Dec 26 to 30

 

photobomb by Perry the Platypus

An odd week - working in the late afternoon every day, but finishing off workouts before has been an odd sensation. 

Still, picked up what is called an Assault bike/fan bike/ ayre dyne/ air bike yesterday. I need to alter it a little - I found the manual online and need to make it so that someone taller than 5 feet can use it. Still, it'll be a cool item to have. I used it yesterday instead of battle ropes and it did the job.

Closed my rings every day - swimming and HIIT workouts are in the afternoon or evening. Yoga/bodyweight workouts as soon as I wake up. 

One of these days I woke up at 10am, instead of the usual 6am. Was the weirdest feeling - and it was as though I lost half the day! Back at waking up early and getting things done. 

I'm enjoying this process of regaining my fitness - there are many roads to Rome, as they say. I just want the road to be shorter ... which I know isn't the way to think about this. I'll be on the grind here for a while.

I move things around and refreshed the garage gym this week, too. More mat space, less stereo. I've still got the iMac showing off movies and DVDs in there. 

With that said, I'm looking forward to 2023. I'm sure hoping things continue to go forward in my life. 

Dec 19 to 25

This was a rather odd week. I was always tired, as this was the end of the toughest part of the year for me. Just getting to Christmas Break without a major fight for my health was a nice break from the usual routine about this time of year. Lots of water and an easy-effort diet. 

Monday to Thursday was nice and boring - circles finished off without any difficulty. Friday was being stuck in the house and napping a lot. I mean a lot. Saturday was more of the same. Water and a little early morning yoga then napping. It was restful.

Sunday was Christmas and I got up stupid early as I am wont to do these days and got my yoga stretching in before getting coffee. My children are getting older and so waking up before dawn isn't a thing for them anymore. We had everything done by 9am though. Which was a respectful hour. We slunk away to our respective spots and then chilled for the day. I did get a rather nice HIIT session done before we went to the turkey dinner, too. 

A very cool Sumola

I did get my sandbag back in the mix here, too. I was watching a few guys from India use piece of wood as exercise equipment and thought that I could use the sandbag for that. It was awkward as I'd never done the movements before, but I see myself keeping this type of training up.  Kinda cool, too.

Need to get my PVC Indian clubs out for this summer. 

Anyway, the side hustle starts up again this week and I'm also looking forward to getting some swims and HIIT sessions. Maybe even a yoga class. Who knows, right?

HIIT workouts were:

5-minute warm-up on elliptical machine

2 minutes kb - 2 handed swings, one handed cleans and presses

90-second swings with sandbag - its' about 16-18 kilos at the moment.

90 seconds of battle ropes

then back to the elliptical for at least two minutes. Then another round of this. Got to 40 minutes today and it was pretty sweaty inside a very cold garage.

Dec 7 to 18

Apologies, Dominus. I've been watching season one of Spartacus on the iMac in my garage gym this week. It's nice seeing this again for the first time in a while. Also helps with getting and keeping the elliptical machine moving.

I think I missed closing my Apple Watch rings one day out of these ten or so days. Not for trying - I keep stretching in the mornings and getting myself set up for the day with at least 25 minutes of activity before I get up and start the day.

Those twenty-five minutes are critical to so many things these days. So much more mobility, and so many more days of pain-free movement. Critical. 

After that, swimming and HIIT/cardio sessions in the afternoon or evenings are the things to close my rings.

I'm stretching both out - swimming to at least 750-800 m in a half hour or so when I go. The HITT or cardio sessions were at twenty or so minutes but I keep getting them to 35 minutes or longer. 

The actual workouts are merely adding on laps or rounds of the previous workouts listed here. I'll do that until the end of the month and then change it up a bit. The stretching I'm always adding to - I got several things to add every week. I'll just keep watching Yoga for men on Youtube and keep learning. In the new year, much into the new year so as to miss the crowds, I'll get a class in at least once a week. I'm still very much so stupid I would embarrass myself if I went now, I think. 

Nov 28 to Dec 6

I dunno what is happening - I can't get pics off of my phone. Had a nice one of the pool from Monday night ready to go and can't seem to get it over to this machine.

Whatever.

This was a week of going for it. I went over and above what it was I needed to do in order to close the rings - I had three HIIT sessions and two swimming sessions. I got them at least five minutes longer each. 

