Movin' On Up...and the Most Honest Photo I have ever posted

heywithers · May 2013

Ha! loved your post OP, great work so far on losing those inches and moooovin on up to heavier weights!

Hanfordrose · May 2013

To answer your questions and general comments, 3lbs is prob still not heavy enough. If you're hitting failure at 6 reps then sure you're on pace and on the right track in your workout. But I have a hunch for the bigger compounds you could easily be doing more.

Sorry, if I made it sound like I was seeking advice on how to improve my exercise routine, but I'm okay for now. If I have questions about my exercise regime, I take them to my doctor or my physical therapist.

Perhaps you didn't read the part about me being 68 years old and confined pretty much to a wheelchair. I probably should also mention that I have arthritis in both my shoulders and hands; so, the mere fact that I am lifting any weight over my head is a small miracle at the moment.

As for bigger compounds...I believe that you are talking about push ups and such. My doctor would kill me, if he even saw me doing any exercise that involved my knees. I am considered to be at extreme risk for green stick fractures in both legs at this time. Your advice seems geared more for someone who is much younger and mobile than myself, but thanks for the suggestions.

exercise like bi curls and tri extensions are pretty much **** near useless. small puny muscle groups that give far lower calorie burn and work less muscle groups. But people do them in the mistaken belief that somehow it will help with losing arm fat or toning problem areas. Well it won't, and it's basically a waste of time when you could instead put your time towards larger compound movements and get far larger benefit..

I may be an optomist, but I believe that any exercise of my upper body will be helpful in my efforts to lose weight and tone up my old body. As for my 'puny muscle groups', I would be glad to see them freed from those heavy layers of fat. With or without sagging skin, I don't need to carry that fat around in my upper arms.

Like I said...I have no delusions about having the body of a young, health person, even if I lose 100 pounds. However, I will do the best I can with my current limitations. In the near future, I will be working even more closely with physical therapists who will determine my post-op, exercise regime. When I get to Onederland, I will be scheduled for double knee replacement surgeries. My therapists will determine what exercise is appropriate for my age and medical issues at that time.

Well, that's the plan.

*****

By the way, I went to your wall. It says that you are a 35 year old male. It also says that you have no MFP friends and have lost ZERO pounds lost according to your ticker. Are you just here to give your advice and opinion on the subject of exercise without being a part of MFP? I don't believe that you are a trainer or professional coach, because your comments sound so negative...almost to the point of discouraging folks who are less than full on athletes. You might want to soften your approach to other MFP folks. You will find them more willing to listen to your advice.

figureformin · May 2013

BAT GRANNY AHH:) YOU are making awesome progress, keep it up:)

YoungDoc2B · May 2013

Lol I love your personality and sense of humor, this post genuinely made me smile. Hats off to you for taking the steps to achieve your goals. You will get there!

ckish · May 2013

Nice story but the pics are not visible on my computer. It says the images have been deleted from photobucket. Did you change your mind after starting the thread?

No, I didn't change my mind. I just seem to be having problems with Photobucket today. So, I loaded them into my profile photos; and though the pictures are a bit smaller than I wanted, I was able to get them in this post.

Thanks! I can see them now. You are beautiful in any case but I'm sure they will go down a bit in time. Who knows if you keep this up maybe you will become a bodybuilder and fill it out with muscle

Keep doing what you are doing and God will take care of the rest.

sdpeklo · May 2013

I love reading your posts. You always, always, keep it real and genuine and make many of us laugh with your humor. Keep going!! You rock!

phjorg1 · May 2013

I may be an optomist, but I believe that any exercise of my upper body will be helpful in my efforts to lose weight and tone up my old body. As for my 'puny muscle groups', I would be glad to see them freed from those heavy layers of fat. With or without sagging skin, I don't need to carry that fat around in my upper arms.

I agree with this. Any exercise will help. But there is a big difference between what 'works', and whats 'best'. If you have time to kill and want to do a bunch of bi curls, feel free. But your time is better spent doing other stuff thats more compound based. Thats all i'm trying to say. Do what burns the most calories. And the more muscle groups and more weight you can push, the more calories you burn. Again, I cannot stress this point enough. doing arm exercises do nothing for your arms in regards to fat loss or losing bat wings. It's simply a waste of time trying to do so in this regard. Fat loss is from the calories in < calories out equation. exercise is a way to help with that equation. Nothing more or less.

