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I'm just getting over the particularly bad flu that is going around Australia at the moment. Was on the couch for about two weeks and still not feeling 100%, with sinus congestion and a lingering ear blockage from a related infection.
As I was lying there, praying for death, it occurred to me that the length and seriousness of this flu wasn't helped by my relative lack of fitness. I'm also not getting any younger, which makes any form of serious respiratory illness an issue.
So I've decided to get back in the saddle, despite the issues with my exercise-induced migraine aura, and will start small.
Obviously this has ongoing benefits for my health, but in the short term I need to get into a bit of basic shape for my upcoming trip to NZ where I'll be doing a few trails.
I got up this morning and did 10 pushups with 10 squats back to back. Clearly the lungs are still suffering because I thought I was going to faint, but also the muscle tone just isn't there.
I think a few 5km walks and some body weight is in order as I recover from this shitty flu, and then we'll see about something more strenuous.
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Good to have you back Nick.
Def recommend shaking that flu before ya kick in to things good and proper.
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@JK you're not fucking wrong.
Can barely manage a long stroll right now
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I went for a walk the other day - covered 3.8km in 34 minutes so pretty good going.
With the hiking in NZ coming up, its probably good I spend some time with a pack on, in order to get some harness strength in the core, and work the smaller muscles used for stability.
This weekend I'm probably getting shitfaced at the local Suburban Rugby finals, but after that the hard work will start.
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@NTA said in Back for more!:
I went for a walk the other day - covered 3.8km in 34 minutes so pretty good going.
With the hiking in NZ coming up, its probably good I spend some time with a pack on, in order to get some harness strength in the core, and work the smaller muscles used for stability.
This weekend I'm probably getting shitfaced at the local Suburban Rugby finals, but after that the hard work will start.
Or you could get a properly fitting modern pack which shouldn't put any extra work on your core or back or shoulders. It should just sit on your ample hips.
But yes, you will find you use a lot of small muscles for balance, especially on uneven ground.
A good excercise my son showed me that he uses on clients is to get them to stand facing a wall with feet shoulder width apart then balance on one leg and close your eyes. Try to keep on one foot as long as possible using only feedback from your leg muscles. He reckons many start off only lasting a couple of seconds.
DoC in NZ love building steps on tracks. I have been on walks with 300+ steps on one hillside. I assume your work building is multi-storey? -
Hope to see you back for good @NTA. Could write a soap opera based on your previous trials and tribulations and ups and downs.
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Welcome back hombre!
Lots of one legged variations (lunges, partial squats) etc should help with balance and those smaller muscle groups. But just getting some Km's under your belt would be top priority, no?
Crucial, that is a tricky test - amazing how hard things get when you close your eyes... hold on!! that didn't quite come out right
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@Crucial said in Back for more!:
Or you could get a properly fitting modern pack which shouldn't put any extra work on your core or back or shoulders. It should just sit on your ample hips.
Smart arse. You knew what I meant! Not going to get far with my core in its current shape.
Or pretty much anything in its current shape...
105.1kg as of Tuesday morning. Aiming for under 100kg before going on LSL in five weeks
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@NTA said in Back for more!:
@Crucial said in Back for more!:
Or you could get a properly fitting modern pack which shouldn't put any extra work on your core or back or shoulders. It should just sit on your ample hips.
Smart arse. You knew what I meant! Not going to get far with my core in its current shape.
Or pretty much anything in its current shape...
105.1kg as of Tuesday morning. Aiming for under 100kg before going on LSL in five weeks
How's the diet? I've found the difference between two and three figures can be the amount of beer I have over the weekend. It's not good for the waist particularly the posh shit I drink. Might have to revert back to tui
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@MN5 diet needs a little work but I'm not a big drinker these days. That will change on Saturday at the rugby, but from Sunday I'll be moderating everything
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Got my trip to NZ booked - flights and car only. Going to wing it on the accommodation front as its not school holidays.
First stage is 5 days around the Waikato looking at various trails and catching up with mates.
Stage 2 is a short one, across to Taranaki to get a closer look at the big fuckoff mountain, and do an overnighter there.
Third stage is down to the southern half of the island and a look around some of the bits I've driven past the two times I've been there.
