Sunday. 183lbs, nearly 51 years old.
Actually it's Super Bowl Sunday, and I am organizing my sewing room. Bending, squatting, grimacing in pain. You see, I went to the gym (pronounced gaɪm) yesterday with my girl, Sarah. Birthday present of good health to both of us this year, as I am determined throw hay bales next summer, and I believe Sarah has a bikini wish to be fulfilled.
We listened to the our trainer Whitney talk about nutrition, exercise, metabolism, intensity, power, and other interesting Crossfit-speak. Then we had a workout.
First, dips. On the bars, with the big blue bands to help my antique arms lift my body weight, and lo, these weren't enough support. While quickly dismounting the bars to add another band, I received my first safety reinforcement - big ass indian sunburn from the rebounding blue band, right in the kisser. Thought maybe I lost my kisser, but it came back to life five or so minutes later, and no, I didn't cry. I welled up but just managed to be grown up long enough for the pain to recede. The sunburn is still in place today. Sarah watched and learned the lesson.
Next the chinup or pullup, which ever we preferred. Preference didn't enter my mind as I can do neither, again, without bands. So out came the giant black band (our trainer was catching on) and I did a couple of chinups. Sarah also managed a few chinups on the smaller bands. Atta girl!!
Then some pushups. More bands. I was starting to feels like a matchstick marionette - High on a hill was a lonely goatherd, Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo...... and then a timed plank. Make it stop, said my arms.
Tabata time...I won't try and explain, as I haven't done any organizing yet in my sewing room and I should get to it... but here's a link, fyi... http://tabatatraining.org/. It was an exercise in how to correctly do squats. Little did my trainer know that my mother taught me years ago how to squat properly - in public washrooms, ensuring my youthful behind did not make contact with those dirty toilet seats.... squat, pee, hold, wipe, repeat..... so this was by far the best part of the workout for me. I pushed the number of squats as best I could and was rewarded with a score I could be proud of. Sarah did equally as well. Amazing really since I don't recall passing on G-Ma's wisdom to either of my girls.
However, my legs were jello for the rest of yesterday. Today, I squatted to clean up some of last night's dinner remains on the kitchen floor and just about fell down. My arms hurt but are still functional. We go back on Tuesday, and I'm sure (?!) I'll be ready for more.
So why am I sharing all of this? Maybe because I don't want to forget why I started our journey to good health. I have neglected my physical health for many years, working a desk job, walking the dog here and there, but performing nothing more taxing than slinging paint cans at a part-time job for a couple of years. I have health issues as a result and am less than impressed with my regard for my own well-being. Sarah hasn't had the physical experience I had when I was her age, and I want her to embrace this challenge, realize her physical potential and adopt a life-long respect for her health.
Maybe I want to encourage anyone in my position to take their own health seriously and try this too. It is never too late.
Or maybe it's because I watched Julie and Julia last week, and want to experiment with a daily blog.
Whatever the reason, I'm here, writing our experiences on this road to optimal health, for at least the next five weeks. Sarah, thanks for being such a good sport with your huffin' puffin' mama. And Whitney, I look forward to whatever you have in store...
Gotta go. Have fabric and thread to sort.
Best,
Chris
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