The good ole days when I was 47 and ready to share all that goodness I was experiencing in my life, and at the gym, with everybody and anybody. I could not be silenced; the excitement would flow, uncontrolled and usually unsolicited.
And, as I write this, I cannot even believe I'm using the slang "the good ole days." Good days at 47 years old? Not 25. Not 35 but 47?
This does make me laugh. Insert laughing imogies-demogies, or whatever those things are called, right here!
I'd never thought at 47 that 55 would not qualify as the good-ole-days. 55 didn't sound too old, not even now, but it's true, my body has changed and I see things a bit differently than I did when I first started my health journey eight years ago.
And if you are over 50, and reading this right now, I'm betting you are nodding your head in agreement--it's a topic worth discussing; what things do not function as they once used to? LOL. We could make a list, but we'll stick to the topic of the gym--you're welcome.
So, as the muscles ache and joint pain sets in, do we stop going to the gym? I'm sure you already know that my answer is going to be a big-fat no! Giving up is not an options.
That said, I do find myself asking questions, like did the weights get heavier, 20 pounds feels like 50 pounds, or is this also my imagination? Listen, if you are over 50, workouts won't come quite as easy as they once did; it's a fact that we must face and accept, one that I've been struggling with myself. See, in my world, the fifty pound dumbbells now feel like they're 75 pounds, a mile on the treadmill now feels like three! I'm getting older, sure, we're all getting older but where is the new line between good and damage--where do we find the sweet spot?
We listen. We listen to our bodies, to our minds, and we stay open to what we are hearing. I like the moto of my current gym; "The Judge Free Zone." I apply this concept to my performance as well, which is harder for men than for women; we are manly-men! We do not give up! We do not accept defeat. (eyeroll)
When I first started working with Thomas, at HCC community college in Hagerstown, he was in his late twenties. He loved CrossFit workouts and pretty much anything that challenged his body to exhaustion. It must have been hard on him, taking things slow with me at the start. Remember, I was 650 pounds and I could not fit on any of the machines, not the treadmills or the stationary cycles. Thomas had to get creative, using intense arm workouts with dumbbells and medicine balls, the killer ropes, you name it, anything to keep me moving. But as the weight melted off of me, he kicked it in, and the real fun began. I often found myself in complete cross-fit-exhaustion by the end of my workout, practically crawling on the ground.
I managed. I survived. And I lost 400 pounds, to Thomas' credit, we made that happen.
Then one day, Bob Boone, an older gentleman who volunteers at HCC gym, came over to me while I was cooling down, and he said, "We're not getting any younger Dan, and what you are doing is wonderful, but keep in mind that you don't have to kill yourself."
WHOOSH! It was like oxygen to a dying man--the suffer being me!--because I was already wondering how in the world I was going to keep this pace much past 47? I do not have to kill myself; what wonderful news!
Today, now at 55, I understand what it was Mr. Bob was trying to tell me--food is 80% of the struggle, while exercise comes in at 20%. It's a very important 20%, mind you, and in that 20% we need to move, get that heart rate up, stay strong. And one way to stay strong is by lifting weights, some weights--not buildings my friends--we need pounds, heavy enough to work our muscles not cause a breakdown. It's ok to feel the burn, as they say, but I'm not going to be, nor do I want to be, Mr. Universe! I don't need to break down muscle tissue every single time I work out. I need to work all my muscles--including the heart muscle-- just enough so that it's the muscle that dominates my body, not fat.
Muscles burns calories. Fat burns nothing.
Now, honestly, the whole muscles to fat calculation is really lost on me; with all my loose skin and I'm still a big guy, so, no one person will have the same goals as I. Point taken. My goal is very simple, I want to stay tight and strong. For others, leaning out may be the goal. But, I bet we have far more folks, over 50, that avoid the gym because they feel intimated by the environment, the push-it or loose-it mentality, or the idea that they aren't sure what to do with all the equipment offered. It's easier to just do nothing. I want to encourage you to do other wise!
Let me suggest, whether you are at the gym or you are at the park, keep moving; walk that treadmill or stroll down the park path. Stop to do some sit ups in the grass, or grab an acceptable dumbbell at the gym, just work those muscles. And, above all, understand the limitations you may now have, if any, and work with the positive attributes now in it's place. Listen to your body. The body is mysterious in the sense that if we loose one thing, something else will replace it; we may be getting older, but we're smarter and wiser.
For instance, if walking isn't for you, like it wasn't for me back when I was to heavy for a treadmill or even a stationary bike, then work your upper body. You'd be surprised how your heart rate will elevate while moving your arms. Listen, our bodies are changing, and we have different needs at 50 than 25. So, if need be, walk 20 minutes instead of 45, but don't lay down and do nothing; embrace Mr. Bob's advise, "you do not need to kill yourself to be healthy."
I owe so much to the wise Bob Boone, the youthful enthusiasm of Thomas Burge, and so many others from HCC college. If they have taught me anything, that is that caring about our health is the best kind of self love we can give. That philosophy has gotten me through the hardest of times, so useful, that I use the #loveyoufirst hashtag in all my social media posts as a reminder. I encourage you to find something that helps you to remember that it really does come down to the love; the love you give, even to yourself.
PEACE
Dan
PS: Visit my Facebook page Man in The Mirror: Getting My Life Back and share in the journey. The page is full of inspiration, tips, and more fun stories. Hangout with me as I prep for the release of my long awaited memoir, "Man In The Mirror," book and wellness journal, which will be debuting Christmas 2021. Stick around--it's about to get fun!
You can also sign up for book information here to receive release updates, pre order your signed copy, when the time comes, and learn about book signings in the Hagerstown area. All members will be entered into our free book drawing, as we will be giving some copies away, so don't forget to sign up to qualify for the freebies. Join now.
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