something like an intro
Mar. 6th, 2011 05:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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exercise_every_dayHowdy all -- I've been commenting on the daily posts almost regularly, so I thought I'd say hello and introduce myself.
Before the cut tag, let me say I really like this comm because it is so damn positive. People post here with triumphs and personal goals, with question about things, with useful information. Posts here tend to be about people who are working, taking action, doing things to make themselves happier. I really like that. Thanks, everybody.
I'm thirty-eight, and have never in my life been what could be termed active. But until about three years ago I always had the fitness to do the things in my life that I enjoyed. I weighed then about 330 pounds, but that didn't prevent me from participating in my life. About three years ago that started changing. My fitness was gradually declining and I could TELL. So about fifteen months ago my partner and I signed up for a family membership at the Y. This particular Y has a great kids' play area and good childcare, and we signed the kids up for swim lessons anyway. So it's a family investment, the Y.
I started out being able to stationary row for about three minutes and could recumbent bike for about ten. I could do five ab crunches. I could benchpress 40 pounds and lat pull 60. I could squat myself, with no extra weight, if I held onto something for balance and to pull back up.
We go to the Y three days a week. In addition I work out on the recumbent bike in our basement once a week, and two week ago I started the Shovelglove program at home twice a week.
As of now I can row 25 minutes, bike 30 or more, and can do this blasted machine called an arc trainer for ten. I do intervals on all of these. I can now lat pull 105 pounds in sets of 10, can shoulder press 45 pounds and can bench 65. I can squat with the 45 pounds barbell in sets of ten. I can do between 20-45 crunches straight through, or up to 100 in smaller sets, depending on what else I've done in a given exercise set.
I am so damn proud of this.
In the last year and a half I have also quit a four-can-of-Monster-a-day caffeine habit. These days it's a couple cups of decaf or green or white tea per day, no soda at all. I've quit almost all processed junk food. I figured out I'm lactose intolerant and have largely quit cheese and dairy. I need to eat low-salt, and have cut MOST salt out of my diet, except for bread products. I am learning to cook. I eat 2-10 serving of fresh fruits and vegetables a day. All of this has meant I am no longer on Prilosec for my stomach every day, but am now taking it as-needed, which isn't very often.
I am damn proud of this.
I want it noted, because this sort of thing get erased or ignored too often in discussions of health and fitness -- I still weigh 330 pounds. Weight loss was never my goal. Greater range of physical accomplishment was and is my goal.
My goals for the future? By January of 2012 I want to: Do a Turkish Get-Up. Get to 100 crunches straight. Do ten minutes on a stairmaster. Get from 4000 meters in 26 minutes rowing to 5000 meters in 25 minutes. Lat pull 130 pounds. Shoulder press 60. Bench 80.
As I said, this comm is really great. It's a place where it's okay to natter on about working out, and I appreciate that. Thanks again!
Before the cut tag, let me say I really like this comm because it is so damn positive. People post here with triumphs and personal goals, with question about things, with useful information. Posts here tend to be about people who are working, taking action, doing things to make themselves happier. I really like that. Thanks, everybody.
I'm thirty-eight, and have never in my life been what could be termed active. But until about three years ago I always had the fitness to do the things in my life that I enjoyed. I weighed then about 330 pounds, but that didn't prevent me from participating in my life. About three years ago that started changing. My fitness was gradually declining and I could TELL. So about fifteen months ago my partner and I signed up for a family membership at the Y. This particular Y has a great kids' play area and good childcare, and we signed the kids up for swim lessons anyway. So it's a family investment, the Y.
I started out being able to stationary row for about three minutes and could recumbent bike for about ten. I could do five ab crunches. I could benchpress 40 pounds and lat pull 60. I could squat myself, with no extra weight, if I held onto something for balance and to pull back up.
We go to the Y three days a week. In addition I work out on the recumbent bike in our basement once a week, and two week ago I started the Shovelglove program at home twice a week.
As of now I can row 25 minutes, bike 30 or more, and can do this blasted machine called an arc trainer for ten. I do intervals on all of these. I can now lat pull 105 pounds in sets of 10, can shoulder press 45 pounds and can bench 65. I can squat with the 45 pounds barbell in sets of ten. I can do between 20-45 crunches straight through, or up to 100 in smaller sets, depending on what else I've done in a given exercise set.
I am so damn proud of this.
In the last year and a half I have also quit a four-can-of-Monster-a-day caffeine habit. These days it's a couple cups of decaf or green or white tea per day, no soda at all. I've quit almost all processed junk food. I figured out I'm lactose intolerant and have largely quit cheese and dairy. I need to eat low-salt, and have cut MOST salt out of my diet, except for bread products. I am learning to cook. I eat 2-10 serving of fresh fruits and vegetables a day. All of this has meant I am no longer on Prilosec for my stomach every day, but am now taking it as-needed, which isn't very often.
I am damn proud of this.
I want it noted, because this sort of thing get erased or ignored too often in discussions of health and fitness -- I still weigh 330 pounds. Weight loss was never my goal. Greater range of physical accomplishment was and is my goal.
My goals for the future? By January of 2012 I want to: Do a Turkish Get-Up. Get to 100 crunches straight. Do ten minutes on a stairmaster. Get from 4000 meters in 26 minutes rowing to 5000 meters in 25 minutes. Lat pull 130 pounds. Shoulder press 60. Bench 80.
As I said, this comm is really great. It's a place where it's okay to natter on about working out, and I appreciate that. Thanks again!
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 01:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 02:12 am (UTC)And thanks for your contributions to the positive feeling at this community!
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 03:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 08:54 am (UTC)One thing I would say, if you're open to suggestions: a lot of strength experts seem to be shifting to the opinion that crunches aren't all they're cracked up to be -- they can put a lot of stress on the lower back while only improving one limited aspect of core strength. So (unless they're something you actually enjoy) it might be worth mixing them up with some other core exercises, rather than just aiming to add to the number.
But my personal biases may be showing here. *g*
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 01:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 02:17 pm (UTC)This is a topic I am fond of (owing to my deep and profound loathing for crunches, sit-ups, and everything else of that ilk -- I mentioned my bias, right? *g*).
First off, plank (on hands and on elbows):
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/470
http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm
Your goal is to build up the amount of time you can hold it for, ultimately getting up to 2 or 3 minutes. It's fantastic for building your body's ability to stabilize your spine and hold it in a neutral position under duress.
Side plank does the same thing for your obliques:
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/783 (again, you can do it on your hand or your elbow)
If you're getting confident with those, start adding variations: this link has a video with 20 different plank variations. And this one has some more. If you've got an exercise ball or wobble board, putting your hands or feet on it adds an extra element of instability to fight.
In the yoga vein, navasana will kill your abs:
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/489
Turkish get-ups will work your abs along with everything else, but while you're working towards the TGU, windmills have a lovely revolved core element, as well as developing flexibility.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 03:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 06:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 06:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-08 04:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 10:50 am (UTC)My fitness was gradually declining and I could TELL YES!!! I'm the same age and noticed that as well. It used to be so easy getting back in shape for a hike or pilates class after long time off (let's say half a year or so). Then suddenly, that was not possible - and it wasn't the aches afterwards - it was nearly damn impossible to do it at all. Noone prepares you for this.
So, go you!!! *g*
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 01:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 06:50 pm (UTC)