Getting back at it.

[Echo5Charlie]

I’m focusing on my core muscles to try and keep my back on par. I don’t know the names of all of the exercises. One of my favorites is starting in a raised pushup position and lower one arm down till your on your elbow then the other then raise one back then the other. Down down up up. It’s very good twisting the core while holding yourself plank and it’s kind of fun.

I start everyday now with windmills to stretch my hamstrings and get loose, I only do like 25 each side but I’m way loosened up by like 5 so it feels fine. Then I do 100 jumping jacks to get the blood pumping and loosen my shoulders, I rehabbed my right shoulder a few years back and it really feels better after that. Every other day I do the 200 pushup in sets of 40, because I can’t do them straight through yet. Every other day I do 200 situps in sets of 40. I usually run once a week but not last week and bike once a week for about 45 minutes as hard as I can. I used to race bikes so it’s a pretty good pace and works me gentler than running. I had just started incorporating sprints into my run, my runs are usually 2.5 miles in 20 to 21 minutes depending how I’m feeling, eating etc. If it’s a roofing week I don’t run, because I’m pretty beat from the day. I mix in pull ups, and a few others here and there but I just realized how long this post is getting. If your still reading maybe I’ll log the next week and post it. I sold a roof job today so no running next week.

[J]

stay motivated, Echo5,

Quick update on myself….

Weight I gained over the last months is coming off, slowly. At least the fat is 🙂

I got some positive reinforcement on that last night as I was out running some errands. Was in an old pair of BDU pants that were staring to fit a bit snug before i got back into my routines. Ended up forgettign a belt with them and almost had them fall off while I was walking. While a bit embarrassing in a parking lot, it was still good to see that I am goign in the right direction.

Hardest part for me right now is trying to stay in a routine. I work very irregular hours and it is hard to set a time to actually work out. Have been truying to offset this with doing more manual labor around the homestead while i comeplete chores and get the garden in. It seems to be working for the moment.

Strengthwise, I am comfortable where I am, not interested in 28″ guns or anything. Just trying to find a couple of nothes on my belt that i misplaced over the winter.

[Echo5Charlie]

That’s a great start man! You must be very encouraged. Kind of mixed feelings when your pants fall off lol!

My schedule is all over the place as well. Actually my calendar is all over the place because I don’t have a schedule. I’m going to try the morning thing, that’s not guaranteed time either as my pregnant wife has taken to getting up at 4am now, and then bothering me cause she’s bored.

Anyways good job.

[Brandon]

Echo5,

It sounds like you’re doing really good!

I tried that exercise you talked about where you start in the pushup position, today. That’s interesting. It really does work on your core, like you said.

I’d like to get my bicycle fixed. I don’t expect that to happen soon, though.

And what is up with women waking up guys because they’re bored? I’ve never understood that.

J,

Sounds like you’re doing really good, too! It’s always great when you start seeing results. That really helps with motivation.

[Echo5Charlie]

I really like that one, it’s push upish so it doesn’t seem like a girly girly move. I think it’s fun.

Today I didn’t exercise early, but I did start at like 9 then did the run about 10:30. I felt horrible this morning, stiff back was real bad. We all slept in the living room last night and the couch beat me up. Felt better after the warm up, my run was very slow at 23:20 for the same 2 1/2 mile run. At least I did it though.

[PJ]

You guys motivate me. Just when I think I don’t feel like working out I see the struggles and dedication here and know that I can’t be a slacker. My last few workouts have been ridiculous, including countless tire flips and walking while holding 60lbs worth of chains over my head. Ugh.

My weakness is that I hate to run. Need to ramp that up but I find it completely boring.

Keep up the good work everyone, your body will thank you

[J]

Thanks for the kind words, all. While progress isnt as quick as I would like, mostly due to my crazy schedule, am finding some alternatives to a workout, mainly doing yard and garden chores and doing those manually. My main goal has simply to get up and get moving. We have a lot of technology designed to make things easier but easy tend to make me fat lol.

Best of luck to everyone, keep your motivation.

[Echo5Charlie]

Pj

I agree, running can be awful boring. I like running neighborhoods or non circular parks with hills to break up the scenery. If I’m in a circular park or long stretch of highway type scenery I just can’t take it. Feels like a treadmill, uhg. Constantly changing scenery breaks up the run and helps me set small goals along the way, like ok kick hard to that tree and stride it out down this little hill then get your breathe back. Thats just me though.

[Echo5Charlie]

Well its been about a week again. I did pretty well this week. Definitely doing more reps on everything. I started focusing on pull ups in addition to the regular ones I’ve been doing. For a long time after the rehab I couldn’t do a single pull up. My arm just didn’t work up above anymore. I’m only doing three at a time but it’s exciting to have come that far. Then I rest my feet on a chair and do as many as possible assisted. Even why I walk past the bar now, I just hop up and knock some out. Pushups are no problem, but I want my pull ups back.

Bad news this week for back pain though. I was really hoping staying with the core workouts would keep me feeling good. Hasn’t worked that way this week but I’m staying to it. Maybe next week.

[J]

an interesting link i found.

Odd Exercises for Physical Vigor: An Oldtime Strongman’s 15-Minute Morning Routine

[Echo5Charlie]

Fun article to read. Is it crazy that I do half of those? Not the cold shower or the newspaper trick. I might try the newspaper though.

I actually got on here to post a milestone for me. It’s small, but significant to me. Four pull ups! After my injury I couldn’t lift my right arm higher than my shoulder. I have been gutting an old two story city house in a historic district here. After a week of doing that and exercising before and after, I’m pretty tired, but still hit four. I was very happy and just wanted to share. So, five is the new goal!

[Brandon]

J, that link was really interesting! I bookmarked it, and I’m going to try some of that stuff.

Echo5, nice that you’re up to four pull ups! I need to pull out my pull up bar. Any improvement with your back pain this week?

I’ve been doing a bit better, staying on track a bit more. I’ll be driving up to my mother’s, in Dallas, and staying there for a week, next week. That always knocks me off track, so I’m going to really try to not let that happen this time.

[Echo5Charlie]

I had no pain this week! Moving very freely, which was great because the work was so hard. Today I have some pain, but I have not really moved today. I’m exhausted and just trying to use this weekend to recover. I’ll probably do some stretching later in the day and tomorrow but no workout. Between the hard work during the day and exercising at night I can barely move.

[Brandon]

That’s great, Echo5!

It has to be tough working really hard during the day, and then coming home and exercising. I think it’s a good idea to take the weekend off and recover.

[Echo5Charlie]

Thanks man, I appreciate all of the encouragement and in a way accountability here.

I’m feeling good after two days off. This week will be tough but not as tough, so I’m planning on a little harder pt sessions.

This is a very busy season for me. Between work, family and church activities it seems like we are constantly coming and going. I just have to keep making time for it. Either before or after work.

[Author]

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