By running? Like, at all, at any speed, for any distance? Hahahahahahahaha hahahahaha.
No.
I did try to start running a few years ago. Wait, no, many many years ago. I didn't hate it. I mean, not as much as I thought I would. But my knee started complaining hard early on. My friend told me to go to The Running Room because they would do whatever they could to help you keep running. They didn't, really, just listened to what I was feeling and said "yeah, that's probably not great." My knee clicked audibly while I was walking up stairs for years, and is the first one to start showing signs of arthritis now, so along with the whole problem of my boobs threatening to give me a concussion, that means running isn't going to happen.
But I did finally look up Caroline Girvan's Dead Bug workout (which I'm pretty sure I saw mentioned on Jenny's blog first, although I can't find the reference now).
What a great name, right? It's not a Skinny Girl anything, it's not a Beach Body thing, it's literally what I feel like while working out. And I've been really looking for a good core strength workout because I always feel so crooked and it feels like any improvement in my core would help.
Can I do it with weights yet? Nope. Can I even finish it every time (it is very short)? Uh-uh. I do it until my sciatica starts pinging and then I stop. But it feels like a really good combination of effective and difficult-but-not-punishingly-so. Sweat drips off me while I do it. I usually do yoga first and then put it in at the end, or do it after my walk.
I've read multiple articles lately about how important strength training is as we age, for maintaining metabolic rate and muscle mass, increasing mitochondrial function and stimulating the creation of new, healthy mitochondria ("For fuck's sake, now I have to worry about my mitochondria?" my friend Nat said, and yeah, relatable). I was in a good gym routine including weights before Covid, but I haven't been able to get back to working out off-site. Fortunately there were some things that I was already doing, and I'm trying to add in more. The Dead Bug workout I can do on my back, so it doesn't hurt my bad knee or my bad hands.
Thank-you Jenny! I guess I would slightly rather be reminded of you while running on a seaside path with the wind in my hair rather than wiggling on the floor like an overturned cockroach, but we work with the tools we are given!
14 comments:
You are so entertaining! I guess we do what we can do, or we sit on the couch and just say screw it like I often do. My mitochondrial function must suck.
CG's Dead Bug workout it HARD! I can barely finish most times I do it, and I do a LOT of strength training. So if you're getting through even most of it 1-2x a week, that is awesome! Even without weights! It's a really challenging workout, and great for building all around core strength.
The only thing I do consistently for exercise is walking (about an hour a day). I used to swim weekly but I've barely done it since last winter. There must be some way this is Trump's fault.
WOW. Best day of NaBLoPoMo ever- I don't think I've ever made the TITLE of someone's blog post!!!! Anyway I'm SO HAPPY you like that workout. I agree, it's great. And I also agree, it's hard. I remember when I started doing it, I would want to cry during those 40 second holds. Also, I've done it without weights, and when I started adding weights I only started with 2 lb dumbbells. So it's very customizable. It also makes my low back feel good, which isn't the case with a lot of strength training.
I'm glad you now associate me with... dead bugs. : )
That workout is HARD. I don't do it with weights, either. I can barely do it with bodyweight!
I just came here to remind everyone that
THE MITOCHONDRIA ARE THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL.
Sometimes your mitochondria have to settle for ice cream and a cheesy medical drama.
I am strung so tightly and always feel crooked, so I'm working hard to build core strength.
I can totally get behind it being Trump's fault. I admire your carless lifestyle and all the walking, which I think is really great exercise, especially when you do it daily.
Huhhh, did I not think that through enough? That bug flew before it died :)
I can't even imagine doing it with weights right now.
Someone had to do it, Nance! My biochemistry-masters-doing daughter is with you!
Now we have to worry about mitochondria? Jesus. For me the dead bug hurts my lower back, which is surely because I’m not flatting my back to the ground enough. I should work on that and incorporate more of that workout. Tomorrow.
Give it up for the dead bugs! LOL (I actually like dead bugs - the exercise! - and I might have to check out that workout! Good for you for working on all the things we need to work on as aging women ;)
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