Staying in shape

[AKsuited]

The ride to the Rally and back pointed out a problem: my legs. I used to walk to work every day, and now that I'm retired, I definitely need to get more walking in. Today at the YMCA, I tried out one of the treadmills. I have worked out on the machines three times a week since January, but I have neglected my legs. I need to get them in better shape for the ride to Billings.

(And maybe a new R1200GS would help my 6'4" frame and 36" inseam legs be more comfortable on a cross-continent ride?)

Harry

[BMARC153920]

I go to the gym and workout with weights 4 to 5 days a week. I travel a lot for work and even then, I pack my workout clothes and hit the hotel gym. More often than not, the hotel gyms are minimal at best (although Westin and some Sheratons are getting better) but even then you can always make do to get some sort of a workout in.

I do not do much cardio as it isn't needed and when I do cardio I shed too much weight (dropped from 175 to 140 pounds over 6 months and kept it that way for two years).

I also ride dirt bikes, do all my own work around my yard and house, work on my own bikes and cars, hike, walk, play with my kids, etc. Finally, I eat right, no fast food, when traveling, even at restaurants I will order the lighter meals like fish, nothing fried, etc. no soda, nothing sweetened with sugar, black coffee, very little alcohol, etc. Basically I know my macro nutrient needs and balance what I need to what I eat; if I want to have a few beers, I will adjust my meals before or after to compensate.

Seems like a lot of work, but once you get into the swing of it, things become "normal". The energy levels I have are better than they have been in almost 20 years, I look 15 years younger than I really am and feel it too.

It has helped my riding stamina as well; I do not get nearly as tired or "out of focus" as I used to.

[Rinty]

I do not do much cardio as it isn't needed and when I do cardio I shed too much weight (dropped from 175 to 140 pounds over 6 months and kept it that way for two years).

Wow. What kind of cardio were you doing to get that kind of weight loss?

And welcome.

[71243]

Caught a few words on radio news about fitness & obesity. That caused me to look into it more.

The radio report & what I found was that the highest % of obesity , by occupation seems to be almost the reverse of what I expected it would be. Emergency worker first responders , police/fire etc are the group with the highest % ?? Construction workers , material handlers are way up there as well. Where as scientist, researchers , lab techs etc are in the lowest %

Strange !...google it. There are several charts. It almost seems the more active in general a person is...the more likely that person is to be obese ? Makes no sense too me.

[Voni]

Stress!

Voni

[Omega Man]

Caught a few words on radio news about fitness & obesity. That caused me to look into it more.

The radio report & what I found was that the highest % of obesity , by occupation seems to be almost the reverse of what I expected it would be. Emergency worker first responders , police/fire etc are the group with the highest % ?? Construction workers , material handlers are way up there as well. Where as scientist, researchers , lab techs etc are in the lowest %

Strange !...google it. There are several charts. It almost seems the more active in general a person is...the more likely that person is to be obese ? Makes no sense too me.

Stress!

Voni

Lack of ability to eat a good meal during the work day as well short lunch breaks. A steady diet of fast food or catering truck meals that have to be woofed down is, IMO, nowhere near as healthy as a freshly prepared meal at a sit down location- with plenty of time to eat.
OM

[drummer]

I try to go to the gym every other day. I mainly do weight training and realize I need to do cardio, just can't stand those machines. I am about to start P90X in my garage at home on the days I do not go, it is the only place that I have the room and the floor will withstand all the jumping. Still, at 60 years old and bench pressing my own weight, I think I'm okay, just need to dump the spare tire. (My goal for the next two weeks is to bench press two 90 pound dumb bells, currently at 85's and to raise my max dumb bell curl weight to 35 lbs. each hand. I used to do 35 lbs curls a few years ago but tore my brachialis and have not been bicep strong since. Tri's are good, so too are my legs/back/shoulders, just that core that needs work.)

[AKsuited]

I did go to the Y this morning.

