Fitness and prepardness.. but im tired today

[MothMan]

Today was the start of another exercise week. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday with Friday and Saturday off and then start again. I have been following some sort of a schedule like this since the late 80's. Stretching, resistance training and a lot of aerobic training on an elliptical. As of late I spend about 90 minutes a session on the elliptical.
So I have a question about heart rate monitoring. I don't use any type of monitor now but would like to have real time information while I exercise.
Does anyone use a heart rate monitor?
What type chest band or watch?
Any opinions about best type?
Thanks!

 

[Doc8404]

I get the logic that you're using, but I wouldn't bother. When doing dumbbell curls you should be completely focused on the biceps moving the weight. You can do focused exercises for your wrists and forearms. One of my favorites is simply taking a cut off piece of broom stick with a rope tied to it and a weight on the other end and slowly roll it up and roll it down with your arms extended out in front of you.
.

Reminiscent of your dirt bike days

 

[Doc8404]

Today was the start of another exercise week. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday with Friday and Saturday off and then start again. I have been following some sort of a schedule like this since the late 80's. Stretching, resistance training and a lot of aerobic training on an elliptical. As of late I spend about 90 minutes a session on the elliptical.
So I have a question about heart rate monitoring. I don't use any type of monitor now but would like to have real time information while I exercise.
Does anyone use a heart rate monitor?
What type chest band or watch?
Any opinions about best type?
Thanks!

90? I get bored too quickly. Good for you bro.

 

[JaguarJaguarGolf]

Right knee replaced Thursday. Home Friday. Left hip replaced June, Right hip replaced October. I had been swimming 1.5 hours just about every day until tuesday. Had PT at home Saturday and Sunday. Knee replacement seems much more painful than hips. It's OK, the bride is doting on me. Can't wait to go hiking again.

 

[MothMan]

90? I get bored too quickly. Good for you bro.

I listen to a lot of Down Range Radio with Michael Blaine and Mark Levin podcasts to keep my mind on something other than what I'm doing.

 

[Doc8404]

Good call. I have a certification I SHOULD be studying for. They have a VoiceThread. Might try that this week.

 

[masterswimmer]

Right knee replaced Thursday. Home Friday. Left hip replaced June, Right hip replaced October. I had been swimming 1.5 hours just about every day until tuesday. Had PT at home Saturday and Sunday. Knee replacement seems much more painful than hips. It's OK, the bride is doting on me. Can't wait to go hiking again.

Good luck with your recovery. I've yet to hear any doctor tell a surgery recovery patient (other than heart surgery) that swimming is not beneficial to a speedy recovery.

 

[E the massive]

I found some dumbbell routines that I really like so I will be adding weight to my previous schedule. I want to stay tight/ripped and gain mass and strength. Here is my plan. Target 2 groups with weights, pushups, sit ups. Next day target 2 different groups, pushups sit ups. One day off per week of just pushups, sit ups and a run. This was basically my schedule until I found the new routines. I am also upping my protein and carbs. Too much for good mass gains?

 

[MothMan]

Today was the start of another 3 day set of exercise days. My routine takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours with stretches 30 min, aerobics 90 min, resistance training with weights less than 100lbs for the rest. According to training devices I am regularly consuming 1400+ calories during these routines.
Personally I exercise every other day with a 2 day break on the weekends.

 

[E the massive]

I got mine to just about an hour. I can manage to fail the targeted muscles. I'm also looking to go back to kick boxing, thats a friggin work out.

 

[masterswimmer]

@MothMan that's one hell of an aggressive workout schedule. Kudos!

I like to get in the pool at least five times per week. I've been successful with that. I swim 3,500 yards all freestyle. I come in at 54:30-55:30. Rest for four minutes then do a 500 yard cool down. Typically 11 minutes. Total distance is 2.27 miles.

With rest I get it all done in about 1 hr 10 minutes. You're going more than double that time. Couldn't imagine that nowadays. Good on you bud!

 

[Celt]

I found some dumbbell routines that I really like so I will be adding weight to my previous schedule. I want to stay tight/ripped and gain mass and strength. Here is my plan. Target 2 groups with weights, pushups, sit ups. Next day target 2 different groups, pushups sit ups. One day off per week of just pushups, sit ups and a run. This was basically my schedule until I found the new routines. I am also upping my protein and carbs. Too much for good mass gains?

If you want mass gains you have to target the fast twitch muscle fibers, which are responsible for explosive power as compared to slow twitch which handle endurance type movements. That means heavy weight, moved with authority. Explode with each rep on the concentric (positive) movement, and slow on tge eccentric (negative).

Everyones body type needs its own custom workout to maximize potential. 1 gram of protein per lb of bodyweight is a general rule of thumb, spread out over 4-5 meals. And good rest, give the muscle groups youre working heavy at least 2 days rest before targeting again.

