Quoted message said:
<SNIP>The investment being hours at the gym, as opposed to what? Hours in
front of the TV? I know that how I feel after 1.5 hours in the weight
room, or after a 5-6 mile run is worth the investment. Sitting in
front
Quoted message said:of the TV for half an hour makes me feel like a depressed, bloated
sack
Quoted message said:of [censored].
I don't watch TV, so that's not what I'd meant.
I do feel good after having worked out...it's the actual working out
that's starting to lose its appeal, finally. I'm no longer very much
concerned about my image and my looks, no longer care about my
"manhood" and so forth, so I'm just like...what's the point? I don't
mean just keel over and have a heart attack now; I mean that I can stay
healthy without the gym -- I bicycle, am physically active. The gym
was always about looking big and seeing if I could make the cut. I was
just wondering if anyone else had some other reason for hitting the
gym.
Quoted message said:The problem with the "much more generous intake of...whatever else
tastes good" and "....something instead of hitting the gym" is, it
gets
Quoted message said:easier and easier to do, and harder and harder to hit the gym. Before
you know it, you find yourself asking what the point is of hitting
the
Quoted message said:gym at all.
Hmm, well, I've never had that problem, but then again I never got hurt
before either, so I suppose there really is a first time for
everything. But so far, if I don't exercise (I mean hitting the gym,
as opposed to "just" playing ball or bicycling and such) for more than
two weeks, my body start screaming for it, I can't stop shaking my
knee, etc.
Quoted message said:Every time my wife and I visit her grandmother, who at 82, literally
needs help to get to the bathroom, and can't do anything more
strenuous
Quoted message said:than sit in front of the TV, it answers the question of "what's the
point?"
I used to think this way, too, but then I realized that there are many
old folks who are in good general health (no meds, can walk on own
power, etc.) who do not work out, etc. (save for walking around).
Quoted message said:No, at 82 I'm not going to be in the same shape that I'm in
now, but I'm sure that my quality of life is going to be much better
than her's is now. I'm willing to forego the cheeseburgers, chips,
and
Quoted message said:a couple of nights at the movies now so I can enjoy my later years
with
Quoted message said:some dignity.
But see, that's just the thing: is her condition due to cheeseburgers,
etc.? 'Cause so many old fogies also enjoy their cheeseburgers, coffee
-- even cigars -- and they weren't on some Jack LaLane or Charles Atlas
program as kids (I know 'cause I used to work at a White Castle with a
regular clientele in the mornings).
Quoted message said:In almost 25 years of working out regularly, I've had to face
"moments
Quoted message said:of doubt" many times. There are still days when I wonder why I do
this.
Quoted message said:Especially days when I'm supposed to go run and it's about 20
degrees,
Quoted message said:freezing rain, and dark.
Right, well, those are probably just "glimpses" as opposed to the
full-blown version of existential angst.
Quoted message said:Most of the time, the dread disappears after
the first mile (or the first set of squats).
Ah, see, this is it: it's starting to take more and more time for this
"dread" or sense of "ugh" to wear off.
Quoted message said:Sometimes, I take a day
off. Most of the time though, I find it's become easier to work out
than not. And usually if I take more than 2 days in a row off, I'm
depressed, edgy, and no fun to be around.
Yes, that's been true for me, too...but now that I seem to be getting
injured much more easily (I practically never had any injuries before),
well, that's depressing too...so if I sound depressed, well, it's
really my hamstrings and tennis elbow talking....
Quoted message said:I'm 44, and I've had quite a few injuries. When at 36, I was
diagnosed
Quoted message said:with Plantar Fasciaitis after going to the doctor with chronic aching
feet, I was told I should stop running. When at 39, I tore my lateral
miniscus after falling on a slippery sidewalk, I was told I probably
wouldn't be able to run anymore. At 40, when I went to the doctor
with
Quoted message said:chronic pain in my wrists from repetitive strain injury (I work in
the
Quoted message said:IT field)I was told to stop lifting weights. I ignored their "advice"
and made adjustments to my training, with some self-treatment added
and
Quoted message said:though far from pain-free, feel a lot better than I would have if I
had
Quoted message said:taken their "advice."
Wow -- my hat's off to you, for sure. Hmm...apparently your injuries
started in your late thirties...[censored], is this what I'm looking forward
to now...damn.
Quoted message said:In my job, I sit in front of a computer for 8-10 hours a day.
Yeah, me too. If I'm an internet troll, it's 'cause I'm [censored]
having to sit here losing my sight! Hopefully I'll get that other
position, a manual labor position, but paying much more!
Damned 21st Century post-industrial economy....
Quoted message said:Somebody
is always bringing in donuts or something, and there are frequent
"celebrations" for birthdays and other occasions that include cake
and
Quoted message said:ice cream. The cake looks good, especially around 3:00 when your
blood
Quoted message said:sugar is dropping and you could use something sweet - until I see one
of my many corpulent co-workers waddling out of the breakroom with an
enormous plate of cake and ice cream. That alone is enough for me to
pass on the cake.
Geez, how could you think about heart disease at a time like
this...that soft, fluffy cake....
Quoted message said:In the end, I guess it comes down to what your priorities are.
Slotman
Well, are there any *positive* motivations besides vainity? Seems like
all the good reasons are "negative" -- disease, etc.