Workout/Exercise

Five years ago I had three heart surgeries during which five stents were emplaced.  A year of world class blood thinners kept me on my toes while shaving, but the main result was a miraculous improvement in energy.  I took advantage of this good fortune by eating a much heart healthier diet and adding three or four half hour walks to my weekly regimen.  

Unfortunately, I slacked off over time, gained weight, and suffered the consequences.  A bit over a year ago, fat was found accumulating on my liver - a very dangerous state of affairs - and weight loss was the prescribed antidote.  Over the next year, I dropped 35 pounds - roughly 15 percent of my body weight.  The liver results were excellent, but there was a fly in the ointment:  The nature of muscle is that you use it or lose it, and the nature of weight loss is that you lose it (muscle) very readily.  What I did not see coming was the consequence of this:  

Neck pain.  Huh?  My primary listed a few possible causes, including arthritis as one of the leading contenders.  He recommended physical therapy.  I mentioned that I wanted to (re)start resistance training and asked if it is a good idea.  He said the physical therapist would be better able to advise me.  So off I went.

After the second session, the therapist also mentioned arthritis as a likely suspect, and she mentioned that weak muscles, poor posture, and muscle disuse can interact to make matters worse.  She also is a fan of resistance training, and has listed preparation for resistance training as one of my therapy goals.  Last Thursday, she cleared me for the gym.  So at the moment, my regimen is

• Walking interspersed with interval training, 30+ minutes/day,  4+ day per week.
  
• Three core exercises (different kinds of crunches).
  
• An assortment of exercises, stretches, and postures to strengthen the neck muscles, improve posture, and maintain/expand the range of comfortable neck motion
  
• Starting next week, Planet Fitness.  I have some materials to work from, but my main goals for now are to safely determine where to begin, and to find a schedule that fits my lifestyle. 
  

Five years ago I had three heart surgeries during which five stents were emplaced.  A year of world class blood thinners kept me on my toes while shaving, but the main result was a miraculous improvement in energy.  I took advantage of this good fortune by eating a much heart healthier diet and adding three or four half hour walks to my weekly regimen.  

Unfortunately, I slacked off over time, gained weight, and suffered the consequences.  A little over a year ago, fat was found accumulating on my liver - a very dangerous state of affairs - and weight loss was the prescribed antidote.  Since then, I dropped 35 pounds - roughly 15 percent of my body weight.  The liver results were excellent, but there was a fly in the ointment:  The nature of muscle is that you use it or lose it, and the nature of weight loss is that you lose it (muscle) very readily.  What I did not see coming was the consequence of this:  

Neck pain.  Huh?  My primary listed a few possible causes, including arthritis as one of the leading contenders.  He recommended physical therapy.  I mentioned that I wanted to (re)start resistance training and asked if it is a good idea.  He said the physical therapist would be better able to advise me.  So off I went.

After the second session, the therapist also mentioned arthritis as a likely suspect, and she mentioned that weak muscles, poor posture, and muscle disuse can interact to make matters worse.  She also is a fan of resistance training, and has listed preparation for resistance training as one of my therapy goals.  Last Thursday, she cleared me for the gym.  So at the moment, my regimen is

• Walking interspersed with interval training, 30+ minutes/day,  4+ day per week.
  
• Three core exercises (different kinds of crunches).
  
• An assortment of exercises to strengthen the neck muscles, improve posture, and maintain/expand the range of comfortable neck motion
  
• Starting next week, Planet Fitness.  I have some materials to work from, but my main goals for now are to safely determine where to begin, and to find a schedule that fits my lifestyle. 
  

When I was in grad school, I used to hit the gym 5 days a week, but those days are a long way in the rearview mirror now.

These days, my exercise is varied, and does not involve a gym.

