Tag: fitness

Fitness 8/23/2024

I was initially considering not working out today. I have a medical appointment this morning and had to go to the store prior to that. However, I was able to get a 48 minute workout in. Today was pull day. I wasn’t able to take pre-workout and eat or drink anything because of my medical appointment.

I have grown to require myself to workout every day. I do take a rest day on the weekend typically. Fitness is part of my life and has been for a long time. Not sure if I am addicted to it but at the same time I don’t feel as good without doing it.

Each week I do 3 strength training workouts and 3 cardio based workouts. Monday is push day, Tuesday is run, Wednesday is Leg day, Thursday is run, Friday is Pull day, and Saturday is a run. In upcoming blog posts I will describe my workouts in detail and also variations where I alter my routine in various ways.

Fitness has been a staple for me and continues to help both my mental and physical fitness. I don’t do it to impress anyone or compete with anyone. I do it for health. I will continue to exercise on in my 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s if I am fortunate enough to live that long. Until next time, have a great day everyone!

Fitness 8/22/2024

My legs are really sore today. Yesterday was leg day and I have been working on getting deeper in my squats. I have always struggled with flexibility and for a long time worked on getting my butt down to the bench. For the past month or so I have removed the bench and have been focusing on getting deeper. AAfter a series of hip work with bands, I do some warm ups without weights focusing on getting deep in the squat. 

A few weeks ago when I started this I did 95 lbs and max 135 lbs deep. Today I did a progression of 135, 185, 225. I did 3 sets at 225 of 3 reps each trying to go as deep as possible. I noticed that my hamstrings are very sore and I think this is a big reason. That is very good.

I ran today and it was a struggle with sore legs. I only did a little over 2 miles and then some stretching. Of course I ended with 100 dumbbell tricep presses with 15 lbs on each dumbbell, 60 hammer curls with 15 pounds each dumbbell, and 77 sit ups over 2 minutes. My goal is to get 100 sit ups in 2 minutes. I am getting there. 

Overall not too bad today but I need to keep going after it. This is for my mental health as much as physical health. I have to try and stay positive on the day, especially when interacting with other people. Focus and let’s go!

Fitness 8/21/2024

I have been exercising consistently for many years. I am former military and completed almost 21 years of Naval Service about 20 years ago. I am 60 years old now. I have been fairly consistent in exercising my entire adult life. There have been times where I didn’t exercise as consistently but still managed to get a workout in here or there. There have been times when I have been injured or sick for short periods but still managed to do something.

I could not imagine my life without fitness. For me, it is as much about mental therapy as it is physical fitness. Ever since I was young I have struggled with anxiety. I didn’t really know that at the time but as I have grown to know more about myself and I have learned much more about it since then. Fitness is one of the main ways I keep my mental fitness in check.

Getting up early and “getting after it” is something I need to do. Very often I do not want to. I have to get in the right state of mind, wake up, take some pre-workout, psych myself up and really encourage myself mentally to go out to the gym and get started. It’s one of the reasons I put a gym in my garage. It makes it easy for me. At periods in my life I have gone to a gym on base or even in town like the YMCA, I also attended a Crossfit box for about a year. I have learned that having a gym at home for me is what is needed. 

I don’t really need or even want to workout in a community setting. That’s what I learned about going to Crossfit. Some people need that and want that. It’s not for me. Perhaps it’s because I am an introvert. Perhaps it’s because in the morning I absolutely do not feel like interacting with other people. I need to go and get my aggression out, work through it by myself, and accomplish something from an internal place in my soul. I do not want or need external motivation. I know that for a lot of people, this is what they need to stay with it. I am the exact opposite.

Anyway, I will continue to write about my fitness journey, share some of the routines I do and how it works for me. Maybe someone else will find it useful, maybe not. I do know that each person must find what works for them for both their mental and physical health. Until next time, have a happy day.