Whether it’s a rowing machine, running, a Peleton (or spin), the difficulty of activity will be directly related to effort level.
I can run a 5K and feel like doing another immediately afterwards. I can also run a 5K at a much quicker pace and almost pass out. The same applies to a rower. I’ve rowed 2,000 meters to a PR and collapsed to the floor for 5 minutes in order to gather my senses and breathing.
Tonight I rowed 1,500 meters, but paced myself so I could finish the other elements of the workout.
I can tell you one thing, I’d rather run, row, bike, lift, etc. than do burpees, which was the final element of tonight’s HIIT. :grimace:
Since I have arthritic, patellar femoral, bone-on-bone knees I really can’t do burpees. Also can’t do/limit the following activities:
downhill running
box jumps
suicides
lunges
I’ve tried PRP, Synvisc and cortisone. Cortisone gives instant relief. Since it helps I’m getting my knees drained and cortisone shots in both knees every 3 months. I also;
-tape my knees with KT tape
use take CBD oil
-spend 45-60 minutes per day stretching, strength routine an do foam rolling.
My current training routine is:
-3-4 days Easy running based on heart rate as MOWC explained.
-1-2 days tempo running
-1-2 days interval (track) running
-1-2 days spinning or cycling
I turned into a fat man 10 years ago and largely with the motivation from folks on the original thread I dropped 40-50 pounds. I still have to be vigilant about food. It is still easy to gain weight when you exercise. I could easily eat a bag of Doritos in one setting! I’m 140 lbs now. My best racing weight is probably 130. I made a mistake 2 years ago getting down to close to 120 lbs. I lost muscle and speed and had to build back up. My name used to be OhioPublic but it changed when CC had the email issues? I don’t visit CC much anymore since I don’t have college-aged kids. Many of of us in the original group still contact each other other. I see some of them posting here again! “Hardcore” is not a level of physical activity minutes or intensity but a mindset.
Today was my hard run day. Until 12-18 months ago, I’ve not had a problem with treadmills. I used to do all my tempo/pace runs on them, lots of 15-16 milers, hill workouts, etc. But my gym switched out Mills and I just hate these. They are Precor which is a good brand. I just can’t get comfortable, so I quit - until 4-6 weeks ago. I’m trying to coax myself into getting into the groove slowly. Started with a 20 min session (after running outside) and am slowly working up pace and time.
So today was my usual peppy 4 miles outside and then a baby speed workout session. 4 sets of 4 min fastish with 3 min recovery. It was hard, but yesterday was legs, so not surprising.
Then 90 min of P90X yoga. 90 min in a yoga studio => fun! Good workout that relaxes the mind! 90 min with Tony in a gym with everyone staring? Not quite the same effect. I did my best and today was definitely better than the first two weeks. And I confess one benefit of following the video vs a studio is I can do my own thing if I want. I do enough core work so I played with arm balances (my fav) instead. Anything that requires strength Im pretty good at. Anything that requires flexibility? Well… let’s just say in the yoga studio, I was the worst in the room. I think 80 year old men are more flexible. Lol…
Thanks @Midwest67 It was an amazingly bad fall with bad “rug burns”. I still have scars. I did get up and finish my run! I didn’t realize how badly I screwed up my shin and knees!
9 miles this morning in flat, Southwest Florida. I got a little warm and dehydrated, but got it done. Cloudy and 63 to start, but it warmed up and the sun came out.
Yes, I can imagine how shocking it was to lose your brother!
I lost my mother to cancer — very quickly — when she was only 53. I don’t think I fully appreciated how young she was until I hit 53.
I hope your doctor can sort out your thyroid meds, although it may be difficult (IMO) if you are not settled into menopause yet. (Fluctuating hormone levels & the interaction between them).
5k - " still managed to finish under 30 minutes" … LOL, I’ll never be that fast. It’s ok because for me the main thing is to just get out and do my 5k (slow jog, usually around 38 min).
