Daily exercise log

[Fearandloathing]

I just joined this board and am happy to see there is a forum for fitness. I need to change something as I have been gradually getting fatter over the past year.

In April of 2022, I was diagnosed with a large aortic aneurism above the heart. The first cardiologist I visited told me NO MORE WEIGHT LIFTING. I immediately went into depression and didn’t emerge until I saw a thoracic specialist who was more moderate in his restrictions. Six months into his care, I had a follow up scan and there has been no change. So I can exercise and I can lift, but I cannot lift so heavy and must avoid bearing down.

Anyway not exercising as intensely as I once did has crushed my mojo. I need to figure out how to be in great shape while exercising more moderately.

By the way, all my measurables are disgusting. Blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, resting heart rate of a 19 year old.

I’m the spirit of the thread, today’s exercise log entry would be:

45 minutes of moderate, boring-assed elliptical. Forty minutes of chest and back weight training. Supersets as follows:

One arm bench press/one arm dumbbell rows
Incline dumbbell press/one arm dumbbell shrugs
Seated butterflies/lat pulldowns
Machine bench/T bar rows

Four sets each, 16 to 24 reps each.

I was athletic and active, weight training most of my life. As I aged, I did less, and less and stationary cycle became boring.

In time I developed type 2 diabetes, and remain untreated. I did what the dieticians told me and am free of medication now 15 years. I have three heart conditions and have had at least one minor stroke.

The best, absolute best thing I can do is walk every day. Walking shaved 60+ lbs off in 8 months. walking has kept me trim, and the other day my pharmacist expressed surprise at my age, 75, thinking I was in my mid 60's.

Walk, never under hard stress, never with an accelerated heart beat (keep that pressure low after 40) and never, never, never push a car or shovel snow over 40.

I don't know if it's relevant, but I still have a head of hair...the only male in my family who does. It's white, but it's hair and of course I never cut nor comb it.

Oh....old age means you will have an intimate relationship with a thing called "chronic pain". Marijuana works

 

[Ginger Ale]

Nobody exercising anymore?

Ok, today I'm going to speed walk my 45 mins. Do my small weight arm reps and stretches! I'm trying to keep this up at least 5 days a week and so far I have for the last few years. I'm going to report here if my brain functions as well as my legs have been doing. lol

Day ONE of Gingers log!!

 

[Mr Person]

Well, I'm finally getting back to where I was when my nerve compression blew up last Oct. Still have some numbness/tingling in the right pinky and weakness in the overall grip/wrist, but it's way better than it was.

Going to have to learn how to use wrist straps for lifting. Deadlifts start feeling unsafe around 325lb since I can't quite hold the bar properly on the right, worsening at 340lb. I could easily pull more if I had full grip strength, but nope, it'll roll out my fingers.

And while I have a ways to go on most things to get back where I was the day before my son was born - for example, I'm at 6 reps at 123.5lb for curls vs. 5 at 143.5lb then - other things are back where they were. ie, 88.25lb one-arm rows.

Anyway, absent reinjury or some new injury, I'm poised to climb the rest of the way back over 12-24 mo. I may not be getting any younger, but to borrow a phrase from a shirt I saw Nick Best wearing . . . **** age.




My knee is still going full blast, so that's nice. It was questionable that I'd return to full function after, in late 2022, I split the right kneecap clean in half. And then, without knowing it at the time, mostly rebroke it a few months into PT (I found out at a later X-Ray checkup. By that point new bone had encased the rebroken fragments, and it had healed in a curvature that perfectly fit the joint; surgeon agreed the perfect healing probably only happened because, not knowing I had mostly rebroken the kneecap, I kept right on going to PT, doing home exercises, and carefully marching up and down this hill nearby my house)

 

[Helix]

Well, I'm finally getting back to where I was when my nerve compression blew up last Oct. Still have some numbness/tingling in the right pinky and weakness in the overall grip/wrist, but it's way better than it was.

