SPINNING

This is my all time favorite video...not sure that that says about me.



Scanning for videos that reflected what I was feeling and came across this. The words are much deeper than I every really thought.



This is the song that turned me on to Tom Petty...I loved Tom and my sister loved Mick Jagger.



The man is in his 70s...still talented and mighty fine...



Ana Popovic for something new...



 And of course Prince...I am hearing talk that this was the best NFL Super Bowl half time show. Agree or Disagree? 

http://deadspin.com/lets-watch-princes-super-bowl-halftime-show-the-best-w-1772302774

ANY VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

AND I QUOTE

There's a great deal of power gained from practicing loss; as Master Yoda said, "Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."

UPDATE

I spent some time thinking about what I wrote yesterday about my injury.

I don't want people especially older people to think that they shouldn't exercise because they will get injured.  Yesterday, despite my injury, I was committed to some volunteer work.  I used crutches.  I was hobbling.  A few peoples asked what happened and I mumbled something unintelligible.  They all said, "Oh was it from exercise?"  The reality is it is not the exercise that is the problem, it is the person doing the exercise.

Usually, and especially in my case, you do more than you should.  I had learned to control this tendency somewhat.)  Some people start exercising without proper instruction and their form sucks.  I've seen form at the YMCA that makes my eyes bleed.  You see, it is the person, not the exercise that is the problem.

I have really learned to modify what I do but as I said yesterday, I pushed myself way to far with the squat challenge.  I didn't listen to my body.  As a result, I paid the price.

Even today.  I went to buy one of these...

and what do I do.  I park a gazillion miles away from the store.  It was the wrong decision.

The reason I updated the previous entry is to tell everyone to keep on exercising.  Just do it right.  I want to inspire you to move your bodies.  It is so important.  Just do it right.

As much as I want to attend the above (especially looking at pics from recent events.), I am not sure I can make it a reality this year.

IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE JOURNEY

It looks like I may have gone from this...

to this...

at least temporarily.  I think when I did three days of the squat challenge in one day last January, I hurt my leg but not enough to concern me.  I think my current training regiment exacerbated the condition enough to be debilitating.  What I think I need to do now is rest that leg (there will be an upper body work out going on) but the lower body will only being doing exercises from Kevin Carr and those will be exercises will improve the leg.  I will be moving and walking sometimes with those crutches because I believe you need to move to improve. 

Resting the leg from deadlifting, squatting and pressing means I probably will not have enough time to train to hit my numbers for the SF Barbell Certification.  However, I know me.  I fight so I will never count myself out.  Knock me down but never count me out.  Ever. 

FIT, FAB, OVER 50 AND FUNCTIONAL

You're fit, fab and over 50 but you need to be functional too.  Injury or pain limit can limit your movement, your independence and your mental health.  The older you get the more important limiting pain and injury becomes.  When you do develop pain it is important to keep moving and to seek treatment...the treatment I am talking about is not pills but movement.

As we age, movement can become more difficult and we are more prone to injury.  Keeping mobile is so very important for a long, functional, happy older life.  Walking, biking, running, strength training and even housework can cause injury and pain but they also keep us healthy and help us maintain balance.     


When I train for events or train with a specific goal in mind, I do sometimes find myself with some serious limiting pain.  That is where I found myself this weekend.  Walking was difficult.  Movement was difficult.  Workouts were non-existent. 

What I decided I needed to do was make an appointment with my massage therapist, but not just any massage therapist.  He is a fitness coach extraordinaire.  He is committed to keeping people functional.  He was my coach and for a long period of time he was trainer to a group of older fitness enthusiasts.  He understands.

I started seeing Kevin Carr of Movement as Medicine even before he was fully licensed.  I had long standing problems with my feet, developed some shoulder mobility issues and had some hand issues.  Not only did Kevin treat my issues but he provided me with exercises and strategies to keep the pain at bay.  If I do my exercises regularly, I am pretty much pain free.  Before today, it has been almost a physical pain free year. 

Kevin Carr

But there is always something...This current leg issue seemed more complex.  Of course, it isn't.  One session with Kevin and I am about 50% improved.  He provided great exercises.  This weekend through today I had my sad desperate face on...I was concerned. 

Today, that frown is turned upside down.  Soon I will be me again.  Most importantly, Kevin said to keep training (if it doesn't hurt). 

My message to my older friends is to please keep moving and please take advantage of therapeutic massage therapy when those joints feel painful and when you feel like you can't put one foot in front of the other.  I would also recommend Kevin...I promise he will understand your pain and speaking from personal experience, he can solve any problem. 

Also, what I decided to do is to get myself a Varidesk....an adjustable height desk.  I really need to sit and stand during the course of the day at work.  Desk jobs do a number on the body and while I've employed a number of strategies to help keep my sedentary day a little more active, the ability to sit and stand will help with aching hips, tight IT bands and trigger points in the butt.

Arriving on Monday

     
Get out there and move!

And kudos to my co-blog author...Girlie!

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, OBEY YOUR PASSIONS

To begin...some days this is how we write blog posts...

I have been talking about my training for the Strong First Barbell Certification.  Here is a great blog posting on what the 3-day weekend entails.

https://positiveforcestrength.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/the-ultimate-game-changer-strongfirst-sfl/

And my report on my training is...I am struggling and concerned.  I believe in my mindset but I can't always believe in my body.  I am beyond fatigued.  I feel like I cannot sleep enough.  Also, I've run into a "injury" issue...my right leg is in pain.  In particular, most of the time, it is my right IT band.  It is surprising how everything I need to do....the bench, the military press, the deadlift and the squat impact the legs but they do.

Here is a log of my work outs:

W4D1: Thursday 3/31/16

Deadlift - Let's just say I went far too heavy for the number of reps and sets I had to do.  My form was trash at the end of the sets. 

Bench press - I went up to 75 and felt okay.

I finished with barbell row, shoulder taps and hamstring curls.

The amount of weight I put on the bar kept getting screwed up.  I couldn't add for the life of me.  This isn't meant as an excuse but it is a very long day.  I start work at 6:00 am and start my work out at 5:30 PM. 

This particular day I had to dig deep to get myself to SOS.  I was exhausted and wasn't sure what I had.  In addition, my IT band has been affecting my sleep.  One solution I have is to seek treatment, again, with Kevin Carr at Movement is Medicine.  This isn't the first time I've had the problem.  When I use to run, I had frequent IT band issues. 

W4D2:  This was suppose to occur on Saturday 4/2/1.  However, I had a 10:00 appointment.  No problem.  I will get to the YMCA at 7:00, get it done, get an ice coffee and get to my appointment.  Let's just say, things didn't go as planned. 

So the following day, Sunday, 4/3/16, I dragged my sorry ass to the YMCA at 10:00 AM (way too late0 and it wasn't pretty. I did my pre-work with lots of foam rolling.  I decided to forego TGU's and KB swings.  I hit the bar for military presses.  UGH...50 pounds was very difficult.  There was no progression.  Ugh...deadlifts.  Just didn't feel right.  So, I gathered my belongings and went home.

Early in the afternoon, I was able to do my deadlifts at a lower weight, did the rows and around the worlds.  I threw in some carries.

Now, my schedule for the week is affected.  I can't work out today because that would be two days in a row.  I will do some foam rolling, stretching and mobility work but that is it.  So it will need to either be Tuesday or Wednesday at 5:00 AM. 

So, let's just say, at the moment, I am very discouraged...I reminded myself of injuries/health issues I had at the beginning of my training for the SFG.  This just feels different. 

And I Quote Sunday