Training & Nutrition - Just for looks

Disclaimer: I am all for physical fitness in any shape or form.

Having said that...

Sometimes I wonder what's up with our modern society. It seems like we "work out" just to build muscles and "fitness," but what are we getting "fit" for? Are we getting stronger just so we can push/pull/bend ever more effectively on a training machine?

Or is it part of our "showy" culture. "I'll show you mine and you show me yours." I admire a great body (and there are multitudes of better bodies than mine). But what would our forefathers think? Can we chop wood better? Can we lift a bag of seed better? Can we plow better? Maybe, but since we don't need to, why have bodies that ripple beneath tight shirts, unless we are out to impress someone else?

Don't get me wrong. It's a whole lot better than being out of shape. But why build the body if all it will ever be used for is, well, building itself?

(Ok, I'm not stupid. We are building a "chick magnet." ;))

(Now I'm going into hiding and wait out the counter-attack...)

We are building a "chick magnet."

Now you've done it!!


I must admit that my wife likes the way I now look.
It beats the "beer belly" look any day.

I don't really worry about how I look. I just do what I enjoy (i.e. riding) and leave it at that.

Chris

I don't much care what I look like. If I did, I'd probably own a comb (still have pretty much all of my hair).

What I do care about is living a lil longer than I would if I didn't 'get fit'. My mothers side of our family has a nasty history of heart disease. My loving mother died of a massive coronary at 65. I'm 51 now. 6 weeks ago I had my first physical in 10 years. Doctor looked at my cholesterol level and blood pressure and called me back in.

He told me that those levels and my families history indicated that I would be dead VERY SOON if I didn't take measures to change my ways. Then he told me that if I didn't reduce both (I forget what levels) in 3 months, he would put me on meds. I DO NOT WANT MEDS! More importantly, having recently married to a wonderful woman, I want to live to much more than 65 years of age.

That's all it took to get me off my butt and away from this computer. I knew I wasn't in great shape. And I know that I wouldn't have changed my ways without a wake-up call. Happily for me the call came from my doctor rather than a heart-attack!

The plus side is, I'm having a blast getting fit and seeing the differences! One of the most exciting things (progress-wise) is being able to look down and see my toes again! Life is good! :D

Do I use too many !'s????

??

:)

Bill,

Your name is the same as my dad's! :eek:

Anyway, I read about a guy who only started cycling at about 65 or so (retirement age.) He lived to be 90, still riding long distances even at that ripe old age!

No guarantees, but the odds are with you!

psst....Peter...I am NOT your dad! :)

Pete,
Exercise comes under the heading-
If you don't use it you lose it

Hey Nobby, got some good news about cycling and cholesterol.
A little over a year ago I had my cholesterol checked and it was 240. Had it checked last Friday and it's now 168. Dropped 72 points in just over a year. Strictly diet and cycling, no drugs.:) I was grinnin' all day!

Hey Dirtgrinder! That's great news. I need that kind of encouragement. But would you re-post that message with a claim that you lowered your cholesterol that much in 3 months please? I started at the equivalent of 286 (7.4) and my doctor wants it below 6 (I don't remember what that works out to in the terms yawl in the yew-ess ewes).

Between dieting, exercising and not smoking (this is the end of my third smoke-free day), I'm trying to get it down by the end of September.

Keep yer powder dry!

I'd say you can do it easily Nobby. I didn't check mine for over a year but I really think it was lower much sooner. I don't eat eggs, period. They have well over 200 mg. of cholesterol in them. So just 2 eggs is over 400 mg. You can eat a lot of not so good for you food and not get that much. For instance canned chili has about 20 mg. If you do eat eggs, you might at least give them up for the three months and then eat them with moderation.
Good Luck and let us know how you do. DG

Nobby,
DG is right about the benefits of cycling. I'm 56 and have dropped 40 pounds in a year.
I had my annual physical last month and the doctor was VERY pleased with everything. My cholesterol was 167.
All I've done is watch what I eat and ride.

I started commuting to work on my "old" bike (14.5 miles one way) last month. I know those extra miles will only help improve my overall health. :thumbup:

There are a few others here who are older that me, so don't let age stop you.
And there are plenty of folks here to offer all the encouragement you need.

Good luck and keep us informed of your progress.

Originally posted by pat5319
Exercise comes under the heading-
If you don't use it you lose it
... and "you don't cease to exercise because you grow old, you grow old when you cease to exercise." Same thing can be said for "play." The right kind of exercise, biking for example, can be as enjoyable as play - not to mention healthy.... and since we're sharing cholesterol experiences, after only four months of regular biking mine was:

total count 218 down to 187
trigylcerides (fat) 101 down to 55
HDL ("good"cholesterol) 39 up to 47
LDL ("bad" cholesterol) 159 down to 129

I dropped only 12 pounds, but that's 1-1/2" off my waist; I'm 5'9" 170 pounds now.

My doctor has taken up biking.

Bentrox, that's terrific progress! excuse me while I go spend the weekend peddling my butt (and cholesterol) off.