Just my way of keeping in trim, Meg. Always trained like this, so it’s both healthy and enjoyable, despite the pain!
Nothing wrong with the knee bands, Meg. Stretching is a very important way of keeping yourself supple and I expect you’re pretty active in daily life too, so that’s good:cool:
Training plans for 2017
If anyone’s interested…
After finally getting back into some sort of gym routine after the excesses of Christmas, my main priority this year will be to stick with the PPL (push, pull, legs) which definitely agrees with me and keep increasing the weight when possible (to shock and test the muscles). I will be altering it to a sort of “UB & L” (upper body x2, legs per week) instead though – this means two upper body sessions where I can do a predominantly ‘push’ or ‘pull’ but include a little extra exercises from those two methods if certain areas are lacking and can’t wait until their relevant workout day. Legs will remain the same.
In addition to these mandatory three training sessions per week, I’m going to start going out jogging on a Sunday morning, early doors when it’s fresh and crisp. Although I am on my feet all night long at work, I desperately need some fresh air during the week and a half hour light jog will be good for the system. Nothing too strenuous, i.e. against the clock or anything, but just something to invigorate the system. My usual leg weights session will fall at least a couple of days before the jogging, so I see no serious pain interfering with my run. A decent new mp3 player (which doesn’t bloody jump every time a fly goes past) will be purchased next week.
I also need to find more time with the grandkids after school, so on Tuesdays and Thursdays there will be no training. I know I’ve been very casual in my selected days for a training split in the past, but all being well I’m looking at my weekly plans being something along the lines of:
Monday: Upper body (predominantly ‘Push’)
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Legs
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Upper body (predominantly ‘Pull’)
Saturday: Rest (I have a social life on Saturday afternoon)
Sunday: Jogging (if it’s too wet, I’ll do this on the treadmill instead).
The two upper body sessions will consist mostly of the bigger muscle group areas, putting some of the ‘fluff’ into the background. I’m now happier with shoulder training, chest and back work, so I’ll be doing mostly that kind of training. Strength is the key this year, I’ll be doing more bodybuilding than simply ‘maintenance’ training but I also to keep myself trim and lean if at all possible. I have no interest in just building strength if my belly goes to pot – that does not keep you fit. I enjoy building some of the smaller muscle groups such as biceps, which will get bigger, but they will still build naturally without me putting as much emphasis on them as I have had in the past.
So there you have it. My new programme plans drawn up, to begin straight after the new year – in fact today!
Thanks for reading.
If one has major lower-back probs and in chronic pain despite physio, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories and heavy-duty pain-killers,
exercise would no doubt help and develop muscle …
but if the pain is just too great and even the slightest movement can be agony,
how the hell does one ‘exercise’ ?
I can’t help you with that one, Pumicestone, as you seem to have tried all the means possible to rectify your back problem.
Have you tried a profession sports physio for advice rather than an NHS one, who just go by the ‘NHS rule book’? If you asked at your local gym for some contact details, I’m sure they could find you a qualified physio. Worth a try?
Back into this now. Three under-par post-Christmas sessions, but back into my stride with a very pleasing 100kg shoulder press. So I’m happy with that at least.
Was this on a machine floydy? I personally don’t use many Machines!
My main lifts are barbell compond lifts, I find they tax the body more.
It’s the machine with plates rather than the crappy ‘stack’ version. I find it better suited to my height and on the hand grips. Here’s a pic of the same machine I use:
You can’t truly measure weight on those machines because handles act like levers so you’ve got more leverage than a straight barbell
Mate, I’m fit and healthy at 52. Weight is secondary to maintaining a decent physique and enough strength and stamina to maintain that health. Done all the bodybuilding stuff years ago pal.
But I understand your post. Thanks.
…Off topic personal argument and reference to what happened on another site removed, please stick to the topic.
Thank you.
I’ve been exercising My zygomaticus muscles and having a good guffaw at You two big macho Men bickering…now kiss and make up like good little Boys or Mummy will klunk Yer two big heads together :-p
May it’s because I am much stronger than hI’m and bigger with less fat
But Knockoutblow, strength on a forum means nothing, what we expect on here is polite, intelligent and friendly conversation! Floydy has always provided that , so I hope you can both put your differences aside,on this forum, and keep it a friendly and informative place, rather than a verbal street fight!
I tried to be friends with him but I will just put him on ignore
Ok…now the REALLY important question…who can piss up the wall the highest?..My money’s on Floydy :twisted: 
I wish I could manage to reach the wall these days May…:-(:-(
Well that will work too!
It is impossible to agree with everybody on a forum , and it would get a bit boring if we did, but how you handle it is what will win the respect of other members.
I can now look forward to chatting with both of you.
Don’t worry about it dear Boy…I know YOU’RE not a piss-artist :-p 
Ever since I started getting back in shape about 6 years ago, I exercise 4 to 6x a week. The sessions are short but intense. I like short and simple. There are already too many fancy exercise regimes these days.
As an ex elite cross-country, I know what I need to do. My workout sessions are usually between 20 - 30 minutes. A bit longer when I do an Interval session. I mean, I have a life to enjoy and don’t want to give more time for exercising than necessary.
So here is what I do:
1th day - an all body circuit workout, 30 min. without stopping
2nd day - an anaerobic Interval session, 30 min. = 1 on - 1 min off
3th day - off
4th day - strength workout - upper body 30 min. total
5th day - strength workout - lower body 30 min. total
6th day - running or roller skiing workout / 30 - 45 min. max
7th day - in the summer just walking fast uphill
in the winter, I may go cross-country skiing. This burns by far
the most calories when going at a decent pace
Do I have to motivate myself to do it. Not anymore, it has become routine like taking a shower every morning. And I know what is at stake / my health. Even so, I don’t have any guarantee for that either… but certainly worth it
