Since having a cardiac event, as the television commercials like to call that stuff, I have taken up a regular exercise program. Regular for me anyway, I try for three times a week, with exceptions at my discretion. I'll get back on a more stable schedule after the holidays, isn't that that always the plan? Of course the weather will factor into all of this, I'm not making excuses here just being realistic. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. The important thing is I'm exercising. I joined the others at what I call the geriatric gym! Most of them look a lot older than me though and not as fit. You know what I mean, I'm sure you feel the same way when comparing yourself to others of your age.
The hospital calls it the cardiac rehabilitation unit. I admit that sounds a bit better than a geriatric gym, although a little foreboding. At first I went as a part of therapy. I was ordered by my doctor to do so. I admit I wasn't too excited about that, but if you're paying a doctor, or anyone else for that matter, for advice, you are foolish not to follow it, so off I went. Turned out it wasn't so bad. I read somewhere that endorphins would make me feel good after exercise. I admit I don't feel bad and for a short time you could even say, I felt a bit of the old machismo, a little swagger in my step. That's quickly replaced by the need for a nap though, I call it the recovery period. I read where that is very important as well. maybe the most important part! I've lost about twenty pounds since I started this so that's a good thing.
Now I'm telling you this because of an incident with my granddaughter. Well, it was an incident to me, not so much for her. I have purchased some workout gear. Being a reasonable and realistic person I bought the traditional grey sweat pants and sweatshirt. You know the kind, the elastic around the ankles and the drawstring waist. The sweatshirt is just that plain grey one without any graphics on it. I had that outfit on when I returned from my workout yesterday. I had a small chore to do at my son's house and so headed directly over there. This chore shouldn't take but a minute or two. I went inside and directly to the chore at hand. I was right, only took a minute. I'm getting ready to leave when my granddaughter jumps up from the couch where she was sitting, phone in hand and says, Grandpa what are you wearing? She is taking my picture with that phone and laughing. I say to her, it's my workout gear. Her Mom is sitting on the couch smiling and says Grandpa just came from the gym. After some more laughter Morgan makes some remark, which I didn't quite catch, about my outfit. Feeling a little annoyed I tell her , " I'm old school cool " and that's why I wear this stuff. If it worked for Rocky Balboa it works for me. Hey I'm wearing Adidas athletic shoes, not sneakers you know. I have no idea what she expected me to be wearing other than I guess she was surprised I go to the gym. You'd think she would have known that by now though. Kids.
As I said I've been going to the geriatric gym for a while now. Many of my fellow workout partners are just dressed in loose fitting jeans, shorts or whatever. There was one gentleman that came wearing bicycle shorts, those spandex looking things and it did present, shall we say, an interesting appearance. I hope he is well as I haven't seen him lately. It was that image that made me realize that what you are wearing does have to be adjusted according to your age and fitness level. For that reason I figure I'm old school cool. I think I can pull that off. Jumpsuits like Jack LaLanne wore certainly wouldn't cut it! I'm not that old anyway, or that brave.
My daughter in law gifted me a pair of blue tooth earbuds for Christmas. Tried them out yesterday and they are awesome. So you see it is a mixture of old school cool and modern technology. I do like to listen to music while working out. Yes, I'm listening to the oldies! Good old rock and roll will get the juices flowing.
You know that's the thing about my generation. The one before us is called the greatest generation and I agree with that wholeheartedly. Those folks took to calling us the baby boomers. Well what they didn't know back then was what we would become. We are the " coolest " generation. We have seen and done it all, everyone after us trying to recreate the cool we created, and failing miserably. We have partied so hard for so long the kids today are concerned with saving the planet! Rock On. There is no cool like " old school cool. "
The hospital calls it the cardiac rehabilitation unit. I admit that sounds a bit better than a geriatric gym, although a little foreboding. At first I went as a part of therapy. I was ordered by my doctor to do so. I admit I wasn't too excited about that, but if you're paying a doctor, or anyone else for that matter, for advice, you are foolish not to follow it, so off I went. Turned out it wasn't so bad. I read somewhere that endorphins would make me feel good after exercise. I admit I don't feel bad and for a short time you could even say, I felt a bit of the old machismo, a little swagger in my step. That's quickly replaced by the need for a nap though, I call it the recovery period. I read where that is very important as well. maybe the most important part! I've lost about twenty pounds since I started this so that's a good thing.
Now I'm telling you this because of an incident with my granddaughter. Well, it was an incident to me, not so much for her. I have purchased some workout gear. Being a reasonable and realistic person I bought the traditional grey sweat pants and sweatshirt. You know the kind, the elastic around the ankles and the drawstring waist. The sweatshirt is just that plain grey one without any graphics on it. I had that outfit on when I returned from my workout yesterday. I had a small chore to do at my son's house and so headed directly over there. This chore shouldn't take but a minute or two. I went inside and directly to the chore at hand. I was right, only took a minute. I'm getting ready to leave when my granddaughter jumps up from the couch where she was sitting, phone in hand and says, Grandpa what are you wearing? She is taking my picture with that phone and laughing. I say to her, it's my workout gear. Her Mom is sitting on the couch smiling and says Grandpa just came from the gym. After some more laughter Morgan makes some remark, which I didn't quite catch, about my outfit. Feeling a little annoyed I tell her , " I'm old school cool " and that's why I wear this stuff. If it worked for Rocky Balboa it works for me. Hey I'm wearing Adidas athletic shoes, not sneakers you know. I have no idea what she expected me to be wearing other than I guess she was surprised I go to the gym. You'd think she would have known that by now though. Kids.
As I said I've been going to the geriatric gym for a while now. Many of my fellow workout partners are just dressed in loose fitting jeans, shorts or whatever. There was one gentleman that came wearing bicycle shorts, those spandex looking things and it did present, shall we say, an interesting appearance. I hope he is well as I haven't seen him lately. It was that image that made me realize that what you are wearing does have to be adjusted according to your age and fitness level. For that reason I figure I'm old school cool. I think I can pull that off. Jumpsuits like Jack LaLanne wore certainly wouldn't cut it! I'm not that old anyway, or that brave.
My daughter in law gifted me a pair of blue tooth earbuds for Christmas. Tried them out yesterday and they are awesome. So you see it is a mixture of old school cool and modern technology. I do like to listen to music while working out. Yes, I'm listening to the oldies! Good old rock and roll will get the juices flowing.
You know that's the thing about my generation. The one before us is called the greatest generation and I agree with that wholeheartedly. Those folks took to calling us the baby boomers. Well what they didn't know back then was what we would become. We are the " coolest " generation. We have seen and done it all, everyone after us trying to recreate the cool we created, and failing miserably. We have partied so hard for so long the kids today are concerned with saving the planet! Rock On. There is no cool like " old school cool. "
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