Health and Fitness Thread

[snubbyfan]

I'm glad we ignored the weather report for today. It was supposed to be a rainy stormy day but it turned out to be warm and sunny. Kinda muggy but that's fine with me.
We went for a hike for a coupla hours and had the trail pretty much to ourselves. After we got home I fired up the grill and an Arturo Fuente Curlyhead Deluxe cigar. I added some hickory chunks to the coals to get a bit of smoke going.
I cooked a coupla mahi mahi steaks and asparagus with olive oil and mango habanero spices.
It was a delicious way to get our protein.
Gonna be an interesting day tomorrow, we're gonna do both kickboxing and spin class.
I've never done kickboxing before and don't know how I'll do but my wife likes it.

[Onomea]

Snubby, I am still trying to wrap my head around your 94 push ups in one minute...

There's push ups and there's push ups, of course. But if that bobbing style in the youtube video is what the form is, and if that is what you were doing, maybe you oughta go for the current record. Document your attempt and go down in history!

(Assuming your shoulder doesn't fall off, that is...)

For a self described gimpy Indian, very impressive, Snubby.

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by Onomea

Snubby, I am still trying to wrap my head around your 94 push ups in one minute...

There's push ups and there's push ups, of course. But if that bobbing style in the youtube video is what the form is, and if that is what you were doing, maybe you oughta go for the current record. Document your attempt and go down in history!

(Assuming your shoulder doesn't fall off, that is...)

For a self described gimpy Indian, very impressive, Snubby.

Upper arms at least parallel with the floor.
Kinda blew my mind when I found out that I was within 2 reps of setting a new record.
Longest minute ever!
My shoulder's an old injury from my rock climbing days. It's getting better, just gotta take it easy for a while.
I've got another fitness assessment coming up in September, we'll see how I do then.

By the way, I have been officially, legally declared as a "useless cripple" by the state of West Virginia after 3 years of evaluation.
Who am I to contradict a state government?

[snubbyfan]

I know that everybody that goes to the gym has their own thing. Be it power lifting, bodybuilding, cardio, improving their health and fitness, a combination of all of the above or just socializing.
My goal started out as just trying to battle against a debilitating degenerative peripheral motor nerve condition by improving my level of health and fitness but I think it may have kinda slipped into bodybuilding. That's fine as long as I don't do something that may end up being a setback.
At first I didn't understand "ego lifting." Trying to lift way too much weight with bad form and half to quarter reps but if if makes a person feel good and improves their self esteem, then it kinda makes it worth their while.
It also helps me show my wife how not to do something....
Anyway, since we won't be able to make it to spin tomorrow, after our workout, we got a coupla spin bikes, listened to a spin mix our old spin instructor at the Y burned for us and did our own thing. Since I basically killed my legs on my workout, I just put my bike on "15" and kept a steady pace, my wife killed it though.

[Catwrangler]

Our condo dev. Has a median dividing entrance and exit. They both pass the local YMCA. Makes no difference whether I inbound or outbound, the endorphin addled gym rats will pull out in front of you. Granted I might be doing about 20 mph, but the temtation to t-bone them is only tempered by the fact that Fl. Is a no fault state. Meaning I get to fight my own Ins. Co. Da** lobbists.

[snubbyfan]

Really good day at the gym today. I've gained a few pounds lately and I think I found out why.
On today's workout I increased my workout weights while keeping the same amount of sets and reps, kinda.
I also started something today that I recently heard about as a way to increase workout volume. After I do my 10 to 12 reps to failure, I'll rest for about 10 seconds and grunt out a few more reps. I've been doing this for every set on most of my exercises. We'll see where that gets me.
I felt really good lifting today.
My wife did the kickboxing class and had a great time.
We both did spin class. It was fun and energetic with an awesome music mix.
A fellow gym regular commented that I've added some bulk. It's nice to get a comment that somebody noticed.
After today, I definitely gotta make sure to get my protein.