1) I walk several miles a day. Most weekends, I go on a hike and then the distance covered averages between 5-8 miles. I'll do some very long day hikes later in the season, but not in winter.
2) I do a bodyweight workout most days - push-ups, sit-ups, planks and the like. That's mostly to focus on my core, which is a sore point for me (get it? ).
3) I try to get in some long bike rides most weekends, but that has fallen off in the winter since I have Raynaud's disease/syndrome. Hurts like the dickens.
4) And I do hand-tool woodworking. Sawing, planing and dimensioning lumber by hand is a nice bit of cardio. The best thing about it is that I wind up with something usable at the end of it all.

I must say that I prefer these forms of exercise to the gym. 

I'm all for this workout and exercise thread! It's a fantastic idea to share our fitness journeys and get inspired by each other. Currently, I'm knee-deep in researching gym franchise opportunities in my town, and this thread couldn't have come at a better time. As for my workouts, I've been keeping things interesting with a mix of home exercises. Lately, it's been all about bodyweight workouts and cardio sessions. There's something liberating about pushing yourself with just your own body, you know? I've also been exploring yoga and meditation to keep the mind in check.

Five years ago I had three heart surgeries during which five stents were emplaced.  A year of world class blood thinners kept me on my toes while shaving, but the main result was a miraculous improvement in energy.  I took advantage of this good fortune by eating a much heart healthier diet and adding three or four half hour walks to my weekly regimen.  

Unfortunately, I slacked off over time, gained weight, and suffered the consequences.  A little over a year ago, fat was found accumulating on my liver - a very dangerous state of affairs - and weight loss was the prescribed antidote.  Since then, I dropped 35 pounds - roughly 15 percent of my body weight.  The liver results were excellent, but there was a fly in the ointment:  The nature of muscle is that you use it or lose it, and the nature of weight loss is that you lose it (muscle) very readily.  What I did not see coming was the consequence of this:  

Neck pain.  Huh?  My primary listed a few possible causes, including arthritis as one of the leading contenders.  He recommended physical therapy.  I mentioned that I wanted to (re)start resistance training and asked if it is a good idea.  He said the physical therapist would be better able to advise me.  So off I went.

After the second session, the therapist also mentioned arthritis as a likely suspect, and she mentioned that weak muscles, poor posture, and muscle disuse can interact to make matters worse.  She also is a fan of resistance training, and has listed preparation for resistance training as one of my therapy goals.  Last Thursday, she cleared me for the gym.  So at the moment, my regimen is

• Walking interspersed with interval training, 30+ minutes/day,  4+ day per week.
  
• Three core exercises (different kinds of crunches).
  
• An assortment of exercises to strengthen the neck muscles, improve posture, and maintain/expand the range of comfortable neck motion
  
• Starting next week, Planet Fitness.  I have some materials to work from, but my main goals for now are to safely determine where to begin, and to find a schedule that fits my lifestyle. 
  

I would think you would benefit from a rower.  I’ve had many surgeries but find my Hydrow a phenomenal piece of work out equipment.  You will drop weight on it.  Your core, will get in shape.  You should not hurt your shoulders or neck.  Candidly, it’s probably the best piece of workout equipment you can use.

Current setup. I also go 5x week to the local rec centre where I do cardio, generally elliptical machine and walking the track. I had a hip replacement a year and a half ago and that works for me. I found I couldn’t get my heart rate high enough with just walking and adding more/too much distance bugged the hip. Elliptical fills the gap. 

Five years ago I had three heart surgeries during which five stents were emplaced.  A year of world class blood thinners kept me on my toes while shaving, but the main result was a miraculous improvement in energy.  I took advantage of this good fortune by eating a much heart healthier diet and adding three or four half hour walks to my weekly regimen.  

Unfortunately, I slacked off over time, gained weight, and suffered the consequences.  A little over a year ago, fat was found accumulating on my liver - a very dangerous state of affairs - and weight loss was the prescribed antidote.  Since then, I dropped 35 pounds - roughly 15 percent of my body weight.  The liver results were excellent, but there was a fly in the ointment:  The nature of muscle is that you use it or lose it, and the nature of weight loss is that you lose it (muscle) very readily.  What I did not see coming was the consequence of this:  

Neck pain.  Huh?  My primary listed a few possible causes, including arthritis as one of the leading contenders.  He recommended physical therapy.  I mentioned that I wanted to (re)start resistance training and asked if it is a good idea.  He said the physical therapist would be better able to advise me.  So off I went.