10 nights with a split of camping and interior accommodation to keep the stink factor downSo with that, I've been doing a bit of walking in the early morning, and started back doing some chinups and pushups. Will plug it into a routine this week as we're off up the coast for a short break.
24 days until Long Service Leave starts.
37 days until wheels up for NZ.
6kg to lose. -
In the week we had up the coast I went for a few walks, totalling about 20km. Incidental walking around town probably made up another 10km or so.
At the same time, the booze and food got out of control so I came back a couple of kg heavier - but most of that is still in the digestive tract. I get a little bloated when drinking
The goal this week is to get into a routine with the walking and body weight exercises.
28 days until NZ trip. 7kg to lose.
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Have sorted out a basic routine for basic toning up of the basic muscles - its a basic measure of, basically, how fucking unfit I am, and what my power/weight ratio is right now.
30s plank
20 squats
10 pushups
20 lunges (10 each side)
Minute rest
Do as many times in 20 minutes as possible, then a bit of stretch and breathing.I'm so unfit, I got through this twice in ~8 minutes last night and my left hammy got a twinge (also because I've been doing some construction in the back yard). So that's baby steps again.
Chinups are on the cards, too, and I'll incorporate them once I've got the basic core back.
Tonight I told the family we were going for a walk, then Mrs TA and Miss TA said they couldn't be arsed - "we went last night" they said (total was about 1.5km - lazy cows). The boy hopped on his bike so I decided to run.
20 minutes saw me cover just short of 2 miles (3.19km) at a decent shuffle. Need to see how I pull up from that before continuing.
Fucking hell its a long way from running 5km in < 25min
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@nta said in Back for more!:
Have sorted out a basic routine for basic toning up of the basic muscles - its a basic measure of, basically, how fucking unfit I am, and what my power/weight ratio is right now.
30s plank
20 squats
10 pushups
20 lunges (10 each side)
Minute rest
Do as many times in 20 minutes as possible, then a bit of stretch and breathing.I'm so unfit, I got through this twice in ~8 minutes last night and my left hammy got a twinge (also because I've been doing some construction in the back yard). So that's baby steps again.
Chinups are on the cards, too, and I'll incorporate them once I've got the basic core back.
Tonight I told the family we were going for a walk, then Mrs TA and Miss TA said they couldn't be arsed - "we went last night" they said (total was about 1.5km - lazy cows). The boy hopped on his bike so I decided to run.
20 minutes saw me cover just short of 2 miles (3.19km) at a decent shuffle. Need to see how I pull up from that before continuing.
Fucking hell its a long way from running 5km in < 25min
I'm getting back into the planks in a big way. Back into doing them every day and aiming for over 10 minutes. Maybe we could have a contest when you're over here? Loser buys beer.
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Get fucked. No way I'm going to be above 2 minutes by the time that happens.
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How about see who can drink 10 pints quickest and the loser has to plank for 10 minutes? Seems fairer.
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@catogrande Not. Helping.
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@nta said in Back for more!:
@catogrande Not. Helping.
S'funny. I'd have had you down as the winner. MN5 as a Sweaty would have sunk five in quick order but then would have gone looking for a fight, leaving you plenty of time.
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Friday night ran the plank/squat/pushup/line program through 3 sets in 13 minutes.
Saturday I spent building a small deck next to the pool. Lot of lifting and bending n shit. Quite sore and slept very well.
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My pint skulling ability has rapidly diminished this side of 40
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Went for a jog-shuffle thing this morning.
3km in 19:32 which indicates how long the road is back to the top, but I felt like I could have kept that pace up for another couple of km. Just need to see how the calves pull up tomorrow.
Still got the weirdy-arsed vision issue in the right eye but no further bad effects there. Just have to ignore it I guess.
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On Saturday the boy and I went camping just t'other side of the Blue Mountains from Sydney. Thataway:
There is a disused railway tunnel near a place called Newnes with an 8km return walk. First klick is very much uphill, then it follows the old train cutting so fairly easy walk. A few washouts and such and it was humid as fuck, so a good chance to stretch the legs and get a bit of a sweat on, before setting up camp and watching the wallabies play.
Literally, they're fucking everywhere at the campsite. On Sunday morning they wanted to check out our fire. Counted about a dozen others in the area.