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by Catwrangler

Our condo dev. Has a median dividing entrance and exit. They both pass the local YMCA. Makes no difference whether I inbound or outbound, the endorphin addled gym rats will pull out in front of you. Granted I might be doing about 20 mph, but the temtation to t-bone them is only tempered by the fact that Fl. Is a no fault state. Meaning I get to fight my own Ins. Co. Da** lobbists.

If they have that much energy leaving the gym, they're not doing it right.
After two hours of lifting and one hour of spin class, I'm done for the day and probably the next day as well.

[messmergreen]

That's the reason i prefer cycling. One our at gym is more than enough for me. My eating habits are quite good , i eat tons of fruits and veggies and minimum 200g proteins a day - https://bеtterme.world/articles/200-grams-of-protein-a-day-meal-plan/. In my opinion every person who does proper work outs should follow this guide.

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by messmergreen

That's the reason i prefer cycling. One our at gym is more than enough for me

Seems my workouts just keep getting longer. Fortunately, I enjoy 'em.

[snubbyfan]

Tweaked my back 'bout a week or so ago and I've been taking acetaminophen before activity and using ice packs afterwards.
That's what I did today, a 500mg acetaminophen tablet before we headed to the gym and right now, I'm sitting with my back against an ice pack.
I think I've got it figured out. When I exercise, I go for full range of movement so when I started doing leg presses on a regular basis, it was with lotsa range of movement. I think a bit too much. I was going too low and tilting my pelvis which was pulling on my back.
So I'm gonna stop that until my back gets better then maybe start again with less weight and not quite as deep.
At the gym today, I did try doing some goblet squats with a 25 pound dumbbell and it actually made my back feel a bit better.
After we got home and shortly after the storm, we went for a quick hike and my wife set a new all time record to the top of the ridge. Seems walking a few miles to warm up on the indoor track helped her before hitting the uphills.

[snubbyfan]

Good day for a hike today and we spent 'bout three hours wandering around on the local mountain ridge.
I was kinda surprised when we got to the parking area, I expected more vehicles.
Saturday's are usually the busiest most touristy times.
Anyway, one of the more remote trails we hit had lotsa spider webs. Apparently, there haven't been many people hiking there this summer.
After we got home, I cooked a coupla sirloin steaks for supper.
Tomorrow, we're planning on getting the bikes out and hitting the C&O Canal Towpath.
Supper's gonna be some home made bison stroganoff with high protein no yolk egg noodles.

[snubbyfan]

We had planned to get the bikes out today but it was such a warm sunny day we decided to go for another hike.
It got up to 96 sunny degrees and we hiked for 'bout two and a half hours.
Apparently, there are those out there that think that it's too hot for clothes. We keep seeing discarded clothing along the trail.
For supper, we fixed some bison stroganoff.
Getting our protein and carbs for the gym tomorrow.

[RudyN]

I now have a Nordictrack recumbent bike. It feels a lot different that any of my road bikes. However, I do like riding it in the evening. I usually ride it about 3-4 days a week and then I have 2-3 days of martial arts classes. It sure helps me keep in decent shape even at my age.

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by RudyN

I now have a Nordictrack recumbent bike. It feels a lot different that any of my road bikes. However, I do like riding it in the evening. I usually ride it about 3-4 days a week and then I have 2-3 days of martial arts classes. It sure helps me keep in decent shape even at my age.

Just gotta keep moving.

[ladder13]

Originally Posted by snubbyfan

Seems my workouts just keep getting longer. Fortunately, I enjoy 'em.

I’ve cut my workouts down since Covid scared the heck out of most of the guys I used to work out with stopped coming.
They are starting to trickle back.

One hour weights, 30-45 minutes cardio, be it elliptical, treadmill or spin cycle.

I’ll never stop. It’s a lifestyle I enjoy.

[JJEH]

Originally Posted by snubbyfan

Just gotta keep moving.

True statement.

My deadlift PR is now 404# but I feel my age too. I'll slow down and allow myself more time to progress, but we can't stop!!!