That was going in the right direction. 80 minutes of exercise a day is going to have an effect on you.

I'm still more than a few kilos over what I think I should be to be healthy, but I'm making some progress. 

I also hit an early morning stretching session every day as well. Mobility is up and I'm walking pain free. I did want to get a run in tonight, but schedules got messed up tonight and so I went and did a HIIT session in my garage gym. All good. 

I will mention that I had Full Metal Jacket playing on the iMac in my garage gym as I was training this evening. Getting anything done with R Lee Emery yelling at Private Pyle is guaranteed to be done five minutes more quickly than you thought possible.

Nov 20-27

 

I'm going to give this week and solid B

Still have something hanging out in my lungs - I cough up some gross goo once or twice a day, but for the most part, I'm sleeping well and getting the days done.

Two swimming sessions and at least one HIIT session this week - along with trying hard not to push into illness.

HIIT session was five rounds of:

2 min elliptical

20 two-handed swings with a 16-kilo bell

10 KB cleans

10 KB presses

10 rows

10 waiter holds with leg raises

5 DB curls with 20 lb DB

1-minute battle ropes.

Man, I wanted to get a pic of the battle ropes after that workout, but I forgot. It was pretty cool to use them in the garage after all this time. 

Swimming sessions both looked like this:

100 m warm-up breaststroke

200 m front crawl - arms only

100 m breaststroke

100m legs only

200 m front crawl

100 m warm down

Not a horrible workout, but again, just trying to get through it without putting too much stress on myself. Need to stay healthy. Need to keep showing up. When I can get through a night's sleep without snoring myself awake I'll push that back over 1000 m. 

Nov 9 to 20

 

This time period has been a tricky one - dealing with the flu and its aftereffects. 

Before the days I missed, I was soldiering on and getting the circles done. During this time - I got to work and suffered through as much as I could and took some time off in order to make sure I didn't kill anyone ... 

the workouts have been HIIT and swimming along with stretching yoga. It's been a mixed bag these days, but I have to keep my body moving with the stretching/yoga. Not sure what else to call it.

Oct 30 to Nov 8

Whoops, missed another week, sort of.

I'm writing this post in front of a few students, just to let them know that this is straightforward and can be done.

Adventures in stretching continue - early morning, just after I wake up 20 minutes of stretching are honestly helping with my legs and hips. I hate getting old, man. Starting off the day with a few minutes of moving help. 

Later in the day, it is bodyweight and kettlebell training. The typical circuit is:

20 two-handed swings

10 kb cleans

10 kb clean and presses

5-8 banded hip extensions

planks for 30 seconds

Do that four or five times as a circuit and it is all good. Doing this every day or every other day is helping. I'm finishing off my circles or whatever they are called on my Apple Watch by 8pm usually. If not, swimming has finished them off. I have a bunch of pics from both the indoor and outdoor pool from this time to confirm. Also ... not drowning is always awesome. 

What else? I did a few hikes and walks here and there, and know that I need to get back to running to make things move in my favour even more quickly. That will happen shortly. 

Oct 18 to 29

Chilly but a golden moment

Whoops, missed a week.

No matter, the last two weeks have been pleasantly dull. Morning stretches have turned into morning Yoga sessions because of my weird thing going on and waking up at 5:30 am.

The afternoons are a combination of yoga and HITT sessions now - lots of kettlebell, bodyweight and band training.  I'm also using a big stretching ball on the quads and a smaller roller on my hips and gastrocs. I'm bringing the 16-kilo bell in this week coming up.

I'm using the bands to work on my hamstrings and hip flexors. Still looking for further education on that. Still, my hips like it. These sessions used to be 20 minutes and are now at least 30, sometimes closer to 40.

I've been swimming in the evenings, too - went at least twice each week. Good fitness and mobility training all around. Really though, I'm glad I bought the snorkel as it makes the workouts better and I worry less about drowning. The pool is now open until 11pm though the week. Another thing going back to "normal".

I did make it to the beach Oct 30th - the shot for this post is from that adventure. Like I said, I want this year to be nice and boring and doing boring stuff like walking on the beach is boring but fun. All I want is boring. Boring means I get fit without the cops being called. No drama.

Oct 11 to 17

Yeah, more of the same - yoga in the afternoon, followed by yoga in the evening or a swim. 

