Pentagenarians & Beyond: W/B 4/29

Hi Deb, Josie, Joan, and Valerie--

This morning I did AT (56 min.).

I did have a very nice time last night. It was gratifying to have a few after-dinner speeches that were either funny, anecdotal, or laudatory. This was a smaller occasion--about 15 people. The really big bash is on May 25, and then there's the dinner with honorary degree recipients the night before Commencement, followed the next day with a very public speech about me from the President. Not sure how I feel about that.

Your trip sounds lovely, Valerie. Your firing from that job reminds me of the Clooney film from a couple years back--Up in the Air. He flew around doing the firing. If your experience was anything like that, it must have been gruesome.

Deb, you are not the only one who is envious. I have a colleague who decided to wait a couple more years to retire because she did not want to miss out on a sabbatical, and now she wishes she had taken the option I did, which, given my age and length of time is not really "early."

That's great that your daughter can wear your "vintage" disco dresses, Josie. Does she enjoy them?

Off to a pedicure this afternoon and then some thesis-reading. Next week is my last week of classes.
 
Linda, it was both better than that film, and also worse. Better because it was a mass firing so it did not feel "personal" like you yourself had failed to do the job. worse because it was so impersonal. I got on the plane here and as I walked to my seat, saw 5 people I worked with, and none of us had any idea others were involved in the same action. It also was strange checking into the motel and seeing the whole place was filled with people you knew. then the next day the 5 of us who flew in together flew back together so that helped.

That was the formal "firing" but because we all traveled... we had to be "checked out" by turning in the company car, work related records, cc's etc at a later date. that was another awful day. would not relive for anything. One of the hardest things was seeing my work records, painstakingly collected over years, unceremoniously dumped in my own garbage can.

So enjoy the kind words and be glad you chose a career that ended with some kindness and dignity. So enough whining, it was a long time ago and a memorably bad experience.
 
Valerie, sad to say I did back off in weight. For example I used 10lb instead of 20lb for chest flies. Although I will say even when I could do 12 chest flies with 20lb dumbbells there was more rest and not at a 2-2 count.

I was getting pretty happy enough with the weight I was. Just going to be a chubby old woman. Unfortunately the reality is if you don't keep working you just get bigger and bigger and weaker and weaker. I hope it has sunk in and this time I lose all the weight.

Just finished 20 minutes KCM. It was 1 of her 30 min wo but I skipped the pushups and rest of upper body and added a few more lower body floor exercises.

Joan
 
Joan, it's ( I think) SMART to back off in weight. It's not smart to push weight to levels of months ago and potentially hurt yourself. Better do 10 lbs ( or 8? ) than push 20 and injure something and get stuck doing nothing for a month. you'll get almost as much benefit from the lower weight at much much less risk. I'm especially fond of bands because they seem less risky to me than a heavy weight.
It's important to be more careful when you are older like we all are ... things train up well but injuries take way longer to recover from. Even if I have a week off of regular workouts and do hiking/biking, I take a easier "recovery" day or two for Cathe's stuff because it's just different, and I need to re-adjust. did S & G today and it was hard despite being very active every day. just different types of "active".
Cut yourself some slack, do a level that involves "work" but not so much that you get too sore or possibly injured.
 
Good morning all,

We went for breakfast, and I ate too much of course. The place we go to is a little family owned Greek place run by a mother and her son. We are "regulars" and it's so nice to have them know you etc. All I have to do is ask a question about something she has made ( she makes her own bread and all the desserts) and the next thing I know she's giving me some on the way out.

Joan, agree with Valerie. I did Gym Style Chest & Triceps the other day and had to use 10 pound db's for the chest press and flies. I used to use 15's.

off to get some of the list crossed off before class....will check back in a bit...
 
I'm gearing up to re-do STS, been a year. no way will I start with levels from a year ago. I've been doing regular work, a variety of things, but will start STS at half the weight I was using. I hope I can increase quickly but will let soreness be the guide. somehow I hurt my right shoulder and still don't know what did it. Pushups don't bother me, been doing those all along. and I get quite a bit of upper body in my yoga class.
My goal is to be a little sore all over, knowing I've worked, but not so sore I don't want to do next workout.

Today is garden day. supposed to get sunny and we deserve it.
 
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