YouTube

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by ladder13

I’ve cut my workouts down since Covid scared the heck out of most of the guys I used to work out with stopped coming.
They are starting to trickle back.

One hour weights, 30-45 minutes cardio, be it elliptical, treadmill or spin cycle.

I’ll never stop. It’s a lifestyle I enjoy.

Lifestyle is a good way to put it.
I usually use the elliptical for just a few minutes as a warm up before one and a half to two hours of lifting.
Depending on the time of year and the weather, our cardio varies from hiking and biking the local mountain trails to spin class or using our own home spin bike and elliptical.

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by JJEH

True statement.

My deadlift PR is now 404# but I feel my age too. I'll slow down and allow myself more time to progress, but we can't stop!!!

New PR of 404lbs - YouTube

I've never done deadlifts, too scared of messing up my back. 404 pounds would probably twist me up like a pretzel.

[snubbyfan]

Today was a gym day. We got out early(ish) and had time for a really good workout.
Got home in time to fire up the grill, a Gran Habano Corojo #5 Maduro robusto cigar and cracked a cold beer.
I cooked some Mahi Mahi and asparagus in hickory smoke.
A yummy way for us to get our lean protein and green veggies.
Planning on finally getting the bikes out tomorrow. I'm gonna put the insulated trunk on Frankenbike and we're gonna pack a picnic meal.

[snubbyfan]

Three hour bike trip on the C&O Canal Towpath today. We started from our back yard and rode the connector trail to the towpath. Not sure how far we went but we got home in time to cook some chicken breast for our version of chicken Caesar salad. Tomorrow's supposed to be rainy and stormy but that's fine. I've got some leather work to get caught up on.
Gonna havta make sure to get my carbs and protein for the gym on Thursday.

[snubbyfan]

We had a bit of a mission on today's hike. It's been hot and humid all week and apparently there have been people that felt that it was too hot for clothes. We've been seeing shirts and shorts discarded along the trail.
Today we brought along a plastic bag to gather up the discarded clothing. We got them home, hosed the grit off and ran them through the washer and dryer.
They're good quality stuff and on Monday we're gonna donate them to Goodwill.
It was a beautiful day today and while it wasn't too hot for clothes it was a great day for a hike.

[oldbrownhat]

Originally Posted by snubbyfan

We had a bit of a mission on today's hike. It's been hot and humid all week and apparently there have been people that felt that it was too hot for clothes. We've been seeing shirts and shorts discarded along the trail.
Today we brought along a plastic bag to gather up the discarded clothing. We got them home, hosed the grit off and ran them through the washer and dryer.
They're good quality stuff and on Monday we're gonna donate them to Goodwill.
It was a beautiful day today and while it wasn't too hot for clothes it was a great day for a hike.

Yet another random act of kindness to help counter the bad stuff around us. (Where's the "applause" emoji when we need one?)

I wonder if there will be some semi-clothed people shopping at Goodwill. ("Hey... that looks like my shirt!")

[Kevin J.]

Originally Posted by snubbyfan

We had a bit of a mission on today's hike. It's been hot and humid all week and apparently there have been people that felt that it was too hot for clothes. We've been seeing shirts and shorts discarded along the trail.
Today we brought along a plastic bag to gather up the discarded clothing. We got them home, hosed the grit off and ran them through the washer and dryer.
They're good quality stuff and on Monday we're gonna donate them to Goodwill.
It was a beautiful day today and while it wasn't too hot for clothes it was a great day for a hike.

Gotta help out. Been doing the same along my normal walking/hiking route but rather than clothes it’s mostly empty water bottles. Best to pick them up as I go, especially as it’s around a lake.

[kmyers]

Originally Posted by snubbyfan

We had a bit of a mission on today's hike. It's been hot and humid all week and apparently there have been people that felt that it was too hot for clothes. We've been seeing shirts and shorts discarded along the trail.
Today we brought along a plastic bag to gather up the discarded clothing. We got them home, hosed the grit off and ran them through the washer and dryer.
They're good quality stuff and on Monday we're gonna donate them to Goodwill.
It was a beautiful day today and while it wasn't too hot for clothes it was a great day for a hike.

