Well, I suppose I should mention that I had been working out for about ten weeks before I started this blog (did I mention that already?). We moved back to the States in late May, and I started at the gym again in July sometime. This closed off a three month (or more) break from exercising. So I have been at it again for about….four months now?
When we left Japan, I was much stronger and weighed about 189 lbs.
When I started up again in July, I was down to about 178 lbs, and had lost a lot of strength and energy (I do that – I have always had a hard time gaining and keeping muscle weight and strength).
So now, I am finally creeping back up – I am at 188 lbs as of yesterday, and much of my strength has returned. I am also regaining my bulk, which has never actually been very bulky, when I stop to think about it. This *does* tend to make for some surprised reactions when people see me doing 900 lbs on the seated leg sled, 320 lbs on the seated calf raise, or 270 lbs on the flat iso-bench press (I guess they expected less?). ^____^
Not there yet, but I will be one day. Old-age: 0. Me: 1.
Speaking of old-age, I also met this guy in the gym. Big vein-y arms. Fit-looking. Strong. Silver hair? I asked, and he said he was 75 years old! He has been doing this non-stop since he was 16! Imagine – 60 years of lifting. He said he had been at the North Pole before, and he and some buddies had convinced the metal shop to cut some round plates. You know it – they made barbells out of pipe and steel plates. He said they were either lifting or eating constantly. Amazing. He knew a long time before it became popular to say, that this is a life-style. You don’t stop; it doesn’t end. It is a journey, not a destination (sorry, very cliche, but it drives the point home, right?).
I hope I got half of what he has when I am that age… Dude’s gonna live to 120 at this rate.
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