What About Exercise?

Do you regularly exercise?
What form does it take, varied, or always the same kind?
Does it feel like drudgery?

Some folks I've known got virtually none, were sedentary, then lived far longer than anyone expected.

No justice!
Frank

 

You mentioned drudgery and I would say yes to that. Exercising is boring that's why the gym became popular because the workout there seems to be a bit pleasant with the audience (the others who are doing their workout). But don't get me wrong. I am now exercising because of my weight problem. If I don't lose weight, at least I am maintaining my 170 pounds for now. After the bending and stretching as the warm up, I use the hand grip to strengthen my wrist and fingers. And then I continue with the hand grip while laying face up on the bed. With arms outstretch, it applies tension on the stomach so maybe I can strengthen my abs a bit to hold in the bulge.

I have noticed that the morning exercise gives me the energy that I need for the whole day since I do not feel drowsy in the afternoon like before.

 

@Corie Henson Corie, your feelings are precisely what I hoped someone would convey to others! Thank you! I myself am remiss, lacking enough motivation. 50 years ago, I toiled down in our basement, lifting weights, determined to have "muscles". I was young, full of hormones and good intent, and I got them! I felt proud to be able to say to my buddies, hey, look, you may be much taller than me, but can you do this: and I would ripple my pectorals, those muscles above the "tits", back and forth. Though, eventually, those "pecs" looked as big as though I was a young woman. My arms were big and rewarding to me for the intense pain and effort I endured.

Today, I look like a scarecrow. I weigh exactly the same as back then, and have minimal body fat. I do not understand this, completely, and long to re-engage in an exercise routine lifting weights. What hampers me is the pain in my shoulders. Arthritis, presumedly.
Frank

 

To be honest, I am a lazy bone when it comes to exercise hence my beer-barrel figure, huh. But my husband is the motivating factor who never get tired of prodding me to do my exercise. He had given up on jogging for me when the bulge in my leg appeared. Once in a while, especially when my feet are abused from too much walking, the bulge would reappear. And I agree that I needed more physical activity since my job is a sedentary one. What I do now is to add some numbers to the pressing of hand grip as per the instruction of my personal trainer.

 

Perhaps I owe my current sedentary lifestyle to an over abundance of exercise. A lifetime of lots and lots of walking, some running, climbing, lifting and carrying heavy objects. My spirit is still willing, but my body will no longer cooperate when it comes to much exercise of any kind.
Recently, I went through two weeks of rehab. I should have bailed after the first week. By then, I felt I reached my peak. By the end of the second week, I was on a downward spiral. After I returned home, it took most of a week to rest up enough to want to do what chores I had to do.
I always felt that each of us has just so much physical activity built into us. Like autos. After so many miles of driving, they start dollaring you to death. Drive 'em hard, they give out sooner.
Some of us were drove harder than others.

 

Well, let's see here..........the word "exercise" can be a vulgar word to some, while to others, as they are lifting weights, jogging, swimming or whatever hear the word "exercise", smile and say "darn right I do!".

Exercise takes motivation to do for some of us (forum people) at our ages. When we were all much younger, that "motivation" was sometimes called "fun" and we never had to be pushed into it.

Neither wife nor I are much "into" exercise. When our power boat is "up and running", we definitely get exercise using it. When our weather isn't so hot/humid, we can head to the target range and that gives us exercise. We bought our Wii Game a few years ago and played that quite a bit just after buying it. Believe me, that game can get the old heart pumping and a good sweat going! Unfortunately, along with exercise, comes the words "eating right" and who really wants to do that (only kidding). We don't eat right and it sometimes shows in our glucose morning testing number. We are both Diabetic II, and are "suppose to" watch what we eat, drink and get plenty of exercise, but..........

With wife still working a full-time job at 68, and, at that age, working a full-time job can be tough, she can come home pretty tired sometimes. But, all I can say is that we "try" to do the best we can (or want to), with losing the weight, exercise and eating.

Bottom Line is................it's DARN HARD!

 

Believe it or not, my 12 year old grandson got me playing Pokemon Go and it's fun. You have to walk.

I still have 7 km to walk to hatch an egg I got.

I took my fitbit off this week because I was too hot but on average ...just around the house I get in 5,000 steps.

I may rejoin my gym this fall....so I can use some machines....walking isn't enough. I'm not a water person at all so won't do the pool, I never did when I belonged to the gym but guess if I had bad knees I'd try it.

I don't even go in the water on vacation at a resort....I lay by the pool or walk on the sand and look for shells.

I need back strengthening exercises the most.

 

Since this Thread is about "exercise", I will add in a couple of other things:

Due to previous surgeries (hip replacement, a rotator cuff surgery on each shoulder), I have to watch how much walking I do and how much weight I lift. For grocery shopping, we bought a "Granny Cart" to haul food bags into our apt. with.
One thing for sure, previous surgeries can put a dampener on exercising.

Other thing:
I just got a call from my wife's doctor about the results of the Stress (Cardio) Test she took. He told me "She needs to get exercise and lose some weight. Not much weight, but some". I told her doctor, "that goes for me also". We both laughed, but, even though he's not my doctor, he's seen me when I went with her, so he knows I need the same things.....better eating habits and exercise.
So, "Here we come, Wii Game!!"

 

That's good news that it's not anything that requires surgery or meds. Diet and exercise will fix many medical problems but I won't go as far as saying that's an easy fix because it takes will power and motivation.

Have to change habits which are harder as we age.

I need to change some things...I need to get out more.

 

It's a mile and a half walk to catch the bus to Downtown so on the days I work,
get my exercise just getting to and from work.
On my days off, used to get up early, dog waiting, and off to the park to explore.
She passed in May, so it is still hard to walk the loop at the park alone.
Just ride my bikes now.

 

Back in my late 30's and in my 40's, I use to horseback ride quite a bit. At one time I owned a Red Roan QH and was a member of not only a rodeo association, but also AQHA. Heck, back then, I even worked at a Trail Guide for a Regional Park. But, most of my "saddle days" were in an arena, swinging a rope. In-between that, doing some Country-Western dancing and working for Stock Contractors at rodeo's, I was a "slim, trim cowboy". Back then, I could eat darn near anything and not put on a pound. That definitely doesn't happen today (LOL).

 

I'm playing Pokemon Go well not now, now I'm sitting in my recliner sweating.

My eyes are dry from all the fans blowing, my head hurts from the noise....I'm miserable.