Thread: It took a lot of years to get this.

On January first I made a promise to myself to get some form of exercise every single day. With my hip in the bad condition it's in, there is so much I can't do, and I decided I was just making excuses and knew that I could still get some form of workout in every day. I told my wife about my plan to make sure I couldn't just be like, "Oh, one day without exercise won't kill me."

I started with a couple of static holds with a barbell, one rack pull and one bench press, just holding the bar for 10 seconds. Then I went for a walk on the treadmill. The next day I ordered some bands, so I could get a variety of resistance exercises while the garage was too cold to lift in. I had one of those doorway chinup bars that you can hang a punching bag from, so I bought a heavy bag, and now...well, I've been doing band, light kettelbell, and bodyweight work since January first, and the change is really showing in my body. If I could run, I think the change would be more dramatic, but I'm down in pants size, and my belt is fitting smaller.

The temperature has gone up to hitting the 50s every day, and it will be getting into the 60s soon, so I'm training in the garage again...every single day, some form of exercise. I'm really happy with the change in weight, body fat, and overall health. At some point this year I'll get my hip replaced, so I'll be able to do full squats again. Right now I have to use a chair of bench for box squats, and they have to be bodyweight or front squats due to the higher hip activity with a back squat...but it's something.

As of Sunday, I'm lifting at a higher volume, getting more protein in my diet, and having just a great time enjoying my training and loving the warmer weather, feeling very peaceful most of the time.

I wish I'd been in this mental state a long time ago. I spent a lot of years messing myself up, sabotaging myself, not sticking to anything, and being too worried with the result instead of the process. See, I also started studying Japanese again this year, only this time, I'm not throwing myself into so I burn out in a couple weeks. I've been very slowly working at it for six months instead of burning out at six weeks. I can now understand some of what I hear in the news and on TV shows. My exercise is the same. I'm very slowly making progress and have stuck with it for four months so far without an injury.

Anyway, my routine right now is:

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Push Pull Legs Push Pull Legs Body Weight

I walk and hit the heavy bag every day...when the whether gets warmer, I'll be doing a lot of "play" workouts outside.

I don't know if I'll stick with journaling, though. I always seem to get bored recording what I do...

Sunday 4/6/2021

Overhead Press
1x5x85
1x5x75 - Shoulder is killing me
1x5x75

Bench Press
1x15x115
1x12x115
1x10x105

Incline Dumbbell Fly
1x10x15
1x10x15
1x10x15

Incline Dumbbell Bench
1x15x25
1x15x25
1x15x20
1x15x20

Walk

Monday, 4/6/2021

Heavy Bag
3 rounds, 5 minutes, 1 minute break between rounds

Walk
1 mile

Chest Supported BB Row
1x10x75
1x12x75
1x10x75

Chest Supported DB Row
1x12x25
1x12x25
1x12x20
1x15x20

Y Pull
1x10x20
1x10x20
1x10x20

Pulldown, pronated grip
1x12x40
1x12x40
1x12x40
1x15x40

DB Curls
1x18x20

Tuesday, 4/6/2021

Heavy Bag
3 rounds, 5 minutes, 1 minute break between rounds

Walk
I made it about 50 yards before the pain got to be too much

Front Squats
1x10xempty bar
1x10xempty bar
1x10xempty bar

Straight Leg Deadlift
1x5xempty bar
1x5x95

Weighted Glute Bridge
Too much pain, couldn't even get into position, muscle just wouldn't fire

Glute Bridge Static Hold, Unweighted
30 seconds