That is a double good thing. Getting exercise and helping out others.

[JJEH]

Originally Posted by snubbyfan

I've never done deadlifts, too scared of messing up my back. 404 pounds would probably twist me up like a pretzel.

I was scared too, but you just ease your way up. It's a great workout.

Be careful with that clothes stuff on the trail, I never understood why people would discard of their garments. Perhaps there's a mountain lion roaming around.... or a kidnapper?!

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by JJEH

I was scared too, but you just ease your way up. It's a great workout.

Be careful with that clothes stuff on the trail, I never understood why people would discard of their garments. Perhaps there's a mountain lion roaming around.... or a kidnapper?!

We have seen black bears before....

[snubbyfan]

New toys at they gym!
They took out one of the squat racks and put in a set of fixed weight ez curl bars.
There are still two squat racks and a Smith machine.
So far I'm liking the new ex curl bars and I'd like to figure out more ways to use them besides just doing curls.
Maybe seated presses?
Anyway, today I was feeling pretty good and it was one of those two hour workout days.
Tomorrow's looking good for grass cutting, chicken grilling, cigar smoking and beer drinking.
The set of ez curl bars look something like this.

[snubbyfan]

Yep, I'm gonna change things again. In the gym, I've decided to go for total workout volume.
I'm gonna keep my reps around 9-12, rest about 10 seconds then do a couple more.
My rest between sets is 3 to 4 minutes to allow for more reps without reducing weight.
The whole idea is to keep the rep, set and weight volume up.
Also, I'm switching from pull-ups to pull downs. I just feel I can control the reps better.
Still trying to add that lean bulk.
Since there's gonna be a beach themed spin class tomorrow, we skipped spin class today.
Tomorrow we're gonna warm up with a hike then off to the gym for a beach themed cycling glow class.

[snubbyfan]

We've decided to make tomorrow a rest and get some stuff done around the house day.
After a 2 hour workout including legs yesterday, a 2 hour hike and spin class today, I feel like we could use a bit of recovery time.
I've got beer, a cigar and pork chops on the grill planned for supper.

[snubbyfan]

Gonna Be gettin' my carbs this weekend. Grilled pork chops with rice and Brussels sprouts for supper and tomorrow it's supper at the Olive Garden.
I should be ready to go and get a great pump at the gym on Monday.

[JJEH]

Rest days are important! Enjoy your weekend.

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by JJEH

Rest days are important! Enjoy your weekend.

Yes they are and we did thank you.

[snubbyfan]

With all those carbs from over the weekend, I had a really good workout and got a great pump.
Today we planned on fish for supper and I usually do the cookin'. This time though, My wife offered to fix some baked flounder with asparagus.
It came out pretty good but she did overdo it a bit with the red pepper.
Tomorrow's looking good for a nice hike then some grilled chicken for supper.

[snubbyfan]

Since we spent the last coupla days camping in the woods, I didn't pay any attention to my carbs and protein, wasn't sure how today's gym visit would go.
Apparently, with all the relaxin' we did, it didn't matter. Today went grrreat!
Got a really good workout and an exceptional pump. Had those bicep veins all the way from my shoulder to my wrist.
Got my protein and carbs today and tomorrow, we're planning on a nice hike then bison tacos for supper.

[snubbyfan]

Beautiful weather for today's hike. Not sure how far we went but we got out kinda early and wandered around on the local mountain ridge for over three hours.
On a weekend day like today, I expected lotsa people but we mostly had the trail to ourselves.
When we got home we cooked some bison tacos. A yummy way to get our protein and carbs.
We're planning a rest day tomorrow with fish and asparagus on the grill, and a cigar and cold beer in our back yard.

