Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue

[RedLefty]

Today is the first day in almost two weeks that I feel pretty much healthy. Still some congestion but the ear/throat/head don't hurt anymore. And no more chills and skin tingles and the other stuff that just means you're sick. Glad to be back!

I did some short, simple, just-do-something stuff in the gym yesterday, focusing on prehab:

Hip/glute -- clamshells, deadbugs, single-leg deadlifts
Shoulder -- PNF, YWTL
Swimming -- 100M freestyle, 100M backstroke, pretty fast

My grandad's BD weekend was a lot of fun but it wiped me out. Lots of driving and then sharing a hotel bed with my psycho-sleeper 5yo daughter (RedWifey was with Jack). She twitches, talks, rolls over, sits up, claps, headbutts me... I feel sorry for her future husband.

[Mahler]

Good to hear that you are feeling better.

[CAchief]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

My grandad's BD weekend was a lot of fun but it wiped me out. Lots of driving and then sharing a hotel bed with my psycho-sleeper 5yo daughter (RedWifey was with Jack). She twitches, talks, rolls over, sits up, claps, headbutts me... I feel sorry for her future husband.

that's when you have to bust out the ear plugs. It won't rid the headbutting, but can negate most of the rest!

[kfisherx]

Glad to hear you are back and better. Your daugher may (hopefully) outgrow that.

[bacardio]

Glad to see you back on track RL

[RedLefty]

Some classic stuff tonight -- I think you'll enjoy.

I did Waterbury's Outlaw Strength and Conditioning at the YMCA:

--Hand walkouts
--DB dorsiflexion
--Chin-ups
--Split squats
--DB decline pullovers
--Waterbury walks

Three YMCA moments:

1) As I was walking into the weights area, two young black guys were walking by. They recognized me as a regular, nodded, and one of them said, "Wassup, my niggah."
2) I saw a little old lady get on the treadmill. She was about 4'4". She got on the treadmilll backwards, on purpose. She walked slowly backwards on the treadmill the whole time I was there.
3) A guy got on the treadmill, wearing a full hiking backpack. Massive green thing. He put the treadmill on a very slight incline, but nothing that really required a treadmill. He walked very, very slowly. Not sure why just walking outside with his backpack wouldn't be good practice for hiking... outside.

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

Swimming -- 100M freestyle, 100M backstroke, pretty fast

My grandad's BD weekend was a lot of fun but it wiped me out. Lots of driving and then sharing a hotel bed with my psycho-sleeper 5yo daughter (RedWifey was with Jack). She twitches, talks, rolls over, sits up, claps, headbutts me... I feel sorry for her future husband.

My daughter sleeps like a blender as well. At this point I'm not discouraging it. My theory is that it should keep the boys off her for a little while. Now if I can only figure out how to make her snore.

Point 2. I've been doing a lot of swimming. I haven't gotten up to the 100M yet but I'm trying. I imagine that you are pretty wiped out.

[RedLefty]

The swimming is actually getting quite a bit easier. I attribute it to better goggles and some more experience. I no longer thrash and go for maximum effort, and it's become fun and soothing rather than merely a means to do HIIT-type training.

Oh, and I got some books in the mail yesterday. Thanks!

[RedLefty]

Alright, I know it's been a while since I logged. I've been thinking. Dangerous.

I have reached the goal I set for myself in the Men's Challenge. My goal had nothing to do with body composition or weight change -- it was all about consistent effort. I just wanted to see what would happen if I actually kept hitting the gym a few times a week for four or five months straight.

Now I know what happens. I get injured. "You didn't prehab enough", you might say. Maybe. "Didn't work out smart". Maybe. But I doubt it. I feel like I've learned that my body just isn't cut out for long-term heavy training. When I do it, I break. My body has an amazing self-limiting mechanism that gets ticked off when I go too far. Perhaps some readers will think this is just a pansy way to make excuses and stay weak. Doesn't bother me. Thankfully getting really big and strong isn't a goal for me anyway -- I just want to meet my definition of healthy. It's a fluid definition but right now my body fits what I feel is healthy.

So what's next? I was extremely impressed with Steve Cotter's presentation and training at the summit. And I will admit I was shocked to be impressed -- I thought that kettlebells and QiGong sounded lame. I was wrong.

In just a short bit of kettlebell exercises I got an outstanding workout with absolutely no joint issues. I felt stronger, faster and overall healthier after that afternoon. I've also been a big fan and occasional practicer of meditation for almost 20 years, but I've never incorporated movement into it like QiGong does. I loved it.

RedWifey and I will be shopping for some kettlebells -- we can do it locally instead of online and save the shipping costs, the advantage of living in a big city. We plan to workout in the yard at home, and use the YMCA for supplemental exercise, swimming, and free child care.

I'm tired of the train/injury/rehab cycle of the past few years. Time to try something different if I want to get different results.

[SpacecityPaula]

Sounds like a good plan and some good self awareness RL.

[stingo]

Sounds like you're definitely on the right track. I'd recommend Cotter's Encyclopedia of Kettlebell Lifting (Vols. 1 and 2) if you're wanting exercises/workouts.

[Mahler]

Michael,
You do what you gotta do. If this is going to be your route to fitness, then go for it. Different results definitely require different input.

[LisaS]

[sobs openly] ... but what about the stories from the whYMCA...? will swimming alone bring enough stories and unusual characters? what are your neighbors like? will there be different stories?

[RedLefty]

Our neighbor on one side is a married couple in their late 50s. He's a truck driver, also loves Harleys (it's even what they named their Rottweiler), long beard. Kinda intimidating but a really nice guy. His wife is a beautician with a penchant for getting plastered when he's not home (a lot).

The neighbor on the other side is a single lady who seems nice enough. We see her about once a month. She bought the house at major discount because the previous owner threw constant parties for months before defaulting on all her debts and disappearing. We still get collectors, investigators and the police coming by sometimes to look for her. The current neighbor seems to take it in stride.

Don't worry -- I plan on swimming pretty regularly. Besides, most of the best stories have come from the locker room, not the weight room!

[LisaS]

true enough (about the locker room) - and you won't be asked to play catch with swiss balls -
maybe you & RW will get featured on your neighbors blogs for "you'll never guess what those crazy kids are doing in the back yard now"

[Aoife]

I've also been a big fan and occasional practicer of meditation for almost 20 years, but I've never incorporated movement into it like QiGong does. I loved it.

That's why yoga is nice too.

or, at least once you get past the falling over part and really learn how to flow...