Gym issues

Leaving the gym recently, I started telling Mike about all of the issues I have with not only our new gym, but with many people who go there.

I should say that I am one of the most positive people I know, and that I have always tried to write positive blog posts. After my most recent gym visit I just had to vent.

I love being back in the gym and working out. I feel better physically and mentally.

But come on!

Please put the weights away. There is no one following you around the gym cleaning up after you. It's just common courtesy.

With limited equipment, if you do not want to share or let someone work in, please purchase your own equipment and stay home.

For goodness sake, don't unload with your "bro" in the sauna about what a bitch your girlfriend, wife or one night stand is. I honestly don't think anyone cares to hear it.

Yes, you are a gym god. You have the best body ever, in the whole world. So what.

Would it kill you to be kind to other folks in the gym?

For all of you who go to the gym, do your thing without disrespecting others or maybe even being nice to someone, thank you.

Not all of us know everything there is to know. Not all of us are there to look good. I want to be as fit as possible, and going to the gym makes that a lot easier for me.

Thanks so much for reading.

Back to the gym

Mike and I ran our first half marathon back on May 19th. I have run a couple of times since, no long distances just enough to get my heart rate up and get a good sweat.

I haven't worked out in the gym in a long time. Life gets busy. Work gets crazy. I'd rather come home after a long day and just relax, maybe watch a couple episodes of a past season of Dexter.

I don't get any healthier or any more fit if I don't exercise. At 47, I'm not really interested in the perfect body. Don't get me wrong, I want to look good, I just don't want to be in the gym every day for a couple of hours. A good physical week for me is three times in the gym for an hour or so.

The biggest reason I like working out is because of health. I feel better and I know that I am investing in my lifelong health savings account. Being vegan is a huge start. Not smoking and not drinking certainly helps. Continuous exercise is what wraps it all up and gives me a better chance of being as healthy as I can be.

Yesterday I went back to my gym after being absent for a  few weeks. The excuses mount: terrible allergy season that has not only affected my sinuses but also my lungs and breathing capacity; twisted my foot a week ago and it is still a little painful; and I'd much rather take a nap or lay on the couch and work on my blog.

I am SO glad I didn't. What an amazing workout! I felt awesome! Strong and ready to rock it. I am so glad I went and am ready to get back to a regular schedule.

I have gotten a lot better with what I eat and having a regular workout schedule is going to be a great addition to that.

It is all a process. My veganism only takes me so far. I realize when I am in a solid pattern of working out that I feel better physically and my body is only going to thank me in the future.

Off to drink my kale - spinach - blueberry - protein smoothie! Thanks for reading!

I love Racquetball!

 Many years ago I used to play racquetball at the YMCA where I was a member back in Norfolk, VA. I loved the game. It was tough.

When I moved to Colorado 14 years ago I stopped playing. That was until a couple of months ago when a good friend of mine who also goes to my gym (the Wheat Ridge Rec Center) say yes to an invite to play. We have been playing every week since.

We typically can get three games in during our one hour court reserve time. This past Saturday he beat in me in all three games. The week before it was me beating him in all three games.

I love racquetball! It is a lot of fun and each time I place I feel like I get an intense workout. I can pretty much feel every part of my body because of all of the stretching I do during a game. I wouldn't say I'm a good player yet, but I sure do have a blast.

In other blog posts I have written about eating healthy, going to the gym and even about the time I tried a personal trainer. I as approach 47 years of age I am paying more and more attention to my health. Simply being vegan is not enough for me. The exercise part is crucial. That's where racquetball comes in.

Racquetball is part of my overall health plan, and it's a blast. At least for me. I wanted to share about my love for racquetball for two reasons:

I know many folks who try their best to eat well, as I do, and don't like to exercise. I wanted to offer a way to exercise that could be a lot of fun. And believe me, you will get your heart rate up!

The second reason is because (and remember that I am not a doctor or nutritionist or anything close to that) I think that eating well combined with exercising a few times of week is the best for me. I feel better not only physically but mentally. I have a great time with a good friend. And I am sure that it is good for my heart and other parts of my body.

Want to play with more than one person? No problem. You can play with two, three or four people!

So check it out! Not every gym has a racquetball court but it shouldn't be too time consuming to find one. Most gyms have a racquet and balls that you can borrow. Eye protection would be good too!

Let me know what you think if you try it!

Thanks for reading!

Getting fit at 45

Having been vegan for over a decade and not being a smoker or a drinker, many times I live in a fantasy world and think that I am a very healthy, athletically fit, person.

I can go to my gym and lift a lot of weight, hop on the bike for miles and miles, and feel that all is good.

Then I got a trainer.

Reality check. You mean that once you have lifted a set you don’t go talk with someone for 15 minutes, get a drink, talk some more, walk once around the track, and then consider another set? The further reality is that gym time, like most of my life, is social time.

One hour. Non-stop. Many different excercises, including several that I would NEVER consider doing on my own.

Balance? What is balance? Balance is when you keep one foot on the ground, lift the other, and at the same time lift a weight above your head. All while not falling down.

All along I thought balance was making sure I didn’t work too much and spent enough time with Mike and the furries.

I decided to get a trainer when I realized that many times during my workouts I could only go so far, and, especially with cardio, I would get winded quickly.

I had NO idea how difficult working with a trainer and learning about exercises that will not only make me look a little healthier but actually make awesome change in my body would be. I read on Facebook all the time about friends and family doing marathons, triathalons, 10K’s, etc. No thank you, I’m healthy and really don’t want to break a sweat.

And the truth is I don’t want to run a marathon. Yet I do want to be able to run a mile or two without having to have my doctor on call.

My veganism only goes so far. And although this will be an entirely different post, even though I am vegan doesn’t mean I eat healthy! OUCH! Another difficult realization.

I don’t think you need to get a trainer to become more healthy. It was a great choice for me as I have never been trained in working out and I have learned so much. And I have only had three sessions so far.

Where is that Mighty-O doughnut?