull up in their terms means I have to pull my body up and not pull the chopper down.