Work does tend to get in the way, but I did manage a 1 km walk at work while on break. It was a nice sunny day and needed to get some reading done. Twenty minutes of a walk was a nice addition to the day. I'd like to say that I'll make that a regular part of my routine, but it is cold and rainy told, so I'll stay indoors and prep.

I got a HITT session done this week, too. I'd had enough of the back of my brain telling me to get it done and so I got this done:

2 minutes on the elliptical

2 minutes of kettlebell lifting - swings, cleans and presses, halos whatever.

1-minute rest

I got four or fie rounds of that done - it ended up being 35 minutes all told. A good workout and lots of perceived effort. Also, I finished off the day's rings all in one go, basically.

I did extend my "closing the rings" record to another "all time" to 56 days. I'm sad because I had a few years of that behind me. Alas, I have to start again. 

Oct 2 to 10

 

I did a lot of yoga, some swimming some walking/hiking this week. I did sleep in a New to me RV one day this weekend. I had done more than 70 minutes of yoga that day and took Advil, so I slept well. The RV was on an angle, but it was fun for the first time sleeping in it.

I woke up to a golden set of trees at sunrise. My phone was dead, otherwise, I'd be posting a pic of it. The beginning of great things I hope.

In any case, when I say yoga, I mean the session I do in the afternoon where I do this:

Warm up - face down, rocking back and forth, switching to a 90 / 90 pose, lots of others, hips stretching, QL stretching and then shoulder stretching. I will also get some rolling done now, and I use a kettlebell as a Graston tool and strip my hip flexor.  Yes, I screamed.

A bit more of a warm-up - getting into standing poses, one leg out, "runner's stretch" - and then at least three rounds of:

20 KB swings

10 kb cleans

10 kb presses

10 goblet squats

Then a yoga flow in which I go from planks to one leg up to standing on both feet back down to one, then get the leg out the back in a "bird dog" position, then back and forth.

I usually end this session with a warm down, getting my heart rate back under control and being happy. 

I do something similar in the evenings, leaving out the Graston and just getting down into a very low squat. Significantly less screaming, I must say.

What else? Oh, I swam 1.1 km in the pool this evening, too. I like the tools and toys I've collected for that. I do need to find a set time when the various swim teams leave me in peace. Tonight they had some sort of meet and were going to go after closing. Meh, whatever. I hit the outdoor pool in 10-degree weather and had a great time. I was done by closing time and ran away. The water was warmer than the air.

Taken Oct 10/22. Hashtag awesome

Sept 25 to Oct 1

There was a lot of stretching and HIIT this week - at least I got my circles filled every day this week - or whatever I'm supposed to be calling them. I moved my Move goal up this week, but I know it needs to be more if I want to do fun stuff next summer.

I did think about getting out on the kayak one more time this week, but just couldn't do it. I also took possession of an RV this week and now have to make sure that I can get it into storage for the winter.

I also want to get that out once before I put it to bed, so to speak. Lots of places to go and see.

I did get out for a hike today, then got out to an outdoor pub in an orchard. That was so wonderfully sunny and fun, especially after the last two years. It was nice to be able to support a local business, too. 

The afternoon sessions continue with the stretching into HIIT.

The swimming had to take a back seat as I had to run around this week for the RV. I did get into the water on Friday and did 650m in 25 minutes. Don't be impressed, I nearly drowned like six times. 

Lots of stretching sessions in the afternoon and evening though. All the time, I know I need to get moving and get walking/hiking and sprinting back in the mix.

From the hike this afternoon. 

Sept 19 to 24

 

via GIPHY

Lots of swimming this week - I think I went three times. Also, the stretching sessions in the afternoon have morphed into stretching and the a bit of a HIIT session. Still, in the end, I stretch and I get sweaty. My heart likes it as well as my major joints.

A typical session is this

start on the mat, baby pose. Stretch out shoulders and back

Then to 90 and 90 on my butt, stretching hips out. 

rolling legs and shoulders and back

downward dog

Runner's stretch to 

One or two rounds of

10 stand up BW squats

20 kettlebell swings - hand to hand

10 kb cleans

10 kb clean and presses

10 -20 kettlebell halos

10 kettlebell rows

The back to stretching - usually lying down hamstring stretches with a towel around the foot

back to stretching out the hips and quads

and ... fini.