Lots of Christmas cookies, pies, and other goodies to work off. Even though riding season is months away, I don't expect to get in shape in only a couple of weeks, so I need to keep at it now, in the middle of winter.

Harry

[mikegalbicka]

I always take a break this time of year because the gym gets more crowded than usual with the New Year's resolution sign ups. They don't last long though and when things get back to normal I return to my cardio routine.

[BMARC153920]

I lift weights four days a week no matter what. Even when traveling for work or vacation I find time and a place to work out.

Sent from my SD4930UR using Tapatalk

[Rinty]

And now there's a study out of the University of British Columbia that suggests that even light resistance training (weights) may slow the age related shrinking of some parts of the brain.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...ticle27938987/

All these studies coming out all the time about the benefits of exercise are just amazing. And encouraging.

They don't last long though...milegalbicka

I've noticed this at our club too. And our members are pretty keen.

[Rich]

Just plain old walking. 2-3 miles per day. Helped me shed 15 lbs when it was needed and now maintaining at 175#, right where I should be. Easy on the joints, enjoyable with the spouse and cheap. The only thing better would be swimming but with no indoor pool close by that is out.

Stay healthy, everyone. It has great paybacks in how you feel and how you live. Just do it.

[henzilla]

Helen walks me on average 4 times a week on a 3 -4 mile march. I do my best to keep up

I am working/walking on the property to keep in outdoor shape enough without adding...but it happens and off we go. Two legged hill climbing works wonders .

I recently have paid her back cycling, running the hills and back roads we usually throttle up on...she comments, after catching her breath, that she didn't remember that climb being so long on her Beemer. Can cycle almost year round...no below 45 or overly windy days as that's too much like work...builds character...yeah

Both of us upgraded some our pedaled equipment...not to most recent models, but some well maintained used ones. Took a few weeks to get the legs back for the road bikes but have been having fun doing it again...no fun, I get bored. I found her a vintage full suspension mt. bike. Funny it's a 1995 and considered vintage. It's such an upgrade from her other one and immediately noticed as she flew by me...what have I done?
Have a cardio heavy gym in our shop and enough weights to get'r done. We both were gym rats prior to moving out here as well as pedaling and paddling. Here, motivation is hard as the motorcycles are near the gym door and I get distracted.

KIMG0599.jpg
Was doing a yearly service on this bad boy today...kept H from making me do a spin class with her earlier...I had to go walk at the State Park in town with the dogs instead...kind of a win

[henzilla]

I always take a break this time of year because the gym gets more crowded than usual with the New Year's resolution sign ups. They don't last long though and when things get back to normal I return to my cardio routine.

Played that game for many years, packed for first month or two, even at 5 in the AM...or around spring break.

[glenfiddich]

Lack of ability to eat a good meal during the work day as well short lunch breaks. A steady diet of fast food or catering truck meals that have to be woofed down is, IMO, nowhere near as healthy as a freshly prepared meal at a sit down location- with plenty of time to eat.
OM

This is so true! Our company was taken over by the sort only interested in personal profit. They laid off 320, the first layoff in our history, and turned a once proud and profitable company into a sinking ship. In addition to the layoffs, we've lost dozens of key players since, which makes survival more difficult for the rest. We all eat at our desks, fear taking time off, and collective risk avoidance seems to be the current strategy. So sad, and all of us are piling on the weight. I'm up 50# in the past two years.

I tried to counter it by vigorous early morning or noon hour walks, but severe cramping in my left leg put the kibosh to that. I took a lot of shrapnel in that leg and figured the scar tissue had caught up to me and was forcing a slowdown. After two years of pain my physician felt it might be due to the statins I was taking for cholesterol. Apparently that side effect can kick in even after years of taking them. The pain is much diminished and I'm beginning to be able to walk without discomfort. Would like to lose those 50# quickly to accelerate my level of activity, maybe a drastic shift in my diet to bring the cholesterol under control.

But I suspect walking off the job would be the single biggest factor in improving my physical and mental health

Pete