My knees are messed up a bit. I can walk, and even jog a bit, but if I ever go running my knees hurt before I get out of breath. Annoying, since running is a workout you can do without a gym. At least my complex has a gym. I jog on a treadmil with a 12% incline to reduce impact. The 12% incline wears me out fast though, so I have to alternate between jogging and walking. But it gets me out of breath and works me good, so I'm glad I have that.
I have a bad hunch back. And knees as I mentioned. So the squat is out. The squat is the best workout you can do. It can really get the adrenaline and testosterone pumping like nothing else. I know because I felt it a few times before having to give up. So now I hold 25 pound dumbbells at shoulder level and do squats that way. As long as I pay close attention to my every move, and go slow enough, I don't hurt my knees, though I get many warnings. This does not work my core as much as a squat, but is much better than nothing. And my lower back hurts sometimes.
My wrists are bad from rollerblading. I can do pushups on them, but they can't take the weight of bench press with a flat bar. This is because they are weak when the palms are up. And my thumb webbing can't take the weight either. The only way I can hold heavy weight is if I rest a barbell at 45 degrees down the valley between the meat of the thumb and the palm. Well, I build strength fast from bench press (I learned before my wrists started complaining), but not from dumbbel flies. I want a very curved barbell, but have not found any wide enough for a bench press. So right now, I have to do dumbbell flies with 50 pound dumbbells. Annoying because I can do a lot of reps, so I doubt my strength will go up much. But I still get a good burn and feel energized. I'll just add sets and reps gradually. I read lots of volume builds size but not strength, so here is hoping.
And I can't do chinups either. My left elbow can't take the tension. Eventually I'll get a CAT scan or something. But for now, I've learned I can do lat pull downs with 60-80 pounds as long as I don't straighten my elbows and don't pull the bar below my chin. I guess I'll be doing lots of sets and reps on this too, but it is better than nothing.
Everyone knows that chinups, squats, and bench press, and running are the best exercises there are. But I have to do without. And my ankles hurt when I swim, especially if I use flippers.
And I can't hike as much as I want because I my ankles and knees can't do the milage and downhill that the club hikers can do. And it is hard to build up to those hikes when I must do it on my own. I don't want to get eaten by a mountain lion while hiking by myself. Too bad I can't take more advantage of the hiking club.
I can still do dumbbell curls, and found that overhead one armed dumbbell tricept extensions burm my tricepts pretty good.
I can also do calf raises, though something in the balls of my feet starts to hurt if I do too much of them.
I bet skipping rope is out too.
Problems like this make it difficult for me to summon up the self discipline to go to the gym, especially when I often have to wait in line once I get there. But I think it is still possible for me to reach my goals. I just got to not give up, and stay consistent. Given the condition of my joints, I think it would be very stupid of me to ever try steroids. I never would have attempted the rediculous workout I jumped into and injured my elbow with, had I not thought Epistane would let me do it. I read that most steroid users do 30 sets per muscle group every other day. What I did not realize is they build up to that over years before they get on the gear. Yeah, no more dumb stuff in the name of fast gains. I got to care about my long term health and protect the only body I have.
I have a bad hunch back. And knees as I mentioned. So the squat is out. The squat is the best workout you can do. It can really get the adrenaline and testosterone pumping like nothing else. I know because I felt it a few times before having to give up. So now I hold 25 pound dumbbells at shoulder level and do squats that way. As long as I pay close attention to my every move, and go slow enough, I don't hurt my knees, though I get many warnings. This does not work my core as much as a squat, but is much better than nothing. And my lower back hurts sometimes.
My wrists are bad from rollerblading. I can do pushups on them, but they can't take the weight of bench press with a flat bar. This is because they are weak when the palms are up. And my thumb webbing can't take the weight either. The only way I can hold heavy weight is if I rest a barbell at 45 degrees down the valley between the meat of the thumb and the palm. Well, I build strength fast from bench press (I learned before my wrists started complaining), but not from dumbbel flies. I want a very curved barbell, but have not found any wide enough for a bench press. So right now, I have to do dumbbell flies with 50 pound dumbbells. Annoying because I can do a lot of reps, so I doubt my strength will go up much. But I still get a good burn and feel energized. I'll just add sets and reps gradually. I read lots of volume builds size but not strength, so here is hoping.
And I can't do chinups either. My left elbow can't take the tension. Eventually I'll get a CAT scan or something. But for now, I've learned I can do lat pull downs with 60-80 pounds as long as I don't straighten my elbows and don't pull the bar below my chin. I guess I'll be doing lots of sets and reps on this too, but it is better than nothing.
Everyone knows that chinups, squats, and bench press, and running are the best exercises there are. But I have to do without. And my ankles hurt when I swim, especially if I use flippers.
And I can't hike as much as I want because I my ankles and knees can't do the milage and downhill that the club hikers can do. And it is hard to build up to those hikes when I must do it on my own. I don't want to get eaten by a mountain lion while hiking by myself. Too bad I can't take more advantage of the hiking club.
I can still do dumbbell curls, and found that overhead one armed dumbbell tricept extensions burm my tricepts pretty good.
I can also do calf raises, though something in the balls of my feet starts to hurt if I do too much of them.
I bet skipping rope is out too.
Problems like this make it difficult for me to summon up the self discipline to go to the gym, especially when I often have to wait in line once I get there. But I think it is still possible for me to reach my goals. I just got to not give up, and stay consistent. Given the condition of my joints, I think it would be very stupid of me to ever try steroids. I never would have attempted the rediculous workout I jumped into and injured my elbow with, had I not thought Epistane would let me do it. I read that most steroid users do 30 sets per muscle group every other day. What I did not realize is they build up to that over years before they get on the gear. Yeah, no more dumb stuff in the name of fast gains. I got to care about my long term health and protect the only body I have.
