To Lift Or Not To Lift?

[superqt4u2nv]

Yeah this is how I feel......I need to find different ways. More sex? More shopping? eating more chocolate? I hear these are good too...hehe!

Sassy, how many times a week do you work out? Do you go heavy? Do you have a log anywhere on EF?!

I am not Sassy but here is a link to her log Sassy69 log of fit and fabulousness well in GA

 

[blueta2]

I am not Sassy but here is a link to her log Sassy69 log of fit and fabulousness well in GA

who's the best and sweetest Canadian everrrrrrrrrrr!

Thanks D

 

[Sassy69]

Yeah this is how I feel......I need to find different ways. More sex? More shopping? eating more chocolate? I hear these are good too...hehe!

Sassy, how many times a week do you work out? Do you go heavy? Do you have a log anywhere on EF?!

Normally I train 6-7 days/ week - if not lifting, cardio, abs, class, something. I was training for a show this past summer but due to age, weights, accumulation of stress on various joints, I am now seeing an orthopaedic guy for tendonitis in my shoulders (rotators) & bursitis & possible torn meniscus in my knees. Right now I'm in the middle of getting some final diagnoses on this stuff so I can plan some sort of rehab or figure out what exactly I can do in the gym. So far I can do upper body stuff, but my weights are down by 1/2 in some cases due to the pain and I avoid anything that puts my grip in a 'lat grip' which aggravates my shoulders. Knees-wise - I've avoided legs anythign for several weeks now with some sporadic cardio. Should get the final word on the torn meniscus on Thurs.

So summary - no I doubt I'll be lifting "heavy" ever again. So I need to figure out some different approaches. I have a log floating around somewhere but its trailed off w/ my sporadic training. Diet is pretty tight - mostly I don't eat enough anymore - which is fine w/ me.

 

[Sassy69]

I am not Sassy but here is a link to her log Sassy69 log of fit and fabulousness well in GA

Damn you're quick.


And I concur -- hot, sweet canuck!

 

[blueta2]

Normally I train 6-7 days/ week - if not lifting, cardio, abs, class, something. I was training for a show this past summer but due to age, weights, accumulation of stress on various joints, I am now seeing an orthopaedic guy for tendonitis in my shoulders (rotators) & bursitis & possible torn meniscus in my knees. Right now I'm in the middle of getting some final diagnoses on this stuff so I can plan some sort of rehab or figure out what exactly I can do in the gym. So far I can do upper body stuff, but my weights are down by 1/2 in some cases due to the pain and I avoid anything that puts my grip in a 'lat grip' which aggravates my shoulders. Knees-wise - I've avoided legs anythign for several weeks now with some sporadic cardio. Should get the final word on the torn meniscus on Thurs.

So summary - no I doubt I'll be lifting "heavy" ever again. So I need to figure out some different approaches. I have a log floating around somewhere but its trailed off w/ my sporadic training. Diet is pretty tight - mostly I don't eat enough anymore - which is fine w/ me.

Well you're still getting "busy" 6-7 days a week. That is great!
Have you ever just stopped? Like stopped all lifting for like months or a year? I sometimes wonder if I just stop for 3 months if my joints would heal and my strength would come back.
I do walk and swim so am making up for lost gym time.
I too am not a big eater....

 

[Sassy69]

I take time off --- its been primarily when I've had some upheaval in my life -- when I moved to Atlanta - I lived in a shitty 'corporate housing' apt and had no idea how to get around. When I've worked crazy hours and simply didn't have the bandwidth to do it. And a couple times when I've been out for injuries - particularly a lower back problem I had a few yrs ago. So its been like maybe 2 months max w/o any training. I don't get all hung up if I need the time off. I've become very accepting of my body & my mind -- i.e. I listen to what my body says I need. Sometimes I get lazy, but maybe its because I need it. If I start getting pissy about goign to the gym (or not going), then its time to go back because then I'm just being obstinant - i.e. STFU & Lift. I always try to remind myself how much better & in control I feel when I go vs. staying in bed or whatever. Its not a hard argument.

