Exercise enthusiasts and wannabees only !!!

[dwm74]

As I'd mentioned in post #67 further up this page, I had bought a Bowflex 20+ years ago when I hurt my shoulder. Well a few weeks after posting here, I tweaked it again and had to step away from the weights. So I went and bought another Bowflex off craigslist. Been using that since Dec 1, and with virtually no discomfort in the shoulder. (I have tried to do lighter weights a couple of times over the past week or two, but still not 100% ready for that.)

Also picked up a Spin Bike, as my folding bike was okay but I wanted something more substantial. I'm getting a heck of a good workout in each day after work, 40-45 minutes of cardio (Treadmill/Rowing/Biking), plus finding time (and energy) to get in a 20 minute Bowflex session in later in the evening.

 

[CallMeAl]

Update:

-Starting over with the Leo Babauta philosophy. Basically start so small, you can't fail. Build the habit, mentally. So I'm doing a daily allowance of push-ups and squats. Once I get a month in the books, I'll set up a leg/arm day rotation.

-doing 10 minutes of stair walking at lunch break most work days. Taking walk/runs while my 4 year old is on his bike, No training wheels. (Unseasonably warm here in central NY.) It's very joyful to move this way, no time or mileage. And he's fast, so it's a workout!

-back on the wagon with Whole Foods plant based eating. We've followed a lot of these plans over the years (Forks Over knives, eat to live, etc) and just added the Engine 2 book recently. The weight just falls off when we do this, I lost 4 lbs this week! It's definitely easier to move when I'm lighter.

Thanks for reading! This post is as much about personal accountability as it is about sharing.

 

[rtslinger]

typical lunch and dinner on my road back

 

[CallMeAl]

Update:

down 6 lbs since 2/21. Jogs occasionally when weather cooperates. Alternating 3 days pushups, 3 days squats / week.

Im feeling saucy, and I'm starting a 100 push-up plan, if anyone wants to join me

Using this iPhone app:
‎Push ups: 100 pushups pro

 

[rtslinger]

I am now at 200 lbs Dr wants at 195 getting there

 

[dwm74]

I'm still plugging away, and currently within 4-5 lbs of my target of 205. Trouble is, I've been at this point several times before and end up slipping up just a little but enough to add on 2-3 lbs and repeat the process. So frigging close yet just out of reach! Having dropped 60+ lbs so far you'd think these last five would be easy, but they've been hanging around no matter how much I work out or how little I eat.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Gonna rant here cuz I need to vent and its too OT to start a new thread.

My wife bought me one of these (like the one I posted in the original post, but it has more resistance):

I actually like it for doing supersets and getting a quick pump, BUT...

This thing is dangerous. I was doing a chest exercise where you hold it near your head, and the handle twisted - causing it to hit me pretty hard in the mouth. I only had 20 lbs on it. Had it been 40 I could have done some damage. 2 days later another glitchy think happened, and I banged my wrist pretty good. YOU NEED TO BE SUPER CAREFUL WITH THIS, AND SUPER STRICT.

But that's not all. Its foldable, once you take all the weight packs off... if you can get all the weight packs off. The last one I absolutely cannot remove. Been trying for 2 days now, wrote to the company and waiting to hear their response.

But that STILL not all.

They advertise like crazy on FB (I guess because I go their page a lot?), and respond to customer comments. I responded to one of their ads stating that I liked it, but mentioned the getting hit in the mouth thing. Immediately after posting that, it was deleted - and now you cannot respond to their ads any more! There are of course ONLY positive responses left, and not a lot (13 on the ads I see). They also don't sell on Amazon anymore, and its my belief because of the bad reviews it started getting. You can't even review it any more on Amazon, at one point you still could - even though they stopped sales there.

I'm waiting on a response from them, but I'm getting more than a bit mistrustful of this company. Sucks because I like what it does and want to keep it, but want to be able to use it as advertised, and well... don't want to knock my teeth out.

Rant over.

 

[dwm74]

Gonna rant here cuz I need to vent and its too OT to start a new thread.