Going to have to learn how to use wrist straps for lifting. Deadlifts start feeling unsafe around 325lb since I can't quite hold the bar properly on the right, worsening at 340lb. I could easily pull more if I had full grip strength, but nope, it'll roll out my fingers.

And while I have a ways to go on most things to get back where I was the day before my son was born - for example, I'm at 6 reps at 123.5lb for curls vs. 5 at 143.5lb then - other things are back where they were. ie, 88.25lb one-arm rows.

Anyway, absent reinjury or some new injury, I'm poised to climb the rest of the way back over 12-24 mo. I may not be getting any younger, but to borrow a phrase from a shirt I saw Nick Best wearing . . . **** age.




My knee is still going full blast, so that's nice. It was questionable that I'd return to full function after, in late 2022, I split the right kneecap clean in half. And then, without knowing it at the time, mostly rebroke it a few months into PT (I found out at a later X-Ray checkup. By that point new bone had encased the rebroken fragments, and it had healed in a curvature that perfectly fit the joint; surgeon agreed the perfect healing probably only happened because, not knowing I had mostly rebroken the kneecap, I kept right on going to PT, doing home exercises, and carefully marching up and down this hill nearby my house)

I'm getting tingling in one hand that requires me to shake it out. The other pinky is partially numb on and off. It's not great, but I've been ignoring it.

 

[Fearandloathing]

I'm getting tingling in one hand that requires me to shake it out. The other pinky is partially numb on and off. It's not great, but I've been ignoring it.

That's a circulation issue and could be serious.

See a doctor, get your blood pressure checked etc. I have three heart conditions, type 2, and a bunch of co-morbidities, numbness is a sign of trouble.

 

[Helix]

We've had a lot of house stuff going on that has kept me moving more than usual and doing a lot of stair climbing while carrying things. I weighed in recently, and I discovered that I'm actually down to within 0.5 pounds of my old five pound range from ten years ago. Back then, I used to weigh in daily and hit the brakes hard if I hit the top of the range. However, that wasn't healthy, so now I do it by BMI. I am trying to stay in the 23s, and I'm currently at 23.1. I've also noticed that my arm muscles are building up to wiry from carrying things and kid lifting. I'm happy that I'm in decent shape for me due to daily activity. It tires me out a lot, but at least there's a physical payoff on top of the getting it done payoff.

 

[Helix]

That's a circulation issue and could be serious.

See a doctor, get your blood pressure checked etc. I have three heart conditions, type 2, and a bunch of co-morbidities, numbness is a sign of trouble.

Blood pressure is good. I had a routine check this year that involved testing it and something else. I probably need a blood draw to make sure that I'm not type 2 yet, but I think that the weight loss fixed that one for now. I think that this one is related to repetitive stress at work and pinching nerves. Plus, I'm getting old. However, I'm in better physical shape at this age than I was in my late 20s, so that's good.

 

[Fearandloathing]

Blood pressure is good. I had a routine check this year that involved testing it and something else. I probably need a blood draw to make sure that I'm not type 2 yet, but I think that the weight loss fixed that one for now. I think that this one is related to repetitive stress at work and pinching nerves. Plus, I'm getting old. However, I'm in better physical shape at this age than I was in my late 20s, so that's good.

Get an A1C - diabetes test and do it regularly!

It's a pain in the ass....but, with me they caught it early and with a change in diet and exercise I'm still mediation free 15 years later. I have friends who are full blown Type 2.....nobody deserves that

 

[Helix]

Get an A1C - diabetes test and do it regularly!

It's a pain in the ass....but, with me they caught it early and with a change in diet and exercise I'm still mediation free 15 years later. I have friends who are full blown Type 2.....nobody deserves that

I was pre-diabetic at one point. That was one reason that I lost a whole shitload of weight. It was one of the better decisions of my life.