I don't know specifically what your joint issues are -- I've worked around tendonitis in both my elbows for years. The rotator & knee issues have resulted in some crazy responses from the rest of my body i.e. - rotator gets stressed, therefore the whole rest of that side of my back engages to compensate for the rotator as the weak point. Result? A gigantic knot that runs up that side of my spin, twitchy rhomboids and my scapula needs to be pushed back in. Knees - I can just be sittign there & they start to throb. When pain like that starts to affect my regular life, that's like trying to ride a bike that is out of alignment - you can live w/ it but it makes you feel like either like a complete whiner or a cripple -- you know say things like "Oh I can't do that - I have bad knees." Holy God -- that's stuff you hear from sedentary people who have aged 20 yrs beyond their chronological age. Sorry - I intend to be riding a Harley when I'm 90. I gotta keep up my strength & agility because there's nothign but younger guys left to date.

 

[blueta2]

I take time off --- its been primarily when I've had some upheaval in my life -- when I moved to Atlanta - I lived in a shitty 'corporate housing' apt and had no idea how to get around. When I've worked crazy hours and simply didn't have the bandwidth to do it. And a couple times when I've been out for injuries - particularly a lower back problem I had a few yrs ago. So its been like maybe 2 months max w/o any training. I don't get all hung up if I need the time off. I've become very accepting of my body & my mind -- i.e. I listen to what my body says I need. Sometimes I get lazy, but maybe its because I need it. If I start getting pissy about goign to the gym (or not going), then its time to go back because then I'm just being obstinant - i.e. STFU & Lift. I always try to remind myself how much better & in control I feel when I go vs. staying in bed or whatever. Its not a hard argument.

I don't know specifically what your joint issues are -- I've worked around tendonitis in both my elbows for years. The rotator & knee issues have resulted in some crazy responses from the rest of my body i.e. - rotator gets stressed, therefore the whole rest of that side of my back engages to compensate for the rotator as the weak point. Result? A gigantic knot that runs up that side of my spin, twitchy rhomboids and my scapula needs to be pushed back in. Knees - I can just be sittign there & they start to throb. When pain like that starts to affect my regular life, that's like trying to ride a bike that is out of alignment - you can live w/ it but it makes you feel like either like a complete whiner or a cripple -- you know say things like "Oh I can't do that - I have bad knees." Holy God -- that's stuff you hear from sedentary people who have aged 20 yrs beyond their chronological age. Sorry - I intend to be riding a Harley when I'm 90. I gotta keep up my strength & agility because there's nothign but younger guys left to date.

I've taken 2 months off also (summer of 2005) and the guilt was insane. I do push myself to go back and of course felt happy I did!
My joint pain is cause from inflammation. I have a few health issues also, which keep me in peril, but I still try to kick butt when I get to the gym.
Like you I do the "STFU and lift".
I guess I am just at a crossroads with this. I need more, better, less, more etc......

Is Harley your boyfriend?...hehe kidding!
There are lots of good old farts left to date

 

[wlmcrae]

Yoga is actually a hella resistance workout - a yoga instructor is usually CUT and looks like an anatomical model for perfect muscle tone.

 

[jenscats5]

I would recommend to keep the lifting - but as Sassy said, change HOW you lift.....just use diff. methods.....

Studies have shown that older women to lift weights are WAY LESS likely to break a bone when they fall down the stairs then women who don't.....

And if you're not taking glucosamine/chondroiten/msm - then start....helps my joints tremendously....And think about getting a 1x a month massage to help with pain/soreness issues.....

And I dunno about Madonna - but Demi has spent $50,000 on plastic surgery (or so I've read, whether to believe it....eh!)......

 

[blueta2]

I would recommend to keep the lifting - but as Sassy said, change HOW you lift.....just use diff. methods.....

Studies have shown that older women to lift weights are WAY LESS likely to break a bone when they fall down the stairs then women who don't.....

And if you're not taking glucosamine/chondroiten/msm - then start....helps my joints tremendously....And think about getting a 1x a month massage to help with pain/soreness issues.....

And I dunno about Madonna - but Demi has spent $50,000 on plastic surgery (or so I've read, whether to believe it....eh!)......

Hi Jen...thanks for the input. I will start glucosamine this week. I may start MSM also.
I will try to adjust my work outs with less weights and maybe add more exercises.
My massage therapist is my amazing boyfriend who always takes care of that.