By the way, I went to your wall. It says that you are a 35 year old male. It also says that you have no MFP friends and have lost ZERO pounds lost according to your ticker. Are you just here to give your advice and opinion on the subject of exercise without being a part of MFP? I don't believe that you are a trainer or professional coach, because your comments sound so negative...almost to the point of discouraging folks who are less than full on athletes. You might want to soften your approach to other MFP folks. You will find them more willing to listen to your advice.

I'm not trying to lose weight, and the website is to kill time until I'm rehabbed and start gaining weight again. nor do I care about website friends. My comments were not negative at all either. I deal in reality, not hope. Nowhere did I put you down, or in any way insult you or demean your goals.

3dogsrunning · May 2013

]

By the way, I went to your wall. It says that you are a 35 year old male. It also says that you have no MFP friends and have lost ZERO pounds lost according to your ticker. Are you just here to give your advice and opinion on the subject of exercise without being a part of MFP? I don't believe that you are a trainer or professional coach, because your comments sound so negative...almost to the point of discouraging folks who are less than full on athletes. You might want to soften your approach to other MFP folks. You will find them more willing to listen to your advice.

I'm not trying to lose weight, and the website is to kill time until I'm rehabbed and start gaining weight again. nor do I care about website friends. My comments were not negative at all either. I deal in reality, not hope. Nowhere did I put you down, or in any way insult you or demean your goals.

I am really going to stay out of the debate about your exercise, I think you are awesome for doing what you are doing.
I do have to say that I seem to end up on the same topics that this person does and they really do know their stuff from what I have read. I too am a little puzzle by the blue person avatar (I haven't looked at the info) but they do seem to be knowledgable.
No, it is not my alternate account.

Hanfordrose · May 2013

I'm not trying to lose weight, and the website is to kill time until I'm rehabbed and start gaining weight again. nor do I care about website friends. My comments were not negative at all either. I deal in reality, not hope.

It sounds like you have been injured seriously. I hope that all goes well for you. It has to be very difficult for you to be physically not up to your best. In that way, we have more in common than you could imagine.

I was always an active lady. I used to operate my own rose nursery, which meant that I spent almost all day outside and on my feet, lifting flats, water thousands of plants, keeping up the large display garden and helping customers. To be retired to a wheelchair was not my plan for my future.

I am probably too much of an optimist in my way of dealing with life. I accept reality, but I always look for the good and hope for the best. If I didn't, I would probably have given up and be content to stay in this wheelchair.

My doctor offered me gastric surgery, but I wanted to lose my weight with healthy eating, limited calories and exercise. My exercises are 'limited', but I do workout all of my body; except my knees.

I have a feeling that you are going to be a tiger, when you get into rehab. You sound like someone who is ready to work hard for your future. I hope the time will come soon, when you won't have to 'kill time', because you will be able to do all that you want to do.

phjorg1 · May 2013

I'm not trying to lose weight, and the website is to kill time until I'm rehabbed and start gaining weight again. nor do I care about website friends. My comments were not negative at all either. I deal in reality, not hope.

It sounds like you have been injured seriously. I hope that all goes well for you. It has to be very difficult for you to be physically not up to your best. In that way, we have more in common than you could imagine.

I was always an active lady. I used to operate my own rose nursery, which meant that I spent almost all day outside and on my feet, lifting flats, water thousands of plants, keeping up the large display garden and helping customers. To be retired to a wheelchair was not my plan for my future.

I am probably too much of an optimist in my way of dealing with life. I accept reality, but I always look for the good and hope for the best. If I didn't, I would probably have given up and be content to stay in this wheelchair.

My doctor offered me gastric surgery, but I wanted to lose my weight with healthy eating, limited calories and exercise. My exercises are 'limited', but I do workout all of my body; except my knees.

I have a feeling that you are going to be a tiger, when you get into rehab. You sound like someone who is ready to work hard for your future. I hope the time will come soon, when you won't have to 'kill time', because you will be able to do all that you want to do.

thanks. same to you as well. As for myself, it's not too serious. At least in regards to yourself by comparison. Strained teras minor that I've only just started to rehab a few weeks ago. I still have full use of my arm in regards to range of motion, just am unable to push myself in any sort of push exercise. Which for obvious reasons makes going full out impossible for lifting when any upper body exercise is so limited. Hope to be fully back in another 3 weeks or so. And yes, then watch out, my goal is to hit 250lbs.

