Many of us have been on here for years and we're all getting on a little bit. We're not in our 20s anymore, are we. Well some are but the old crew from Thief and SS2 release days certainly can't be.
I'm over 40 now and work/life mean it's hard to do as much exercise as I'd like. I spent all summer offroad cycling. I started last year but I don't cycle outside a summerish period in the UK as the weather sucks, so there is definitely a cycling "season" for me. This year it started end of April and it's ending. I likely won't cycle until April next year now. I was doing 10km rides twice a week with a 30km/2.5hr ride on the weekend. I also did the London Prudential 30km/19mile this year.
Now this is over I guess it's back to the gym. I'll try to get to some spin classes to keep up the cycling fitness. My resting HR has dropped about 10bpm over the past 2 years because of my efforts in and out of the gym. Lifting, spin and a bit of swimming until next cycle season. Cycling is what I really, really like doing. The other stuff is just a necessity, and even so I'm wanting to lose 10kg if possible by next cycle season because I'm planning on doing the 79km/49mile London ride next year.
So what are TTLG up to? I'm sure SD is pushing some monstrous weights by now, and Tony must be doing some secret service/marine training with risk of death daily. What about everyone else, how are you staying fit?
I'm in my mid-40s, and like both my parents, I'm overweight, though I'm determined not to let it get as bad as either of them. At present, I put in half an hour on my exercise bike two to three of the weekday evenings and 45-60 minutes on Fridays and Sundays. In addition, I recently started a slight variation on 16/8 interval fasting (I stick to it 5-6 days per week, which works well with my working days). Here's hoping that it'll help me get my weight down at least somewhat.
Not what I thought this thread was about from the title.
Anyways, been a smoker ever since I was 13. Before finishing up high school, cut that down to 2-4 per day and stayed on that ever since (not counting when I drink or parties). On exercise end I'm doing alright. Every day I walk approximately 15-20 minutes to work, then back again. In addition I love going for long walks at parks, creek trails etc on weekends. So it all balances out. Though I love eating junk food, so there's a second negative.
Been walking 6000 steps/60 minutes per day for years. I walk/bike almost everywhere and rarely use my car.
Morning workout:
20 sit-ups (been doing this since August 2018)
20-30 push-ups (20 since January 2019, increased it to 30 a month ago)
+occasionally 30 min of Beat Saber
Never been a workout-person, but I am a routine-person, and this routine I've managed to stick to and cultivate.
I'm 40㎏ overweight. (photo, 2nd to the right)
Dieting used to lose me weight, but it has no effect any more.
Last year, a car driver collided with me on my bicycle and ripped open my knee sinew, requiring emergency operation. Ever since, the leg does not work as well as it used to. I can still do stuff that does not put too much strain on it, like riding a bicycle or swimming. I have an annual ticket and go once a week.
I dont exercise at all or watch what I eat yet I still remain within the acceptable weight range for my age and height.
That isnt a brag or anything its just like hmm well I'm sure it will catch up to me later
Some guys have all the luck, by which I mean "great metabolism". >:|
Hey while we're on the subject, can someone recommend a good Android health tracking app? I've been using Samsung Health to track walking and biking, but on the Galaxy S10+ it no longer tracks biking with just the GPS, instead they want you to buy some expensive doodad and stick it on your bike, which I'm not gonna do.
I dunno how in the hell, but my metabolism is still quite good. Most people I know gain weight quite a bit from junk food, but for me I barely gain anything and I'm 39 now. I was always told that that would stop by the time I was 25. Not complaining at all mind.
Long walks are really good for weight loss/control for some reason. It's like it somehow burns calories without triggering more appetite or something. Hiking was a big part of how I lost weight.
I'm 46, just a little overweight, keep in shape by playing dance games and/or chasing my kids around.
I took myself for granted, assuming that I'd always be able to burn off any excess fat with a minimal amount of effort on my part. Turns out I was wrong, age has effected even me, and I've let myself get chubby. I need to lose at least 30 pounds to get back to sleek, if not quite svelte.
This means I've got to, like, do shit now.
You've got one year left. Enjoy it while it lasts.Originally Posted by icemann
Between the long walks and the smoking, he'll be fine. Well, fine until his lungs give out from the latter.
Oh, and speaking of which, I've now gone three weeks without a cigarette. It's one of the reasons why I haven't been around here as often recently.
I haven't given up nicotine entirely yet. I've replaced smoking with these little snus packs I pop in my face every 2 hours. It's not a perfect solution, but it is a helluva lot better than downing nearly a pack a day.
...my sense of smell has come back, and everything STINKS EVERYWHERE!
The warmer half of the year I cycle a lot. Up to 50 km a couple of times per week plus a longer trip once or twice up to a 100 km. I'm not the fastest (around 18 km/h on average with bursts of around 30). I also like to go hiking (up to 30 km per trip (5 km/h on average)). Both activities are mainly a way to keep sane and I like being outdoors, reading a map, going on a bit of adventure, but I welcome the exercise that comes with it. I've had my current bike for around 25 years now. It's an antique thing from the 30s, single speed and quite heavy. Probably more leg strength than cardio.
I used to do some simple upper body exercises at home (going to a gym is not my thing), but haven't in a few years. I tended to either overdo it (because routine) or not do it at all (because not being motivated enough -- other than it probably not being bad for me). On occasion, like once a year, I go canoeing (which also invites some swimming), but that's negligible. Also too much equipment even if it's tolerable. I feel like I should get into some upper body exercises again, but I have a hard time finding an activity I'll maintain. Leg exercises come way more naturally to me as I don't own a car and the need for transportation is a real thing.