A very good month so far

Probably not the greatest use of my time but I'm finding that my body actually feels like it is glowing at the end of it - and not from the sweat.

The other workouts - the swimming ones are like this:

100 m warm up -usually slow breast stroke, just to try and get everything moving and warm

100 m breast stroke with snorkel and hand fins - arms only

100 m legs only - been working on kicking for butterfly and freestyle

100 m front crawl - working on technique

50 m crazy fast front crawl - every piece of kit on to go as fast as we can. 

100 m easy swimming - whatever we want

50m slow down and relax

it's 600m for now, but I know I'll be adding meters to the middle. Feels good. The only difficulty is the fast as heck sets - I keep nearly drowning as I'm flooding my snorkel with how fast I have to breathe. Anyway, I'm just glad to be doing something other than nothing. 

This week coming up I can get back out to hiking, as the heat has taken off, leaving me with the awesome colours to go and see. Hopefully the rain stays away and I can get out there and enjoy.

I did turn on the Sleep Mode for the iPhone and watch. It's interesting to see that data at the end of the week. Not so much fun when I realize I'm not getting enough sleep in the evenings, which necessitate and afternoon nap to get enough sleep altogether. Something should be done there. 

Sept 12 to 18

I'm pleased to write that the good habits continue along here. Workouts everyday continue as does the feeling good and sleeping well things.

It's been busy, but fun.

Friday I had a longer yoga session that should become standard - there was about 35 minutes of raised heart rate and some kettlebells along with body weight squats. A nice way to start off the weekend, if I say so myself.

Swimming was cool this week - getting into the mindset of going every other day and just getting swimming done. Got up to a 35 minute workout on Saturday. The water was HOT, man ... I was actually surprised I could still swim outside, and the water was like a bath tub. I now have my own swim bag for all the equipment I have - snorkel, fins for hands and feet ... all kinds of stuff.  I also got some ear cleaning tools for the guck leaking out of my head. Those might be brains, so I'm being cautious.

My legs and should muscles are complaining a bit, but my joints are smiling along with the swimming, man. It's been a real nice ride this week. I'm ready for next week and to see how far these new habits take me. Should be awesome.

Still need to do more kettlebells, but at least I'm working into that.

I have my garage gym ready to go at home when the outdoor workouts can't happen for the cold, I know that I need to work on my hips and I even have a yoga class schedule on my laptop. I'm ready as I will ever be for this winter...

Sept 5 to 11

 I've had to be very deliberate in these days on my habits. I'm re-reading "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg. A masterwork that book is, man ... anyway, I know that I need habits that are going to help me cure all that ails and threatens me.

Diabetes, poor circulation,  being fat and out of shape, being angry all the time, money and the list goes on.

I did step out of the pool on Thursday and watched my Apple Watch fall off of my wrist. The screen shattered on the deck of the pool. I went to work the next day and ... it was like I was missing a limb. I quickly found and purchased an Apple Watch Series 5 ... which is still darn cool. Still adjusting to it, but it is a cool watch.

I also learned that the boxing guy isn't coming back to my gym. Dang.

11 for 11 so far in September

Control your habits or the habits control you.

So lots of stretching and yoga and working out and HITT training and thinking about the future. About 2023, 2024 and 2030. How do I get there, what do I have to do to get there and how do I get there with a healthy body and a fat wallet?

Habits. Things I do day to day.

Speaking of which, I closed my rings every day this week, even after cranking the circles for Move and Exercise. I'm seeing better sleep and happier mental attitude, but I know I also need to work on proper nutrition and basic fitness, too.

These will come with time and proper habits.

Aug 27 to Sept 4

 Lots of stretching and swimming these days. I did try and get out onto Lake Ontario last week and it was hilarious how much of a failure it was. It was too rough and I didn't have the new to me kayak inflated enough. Both were... hilarious. 

I got my fourth dose this week, too. Ready for my kids' return to school and their inevitable bringing home every virus, bacteria and microbe. <<shivers>>

I was scrolling on tikky tokky and found Musclewiki. What a cool friggin website, man. I used it to add a thing or two to my lifting.

I did my usual session of stretching everyday during these days and just greasing the groove, so to speak. Making sure I get some time on a mat and making my hips and legs and shoulders better. Every day. I'm also trying to get my VO2 Max up. I did test it this week and I ended up with a 31, listed as "fair".