[snubbyfan]

Really good day at the gym today. Felt great, had lotsa energy and I did lotsa extra reps and sets.
My workout ended up taking two and a half hours.
Tomorrow's supposed to be rainy with thunder storms. Good day to get some stuff done around the house.
On Wednesday, we're gonna do something for cardio. Supposed to have good weather then.

[Chubbo]

An extremely popular thread on this forum is the Health and Fitness Thread. It has currently, 178,221 views, and 3,385 replies.

At age 91+yrs, I’ve very little of value, that I can do for myself, or to contribute to others, except experience. Sadly, experience, today, isn’t worth a bellybutton full of cold dishwater.

The old age antidotes, found on this thread, are in great supply, but, none of ‘em work.

Few of us would let a favored pet, suffer with a painful, terminal ailment, and would have it euthanized. I don’t advocate human euthanasia.

There seems to be only one legal, ethical cure for old age, I.E., “death”. I guess that leaves but one reasonable option, just sit and wait.

Chubbo

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by Chubbo

An extremely popular thread on this forum is the Health and Fitness Thread. It has currently, 178,221 views, and 3,385 replies.

At age 91+yrs, I’ve very little of value, that I can do for myself, or to contribute to others, except experience. Sadly, experience, today, isn’t worth a bellybutton full of cold dishwater.

The old age antidotes, found on this thread, are in great supply, but, none of ‘em work.

Few of us would let a favored pet, suffer with a painful, terminal ailment, and would have it euthanized. I don’t advocate human euthanasia.

There seems to be only one legal, ethical cure for old age, I.E., “death”. I guess that leaves but one reasonable option, just sit and wait.

Chubbo

Most of the posts are mine but if my health and fitness journey helps anybody then it's a good thing.
I'm in a lifelong battle with a debilitating degenerative motor nerve condition which has made me, according to the state of West Virginia, a useless cripple and I've already outlived my Neurologists projection by nearly a decade.
I have great respect for my elders and value their experience and knowledge.
Hang in there.

[Chubbo]

Snubbyfan; I’ll hang in there, and you do the same. You have helped me and many others with your antidotes.

I feel that we share a bit of kinship, as I’m ¼ Native American, on the paternal side of my family, and being an ‘Injun’, I take pride in every puff. Please excuse my bad pun.

It's mind over matter, if you don't mind it don't matter.

Chubbo

[Old Arkansawyer]

Snubbyfan, my wife and I joined a gym back in Feb. this year. We try to go
Tues.&Thurs. if life doesn't get in the way. She likes the water exercises
and stationary bikes. I start with cardio, bike & elliptical followed byyour
an hour of weights, nothing heavy. We both have experienced improvement.
My dad bought me a set of weights for my 15th birthday and I have
lifted on and off since. My great nephew has those weights today.
I enjoy your post.

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by Old Arkansawyer

Snubbyfan, my wife and I joined a gym back in Feb. this year. We try to go
Tues.&Thurs. if life doesn't get in the way. She likes the water exercises
and stationary bikes. I start with cardio, bike & elliptical followed byyour
an hour of weights, nothing heavy. We both have experienced improvement.
My dad bought me a set of weights for my 15th birthday and I have
lifted on and off since. My great nephew has those weights today.
I enjoy your post.

We usually go on Monday and Thursday. Sometimes though we need to reschedule and have had to cancel for a week at a time before.
We have some home workout gear that we use when we can't make it to the gym including our own spin bike and elliptical.
I worked out on and off for pretty much my entire life.
Never really on a regular basis until 2015 when my wife and I joined the YMCA in Cumberland MD. In 2020 we joined a gym in West Virginia that's a wellness and physical rehabilitation center. They do quarterly fitness assessment so you can see if things area going the way you want them to.
I'll keep posting, helps to keep me honest.