I do front/side delts on chest days, and rear delts on back days (shugs as well). This has worked for me for many, many years as dedicated shoulder days led to over training, and reoccurring shoulder injuries.

Im currently dealing with rotator cuff tendonitis, and im barely keeping it at bay.

 

[Celt]

It's also very important to work opposing muscles. If you do chest you must do back , if you do bis you must do tris, if you do quads you must do hamstrings. If you do not do this you are setting your body up for disaster and chronic injury.

 

[Celt]

So I'm still at it and going really good. Hammering my legs once a week because I'm sore for four days after it. Hitting upper body muscle groups twice per week each with 14 sets on chest and back and seven to nine sets on arms. Currently doing chest/tris (plus front delts), and back/bis (plus rear/side delts).

However since I've been pushing harder and lifting heavier now an old wrist injury has flared up and my right wrist is hurting pretty good. And simultaneously I feel my tendonitis just starting in my left elbow. So I ordered a set of weight lifting hooks so I can reduce the stress on my forearms and my wrist. However that doesn't really help me 4 bench pressing which is what puts the most stress on my wrist. So I got to figure out a way to keep exercising chest while letting my wrist get some rest. If i wre going to a gym i could use machines, but i do everything at home, usually from 6:30-7:30pm.

Also, at 43 years old, as a lifelong weightlifter and athlete, the injuries have all taken a toll. Thankfully I've been exercising my rotator cuffs really good and it's done wonders for my rotator cuff tendonitis. But none the less, I think I have to tone down my bodybuilding style of weightlifting because it's putting too much strain on my joints. I think I'm going to keep doing upper body parts once per week with my current routine, and then I'm going to spend one day to do all sorts of functional fitness routines that work the entire body in different planes of motion. So I'm going to see how that goes, and I will update this as time progresses.

This entire post was done using voice to text so I hope there's not too many errors.

 

[togmaster]

I actually have been getting in some regular weight lifting for the last 2 months. I feel great but o am not sure how long into the really hot weather I can keep going. Hard to keep motivated after a day's work.

 

[JaguarJaguarGolf]

Celt: At 42 I was still on top of my game. I graduated top of my class at Army NCO school. I'm pushing 61 now and I could catalog the age related decline since 1997. It is very difficult to protect your joints, but you must. My friend who is 70 has been an athletic trainer his whole adult life. Now he's telling us old guys how to work out correctly for our age. The basic rule is that you have to short-stroke everything in weightlifting. You cannot max out the tonnage. 8 reps/ 3 sets Walk, don't run. Swim, water aerobics and water resistance if you can. I also swim with webbed gloves and short heavy fins.
As for your wrist: Do you have access to cable machine, or can you make one for home; or rubber bands, you can buy some pretty robust rubber bands on line. The wrist is a very complicated joint with many small things that can go wrong and be very painful. You are going to have to stop aggravating it. When it stops hurting then start again with it protected, wrapped. After my second wrist surgery the MD said I was never going to do a boatload of things.

I would get down on my hands and knees and wax-on/wax-off , I would put a little more weight on it every week, and stretch it less than I used to. When doing yard work I will put 2 boxer wraps on it, and then duct tape it so it becomes a cast. I'll never be what I was, but I can manage through my day with the wrist protected. Good Health!

 

[JaguarJaguarGolf]

Coming up on 2 months from right knee replacement. I ride the exercise bike every day of the past 3 weeks for 1/2 hour. I can bend the knee 120 degrees. I could only bend it 118 before surgery and a month ago only 95 degrees. I've been cleared to swim for 3 weeks and hit the elliptical machine and weight machines at the "Y" twice a week. Baby steps. When we travel the bride does most of the driving. So I bought her a new car.

 

[masterswimmer]

Celt, I couldn't agree more with @JaguarJaguarGolf regarding swimming. I used to lift weights 5-6 days a week when I was healthy. After my accident and subsequent spinal fusions I could no longer lift, run, ski, hike, play baseball, tennis, golf, or anything that caused compression or twisting on my spine.

Swimming became my salvation. Neutral buoyancy, cardio to the max and decompressing the joints are what will keep you healthy in the long run. Being muscle bound looks good, but honestly, does not in and of itself promote good health. I recognize that in addition to lifting you probably eat right and that is key too. But swimming can provide all the benefits you seek without taxing your body the way lifting does.

Good luck. Hope you feel better soon bud.

 

[Doc8404]

Fish oil. MCTs.

 

[Dr. Evil]

So I'm still at it and going really good. Hammering my legs once a week because I'm sore for four days after it. Hitting upper body muscle groups twice per week each with 14 sets on chest and back and seven to nine sets on arms. Currently doing chest/tris (plus front delts), and back/bis (plus rear/side delts).