After the second session, the therapist also mentioned arthritis as a likely suspect, and she mentioned that weak muscles, poor posture, and muscle disuse can interact to make matters worse.  She also is a fan of resistance training, and has listed preparation for resistance training as one of my therapy goals.  Last Thursday, she cleared me for the gym.  So at the moment, my regimen is

• Walking interspersed with interval training, 30+ minutes/day,  4+ day per week.
  
• Three core exercises (different kinds of crunches).
  
• An assortment of exercises to strengthen the neck muscles, improve posture, and maintain/expand the range of comfortable neck motion
  
• Starting next week, Planet Fitness.  I have some materials to work from, but my main goals for now are to safely determine where to begin, and to find a schedule that fits my lifestyle. 
  

I would think you would benefit from a rower.  I’ve had many surgeries but find my Hydrow a phenomenal piece of work out equipment.  You will drop weight on it.  Your core, will get in shape.  You should not hurt your shoulders or neck.  Candidly, it’s probably the best piece of workout equipment you can use.

Thx Mike. It does sound like a very efficient machine. I will check it out.

Current setup. I also go 5x week to the local rec centre where I do cardio, generally elliptical machine and walking the track. I had a hip replacement a year and a half ago and that works for me. I found I couldn’t get my heart rate high enough with just walking and adding more/too much distance bugged the hip. Elliptical fills the gap. 

There's Marko 's Trunk of Booty (BayRum Stash !!!)

Five years ago I had three heart surgeries during which five stents were emplaced.  A year of world class blood thinners kept me on my toes while shaving, but the main result was a miraculous improvement in energy.  I took advantage of this good fortune by eating a much heart healthier diet and adding three or four half hour walks to my weekly regimen.  

Unfortunately, I slacked off over time, gained weight, and suffered the consequences.  A little over a year ago, fat was found accumulating on my liver - a very dangerous state of affairs - and weight loss was the prescribed antidote.  Since then, I dropped 35 pounds - roughly 15 percent of my body weight.  The liver results were excellent, but there was a fly in the ointment:  The nature of muscle is that you use it or lose it, and the nature of weight loss is that you lose it (muscle) very readily.  What I did not see coming was the consequence of this:  

Neck pain.  Huh?  My primary listed a few possible causes, including arthritis as one of the leading contenders.  He recommended physical therapy.  I mentioned that I wanted to (re)start resistance training and asked if it is a good idea.  He said the physical therapist would be better able to advise me.  So off I went.

After the second session, the therapist also mentioned arthritis as a likely suspect, and she mentioned that weak muscles, poor posture, and muscle disuse can interact to make matters worse.  She also is a fan of resistance training, and has listed preparation for resistance training as one of my therapy goals.  Last Thursday, she cleared me for the gym.  So at the moment, my regimen is

• Walking interspersed with interval training, 30+ minutes/day,  4+ day per week.
  
• Three core exercises (different kinds of crunches).
  
• An assortment of exercises to strengthen the neck muscles, improve posture, and maintain/expand the range of comfortable neck motion
  
• Starting next week, Planet Fitness.  I have some materials to work from, but my main goals for now are to safely determine where to begin, and to find a schedule that fits my lifestyle. 
  

I would think you would benefit from a rower.  I’ve had many surgeries but find my Hydrow a phenomenal piece of work out equipment.  You will drop weight on it.  Your core, will get in shape.  You should not hurt your shoulders or neck.  Candidly, it’s probably the best piece of workout equipment you can use.

Thx Mike. It does sound like a very efficient machine. I will check it out.

Here is my rowing room.  Hydrow is quieter than anything, it’s also smooth.  I like it a lot.  Former wrestler, so old habits die hard but I think anyone with hip/back/neck/etc could use this and get cardio and some strength training in together.  I have had several shoulder surgeries, 2 knee, 2 hand and need a neck.  Can still use it ;-)

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