|
 |
|
Contact Me click on Merlin |
Cartref Home |
My Sailing Page |
|
Click the Merlin Button to contact me |
||
|
|
||||||||||||
 |
Though there are many facets to my life, one of the main parts of it is bodybuilder, that is, working out with heavy weights. For many, bodybuilding is seen as the sport of the young and the thought of taking it up later in life is not something many would consider. Yet, that is exactly what I did, and it turned out to be the best thing I have ever done. Now at 62 years young, I am still increasing the weights that I lift, while packing on muscle mass with every passing day. But it's not only the fact that I am look better that matters, but also that I am feeling fantastic too. Of course, I will never be a Kevin Levrone or an Arnie, but there are many other benefits from working out with weight, least of all, it slows the aging process and gives me back something of my youth. I can out walk most people half my age, and I always have a spring in my step and enjoy a much better quality of life. A few years ago, having broken and dislocated my ankle,I had to have surgery and a plate inserted. Whilst in hospital, the surgeon express his surprised at the density of my bones and said they were like a 40 year old's. Later, having an abdominal operation, I was told it would take at least 10 weeks to heal, but I healed in 4 and half weeks, so you see, working out and keeping fit is well worth it. Nor am I alone, as others of my age and older are into serious bodybuilding. Check out my page on Bodybuilders, you will be surprised. I started going to the gym on my 56th birthday. It was then, that I realized that I had become something of a couch potato, lounging on my settee in front of the Television and constantly, dosing off to sleep. Birthdays are like mile stones and have a way of forcing us to focus on certain aspects of one's life, and on this occasion, it did just that. Suddenly, I thought to myself - if I am like this now, what will I be like when I reach 66 years of age? - It was these thoughts that made me consider going to the gym again, and as a birthday present to myself, I paid for a months subscription at the local YMCA gym. 6 years on I am still going every morning, except for the time I spent in recovery. It may have been the most expensive birthday present, ever, but well worth every penny. |
||
|
My Two Workout Partners |
|
 |
 |
Click on Images to See More of My Friends |
|
Originally, my intention was only to lose the fat and to build up some stamina and energy. Weighing in at over 200 kg's of fat and gut (that is, over 14 and a half stone or 220 lbs) I was not a pretty sight. Entering the gym for the first time after so long, I certainly stood out like a sore thumb, as everyone else looked in such good physical condition. Nevertheless, I was happy to see I was not the oldest, or the youngest, and I soon settled down into a cardio routine. Three months on and going to the gym three days a week, I had successfully lost 15 kgs (33 lbs) and was already feeling a great deal better, as you can see opposite, in the 1999 picture, compared to the one above in the red jacket. Nevertheless, I was totally shapeless without any muscles, unlike the more recent pictures of myself. |
|||
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||
Nov 1999 |
September 2004 |
June 2005 |
August 2005 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
August 2006 |
August 2006 |
3rd November 2006 |
3rd November 2006 |
 |
 |
Around
that time, an ex-army physical instructor started working at the YMCA's
gym and while I was working out with weights, he told me that
I needed to tone up my muscles and learn to use weights more effectely.
Next thing I knew, he produced a workout routine for me and set about
teaching me how to lift weights correctly, that is using the "correct form" and what it was meant to "go to
failure". Both these aspects of weight training would become very important
for me in the future, but at that time, I was struggling enough with
light weights, which proved harder than you can imagine, when trying to perfect the correct
form.
|
|
I
also found several bodybuilders on the net who became friends. They helped
me a great deal in understanding more about the art of bodybuilding,
Those guys are Ricky Perez from Miami and Dave Rohr on Palm Spring,
both in the USA and David Gilfillan, from Doncaster, England. Check
them out. Anyway, with the
help of these guys and reading more and more about bodybuilding, I soon
learn a great deal about weight training and bodybuilding. Gradually,
I increased both my muscle mass and strength and was not enjoying the good feel factor. For example, with regards
to working my Chest, Back and Legs, I was lifting over my body
weight (of 87 kgs - 191.5 lbs though for legs it is well over 120 kgs
(264 lbs). It is only the shoulders that are lagging behind, now lifting
a mere 74.5 kgs, 184 lbs. :-) Of course, after my surgery, my goal now is to be
able to lift what I was before, but there is no rush, and will slowly build up my strength and add weights over the new 6 months. Will keep you up abreast of thing in my up-dates at the top of the page. |
|
Cartref Home |
|
My Sailing Page |
||
Click the Merlin Button to contact me |
||||