All this talk about weight is also on my mind. I hurt my legs back in August while mountain biking. And I re-injured them again in January. I just got back on the bike and have started slowly. I'm 56 going on 57 in a couple weeks and have no interest in dropping dead while riding up one of the several hill climbs in my area. So I've been doing a 9 mile loop approximately every other day. Starting to feel stronger but not strong enough to do two loops, especially in this heat. When I was really riding often I was able to do just over 30 miles with some serious hill climbs throughout the ride. It would take me about 2 1/2 hours to do the 30 miles. I wasn't setting any records but given the climbs I thought somewhat respectable. It's definitely demoralizing that I am stuck on the 9 mile loop that takes me about an hour but am sticking to it. After the accidents I packed on the pounds such that I am now at 220 lbs. I should be at 175 to 180 lbs. So, I have some work ahead of me. I no longer have any excuse. If I can drop the weight I may be able to drop the blood pressure meds, and maybe even the cholesterol med. I hope to keep riding until it gets into the 50's, or maybe the 40's. And if I can get into decent shape, I'd like to hop back on the mountain bike again and see if I can conquer the trail that threw me over the handlebars. But I won't do it unless I know I'm ready. Getting hurt sucks.
I'm toying with the idea of joining a massage "club"(or whatever they call it). There's one real close to me. I'd better check with my doctor though first...I've no doubt reached that time in my life where the doc's opinion counts the most.
Well fellas.....neurologist has cleared me to return to the gym . Might go Saturday....easy does it at first, would probably stick to aerobics(stat. bike and treadmill.). Neuro did say to drink a lot of water, but I'm doing that as it is.Gonna bring a wet rag and my Golden, CO water bottle first few times.
Charlie, what terrific news! Almost 75 pounds lost in a year is just incredible. Well done! You are an inspiration for many on here and elsewhere.
Morning exercise question...... We moved and are getting things setup, including our treadmill. We have a good spot for it now and can actually use it. I've contemplated trying some exercise in the early mornings before work. This would probably be around 5:00am. My main questions are logistical, for muscles and the body. I've read that morning exercise is great but you have to feed your body some protein very soon after the exercise. I know very little about that kind of thing. Anyone exercise early in the morning, and if so, what are your recommendations for eating, stretching, etc. Any advice is helpful!
Regardless of when you work out, you have to help the body recover after a workout. For weights, protein is important because lifting weights causes slight tears in the muscle which need protein to repair. This process helps build muscle. After a cardio workout, depending upon the intensity of the workout, you absolutely need to replenish fluids and electrolytes that are lost from sweating during a cardio workout. And a little protein can also help. I'm not a trainer or physical therapist but this is what I've been told by everyone I've spoken to who I have trained with and respect. So, if you exert yourself, you have to help your body recover. If you run on the treadmill in the morning, drink some Gatorade or other drink that will replace lost electrolytes and then have your normal breakfast. Otherwise you may find yourself dragging long before lunchtime and throughout the day.
Thanks! That certainly makes sense. I would probably use a 20-30 minute cardio session a few times a week. Or, at least I'd like to try it.
One way to "feed it" is to drink "G Zero" right afterwards-it's Gatorade with out the sugar. I'm not claiming that I exercise at 5 AM, but I do find my Saturday workouts are better than those Monday and Wednesday, as on Saturday, I go in the morning. As for stretching, that's pretty major before an exercise routine. Wprking the hamstrings and doing a set of leg lifts set me up well for the treadmill. I think I'm beginning to ramble, but I hope my comments help some.
You're welcome, Perry. In fact tomorrow morning, I'm going back after being away for 3 weeks because of the syncope attack. Neurologist says it's OK. Easy does it the first few times, though. In fact, now that I brought up the "G Zero" I would love to find some "mini-bottles" of it for the gym. (Oh I see you noticed when I said that a few posts back).
Back from the Gym...even with a brief workout I feel tired. I am quite out of shape. Gonna take a few trips to get me back IN shape. This will be a GRADUAL process-getting back to the normal workout. But, I'm glad I went today.
It is the small steps that get you to where you want to be. Each time you decide to go to the gym will be another small victory to be celebrated. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
The next big thing on my Health list is to find a new neurologist. At my appointment last week, he said he is winding down his practice.,I actually had been thinking about a new one anyway-closer to me, and especially IN MY NETWORK. Unknown to me, he left my network at the beginning of the year.
If for weight loss: I'd do a low carb protein shake and a capsule or three of cayenne extract ten minutes after completion. Cayenne speeds metabolism. Do not eat beforehand, especially carbs. The issue you'll face is evening hunger. A daily eating window of 12+ hours makes it harder to get your metabolism into starvation (burn fat mode). This is where carbs mess people up. You'll need to calculate energy burned versus expended and be sure to cause a deficit. The bulk of your food (by mass) should be shifted towards fiber and protein. Limiting carbs to starches will help maintain stable blood sugar and give you consistent energy. Moderated use of natural caffeine before and after workouts is also beneficial to many. Also, in the morning, the lactic acid crystals produced by exercises will make you feel sluggish and heavy. Strict hydration routines will be needed to help your muscles clear the offending chemistry.
Watching people win makes me smile. Don't get too caught up in the numbers now. Water weighs a pound per pint. Simple hydration level will give you +/-2.5 lbs, and this is also affected by salt intake, etc.
