I’ve joined the local gym again. For the last two years I’ve been walking up to 12 miles a week and working out on a spin bike. Surely that was enough? The repetitive motion of those exercises caused achilles pain and hip pain. I can’t believe I just wrote those old fart words. My reasons for joining the gym after turning fifty are significantly different than in the past. In my thirties and forties I would participate in spin class five times a week and lose twenty pounds. These days I can workout five times a week and eat nothing but salad and gain ten pounds. My fitness goals are not what they used to be. Here’s the thing. I’ve decided I’m not going “down” without a fight.
Lack of Balance – Yoga
I’ve always had balance issues. When I research this on the internet, the only articles I find are sudden dizziness or inner ear problems blah blah blah. How about just legacy issues? The reality is that I’m very clumsy and need to work on balance and strength. Lately I’ve started to wake up, walk to the bathroom and gracefully bump into the wall. This is a new development and is more prevalent. Off to yoga!
I haven’t participated in yoga for over two years and was never very good at it. Thinking I could simply pick up where I left off, I experienced a fire for three days smack on my hamstrings. Supporting my body weight was tough during that class. And, at one moment, I misplaced my zen and burst our laughing. Standing tree pose is more like yelling “TIMBER” for me! If a tree falls in the woods would it be named Lorraine? On the plus side, it’s helping my anxiety levels at home.
Strength – Barbell
Then a friend of mine invited me to barbell. Low cardio, no jumping around and peeing while you do, and strength training. Perfect! It took me three days to no longer feel the pain. I intentionally put light weights on the barbell for my first class and my instructor (and friend) suggested I increase the weight next time! Apparently you need to challenge yourself or you don’t get stronger.
Core
The latest? “Take my core class!” she said. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Bosu balls are pure evil wrapped up inside of blue plastic air bubbles. If you want to try one, here’s a link for you. I’m an Amazon Affiliate so I may get commission if you use that link.
- Accomplish a total body workout and develop muscular endurance with this non-slip travel-size balance trainer which offers a range of exercises to keep your body engaged and progressing
- Features a flat side for a stable base and a dome side for balance challenges, this trainer allows you to customize your workouts to meet your fitness goals and can hold up to 250 pounds
- Built with convenient 6 rubberized feet prevents slipping and sliding so you can focus on your form while ensuring your safety during intense workouts, making it a great addition to any home gym setup
- Crafted out of latex-free, burst-resistant material and phthalate-free for a safe, chemical-free workout and long-lasting use ensuring a worry-free exercise experience for years to come
- Builds core strength and stability, improves balance and agility, and enhances body awareness and coordination while its compact design makes it ideal for on-the-go, travel, and outside fitness
Whether you are trying to stand, lunge, or sit your fat arse on top of one to do crunches, the evil seeping out of them makes the clown from IT seem like Bozo. It’s been three days and my abs are cursing at me. To top it off there was some middle aged woman staring back at me from the mirror, rocking back and forth like a stranded Orca. It was me. What the hell. I’ll be doing it again because my abs are still hurting three days later. Your core and balance are interrelated so there’s no escaping it. I’m that person in the horror film who goes up the stairs to see what the noise is.
Starting and Keeping An Exercise Routine
So I guess I could sum up this blog post with just a couple of words given to me by my grandmother. “If you don’t have your health you’ve got nothin!” The biggest challenge is making time for myself instead of cleaning the house or being ridiculously and constantly present for the kids. It’s ridiculous how I will pass up some time at the gym for a lame excuse. My husband tells me that I’m a much happier person after working out. So here’s to 2018 and taking care of myself just a little bit more. I’m really hoping that this will help me feel stronger and more stable in more ways than one!
Stay tuned!
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