A couple of nights ago I found Kelly surfing the internet
looking for more exercises we could perform on gymnasts rings. She was viewing a video of a young man
learning to do the iron cross - a classic gymnast-rings position. The video showed the young man as he spent
years working up to being able to do a clean iron cross. By focusing on his form, and developing his
strength, he got there.
I compare this with one gent at the gym - he saw us working
on doing the flag (holding onto a vertical pole and holding your body
perpendicular to the pole. Right - it’s
a tough exercise. Anyway, this gent asks
if I think I will ever be able to do it.
Time for some background - I’ve introduced him to several exercises
to help him develop the muscles and ligaments that protect his joints. He comes back with ways to make the exercises
easier so he won’t have to work so hard. And complains that he hurts himself doing
things around his house and yard.
Another gentleman – met him years ago – he talked about how
he would do 20 chin-ups each day, along with lots of sit-ups and push-ups. As the years went by he mentioned his
exercises less and less, until, a couple of years ago, he admitted he didn’t do
them anymore.
When is it we start putting limits on what we can do? I suppose it is when we quit pushing
ourselves – or we quit doing what we have been doing. Then, in 4 or 5 years it’s not so much that
we choose not to continue to exercise, it becomes we really can’t do what we
used to do. Or, I suppose, we decide we
could never do that.
We decide to become old.
Lou Holtz is credited with saying “In this world you’re
either growing or you’re dying so get in motion and grow”. I can’t imagine a world where I would
acknowledge that I will not get any stronger.
OK, maybe when I am 80 – at which point I will do all I can to hold onto
what strength I have developed to that point.
Interesting quote from the Economist (7/8/17): “In a survey of Americans conducted by
researchers at Stanford University, 77% of respondents said they wanted to live
to 100, but only 42% claimed to be making a real effort to get there.”
I wish that I could lay out a plan to take someone who is 30
pounds overweight to being fit in the next 6 months. Sure, if someone goes vegan, cuts out excess
sugar doesn’t ladle on the salad dressing and rich sauces – they can lose a
pound a week or so. That is really the
best one can realistically hope for. Now
for the fitness part.
I prefer body-weight exercises – all the “UP’s”, like
push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups, sit-ups.
Throw in the plank, burpee, dips, calf raises, lunges and squats – hey,
this is quite an exercise routine!
The thing you need to do is get started. Determine how many push-ups you can do. OK, none?
That’s ok. Even knowing that is
progress! If none, try doing them with
your knees on the ground instead of your toes.
No matter how many or what kind – the critical element is that you work
at doing more in two weeks. And just
keep that up.
Sit-ups – try doing them on an inflated exercise ball.
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