My wife bought me one of these (like the one I posted in the original post, but it has more resistance):

View attachment 4206462

I actually like it for doing supersets and getting a quick pump, BUT...

This thing is dangerous. I was doing a chest exercise where you hold it near your head, and the handle twisted - causing it to hit me pretty hard in the mouth. I only had 20 lbs on it. Had it been 40 I could have done some damage. 2 days later another glitchy think happened, and I banged my wrist pretty good. YOU NEED TO BE SUPER CAREFUL WITH THIS, AND SUPER STRICT.

But that's not all. Its foldable, once you take all the weight packs off... if you can get all the weight packs off. The last one I absolutely cannot remove. Been trying for 2 days now, wrote to the company and waiting to hear their response.

But that STILL not all.

They advertise like crazy on FB (I guess because I go their page a lot?), and respond to customer comments. I responded to one of their ads stating that I liked it, but mentioned the getting hit in the mouth thing. Immediately after posting that, it was deleted - and now you cannot respond to their ads any more! There are of course ONLY positive responses left, and not a lot (13 on the ads I see). They also don't sell on Amazon anymore, and its my belief because of the bad reviews it started getting. You can't even review it any more on Amazon, at one point you still could - even though they stopped sales there.

I'm waiting on a response from them, but I'm getting more than a bit mistrustful of this company. Sucks because I like what it does and want to keep it, but want to be able to use it as advertised, and well... don't want to knock my teeth out.

Rant over.

Amazon still has this one...seems similar but not called the Nova model.

https://www.amazon.com/OYO-Personal...07DPWC2BV/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Quite a few reviewers had the same issue about removing the weight packs, and several have had the gears snap off. Good luck getting a refund or replacement.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Amazon still has this one...seems similar but not called the Nova model.

https://www.amazon.com/OYO-Personal...07DPWC2BV/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Quite a few reviewers had the same issue about removing the weight packs, and several have had the gears snap off. Good luck getting a refund or replacement.

Thanks for that. Actually helps put a little trust back in them. I couldn't find that the other day. I only saw this https://www.amazon.com/OYO-Personal...o+nova&qid=1615995272&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-9

 

[Gaolee]

Thanks for that. Actually helps put a little trust back in them. I couldn't find that the other day. I only saw this https://www.amazon.com/OYO-Personal...o+nova&qid=1615995272&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-9

That's only used ones. It's almost like they just figured out they have a problem and quietly quit selling it. The guy who ran it probably is on the beach somewhere, sipping a drink with garish fruit and an umbrella.

 

[5StringBlues]

Shortly before Covid broke out in the states I was over 300 lbs. and could barely walk up the stairs to my apartment. Loading and unloading equipment had become quite a chore...


Fast forward to now: I've been riding my new bike for a year and typically ride 2 to 5 hours a day.

I weighed 260 even at my doctor appointment yesterday and would like to lose an additional 40 to 60 lbs.

I've lost 100 lbs. twice in my life before but it is MUCH harder now in my mid-50s.



EDIT: I just started doing 20 minutes worth of stairs last week. When I feel a bit safer about it I will join a gym. I really need to tone my upper body and core.

 

[CallMeAl]

3 weeks into the 6 week push-up plan. 428 push-ups logged so far. But set before last was too difficult, dialed it back yesterday. Even so, my shoulder is a little tender today. Also been having some lower back complaints. Definitely don't think I'll be doing 100 in a row in 3 weeks! (Which was tho original goal.)

I think I'll probably reassess the program, get something more well rounded and core-strength focused. But I'm really glad I made it this far, and enjoying the routine!

these look like a possibility:
DAREBEE Workouts

I've also been jogging 3 days a week, and some weekend biking (yay spring!) my wife is really into the jogging which helps a lot. Overall I prefer being outdoors, and lean towards the jog/hike/bike type of exercise.

Hope y'all are getting yo sweat on!

 

[Joe Nerve]

Definitely don't think I'll be doing 100 in a row in 3 weeks! (Which was tho original goal.)