Anyways, last few days has been a bit of work in the back yard (building a screen around the pool - fiddly as I'm making it up as I go along) and enjoying the first few days of Long Service Leave.
Tonight I did the basic routine but decided to change the system to:
30s plank
20 squats
10 pushups
10 lunges each side
Rest to the next 5 minute margin i.e. have 5 minutes to complete - quicker you do it, more rest you get!
Finish at 20 minutes.First set was a tick under 3 minutes
Second set was dead on 3 minutes
Third set was 3:02
Last set was 3:45 - struggled to get the pushups done!So feel pretty fucked but I realise this is the problem with being a funt for so long. It was fun, but things need to change.
Plasma donation tomorrow and a session with the chiro.
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Mate I can not wait to get out there doing stuff like that with my lad. He's 8 now so prob old enough to get off the grid without the ipad for a few days. Only problem is that his 9 year old sister is pretty keen too. Probably just fear of missing out but not keen to drive a few ours to the remote wilderness before she finds that out!
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Gotta get them to try it. Video their reaction. Use it as evidence later
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Walks with the kids are some of the coolest things ya can do. Heaps of options around Welly too which makes it even better
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@nta said in Back for more!:
watching the wallabies play.
Without looking at when you had posted that, I actually thought that you had an electronic device and were watching a bunch of blokes in yellow with an oval ball.
The small marsupials around a campsite makes more sense.
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@mn5 said in Back for more!:
Walks with the kids are some of the coolest things ya can do. Heaps of options around Welly too which makes it even better
Yeah we done a heap of bush walks and geocaching with them and couple of massive bike adventures too but now my lad is keen on fishing I wanna do some of the stuff with him that my old man did with me when I was young. Remember many a mission across random farms, thru creeks and down cliffs etc to get to fishing spots. Cooking the days catch for dinner and tenting out. Must do soon!
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@jk said in Back for more!:
@mn5 said in Back for more!:
Walks with the kids are some of the coolest things ya can do. Heaps of options around Welly too which makes it even better
Yeah we done a heap of bush walks and geocaching with them and couple of massive bike adventures too but now my lad is keen on fishing I wanna do some of the stuff with him that my old man did with me when I was young. Remember many a mission across random farms, thru creeks and down cliffs etc to get to fishing spots. Cooking the days catch for dinner and tenting out. Must do soon!
The trick is balancing all that with the boys sometimes wanting to blob out in front of tv or PS4. Wellys weather doesn't help a lot either.
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@jk Yea TR Jnr keen as mustard to do stuff, but Miss 9 doesn't want to miss out, and depending on her mood, would come just to antagonize TR Jnr!
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Well, I'm still a funt, but jeez I walked some miles - often in the rain - around NZ over the last couple of weeks.
If you're near Paeroa, Karangahake Gorge is a must. Gets popular in summer I understand. Old mining shafts, walks by the river, train tunnel etc. Top spot. Didn't get to climb Te Aroha with Red Beard because the weather turned shitty, but it's on the list for next time.
Any of the shitloads of tracks around Rotorua should be on your list. I got the water taxi out from The Landing and camped overnight at Hot Water Beach at the South end of Lake Tarawera. Had the place to myself. Except for the sandflies who gave me a nice collection of welts.
Walked out on the Tarawera Track the next day - not for the faint of heart. Fucking landslips! Some amazing track tho and the DOC needs a pat on the back for it.
Got to see a bit of Taupo, including Huka Falls which I'd missed driving thru there the last couple of times. Then across to Taranaki where I walked from Egmont visitor Centre to Holly Hut.
Don't mind saying that was some of the toughest foot slogging I've done, and it was tougher in the rain on the way back the next morning. Had to cross a rapidly rising bit of water near a waterfall, which I would have videoed had I not been soaked; touch screens don't like water.
A lot of fun, plenty of discovery, and a bit of willpower needed.
Every kilometre was offset by the quantities of beer I drank, but I wouldn't change any of it.
Now to get back on the trolley...
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@nta You didn't miss out not doing the Te Aroha walk. That is a carnt of a track, the closer to the top you get, the more vertical it is, and the last section you are literally scrabbling up rock face while holding onto branches. There is nothing at the top but an aerial tower. Good view on a clear day, but it is REALLY exposed and freezing cold.