Yeah, need to up that. A lot.

Interestingly, I discovered that my Polar HRM works with my Apple health apps and can help me close my rings. Hashtag awesomesause.

I did "close my rings" every day during this time, too. Stretching and yoga are my heroes these days. Lots of self-reflection and time alone. 

Aug 8 to 26

 This keyboard is messing up - and I know that line about a poor carpenter, so ease up on this old man before you get to commenting. 

This August went really well - lots of activities, lots of playing on a beach. Lots of positive energy and working to form positive habits going into a return to school. 

The long weekend messed me up - basically I slept and didn't do anything. And the 18th - well, I was at the hospital with my eldest helping her with a flare up of her stuff they have going on. 

I discovered I like starting my day with some stretching, which my Apple Watch calls "yoga". I'm not going to complain, as it helps my rings get closed. I'm also enjoying the swimming these days. At least my breast stroke is getting better. I'm being wary of my ears, though. And back it seems is slightly irritated by swimming, too. Interesting.

Most days looked like this:

6-7 up and doing something. Stretching and kayak or walking or training.

9am coffee time ends and I got to an August project

Something cool I saw last week

lunch

drive with family and go and see something cool.

Nap

Dinner

Watch a bit of the Jays game with my wife

Swim or walk outside

Stretch

Sleeping by 11pm, sometimes earlier.

It was nice to see the sleeping pattern being so normal. At least more normal than other Augusts I've had in the past. And ... and I got out there and saw stuff. I'm hoping the purchase of an RV for next season and next summer will be another step towards an awesome retirement for us

July 21 to Aug 7

 So ... like two weeks, right?

Let me check my Apple Rings to see how many I've closed. As I'm looking here, I got pretty stressed about things by the end of summer school. A lot of Activity rings closed, not many Standing or Exercise rings being closed.

Once school was over, it's been pretty close to every day getting everything closed. I even got a kettle bell / HIIT session done today, Aug 7th. See pic for tools. It was a lot of sweat in the heat and a lot of fun. 

I've also gotten the kayak out five or six times - my son and wife each had at least one go on it too. Something I'm leaving in the van in case we get a chance to get to the beach together. And we've been doing that a lot recently, too. 

Generally speaking I'm still getting up stupidly early. The getting to the water in the kayak or out for a walk. Today the kettle bell session was finished by 8am.

Then it's home with coffee with my wife

Then we do separate stuff; we both have things we want to do in August.

Then have dinner together - usually while watching the Jays together. 

I'm generally leaving to get a swim in around 8pm, as the pool closes at 9pm.

Then bed.

I missed being active, I missed being on the move all the time. And while I'm far from being in decent shape, I like this feeling. I'm also finding out how much more energy I have for stupid crap around the house, too. 

I have one basket of laundry to do in the house and that is it. 

Anyway .... here is today's HIIT:

20 Hand to Hand Kb

10 Kb cleans

10 Kb presses

25 yards overhead press walk both sides

10 body weight squats

10 band bicep curls

It took about a half hour to get four rounds of this done. I was walking on the rugby pitch between rounds. It was gorgeous. So green and damp from early morning waterings. Unreal, man. Seriously. 

July 12 to 20

Yeah, this was a long few days. I got to Sunday and the weather around here switched from warm to hot.

That isn't complaining, just point out the obvious. I had to stay up late and get up and get to work. The heat tends to slow everything down.

The rings on my Apple Watch weren't closed in the last four days - but they were up to Saturday. Slow times make it more difficult for me. 

Lots of walks and lots of sleeping going on. Not resting, just sleeping.

The fact is the last walk I did was the one on Saturday and I wrote somewhere that it was pain free. I should not have written that - 'cuz that just was stupid. Meh, whatever. It was a good session, and since then haven't worked properly. That is the way things work around here. 

July 1 to 11

 

Most of these days were active - the big red ring got closed most of these days thanks to getting up early and getting a decent walk in before work. Some after work as well.

Conversations are happening about ext summer and a return to rugby, too. A dedication to fitness is most critical. Be better. Be fit and able to resist injury is also super important.

Walks and hikes were the order of the day though. I want to get lifting back in, or at least some sort of Crossfit /HITT workouts. I find them  helpful and able to help with my goals.