 

[Mr Person]

I'm getting tingling in one hand that requires me to shake it out. The other pinky is partially numb on and off. It's not great, but I've been ignoring it.

For me, it's a combination of things. I've got nerve compression in the vertebrae in my cervical spine aka neck, at every single junction. Beat the crap out of my body in HS sports. Worst is on the right side of C7-C8, which affects the right ulnar nerve. But according to an EMG test, I also have some compression on that same nerve in the right elbow, and in the left.

Apparently, plenty of people have the same compression with no symptoms. Others have worse. Nerves are finnicky things, say the PT people/docs. My PT is mainly designed to strengthen all these small muscles in my mid-upper back that I hadn't really been targeting with lifting (I was basically hitting all the 'big mover' muscles). That, plus slowly learning to finally have proper posture - shoulders back, slight chin tuck. Oh yes, and I've had to learn to stop tilting my head slightly to the right.

It's a pain in the ass, but the other option is simply too much for my age. It'd involve chipping away bone around the nerve in the neck and.....yeah... that's a last ditch effort sort of thing. It was really bad when the symptoms suddenly exploded. I couldn't even take a plate out of a cupboard with the right hand, at first . . .

 

[MAGAnificent]

i thought that logging daily exercise might make for a fun thread. I have done this on another site since 2010 or so, and it helps me to maintain a healthy weight and to hold myself accountable. i might post a little more about my own weight loss story in this thread from time to time. if there's a good response to this, i'll sticky it.

today : took a half hour walk in my hometown. later, i'll be packing up and doing some stair climbing.

After recovering from not being able to walk at this time last year due to cancer and a hip issue, I started out with physical therapy to regain stamina and balance. Now I am going to the gym three days a week and walking a fast paced three miles a stretch (indoor track), as well as working on abdominals, chest, and leg strengh. On the days I do not go to the gym, I do a mile on the treadmill at home. Doing well for a 70 year old.

 

[MAGAnificent]

Just finished my 1 AM run on my treadmill. 3 miles in 30 minutes. Its nice to do it late at night when everybody is asleep so nobody bothers me. Now for a soak in the tub and off to read before bed.

You are either younger then me or in better shape. My three mile walks (indoor track at the gym) take about 45 minutes.

 

[Helix]

For me, it's a combination of things. I've got nerve compression in the vertebrae in my cervical spine aka neck, at every single junction. Beat the crap out of my body in HS sports. Worst is on the right side of C7-C8, which affects the right ulnar nerve. But according to an EMG test, I also have some compression on that same nerve in the right elbow, and in the left.

Apparently, plenty of people have the same compression with no symptoms. Others have worse. Nerves are finnicky things, say the PT people/docs. My PT is mainly designed to strengthen all these small muscles in my mid-upper back that I hadn't really been targeting with lifting (I was basically hitting all the 'big mover' muscles). That, plus slowly learning to finally have proper posture - shoulders back, slight chin tuck. Oh yes, and I've had to learn to stop tilting my head slightly to the right.

It's a pain in the ass, but the other option is simply too much for my age. It'd involve chipping away bone around the nerve in the neck and.....yeah... that's a last ditch effort sort of thing. It was really bad when the symptoms suddenly exploded. I couldn't even take a plate out of a cupboard with the right hand, at first . . .

Mine is probably from repetitive work stuff and the ravages of time. Which sports? I hurt myself playing football, but I think that I quit in time.

 

[Mr Person]

Mine is probably from repetitive work stuff and the ravages of time. Which sports? I hurt myself playing football, but I think that I quit in time.

Wrestling and football. Wrestling probably did most of the damage. (And I have to wonder about CTE...got knocked out some times and my legs were sent all wobbly many more).

Plus, the coaches didn't put the necessary stress on proper form for lifting or really teach it well. So there I was at 16 doing sets of squats at 365, probably with the bar resting in not quite the right place on my neck/upper back...etc

 

[Helix]

Wrestling and football. Wrestling probably did most of the damage. (And I have to wonder about CTE...got knocked out some times and my legs were sent all wobbly many more).

