RL Anger

Ganymede

I'm not one to say "I told you so," so I will instead say: YEAH IN YOUR FUCKING FACE MOTHERFUCKER.

I love you very much, workout buddy, but you really have to stop deadlifting for a while. Lumbago is no laughing matter, considering our sedentary lives.

@surreality

To be fair, I say this a lot, but only in response to muscle strain, rather than tearing apart my tendons. I'm on the wrong side of 35, and I'd like to be able to play sports with my kids in a few years.

surreality

@Ganymede There's still... issues with that. It's one of those pieces of bad advice that people apply with a broad brush, even to folks like me who live with permanent injuries. (As in, no, when certain things hurt, stopping is the only option that won't prevent further damage, crazy people.)

I live with a massage therapist, and even for muscle strain, that can be really really bad advice to take. He rails about this to all of his clients (and I get it second hand). Tired ache and actual pain are different things, basically. Tired ache you can work through (within reason). Pain really is your body's way of telling you: something is wrong.

Arkandel

@surreality Now and then I find myself muttering how unfair this all is - after all I know how to exercise, my form is good, I'm pretty well read (for an amateur) on studies and manuals and I'm usually pretty conservative about testing my lower back's limits... so when it craps out on me it's disappointing. I'm trying to take care of the damn thing, whyyy.

Then I realise as physical unfairnesses go it's pretty damn low on the totem pole. There are lots of people out there unable to walk or do basic things in real life through no fault of their own or at least way less than "well, they allowed themselves to be out of shape for a decade while sitting with bad posture on an office chair every day", so I should be thankful for what I do have and can still do.

But the self-whining resurfaces.

surreality

@Arkandel Think of it this way: yeah, a lot of people have it worse, sure. That's actually a huge reason to work to preserve what you've got, and avoid recklessly breaking stuff that isn't broken by pushing too hard. While that may seem hokey, it's pretty sound. Slower, safe progress is progress -- which is the sane person goal, really. Patience is IMHO more badass in this regard as plowing ahead when your body's trying to NOPE that. Anybody can push it long enough to hurt themselves. Not just anybody can stick with something long enough for real, enduring results.

Coin

If someone being worse off were a reason not to complain, then no one would have reason to complain.

It's silly logic.

Auspice

@Arkandel

Just because other people have it worse doesn't mean it sucks any less for you in the moment.

One of my closest friends ignored pain in his leg because he'd tell himself 'Well, she's been living with pain and weakness in both her legs for years. I can push through this.'

When he finally got it checked out, he had hairline fractures from hip to ankle. Don't do this. Don't push yourself or talk yourself down or ignore the pain because 'Well, it could be worse.' Listen to your body. And know that it is totally OK to feel the things you feel in those cases.

Ganymede

@surreality said in RL Anger:

There's still... issues with that. It's one of those pieces of bad advice that people apply with a broad brush, even to folks like me who live with permanent injuries. (As in, no, when certain things hurt, stopping is the only option that won't prevent further damage, crazy people.)

Oh, I don't mean to apply it to anyone but myself.

I have every right to be as stupid as I want when it comes to my body. Like @Arkandel continuing to do deadlifts.

surreality

@Ganymede Fair! I just tend to point that one out because it can harm you (but really, I'm a smoker -- I am not so much a hypocrite as to tell someone they can't do something they know can harm themselves), too, and... really, a lot of people genuinely believe it's totally OK to use that to try to shame people with permanent injuries or actual physical problems into pushing it way, way more than they should.

Ganymede

@surreality said in RL Anger:

Fair! I just tend to point that one out because it can harm you (but really, I'm a smoker -- I am not so much a hypocrite as to tell someone they can't do something they know can harm themselves), too, and... really, a lot of people genuinely believe it's totally OK to use that to try to shame people with permanent injuries or actual physical problems into pushing it way, way more than they should.

Also fair.

I've been doing the workout thing long enough to know when to pull back. While I'm not making the same gains I did when I was in my 20s, I'm not fucking in my 20s anymore. I know what I need to do to get even better, but I just don't do it -- sorry, but I like my Chinese and Mexican food.

Arkandel

@Ganymede If I'm mad at someone it's twenties-Arkandel. Fuck that guy. You idiot.

surreality

@Arkandel I think this is all of us once we get out of our twenties. For so, so, so many reasons in some cases.

mietze

Oddly the easiest physical conditioning and energy and drive I experienced was in my 30s! Especially the latter half was the best shape I've ever been in my life. Started doing triathlons, took up running/cycling, considered going to school to be a personal trainer again. Had surprise baby at 40 though then got hit by illness now it's harder to get rid of the fat. However! I'm also 40+! So I may very well say fuck this shit, come out as fat a la Lindy West and just start gently doing the things I loved most (brick training for tri and supervised personal training--I need a spotter and mirror at all times pretty much because of hypermobile joints and inability to feel dangerous hyperextension doesn't mean I can't tear things up). And just not worry about not being able to lose 100 lbs in like 10 months pretty easily like I did in my 30s.

Best thing about my 40s--I really don't give a shit what the 20 something dudes think of some chubby old lady sharing their space, and I cheer on the 80 something little old ladies that whoop my ass on the track or in dance class, they are badass awesome.

HorrorHound

@surreality

Pretty sure the USMC would accept your challenge, eat the fire, and then ask for yet another helping.

Auspice

Water aerobics are what my doctors tend to most highly recommend for me. And when I've had YMCA memberships, that means classes with the little old ladies. I think they're awesome to work out with. Lots of joking and no one gives a damn if your hair is a hot mess because you were running late and pretty much just rolled out of bed.

surreality

@HorrorHound Good luck with that.

mietze

The raunchiest conversations I hear in the locker room at the Y are when the silver sneakers (55+) water aerobics class gets out. Though that should go in RL Things I Love really.

Arkandel

@mietze There's this guy who comes to my boxing gym. He must be in his late sixties but it's hard to tell... he looks toned but that's the best you can tell about him at a glance.

The old geezer can lift! Damn! And he's doing pullups like nobody's business. Other men his age can barely get out of the recliner - he can lift the recliner. And whoever's sitting on it.

The only real issue associated with old age in general is recovery. A twenty-something can pull a muscle or strain a tendon and they'll be ready in a few days... get injured later in life and it can sideline you for a long time. Which is why volume is advised over personal records.

surreality

@Arkandel My mom has a friend like that. He's in his early 90s and runs marathons and loves to go mountain climbing.

...these are things I could not have done on my very best day, to the extent that I look at even someone in their prime doing them and doff my virtual hat.

Auspice

I hate apartment hunting.
So much.
Two days in and I already have panic attacks going.

HorrorHound

@surreality said in RL Anger:

@HorrorHound Good luck with that.

BY FIRE BE CLEANSED!