Wee Wii

Is one out of shape if they're sore the day after playing Wii Boxing?

No? Good. I would hate to think I'm out of shape.

Dust Off and Climb Back On

I noticed that when I was golfing on Saturday, I became a bit winded walking up one of the steeper hills on the course. Such that for a minute or two, conversation was a tad labored. Yes, its a really big hill and kills (figuratively) other golfers so much that those that walk (which I always do) avoid that nine altogether. And, yes, I'm 40 now. But still.....

When I mentioned it to Mrs. Blogger she sort of looked right through me. I think it was in the vein of "that's not the Nouveau I know!" but it might have been in the "yeah, you are letting yourself get disgustingly out of shape". Hmmmm.....

In any event, I have only been to the gym three times since Vegas almost a month ago and before that I was concentrating more on lifting than cardio. I resolve to take this as a kick in the ass! I can get back into the lifting no problem. The time off might have been good for me even as I'm nursing assorted injuries.

So, I lifted last night. That was great. Lately I've had people tell me I looked bigger which is reward enough for how hard I worked over the winter. Do you know it takes a 40 year old twice as much working out to gain the same amount of muscle a 20 year old does? There's THAT much less testosterone in the system. How crappy is that?

My workouts were at the expense, somewhat, of my cardiovascular conditioning. I don't care for the treadmill or the time out of the house nor the injuries I keep getting. But HATE not being in shape even more. So when I got home from the gym I went out for a run. Yeah, it was chilly (fucking summer get here already! They're talking snow tonight!), it was windy and I hated it for the most part, but I'm going to really try to get three days running and one day biking per week until July 4. Then reassess from there.

And, since I stated it here I can't let my good readers down can I? Plus, I don't EVER want that look from Mrs. B again.

Furthermore, I need to start my fitday entries again too. Which I will, starting today!

I started slow last night. 1.5 miles in 12:28 (my neighborhood is hilly too). I will try not to be speed-conscious but just try to log the mileage and take it from there along with mixing in a bike ride on the weekends. Throw in a round or two of golf and that should make for a nice, rounded week of exercise. Hopefully I can make some headway. I even brought in a Weight Watchers Smart One for lunch. I think its their Classic Ass of Dog meal, but I'm not positive.

For sure, if I can walk that hill again and hold a normal conversation, Mrs. Blogger will find me irresistible, right? Wish me luck!

Dont Get Old

There's tons of bitching blogs out there so please indulge me as I bitch too.

I pulled my calf, yet again, last night on the treadmill. I just can't maintain any kind of continuous exercise without injury. What was I thinking when I toyed with the idea of running a marathon in the fall? Sheesh!

I suppose for many, the lack of being as fit as they could be is time or motivation. For me, its pain. My 40-year-old body is running ragged after years of sports-related physical abuse --

Tackle football, unpadded, into my 20's while getting hit by guys 100 lbs heavier? Sure! No problem. I'll hold my breath tight and ward off the blow.

Running into a fence in centerfield to catch a friggin' softball? Its chain-link and has some give....long as I don't hit a pole. Besides, we're only down 12 runs, this could be a game-breaker.

Rollerblading at night up and down stairs, off walls, over fire hydrants? That's dangerous? Oh, that unusually bent wrist? It can be fixed by an Advil. Or an Orthopedist.

Skiing bumps through the trees on legs that can barely support me in the lift line? Oh, certainly that's not dangerous. In any event, there's an ice cold Bud Lite waiting on me in the lodge!

Ok, I have an even better idea. How about skiing behind a 4x4 with a tow-rope on newly snow-covered streets? Surely, there's minimal inherent risk in that, isn't there? Was that a cop?

Alas, I remember that difficult descent on my sparkling new mountain bike that I hadn't even rode around the block. My confidence bolstered by the cool suspension and my sweet new colorful biker shirt. Piece of cake. Sorta.

Anyway, its no wonder I just can't seem to stay healthy, especially cardio-wise.

After skiing on Sunday, my knees, left big toe and back ached. Now I have this tight spot in my left calf. Goes nicely with my achey right wrist. Same one I broke years ago. Its been bothering me for months and I think I jambed it skiing too. Hmmm...then there's the wicked case of tendinitis in my left elbow. Don't know how that came about, but it hurst like hell lately. Those take forever to get better. And don't get me started on my shoulders. I can't even swim anymore as any kind of pulling motion, especially with my arms away from my body, is painful. Or when The Little One wants to use daddy as a jungle-gym.

Of course, I'm thankful that there's nothing life-threatening or even life-altering But damn! It sure get annoying.

Don't get old.

**Sigh**

Baby Weight in Men

Has anyone ever done a study on MEN gaining weight after having children? Obviously, many women gain weight during pregnancy and have difficulty losing the pounds afterwards. I think men do too, lol. When my daughter was born over 4 years ago, I was a lean, reasonably muscular 172 lbs. Now I am a doughey 188 (as of this morning), lol. The lifestyle changes necessary to raise a young child sure cramps into the workout routine, doesn't it? I think I've skied 4 times since her birth (used to ski about 8 times a year) and my mountain bike is a spider haven tucked into the back of the garage. And I don't even want to get into the number of planned workouts that were shot to hell because of some unforeseen parental responsibility.