I have only gotten out about once a week this winter due to weather, company, work etc. But today I will definitely DO IT, partly because of this thread (and also because it will be 55 degrees - yay!)
i started doing intervals on the elliptical after knee replacement surgery (the doctor said no running and no jumping). i go back and forth between 7 and 15; 2 minutes 7, 1 minute 15. i am done in 15 minutes. much more intense than twice as long on the bike. (forgive the lack of capital letters; i broke my arm 10 days ago but that’s another story altogether.)
^ good to know about the elliptical, @oldmom4896 . H had a knee replacement on Tuesday, he’s doing well and in PT, but once he is completely healed he needs to get active.
Hope your arm heals soon!
S texted me this morning, he has been running quite a bit which is good, but he fell today (on his face), and broke the frame and lenses on the glasses he got in November. He lives in London and bought the glasses here, we will have to bring the replacement pair when we see him in April.
I have been spending a week here & a week there in Augusta, Georgia for the past few months (helping out elderly in laws). I LOVE being there in the fall/winter! They live (well, lived until recently - we are getting their house ready to sell because they transitioned to assisted living) in a gorgeous golf course community with lots of hills. I walk for at least an hour each morning while there, and I really enjoy it. This past week, it has been windy & cold at home … now rainy, damp & chilly. I can’t bring myself to go out to walk! I have a funeral to go to today for my cousin (63 - fell down the basement stairs & died - so sad), so I will put off walking for another day. I promise to get outside to walk tomorrow, though. (I am still doing my morning indoor workout, though.)
The elliptical is one of the best but most underrated pieces of cardio equipment. Load bearing but low impact, upper and lower chain involvement = lots of muscle groups engaged = easy to drive your heart rate up. And you can easily do it in front of a T.V. to avoid having the indoor cardio mental breakdown! If I’m not riding my Wahoo Kickr Bike off season, the elliptical is my go to piece.
Wow so many comments in just a few days.
I’m 59 and I was skinny until age 30 with little to no exercise. My nickname in high school was the 100 lb weakling. Fast forward to about 12 years ago and I found myself on a family vacation in Costa Rica huffing and puffing up small inclines. My Mom and Dad both died at age 72 and I had a lightbulb go off that If I wanted to live a long and full life I needed to make some changes. I began to be more careful about what I ate. I started out walking and moved on to a mix of walking and running in my neighborhood. I live in a hilly area and I would increase my periods of running until I felt pretty good about myself. I began having bursitis and needing 4 hip injections a year. The running and walking greatly decreased. I eventually found my way to a great PT. I haven’t had an hip injection in 4 almost 5 years. 3 years ago I had another awakening and made the decision to join a gym and commit to trying new things.
My first venture was Nia dancing- I have two left feet but I found it mentally therapeutic and good for my hips. I next ventured to a strength training class where the first months I struggled with light weights. I loved the trainer and I found a group of fellow exercisers who pushed me to get stronger. About a year in I was stronger and leaner through my hips but still had my middle stomach. My instructor suggested Pilates. Again it was hard as I’m the least flexible person in class with extremely tight hamstrings. I had always had a ruler shaped body and Pilates gave me a waistline. I am constantly amazed when I see my muscle definition.
I enjoy core strength exercise but I’m not a lover of cardio. I guess I’m vain in that I love what core and weight training has done for my body versus increasing my cardio capacity. Even when I ran I didn’t count miles I counted minutes. I did intervals on the stationary bike till my torn meniscus and arthritis made the bike not a good piece of equipment for me. I switched to the elliptical, I found I do better covering the timer and just going by number of songs on my phone. The elliptical was good after the knee surgery and I can do it without swelling. The bike and running still cause swelling and fluid buildup in my knee almost 11 months after surgery to clean the meniscus up. I’ve had several additional cortisone shots which help. In Oct I did my first bone density test and I was shocked to have osteopenia. Both my orthopedist and my PT have told me that the elliptical while good for my knee isn’t considered beneficial for bone density. I’m making myself walk the track and add in a little bit of light jogging.