Haven't thought too much about anything else but work these days - mind on automatic when it comes to fitness or personal life. At least I have August to do that thinking.

Last weekend I spent sleeping, man. Just ugh. Couldn't move. At least Monday I got up and did a 2.5 km hike by 6:15am. That was pretty cool.

June 17 to July

These are rough times for people in my industry - it's not an excuse, but rather an explanation. It's been rough to do the things and to keep a blog about them, too.

In any case, lots of hikes and lots of walks these days. Yes, I know it's really not the greatest cardio or workouts, but it is what time I have made available to myself for this.

Actually it's been nice weather and it's been great to get outside and see different places in my community. Although I've also been heading to the beach to see the water. Lots of after school swimming with my son, too. 

Best walk was with a daughter this week - took about 20 minutes to do just under 2 kms. I know I need to start up again with the kettlebells and with the weight training. That is duly noted in my mind. 

I'm looking at battle ropes and a new to me kayak these days - but I'm not going to get either unless I start to train again. Rewards are needed for work, not for messing about. 

not a bad place for a hike

June 6 to 16

 

I saw this and wanted it here - the cool stuff I'm interested in starts at 1:10.

Anyway, things have been progressing nicely. Workouts are fun, but mostly hikes with some lifting and stretching. Lots of stretching, man. A number of times taking my son and going for a swim, too.

I have a few confirmations about reading this summer and have at least two jobs at the moment for July. I will be busy.

I have been waking up really early for the last week or so, and getting up and going for an early morning walk - before 6am I'm done. It is just not me, but I'll take it.

 I've been doing some awesome hikes - nothing stupid yet, the longest during this time was 2 kms. I'm looking forward to the time when I can get my rear end back to 8km runs without a sweat.

What else? looking for a kayak and lessons for watersports at the moment. Lots of hiking and reading - I did get The Mandalorian actor Pedro Pascal to read a book to me this past week. I didn't know it was him until listening to the credits at the end. 

May 24 to June 5

Hit either a swim or a hike and sometimes both every day over this time. Every day with the rings closed - or pretty close to closed every day. 

Lots of outside activity - even on the days that were hot and muggy. I even got lost on one hike - not really lost, but took a long way back to the van. Lots of water on the hour-long hike. 

In any case, the hikes have been good - need to just keep going around and around the place where I live and just see the place - it is, after all literally the first time I've been able to see them ever.

I did think about that the other day - started wondering about what I've missed with being so focused on just one thing for so long. What else have I missed?

In any case, I did miss an awful lot of the woods, so I'm getting out there and seeing them. Taking pics, leaving footprints. 

Not any lifting, but I'll have to change that this week. I just want my legs back a little better before I start back to lifting.

Most days looked like this

Morning - about fifteen minutes of stretching, with a focus on breathing and getting ready for the day

Afternoon - hiking and or swimming with my youngest.

Evenings - working and then sometimes swimming, some walks, mostly prep for the next days.

May 15 to 23

 There has been a fair amount of work being done - except when I 'm left alone in a messy house. Meh, we will work on that next. 

Interesting workouts this week were at the nearest provincial park as hikes. Yeah, that's been a real cool part. Swims continue, and work got in the way of a couple of workouts, too. 

Still some progress is being made on the Adventure Van, and now I need to make some phone calls and set things up for the summer. I got a look at my summer today and it looks frantic. I will have to be a very good boy and focus on about two things this summer and that is about it. 

Stretching in the mornings and after hikes, too. Lots of water, need to focus on just getting the work done these days. It's getting done, just slowly.

This week coming up is going to be like the rest - just shorter thanks to the holiday Monday. It is all good, no side hustle this week. Progress on my fitness can step up instead. 

May 11 to 14

 Got in for two swims this week - just laps and laps and trying to get the legs working.

Got my rings closed every day this week - walking more at work and making sure I get a hike in on Saturday morning before the rest of the work gets up. Nearly missed my window this week.

Water was nice and calm - made sure my kayak and paddle board are ready to go yesterday, too. I'm going to go up and put them away the work out in a minute. It's been a lazy Sunday so far.

Rugby pictures from my friends continue - but I'm working on me at this time. Plus, I wouldn't want to disappoint some of the exec - they might arrest me in front of everyone.

Little snide private joke there, sorry. No, Im' not going to explain it.