[snubbyfan]

At the gym today, I fortunately felt pretty good because I had intended to beat myself up pretty good and give me something to heal from for the next four days.
I did my regular workout and some extra stuff.
While I was destroying muscle fibers, my wife was working up a sweat in kickboxing class.
We both went to spin class and had a great time.
I've been having an issue with my motor nerve condition and I can't push as hard in spin class as I want to. The issue is with my right ankle, just doesn't want to support my foot much. I can sit and spin fine but standing on the pedals has become difficult and hovering a bit more challenging.
Still, I can enjoy the music and have fun getting some good cardio.

[snubbyfan]

Beautiful day today and my wife and I were gearing up for a nice bike ride.
Unfortunately, my bike had a flat front tire. It's not really a big deal, I have spare tubes, patch kits and pumps, I just didn't feel like messing with it just yet.
Fortunately, my sister gave us one of her old bikes. It's a "budget" priced Trek hybrid that she got when she first started biking and basically outgrew. We use it as a back up bike that we named "Jolene" after the Reba McEntire song.
Anyway, it's a pretty good bike that can use some tweaking.
The component group works as well as budget priced works.
I built my bike "Frankenbike" from a bare frame and used all top end components.
The flat was caused by a leaking presta valve. The tube's been replaced and all is fine.
Frankenbike.


Jolene.

[snubbyfan]

Since our last gym visit was last Thursday and I had 4 days to recover 'cause of the Labor Day weekend, I made sure to do some extra damage to my muscle fibers.
Either the extra effort paid off, the gravity was a bit lower today or it was the 80's music they were playing.
I felt great and both my wife and I had a great workout.
After lifting for a coupla hours, it was time for an hour at spin class.
We had lotsa fun and worked up a good sweat.

[snubbyfan]

At the gym I usually like to superset, using opposing muscle groups. Doing a set of pulls and a set of pushes for four sets each.
Something like Supersetting lat pull downs and chest presses.
Today, I went to superset overhead presses and the pec deck but it was occupied so instead of waiting my turn, I supersetted overhead presses and cable triceps pushdowns. Two push exercises and I ended up getting a monster triceps pump. Felt kinda cool.
Anyway, pretty good workout today.

[snubbyfan]

162.2 pounds this morning. That means that since I started at the new gym a bit over two years ago, I've gained 'bout 22 pounds. Hopefully it's the right kinda weight.
I've got an assessment coming up in a coupla weeks, guess I'll find out then.
I did have a pretty good workout today.

[snubbyfan]

Pretty good day today.
Started with getting bike parts that we ordered.
Then a nice two hour hike on our favorite local trail.
The bike parts were a bike stem and adapter shims for Frankenbike. The new stem is shorter and also raises the handlebars a bit. Should make for a bit more comfortable reach. Wasn't too wild about removing the Race Face stem but he still looks tough.

[snubbyfan]

Beautiful day today. We got the bikes out and went for a ride on the C&O Canal Towpath. We didn't go too far, just under 20 miles.
When we got home, I decided to change Frankenbike around a bit. The thing about riding and working on bikes for more that a coupla decades is that I have a box full of bike parts and accessories.
Anyway, I decided to put a different, larger frame bag on Frankenbike so I can tote more stuff without having to put the six pound quick release rack on the back.

Stripped him naked.


Bigger frame bag I pulled from my spare stuff box.


Yeah that quick release trunk's handy and holds lotsa stuff but it also adds an extra six pounds empty.

[snubbyfan]

Yesterday at the gym was an assessment day and apparently, I must be doing something right.
Since June my bodyweight has gone from 154.8 pounds to 160.8 but my body fat's the same at 9.5 percent. So that's an extra lean mass of about 6 pounds in three months.
Trying to build that lean bulk.
One of my goals was to improve on my push ups. In June I did 94 in 60 seconds. Yesterday I did 100.
Tomorrow's looking good for a nice bike ride.

[Onomea]

Originally Posted by snubbyfan

...One of my goals was to improve on my push ups. In June I did 94 in 60 seconds. Yesterday I did 100...

Whoa! Gettin' right up there, Snubby! (Is your shoulder still attached?)

Was looking for the world record: Push Ups World Records