Don't know how old you are or in what kind of shape, but 100 pushups in one shot is a crazy, and IMO unhealthy goal. I'm sure they're around, but I haven't met a whole lot of people who can do 100 pushups . Nor sure I even ever met one .

I jumped in here because I set pushup goals early in the pandemic. I'm proud of where I got to with that, but 100 would have probably killed me. And I'm certain there's no way that was going to happen. If that WERE the goal, I would have quit, too.

 

[CallMeAl]

Don't know how old you are or in what kind of shape, but 100 pushups in one shot is a crazy, and IMO unhealthy goal. I'm sure they're around, but I haven't met a whole lot of people who can do 100 pushups . Nor sure I even ever met one .

I jumped in here because I set pushup goals early in the pandemic. I'm proud of where I got to with that, but 100 would have probably killed me. And I'm certain there's no way that was going to happen. If that WERE the goal, I would have quit, too.

Yeah I'm realizing that. It was more something to get a program going. I'm more about the process over the product, and not too mentally attached to any ego-based mile marker. I'm getting signals from my body and I need to be mindful I'm moving safely. My ultimate goal is to keep moving, with fitness and mobility in mind, and do so joyfully

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I read that you should give muscles 24 to repair. Should I alternate pushups and crunches on alternate days?

 

[Joe Nerve]

I read that you should give muscles 24 to repair. Should I alternate pushups and crunches on alternate days?

Not necessary because they're different muscle groups.

An easy way to break up exercise days is to do push, pull and legs. Abs, they used to say could be done every day, but I don't agree. I do them once or twice a week on days I'm working other muscles and feel I have the energy (and will ).

RE the push pull thing...

Push generally includes chest, shoulders and triceps. If not using weights or machines that would be mostly pushups and dips.

Pull includes back and arms. That would be chinups, pullups and uhh... I dont' know what else without weights . I think dumbells are a good investment. Nothing beats curls for working biceps.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Not necessary because they're different muscle groups.

An easy way to break up exercise days is to do push, pull and legs. Abs, they used to say could be done every day, but I don't agree. I do them once or twice a week on days I'm working other muscles and feel I have the energy (and will ).

RE the push pull thing...

Push generally includes chest, shoulders and triceps. If not using weights or machines that would be mostly pushups and dips.

Pull includes back and arms. That would be chinups, pullups and uhh... I dont' know what else without weights . I think dumbells are a good investment. Nothing beats curls for working biceps.

Thanks. I'm using resistance bands. This is my workout:
Day 1 - 50 curls, 50 standing chest presses, 50 burpies
Day 2 - 100 crunches, 100 bicycle kicks, 100 standing side bends, 100 standing oblique twists

 

[Boogiepop]

I use a WaterRower and do pushups. Long-haul Covid messed me up for 13 months, but the first shot of vax pretty much did away with the symptoms, so my workouts are amping up now.

An aging metabolism started to increase my weight, so I've been taking steps to cut down my food intake while making sure I get the protein I need.

My big regret: I can't work the heavy bag anymore. Too much arthritis in my hands.

Rio

 

[rtslinger]

198 lb this morning 3 lbs to go to get to my goal . Working now med weights higher reps
15-20 added weighted stair climbs and stair running on my off days changed my pushups to inclined pushups (still doing my age +1) after injuring my neck recently working on my 300m ( don't ask ha ha ha) nightly tens machine :0
I get me second covid vaccine in two weeks
trying to get my workouts in, because I read I could be toast for a few days after stay motivated people

 

[Gaolee]

The gym is open here again, and has been for a couple months. It may not be the brightest thing to do in a pandemic, but I have been getting there three to five days a week since sometime in February. There's a combination of olympic lifting, cross-training, body weight work, and rowing machines that seem to work pretty well to keep my sorry butt motivate and staying after it. Being around a whole lot of much younger, fit people is good motivation. Keeping up with them, more or less, is good for my ego. I don't really keep up with them, but close enough.