All that said, I hope the best for you as well. I like your attitude and hope you use that same fiestyness towards pushing yourself at your exercise goals. Obviously rehab will be a large part of your future templates and your therapist will be the one with the best knowedge on what you can do and not do. But I will stand by that the best things for you going forward will be as many compound movements as you can handle, with as much weight as you can handle. Get those primal movement patterns being worked, and you'll with some luck be a lot more mobile in your future. Lifting will make you strong, embrace it.

Hanfordrose · May 2013

Get those primal movement patterns being worked, and you'll with some luck be a lot more mobile in your future. Lifting will make you strong, embrace it.

"primal movement patterns"? That sounds like something I would be doing under the covers with my hubbie; and I know that he would be up for that kind of exercise. :laugh:

As for lifting weights, this is still something new for me. I am trying to be careful and use good form. I have a few exercise DVD's that were recommended by my surgeon for his patients who are preparing for knee replacement surgeries, but have limited mobility in the time prior to and immediately after the surgery. Once the 2 surgeries are done, I am told that I can expect to be doing a lot of leg work on things like a stationary bike and some kind of big ball. That should be interesting.

I live in a senior community that has fitness classes in the swimming pool. I hope to be taking part in that group as well, when I am released to do so by my doctor. I don't want to stop losing weight, just because I have my surgeries out of the way. Once I get to Onederland, I am going to set a new goal weight. I know that swimming and biking will be a part of my new life in the future.

While you are going to be reaching up for 250 pounds, I will be looking in the other direction for 170, 160 or even lower. Good luck on your journey to a bigger, stronger body.

phjorg1 · May 2013

primal movement patters are the basic movements a human can do. push, pull, twist, bend, squat, lunge, gait. Any rehab template should involve something along the lines of trying to make these work again. As when they stop working, thats when a lot of problems in normal everyday living start to break down too. Being unable to squat leads to knee problems, not doing pull exercises leads to hunchback and scap winging. No core exercises leads to posterior pelvic tilt. And so one. As you look back, i'm sure you can prob trace some cause and effect for yourself.

the big ball thing i'm assuming is a bosu ball. Very common for rehab to have instability training as a core tool for strengthening messed up body parts. so expect a lot of that sort of thing in your future.

Trimi · May 2013

Great job and keep it up.

Fozzi43 · May 2013

Keep going!! And you ROCK!!!

godsgrl33 · May 2013

Honestly, you are an inspiration to me. I am a nurse aide, and I see people "of a certain age" give up on life every day. I love it when my patients are motivated to get better, and go home. So many seem to want to give up, and get worse. Congratulations on your awesome weight loss.

GJRicketts · May 2013

Bat Gran - You're awesome! Keep up the brilliant work. MUCH respect :bigsmile:

ndegwa · May 2013

I echo what most have said and keep at it, you've done really well.

phjorg1 · May 2013

Honestly, you are an inspiration to me. I am a nurse aide, and I see people "of a certain age" give up on life every day. I love it when my patients are motivated to get better, and go home. So many seem to want to give up, and get worse. Congratulations on your awesome weight loss.

I have to agree with this. And it's prob my biggest fear of aging is being old and unable to care for myself. Terrified of it actually.

For that reason MUCH respect for this guy. Ted talk from a 93 year old bodybuilder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGgoCm1hofM

And this guy is my future. Would love my future grandkids to see me doing something like this, lol.

http://youtu.be/AdDTKo2oyqg

Sarauk2sf · May 2013

Wonderful attitude I have to say.

Another 'tool' you could think about using are resistance bands - they are very flexible as to what you can do with them and very small and portable.

:flowerforyou: to you.

nz_deevaa · May 2013

Wonderful attitude I have to say.

Another 'tool' you could think about using are resistance bands - they are very flexible as to what you can do with them and very small and portable.

:flowerforyou: to you.

I agree with Sara, resistance bands might be a fantastic tool for you. And you can flick your husband with them when he gets out of line. :bigsmile:

moby_chick · May 2013

I have great respect for you in your efforts to keep toned and fit. I'm 59 and would like to think I could adopt an attitude like yours. Thank you for your post, which inspired me and made me laugh too... I think I'm a 'wheeled warrior' as well. :laugh: Keep us posted with your efforts and your photographs.

amy1612 · May 2013

Nice work lady! Keep up the awesomeness!

PetulantOne · May 2013

Wonderful attitude I have to say.

Another 'tool' you could think about using are resistance bands - they are very flexible as to what you can do with them and very small and portable.

:flowerforyou: to you.