Anyway, reading continues, side hustle continues, my son absolutely drowning my backyard also continues. Could it be worse? Oh, yes it could. Not going to complain, as I know the results.

May 2 to 10

Things move forward and then move back.

Workouts continued this week - in the garage and walks. The walk on Saturday morning was short, as my hip was acting up. It was horrible, but I got my steps done and then went for coffee.

I'm working on fitness goals for the summer and things I want to be able to do for the end of August. 

I'm reading a lot these days - I'll blog them as soon as I can. 

But lots of walking at work, lots of walking after work and lots of just being active when I can.

Feeling low, but I'm thinking that is just part of the season. My family is a part of the sadness - I got a text from a health care professional that read something along the lines that I have a failing heart and I shouldn't leave my wife and kids without me. 

I'm not kidding, it is the way things are these days.

April 25 to May 1

The step, the bell

 Things continue to work forward. At least the weather is warming up. 

Work took the front seat this week and I had to skip a few workouts in order to stay on the good side of my supervisors and various bosses. I don't think that will be necessary to do again for a while.

Workouts were swimming with my son and training sessions in the garage.

Each of these for two minutes, total of four rounds:

Elliptical trainer 

KB swings and presses, H2H, just moving the bell

steps on a 30 cm step 

band curls 

Like the character from Bojack Horseman said: "It gets easier, but you have to do it every day."

April 3 to 24

 

Lot of work being done. I'm cleaning up my act and getting back into my own space at the moment. I keep being woken up ridiculously early like today. I spent the time from 5:30 until about 6:15 just stretching my hips and legs. 

I wish I was lying about that. Being woken up like that is weird, man.

The taking my son swimming continues. We went ... three times this week. Work has been interfering a little, but we got there and it was a bit of silly fun. With some swimming taking place, too.

It was so nice today we went and played a bit of bocce outside. Being in the warmth and having blue skies was  just life affirming.

Here are the gym workouts I'm hitting these days:

AMRAIC (as many rounds as I can)

warm up on elliptical trainer

2 minutes of step ups

2 minutes 12 kilo KB swings - just keeping it off the floor. Presses, swings etc

2 minute elliptical.

This is not genius level work here, but it is work and I'm getting it done. Watching Disney+ at the same time. Today's workout was 30 minutes total

My legs were the hardest hit from the pandemic; sitting for 18 months has really really hurt.

April 3 - and a pause for an updated wish list

I've come even further - I only have a few of these items now

I was just walking about, letting my mind drift when I recalled I haven't done an updated Wish List for my training in a while. I'll point to one such blog post here.

I searched through this blog's history and found I did a wish list back in 2010. I was so young then - I feel so very much older now. And stupider, too.

1) Mats - still got them. I stretch on them every day. They have been a cornerstone of my efforts to stay flexible and malicious. They are in my garage gym and basement at the moment. I try and stretch in both locales every day.

2) Space - still a good space - getting crowded with storing a lot more gear for hiking and water sports, but it is still a good space. Last month, I moved an iMac and wifi extender into the space to watch and listen to stuff while I train. Has worked ok. I have plans for changes in the spring of 2022.

3) Stuff - I don't need any more gear, but I still picked up stretchy bands last month. I'm also on the hunt for a used Apple Watch 3 ... at least a 3 as I want to have the ability to have my watch my heart and call 911 if something bad happens to it. I did pick up a bike and a hitch for the Adventure Van in the spring. Plans for training in the summer outside begin in the van, too. 

4) I took down the posters in the summer and haven't yet put them all back up. Seems bland in there at the moment.

5)Have not been boxing, but am looking into boxing instruction at Cedar Springs. 

6) If there is something I need it is someone to watch my training and be accountable. It is one of the reasons why I'm liking the idea of boxing or BJJ when everything opens back up this summer or next fall. I'm hoping to spend the time between now and then recovering from the place I find myself in at the moment.

7) Foam rollers are always needed. Got one in every room and every other nook and cranny. Along with yoga mats and stretchy bands.

8) Ropes - I think I'll revisit this idea this year, as the costs have come down and my need for low impact cardio has gone up. 

9) Bench - see #3 above - I do have a bench at the moment. It was brand new in box for 15$ from Value Village a few weeks ago. I couldn't leave it there. So, now it is in my garage.

