I'm not sure why it took me so long to find this thread! I like reading about everyone's plans and goals. I think the goals to do ultras, and centuries, etc are great ones.
I don't really want to look shredded. I mean, I'd love to, but considering my body type, I think it would take way more work and dedication than I'm really interested in putting in, KWIM?
- Partly, I just don't want to be overweight. I managed to lose enough of the last baby pounds at the end of last year to make that not true
- I want to be able to DO STUFF. But, not ultras or centuries. I've found in the last few years that I am prone to injuries if I push it too hard. Running killed my hip and ankle, zumba wrecked my knee.
So, for example, I swim, I walk, I lift, I do body weight exercises. This means if I need to be able to walk a bunch, I can. I generally walk 5 miles one day per week. Oh, I'm pretty sore after (mostly my lower back), but I can do it.
I like being able to swim with my kids and not be afraid of drowning. I learned to swim at 40.
When I swim, I've noticed the occasional shoulder twinge if I try to go too fast, so I dial it back (dialing it back is HARD for me, my body has forced me into it).
Yoga relaxes me and makes me strong. But sometimes, I don't feel like putting in a DVD.
Last week I did:
- Mon - 15 minutes of yoga in my living room. I set Alexa at "sleep music" and the timer for 15 minutes. It was way better than doing nothing!
- Tue - swap 30 laps
- Wed - walked kids to school (1.5 miles round trip)
- Thu - swam 30 laps
- Fri - did a 15 min HIIT workout DVD at home
- Sat - was a lazy bum (well, took kiddo to swim, grocery shopped and cooked). Actually I think I did 12 pushups.
- Sun - 5 mile walk with a friend
What's important to me is to remind myself to do SOMETHING - if I even just walk a mile on my lunch break, or do some squats and pushups, that's great.
Anyway, I have a good friend who is 72. When I met her 14 years ago, she was doing 3-day walks for Breast Cancer, tap dancing, and playing tennis. She's had to quit tap dancing and tennis due to the knees. She's still doing the 60 mile walks (and associated training). She takes a back stretch class at the YMCA, and also does strength training and HIIT at the Y (modified for her knees). She's fit and healthy but has learned to work with her body.
This is essentially what I want to be at 72. I'm reasonably fit, but hey I'm not running half marathons anymore. I can pick up my toddler without getting injured (mostly, he's almost too big for that now).