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@mokey I got that impression from my host.
Having said that, I did do some vertical rock-based shit when I was in New Plymouth. That pointy bastard of a thing near the docks was quite challenging enough in the sun, thankyou very much.
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@Mokey e.g.
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Anyhoo, after a week or so being bloated after too much craft beer in NZ, and then another week of bloat recovering from it, I'm back on track with the whole fitness thing.
Have been for 2 x 3km jog/shuffle things in the last ten days, clocking 20 minutes or just under as I pathetically aim for my old 5 minute kilometres. Trying to run while massively constipated is less than fun, but it did the trick along with a shit* load of water and some kind of tea the wife recommended.
*pun intended
Weigh in this morning was 104.8kg and the aim for the next 10 weeks - including Christmas - to get back under 100kg. Starting a new job Monday and I have to buy new clothes this weekend because its back to business attire in the corporate area of our building rather than just free n easy API Developer guy in hipsterville.
Honestly I saw a fucking twat with a handlebar mo at work the other day in those ankle pants, wearing sandals. No socks, but still, that is in no fucking way OH&S compliant.
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@nta Pass his name onto Mr. Cheika who could slot him into the team he looks after somewhere along the line. He looks to have good prospects if your brief summation is any indication, imagine him and David Pocock as a pair of flankers.
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@nta said in Back for more!:
Anyhoo, after a week or so being bloated after too much craft beer in NZ, and then another week of bloat recovering from it, I'm back on track with the whole fitness thing.
Have been for 2 x 3km jog/shuffle things in the last ten days, clocking 20 minutes or just under as I pathetically aim for my old 5 minute kilometres. Trying to run while massively constipated is less than fun, but it did the trick along with a shit* load of water and some kind of tea the wife recommended.
*pun intended
Weigh in this morning was 104.8kg and the aim for the next 10 weeks - including Christmas - to get back under 100kg. Starting a new job Monday and I have to buy new clothes this weekend because its back to business attire in the corporate area of our building rather than just free n easy API Developer guy in hipsterville.
Honestly I saw a fucking twat with a handlebar mo at work the other day in those ankle pants, wearing sandals. No socks, but still, that is in no fucking way OH&S compliant.
Sorry about that champ. We'll stick to smoothies next time.
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@mn5 just need to make sure we find a hi fibre brand to take every third brew
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Right so the last couple of weeks:
Weigh in on Saturday was 105.6kg which is of course the wrong direction at +0.8kg - it wasn't a crash hot week for exercise, and I had a couple of sugarfests, so correcting that this week.
Run on Monday and Wednesday: covering 3km and 3.2km in 18 and 20 minutes respectively. That's about the pace I can maintain right now, while my knees readjust to the effort and extra weight.
Eating has been pretty good, except for yesterday's team building event which was walking around The Rocks here in Sydney, and then having a few beers. But I kept it fairly tame as I was driving.
Part of the drive will be fitting more easily into the new work gear I had to buy for the new position. Fucking Business Casual.
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Yesterday probably stopped it being a better week than results suggest - had to be in the city early for an all-day workshop with the vendor, so didn't have time for a morning run.
Then the only options in food were mostly sugar-based, though I ate small quantities to mitigate it. A couple of beers essentially killed it off, and I weighed in at 105.6kg again this morning.
Back into it this week and aiming for a big decrease as the exercise kicks in.
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Been a pretty fucked couple of months after the Kiwi trip. First dealing with the change in jobs, and the crazy mother-in-law bullshit, and just generally lacking motivation on the 42 degree days.
However, on Boxing Day we caught up with friends, and the husband - a few years my senior - has shed 25kg in the last 5 months. Fucking hell that's pretty fair going and he wasn't doing much special besides cutting down on the shit eating.
Its clear I just haven't wanted it enough. Particularly as I had to buy a new work wardrobe and I'm at the limit of it.
So I went for a walk tonight, then mowed the lawn afterwards. Fairly warm day so a bit of a sweat on. Have tightened up the eating a bit and will continue with the walking and a bit of body weight at least once per day. RMR needs a boost.