10) Instruction - yeah. This is probably how I will re-start my journey at this time. I need everyone to stop being infected and let's get back to "the normal" I won't go to a class until then. After it's normal, I'll be able to go to Yoga, Boxing ... BJJ...stuff like that. I'll have to "research" the gyms though. A few too many gym owners were infectious disease experts in the last two years and I just don't want to support that. 

Mar 21 to April 2

 

Sunrise on March 13th, 2022

So stuff happens. Things evolve and hopefully get better. As with the growth of trees, the skin ripples and absorbs everything impeding and keeps growing.

Growth comes awkwardly at times though.

I'm taking my son with me these days after school to get into the pool. I can't say the stretching and cardio aspects are quite there in these work outs, but at least there is an element of growth. He's growing. We are growing together. At least the sleeping benefits of going to the pool and making time to do some swimming are still there. 

I am tracking my swimming in my journal these days, as I am tracking a number of healthy habits. Drinking enough water, getting enough movement and stretching done everyday. Writing and reading every day as well. Whether or not I get a date night in with my spouse. Making progress in my bullet journal. I'd like to think that things would be better by this time, but the best I can say is that they are not worse.

Which is better, which is odd to say. Everyone is hurting. A lot of people are pretending that everything is over, but it isn't. Not quite, man. Not quite. 

I do like going swimming when there are very few people if any present. I'll try and keep to that. I did get a bike hitch for the Adventure Van this weekend, too. I keep wondering what's next for it, but I'm also thinking I should just save money and prepare for repairs and maintenance. 

I need to get back to better workouts, but there is something keeping me from doing so. Not sure what, but I know it will boil down to me just yelling at myself to get on with it.

Feb 9 - March 20

 

Yeah man ... it's been a while. Sorry for that, anyone who reads this. I will do better - work and life have been exhausting and there is only taking time away to solve that.

I have been walking in the pool and adding some swimming to my sessions. The last few days have been hit or miss, but most of this time I've been mostly hitting, usually four or five times a week. It has been helpful and my sleeping has been a heck of a lot better. 

As the seasons change here, I look forward to rugby season. I want to look forward to rugby season but will not this year. My side hustle and my intense dislike of the direction of the local club I used to be a part of are going to keep me away in 2022. I started this blog off with the notion that if I needed more money I would start a side hustle. My current side hustle has been the thing that has kept me going and my family going all through this. Depression and mental illness have a hard time growing in hands that really busy.

And so, I will be working on the training nights and Saturdays from now until the end of August 2022. I'm not sure but I'd like to then shift into something else. Why would I do that? I'm interested in a number of other things and this side hustle is ok for money and interest, but I'd like more. 

Walking in the pool is awesome, swimming is a good workout, too. I'm planning little after school "escapes" with my youngest. I'll pick him up and we've planned a spot to get to so that within 15 minutes of leaving the front door of his school we can be in the woods. Should be cool, updates to follow. 

Jan 26 to Feb 8

I've made it a week and a half so far getting into the pool for 30+minute walks. I can't say my legs are liking it yet, but at I'm liking it. I'll keep going with the current routine until the end of the week, then start adding to it.

I just needed to get going. I am using the bands I got a few weeks ago, and am thinking about the battle ropes again.

Most days are walking in the pool while listening to music or my novels that I just have to keep reading. I'm glad the weather isn't messing this up for me. I did basically challenge the weather to snow last week, but nothing.

 It was a valiant effort, but no dice. I did get a few snow afternoons, but nothing else. I was underwhelmed with the effort so far.

Winter will end and I will be aiming to continue with a show on the road.   

Dec 20 to Jan 25

 

The whole world shut down by the time Christmas came. Shortly after the last workout on Dec 23rd, just everything stopped.

I know I'm not supposed to blame anyone, but it would be a lot better if everyone got vaxxed.

We started up after break online for two weeks. I got my stretching done, but it was too much to do, just barely hanging on to my sanity. I don't swear on this blog, but I want to. This was tough.

I'm hoping that going back to in-person doesn't mean I get C19 and something terrible happens. There are no guarantees here and I'm feeling less immortal than I have in a very long time.

Lots of shovelling and walking about - I miss the pool and it should be back open in a few days now. 

Just lots of stress and people wanting me to do things I just don't want to do.