I agree with Sara, resistance bands might be a fantastic tool for you. And you can flick your husband with them when he gets out of line. :bigsmile:

:laugh:

I agree with all of this.

Thanks for sharing. You're doing fantastic!

DaniH826 · May 2013

Adjustable resistance bands would be a great option for you, so you don't have to keep buying dumbbells every time you want to challenge yourself further. Wal-Mart carries them, and they're not expensive. You can stick them in a bag and take them anywhere with you.

For example, this set gives you a weight range anywhere from 2 to 40 pounds. The $35 seems pricey, but in the long run is actually a lot cheaper than buying the same weight in dumbbells:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Black-Mountain-Products-Resistance-Band-Set-6-Bands-Included/23528921#ProductDetail

They have other sets of course, but this will give you an idea to get started (should you feel so inclined).

I strive for progress, not perfection. And you, madam, are most certainly making great progress. You will achieve your goals, and you're an inspiration to lots of people already (including myself). That's awesome. :flowerforyou:

pspetralia · May 2013

To answer your questions and general comments, 3lbs is prob still not heavy enough. If you're hitting failure at 6 reps then sure you're on pace and on the right track in your workout. But I have a hunch for the bigger compounds you could easily be doing more.

Sorry, if I made it sound like I was seeking advice on how to improve my exercise routine, but I'm okay for now. If I have questions about my exercise regime, I take them to my doctor or my physical therapist.

Perhaps you didn't read the part about me being 68 years old and confined pretty much to a wheelchair. I probably should also mention that I have arthritis in both my shoulders and hands; so, the mere fact that I am lifting any weight over my head is a small miracle at the moment.

As for bigger compounds...I believe that you are talking about push ups and such. My doctor would kill me, if he even saw me doing any exercise that involved my knees. I am considered to be at extreme risk for green stick fractures in both legs at this time. Your advice seems geared more for someone who is much younger and mobile than myself, but thanks for the suggestions.

exercise like bi curls and tri extensions are pretty much **** near useless. small puny muscle groups that give far lower calorie burn and work less muscle groups. But people do them in the mistaken belief that somehow it will help with losing arm fat or toning problem areas. Well it won't, and it's basically a waste of time when you could instead put your time towards larger compound movements and get far larger benefit..

I may be an optomist, but I believe that any exercise of my upper body will be helpful in my efforts to lose weight and tone up my old body. As for my 'puny muscle groups', I would be glad to see them freed from those heavy layers of fat. With or without sagging skin, I don't need to carry that fat around in my upper arms.

Like I said...I have no delusions about having the body of a young, health person, even if I lose 100 pounds. However, I will do the best I can with my current limitations. In the near future, I will be working even more closely with physical therapists who will determine my post-op, exercise regime. When I get to Onederland, I will be scheduled for double knee replacement surgeries. My therapists will determine what exercise is appropriate for my age and medical issues at that time.

Well, that's the plan.

*****

By the way, I went to your wall. It says that you are a 35 year old male. It also says that you have no MFP friends and have lost ZERO pounds lost according to your ticker. Are you just here to give your advice and opinion on the subject of exercise without being a part of MFP? I don't believe that you are a trainer or professional coach, because your comments sound so negative...almost to the point of discouraging folks who are less than full on athletes. You might want to soften your approach to other MFP folks. You will find them more willing to listen to your advice.

OP- best response EVER!!!
You seem to have a great attitude and plan. Congrats on how far you have already come!!!!!

detroitcupcake · May 2013

sweetie you are doing amazing! and just so you know,my workmom(co-worker)is 63 and started to work out last year with a trainer.her arms were larger then yours .she has had multiple foot,back and neck surgeries! for the first 10 months they got toned on top(she used 2lbs weights that entire time)but she thought the hanging flappy parts would remain since after all the skin is 63 years old and not so elastic as one would like. but now a year later her arms are beautiful! she is my real life role model.everytime i felt like quitting or that i was doomed to feel like a weakling or near invalid due to health issues(severe asthma,hypertension,migraine,torn ligament in knee and dislocating kneecap)she just showed me that i can do anything i put my mind to .and thats true for us all.refuse to take ownership of the negative way of past thinking and just get up and kick *kitten*.now just 4 months into my weightloss journey,i am 34lbs down,off my hypertension and water pills.leg and knee feeling 1000% stronger as the new muscles take the burden :-) no migraines since i cut the salt outa my diet.
:drinker:
be proud! and remember.you are a thrive-er,not just a survivor