The TFP Health Club

Going to the gym several times a week now...either Gold's for a long workout or my apt. complex's for a quick one.
Long brisk walks with the dogs.
Biking when it's cool.
Swimming when it's warm.

Cut my food volume, drinking more water, less soda.
Getting plenty of sleep.

It's already having good results, hoping to continue.

I have an end goal at the end of the summer...I challenged my nephew to an Ab "shoot-out", the one that has better abs wins 10 bucks.
He's 15, just starting to build, got some baby fat he wants to tone, working out on muscle training...but he's doing football camp and wrestling too.
I'm 46, getting back on the horse, got some plain ol' fat to get cut again, and I don't have any group/sport.
He's starting to feel his "manliness", thinks he can beat the old man.
It's a good contest, either way...it will keep us both getting better with some incentive.

Difference between him & me, I get to leverage it fully after and know what to do with it.
There are some advantages to being an "old man"...

 

Don't forget to work your glutes. Those are the muscles that are really necessary for, erm, leveraging.

 

Yep, gettin' those suckers too.
Lady, my ass is SO fine...



Actually, in all seriousness, in a age & getting back on track context,
I find for that...for me, it's not really getting the strength and shape back in gear,
but getting rid of that "cottege cheese" look that happens...it's not as smooth as when you were young or in shape.
So I'm trying to figure out how to hit that more.

Sure, I "may" end up looking good in my jeans or shorts...but I want to look good nude too.
Vanity, it's a bitch. And unfortunately, I'd like to take that out as a judgment factor...women judge too.

 

Did Yoga, yesterday.

Hoo-boy, was I sweating.
Did half-way decent, it's been awhile, but I got through most of the poses and was fairly limber.

Most of the challenging ones for me where because I'm larger than I was before, especially in the legs.
So the thighs interfered with a couple of full back stretches and couldn't balance on the "pro" move. (off-set weight with my torso)

But if you're wondering about the sweat...interestingly many big athletic guys get destroyed by Yoga.
Gravity works really well...and they're heavier...and they haven't used muscles like that before. Oi Vey.

But there happened to be quite a few middle-aged men in the class. (some over-weight, including our instructor)
So I was quite comfortable with the variety in classmates.

And I like it for a non-impact different angle to working out.
Something other than weights and cardio.

And if done right, it's relaxing too.
Very calm, great for breathing training...and damn those joints & muscles get a workout and stretch.

PSA - Don't do it on the same day as weight-training
you'll be worn out, tight and may cramp.

I think for now, I'll keep it once a week...maybe when I get a bit more in shape (lighter too) and up to snuff I'll go for two.

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BTW - I have had results in a month...15 lbs less and starting to see even more definition...feeling easier on the step too.
Instead of 170 HB/min for 5-10 min...now down to 150 easy for any length of time. ...now to get it even more so.
150 is ~85% capacity for 45 years old (I'm 46)

 

My glutes are aching from Monday's fire hydrants.

I keep forgetting that I'm bringing myself back from a two-month hiatus.

I'm going to have to wait until tomorrow to return to the mat, but at least I'll get to put in some grappling sparring.

 

Taking a break...one thing about going to the gym often,
even if you wipe down things and wash your hands...you're exposed to many germs. (even if they are polite)

So due to lack of sleep, I feel something "underneath", so I took a Zicam (Zinc based preventative, which actually works on me...and others)
and I'm chilling for today, personal time-off.

Fitness & health isn't all about "just do it"...you need to know when "not to do" too.
Everything counts.

 

My strategy is to always "drown" whatever I feel coming on with extra liquids. It works for me. I can't do zinc because it's too rough on my stomach by itself, so I usually up my vitamin intake.

 

My main mode of exercise is about to get more interesting: Our instructor recently recommended that we buy body armour.

 

Having some good success.
Lost 15 lbs in a month...got past my plateau.
Another 20 to go...

And now my suits are "too big", like my belts are at the last notches and still too much slack.
And my neck collars are too roomy, when I tighten my tie, the lines warp on the top edge of the collar.

Going to the gym, fairly everyday...biking every other...pool every few.
Starting to feel lighter on my feet and doing my cardio longer and easier.

Bit by bit.
Still have that "end of summer" goal.