In my work I do sit a lot, which isn't too good, but to compensate I never got into junk food or drugs. Not ideal as my stamina has certainly gotten worse lately, but I'm working on that.
In wintertime I like to go skiing, as in cross country (between 20 and 30 km per trip). Actually good for upper body strength and something I really enjoy, but with winters where I live not being what they used to be, it doesn't happen as often as I would like. Walking works too, but unless I can go ski, I tend to get out less in winter. On occasion I skate (as in tour skating), but I lost most of my interest as it turned into more of an equipment competition and less about the joy of being outdoors. I have a pair of mountain skis, wider than usual, good for free roaming, which suits me well as I very much prefer more "wilderness"-like trips (within limits) bringing food and being out all day.
Exercise is not a primary goal, but it comes with the things I enjoy, and staying in some kind of shape helps to enjoy them more.
Last edited by qolelis; 10th Oct 2019 at 14:41.
I'm 33, and I think my weight is probably okay, maybe 10 or 15 pounds more than it should be. I try but don't always succeed to work out five times a week: two weightlifting sessions and three cardio sessions, usually jogging for 30 minutes with interval sprints. I also bike to work almost year-round, but that doesn't seem to do much for my fitness. I exercise mainly to keep my mental health although it does feel good physically when I've been following my routine for a few months in a row; I get this feeling of being fit even if I don't necessarily look it. I've also been trying to watch what I eat a bit more, and that seems to have benefits all around. I guess my metabolism isn't what it used to be, but it's not like I was ever super skinny, and according to my doctor's records I've actually lost a little weight over the last few years. I dunno. At this point I'm just trying to cement healthy habits so that when I'm 50 or 60 my body can still do stuff.
I'm 58. I do wine glass curls to keep in shape. It's not working. I'm forty or fifty pounds over ideal weight. I quit smoking over ten years ago so that added some but I just don't work out like I used to. Okay, I don't work out at all. Not for a decade or more. Once a year, on my birthday, I do fifty push-ups. Or try. The last time I quit at forty. I might have gotten fifty if a bottle of scotch were on the line but it did worry me some that I didn't go the final ten. On the plus side I did five one handed each arm with a grandchild on my back. That's something anyway. Except in my prime I did twenty every night before I went to bed. Well, without the grandchild. I keep thinking I would like to be in great shape one more time before I die but it might kill me to get that way. Likely I won't. It would be like putting a coat of paint on haunted house.
Maybe you need to upgrade:
I don't drink that much, but I've been thinking that maybe I should.
What were you thinking?
Dude, you could quit so easily. Do it. Best thing you'll ever do. I quit 7 years ago and it's the best thing ever.
I don't drink anymore, but only because I don't get the chance really. It doesn't fit in with my eating habits at the moment either. Shame as I've a nice Geuze in.
Tocky ffs get on some exercise. If you can afford it (and I know it's a "well off" man's hobby) get a bike. It's great fun, especially when you get a bit fitter. I ride in forests, burning up tracks with my bluetooth headphones blasting Gunship (YMMV) and it's a blast. I say it's a "well off" person's hobby because good bikes aren't cheap. Next season I'm buying a new one (tested ridden a bunch already) that'll be about a grand (UK pounds). This is nothing compared to my enthusiast friends who have several bikes, that all cost at least (at least!) twice that.
Props to henke for consistency!
Still awaiting SD to shame us all with his deadlift records.
lol Daxim! That's not the diet you should be on!
PigLick you're lucky. It goes that way sometimes.
Hell, I'm just 22 days in, and I'm already starting to notice a marked improvement in everything.
I have a puppy and she walks me three times a day minimum but my family has a skinny gene and a tubby gene. I got the skinny one.
Edit. Well done, Renz!
It's been rough, but I'm doing it.
Though, like I said, I've taken the edge off by using another nicotine product. I'll be switching to the gum here in about a couple more months, then slowly ween myself off of that.
I have a bike. A nice one. Collects nice dust in a back room it does. A person in my distant family even makes carbon fiber racing ones https://calfeedesign.com/ . Sort of nice to see your name on racing bikes but I think I'll just die early instead. Much less effort. If I lived in the mountains like Renz does I would walk the trails. It's so beautiful there I wouldn't mind the legwork. Signal mountain is lovely. Right now I'm drinking Captain Morgan spiced rum in a hot apple cider with cloves and orange slices and cinnamon sticks. It's best on a cold day but today will do. My workout for today.
If I were to do anything then the heavy bag for me. I have one ready to hang in the new shed I built. I need to do that before I fill it with other useless crap. I figure being able to strike bone breaking blows is a real world application.
And Renz, you won't get all of your sense of smell back. Sixty percent, maybe seventy. All the really lovely part is in the last ten percent you will never regain. I recommend quiting anyway. Otherwise you will drown on dry land choking for air slowly with COPD. That's no way to go. You are young enough that getting blood flow back to your extremities can be mitigated with exercise. Do that if you don't want a gut. But if you do smoke at least make it something worth dying for.
I hit the bag in the gym on occasion too.
I was thinking some sort of organized exercise event.
Thanks, Nickie!
You know, I might actually be pretty alright with that. It seems that for every 5 good smells that waft my way, I'm noticing 10 bad ones. It feels almost like a stank assault.
Food does taste tremendously better though.
What's weird is that it wasn't like I couldn't smell or taste anything at all while I was smoking. I guess it was more like it was blunted, because everything's all up in muh grill now.
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