When I returned to work last April after a 4 year hiatus, I weighed in at 310lbs. No, I wasn’t lazy. Combination of severe-osteoarthritis followed by total hip replacement followed by failing economy sort of put a kinks in the works. So I used the time to grab a higher education degree to up my chances. The fact that I received a degree is what helped me land a job, not the degree itself. But the point is, I was severely overweight. I knew though that once I got a job, I would lose weight. The reason why I knew that is that I am one of those unfortunate folks that have the type of body that has to be constantly moving to lose, and or maintain, weight. When I wasn’t working, the hour or so I would take 3 to 4 times a week walking was not going to cut it. And the catch 22 was that I was to large for a lot of potential employment. I know, weight cannot be discriminated against, but being overweight is perceived as laziness in society and the workplace. I am thankful my current employer has given me the opportunity. And just by working, I lost about 65 lbs.
Now, onto the reason for this post. I mentioned severe-osteoarthritis and total hip replacement. Bad combination for someone like me who actually loves to pound the pavement at 6 minute mile pace for distances over 10 miles, or take a weekend bicycle ride of 100 miles. Running is out of the question for the time being, because the accident that put me in this situation, left me what is known as foot-flop, or foot-drop, but bicycling, I may be able to do, once I lose about 30 more pounds.
I am 44 years old and I know that there a lot of fit people at the same age, but if I had not had the problems I have had, then I would also be one of those people. But I am not and I am working on getting close to what I was. So that means I started to “workout” the beginning of this year (no, it was not a New Year’s Resolution, just a time frame for me to start), I had to make some serious modifications. The first time I went on a weight loss regime was after my divorce. I lost 310lbs (my ex wife plus 60lbs).
My modifications are simple ones. I do what I can, not force anything. Body in motion will stay in motion, but since I was not in motion for quite a while, combined with age, it will take a little longer. I stop when I feel some pain, not workout pain, actual you are going to tear out a joint feeling pain. I workout when I can. I try to make time for myself in the morning before I go to work, but at times, I am so tired when I come home that I have to sleep in a few more hours.
I am started with the basics, push ups and sit ups. Since then, I have added many different exercises. The best ones I have found are the ones you find on the kids channels. Even if you don’t have kids, go to these channels. You will notice a pattern after so much time, there are little clips and show, that have kids running around doing things, expecting the tiny viewers to do the same. It is a little trick used by these networks to help prevent child obesity so what is a good time to do it if the network thinks a child is sitting in front of the tv. If you don’t wanna do that, watch a music video that has dance moves in them and try to mimic the dance moves. After trying to follow about 5 of these, you have a 20 minute or workout.
Another trick, is to modify calisthenics. You know the ones, jumping jacks, running in place, marching in place, etc… I modify mine and if one were to be watching me, one would think I have the “flailing arm” syndrome. It works. You get the whole body involved.
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