I don’t feel old at all. I actually feel healthy and strong at 59. I want to be able to travel and not be limited by my body.
What I’ve also found since joining a gym is a new group of friends who encourage me and I do the same for them. It’s a sense of being in something together that I didn’t know I was missing when I ran alone.
Ive fallen into restricted eating since I’ve found I push myself more at the gym on an empty stomach. I no longer work so I’ve settled into a 10-12 workout window.
Do any of you exercise with your spouse? My H is extremely fit but has never been a gym person nor a runner. He gets all his exercise from actual sports. He plays beach volleyball at a high level and tennis. I’ve played tennis with him on occasion but we aren’t at the same level. He is also a disciplined eater which helps me.
The last three years each January I set fitness goals for the year. That is sometimes a goal of trying something new. So far this year I’ve tried a Zumba class. I’m a terrible swimmer and if I get the courage I might try swimming lessons this year.
Thanks for starting this thread.
That’s a good question @mom60 - do you tend to work out alone or with a spouse or other person?
I DO NOT work out with my spouse - sometimes we will take a walk together. In fact, I really just prefer working out on my own - me and my headphones. I would not mind finding a women’s running group of “slower” people like me.
@MichaelNKat that’s interesting about the elliptical! I never have given it enough credit!
He works 10-12 hour shifts (swing shift, ie, 9am-10pm) in a blue collar job and is exhausted. He sleeps a lot on his days off and watches a lot of Netflix to unplug from his life.
I can see his job is not good for his physical or mental health — but it pays our bills.
My stress level went down significantly when I changed jobs & our youngest left for college & ceased coming home except for short visits.
Actually, it was one of those things where the stress is just normal and you deal with it, not realizing the toll it was taking on you until it’s no longer there.
I also want to travel more & squeeze in some living before I can no longer manage it physically. It was too many years of a grind, just trying to raise a couple kids & keep our heads above water.
@FallGirl@MomofWildChild All these falls make me shudder! That really stinks about the glasses. I’ve had more than my share of falls and sprained my ankles more times than I can count, but fortunately never on a treadmill…
@Midwest67 how far as you from your hikes? I would love to join a group but the nearest one from me is 1:30 away. We live 1:30-2:00 from the AT, but H isn’t much of a hiker. He will humor me for 2-4 hours once in awhile. But driving 4 hours to hike for 2 isn’t something I want to do often.
@abasket - I practice yoga in a studio even though I could stream classes and practice at home. I like the teachers there and the energy of practicing with others. I have also made some friends there. I don’t mind running/walking alone as sometimes I just enjoy being with my own thoughts and letting my mind wander. But I also enjoy my running group because it’s such a great group of people and also motivates me to go farther and do more. And the time flies when we get into a good conversation!
The Sunday hike locations vary. The closest has been about 20 minutes away, and the farthest about 2.5 hours.
It’s not so bad on a Sunday because there is almost no traffic early on a Sunday morning.
The club also does weekend getaways. The farthest I’ve gone for one of those was Lake Superior.
We are out hiking anywhere from 3-5 hours, depending on terrain & mileage. Plus there is usually tailgating & socializing afterwards.
It’s a commitment, that’s for sure.
I do make progress on my podcast queue and/or audiobooks with the drive time!
There is a Meetup group I go with sometimes, based in WI. I’ll drive 1.5 to 2 hours to meet them. Fun bunch of people & I like a lot of their hike locations. They usually go out to grab something to eat afterwards, and really, I’m so tired by time I get home? the day is done.
I really need to expand my circle of friends, so even if I don’t hike every Sunday, I need to get out there regularly and keep in touch. Something as simple as pulling up in my car and having people pleased to see me is good for the soul.
I would not mind finding a women’s running group of “slower” people like me.