Plus, the coaches didn't put the necessary stress on proper form for lifting or really teach it well. So there I was at 16 doing sets of squats at 365, probably with the bar resting in not quite the right place on my neck/upper back...etc

I had two knockouts and a cracked rib from football. I'm feeling much better now, though.

 

[MAGAnificent]

Mine is probably from repetitive work stuff and the ravages of time. Which sports? I hurt myself playing football, but I think that I quit in time.

Golf is about all I can manage.

 

[Helix]

Golf is about all I can manage.

I haven't played in a long time. It's on the list. Luckily, the next time I play, I will be at least as lousy at it as I was the last time.

 

[Mr Person]

Why did it take me until this age to buy a deadlift jack? Why did I keep grumbling and sliding on plate after plate the hard way?

Derp

 

[MAGAnificent]

I haven't played in a long time. It's on the list. Luckily, the next time I play, I will be at least as lousy at it as I was the last time.

It's been a year and a half for me, with my health problems last year, but I am ready to gt back into it.

 

[Helix]

It's been a year and a half for me, with my health problems last year, but I am ready to gt back into it.

Good luck! I hope that you are back on the fairways soon. I think that it has been a little more than five years for me. I'm looking forward to the next round, and I'm especially looking forward to showing the kiddos the incorrect ways to hit a golf ball. Occasionally, though, I get a great shot. My dad says that the great shots make up for the rest of them. Of course, you have to understand that my dad is good at golf.

 

[Mr Person]

Just got back from a run and found that no less than 3 gnats had drowned in the sweat on my arm and stuck in place....

 

[Bighorn66]

I was athletic and active, weight training most of my life. As I aged, I did less, and less and stationary cycle became boring.

In time I developed type 2 diabetes, and remain untreated. I did what the dieticians told me and am free of medication now 15 years. I have three heart conditions and have had at least one minor stroke.

The best, absolute best thing I can do is walk every day. Walking shaved 60+ lbs off in 8 months. walking has kept me trim, and the other day my pharmacist expressed surprise at my age, 75, thinking I was in my mid 60's.

Walk, never under hard stress, never with an accelerated heart beat (keep that pressure low after 40) and never, never, never push a car or shovel snow over 40.

I don't know if it's relevant, but I still have a head of hair...the only male in my family who does. It's white, but it's hair and of course I never cut nor comb it.

Oh....old age means you will have an intimate relationship with a thing called "chronic pain". Marijuana works

Reading through this old thread and catching up.

No one with an aortic aneurism should smoke pot.

After four tests with no change in the size of the aneurysm, I’m feeling more confident and have gotten back to lifting moderate weights. ( I still go heavy with a few lifts).

This morning’s regimen was 15 minutes of light warmup on an elliptical, 45 minutes of jump rope and about a 1/2 hour of tri’s and bi’s.

 

[Fearandloathing]

Reading through this old thread and catching up.

No one with an aortic aneurism should smoke pot.

After four tests with no change in the size of the aneurysm, I’m feeling more confident and have gotten back to lifting moderate weights. ( I still go heavy with a few lifts).

This morning’s regimen was 15 minutes of light warmup on an elliptical, 45 minutes of jump rope and about a 1/2 hour of tri’s and bi’s.

WTF?

 

[Bighorn66]

WTF?

It’s been a while, but you replied to my post in which I indicated that I had a thoracic aneurysm. In your reply, you recommended marijuana as a treatment for pain management. Not something someone with an aneurysm should do.

 

[Fearandloathing]

It’s been a while, but you replied to my post in which I indicated that I had a thoracic aneurysm. In your reply, you recommended marijuana as a treatment for pain management. Not something someone with an aneurysm should do.

You asked ME for medical advice......


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