However since I've been pushing harder and lifting heavier now an old wrist injury has flared up and my right wrist is hurting pretty good. And simultaneously I feel my tendonitis just starting in my left elbow. So I ordered a set of weight lifting hooks so I can reduce the stress on my forearms and my wrist. However that doesn't really help me 4 bench pressing which is what puts the most stress on my wrist. So I got to figure out a way to keep exercising chest while letting my wrist get some rest. If i wre going to a gym i could use machines, but i do everything at home, usually from 6:30-7:30pm.

Also, at 43 years old, as a lifelong weightlifter and athlete, the injuries have all taken a toll. Thankfully I've been exercising my rotator cuffs really good and it's done wonders for my rotator cuff tendonitis. But none the less, I think I have to tone down my bodybuilding style of weightlifting because it's putting too much strain on my joints. I think I'm going to keep doing upper body parts once per week with my current routine, and then I'm going to spend one day to do all sorts of functional fitness routines that work the entire body in different planes of motion. So I'm going to see how that goes, and I will update this as time progresses.

This entire post was done using voice to text so I hope there's not too many errors.

Been weight training most of my life and will turn 54 in June. Only real injury to speak of is when I broke my thumb doing a jump mountain biking and was down for the count for 3 months last year. I would recommend staying away from machines. They work on a fixed plane and don't hit your smaller stabilizer muscles. Besides, you have to conform to the machine instead of the other way around. Barbell work puts way too much strain on the joints. There is nothing you can't do with dumb bells that you can do with barbells. Better ROM and less joint strain while hitting the stabilizers too. Form is key. Improper form in order to use more weight leads to injuries and plateauing with strength and results. Focus on quality reps and proper form. You will progress much better in the long run with no injuries.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I actually have been getting in some regular weight lifting for the last 2 months. I feel great but o am not sure how long into the really hot weather I can keep going. Hard to keep motivated after a day's work.

Exactly why my workouts are first thing in the morning. I can push past being physically tired sometimes but I can't push past mental exhaustion at the end of the day. It gives me a great start to my day and in the afternoon, I think to myself, "I already worked out today."

 

[Doc8404]

Exactly why my workouts are first thing in the morning. I can push past being physically tired sometimes but I can't push past mental exhaustion at the end of the day. It gives me a great start to my day and in the afternoon, I think to myself, "I already worked out today."

When I was single it gave me an excuse to hit the bar LOL. "I already worked out. I can hit the bar."

Lately, I work out at the end of the day due to stiffness.

 

[Celt]

All good stuff guys! Ill post up pictures of my "home gym" later. I do have many tube bands, and i do incorporate them in my routine, and i have a homemade cable set up too.

The issue with my wrist was from a fist fight in my mid 20s, i hit the guy so hard, and at a slightly wrong angle that my wrist was messed up for 3 months. But, it never bothered me after that until now. The issue is that in order to work my chest to failure i have to keep using heavier weights as i dont feel worked with the lighter stuff. Also, i cant really do flies because of my rotator cuff issues (even though its getting better).

As for barbell vs dumbell vs machine.. i couldnt agree more about machines dr.e, i never liked them for the fixed plane of motion, and thats why i strictly use dumbells for all pressing work. Even barbells agravated my shoulders. However, some newer machines do allow for a more natural ROM, like the hammer strength machines.

 

[Doc8404]

$20 says you CAN do flies.
You just "can't" reduce the weight you want to use

 

[Celt]

Heres my dungeon. Nothing fancy, but it works for me.

 

[masterswimmer]

Hey celt, you could easily charge for a membership if you were to hang some gym appropriate scantily clad woman-folk posters!

Oh, and it took almost five complete pages of posts before this thread finally degraded. No complaining!

 

[MothMan]

Just finished Sunday morning workout. My way of respecting the temple I was given. I do my routines at home, in the basement also. But no pics as the location of my secret lair could be compromised.

In preparation for an upcoming trip to Italy I have been watching/listening to Rai24 news, Italian news channel during my routine. I am doing this inorder to improve my understanding of conversations. It has helped some and Fox's Foxes don't have anything on the female Italian newscasters.

Well anyway even if I don't understand all of the conversation I can still get the jist of what's being talked about. Today during Trumps Arabia speech I learned that you don't need to understand the language to know that the liberal progressives Italians have not come to grip with DJT's election victory.

That is all for now from the secret lair sometimes known as the "weight room".

 

[Bananabandit]

So I gained a bit back...but not nearly as much when I first started (278)...only 245. Not good..but i got a 30lb headstart this time

 

[Celt]

So I gained a bit back...but not nearly as much when I first started (278)...only 245. Not good..but i got a 30lb headstart this time

Get back to it man!

 

[Doc8404]

So I gained a bit back...but not nearly as much when I first started (278)...only 245. Not good..but i got a 30lb headstart this time

Put down the Doritos and go workout

BRB, gotta grab another Hershey kiss.