As evidenced by a prior post, I’m thinking more seriously about joining a gym. I’ve been annoyed at my body lately. More specifically, I’ve been annoyed at my right knee.
For some reason, I woke up one morning two months ago and my right knee felt cramped. Ever since, whenever I stand up after sitting down for a while, my knee hurts and I have to walk it out. It happens when I get up from my office chair, it happens when I get up from sitting on the PATH train. I’m only 32 years old, and my body should not be falling apart yet. I have no idea why the fuck this is happening to me.
Upon hearing this story, two different people (albeit not professionals) have told me that I need to get exercise. So on Monday evening I started doing these knee exercises that I learned last year when I did a little physical therapy.
But I really should be exercising regularly, more generally. It’s important as you get older, and I’m older than I once was. But I loathe exercise. It’s just so boring, and you wind up feeling sore, and you have to wait for people to finish using the machines, and I’m impatient, and it’s expensive. But I should be doing it. I’m just reluctant to, especially because of the money involved. But it’s probably a good investment.
I’m hoping that by complaining to myself about it I’ll actually get my shit together and do it.
“I’m only 32 years old, and my body should not be falling apart yet. I have no idea why the fuck this is happening to me.”
Think of it as a “Preview of Coming Attractions.”
The body falls apart. The spirit grows stronger.
Oh what a wonderful consolation.
Cue The Beatles’ “When I’m 64.”
quit bein cheap, will ya? join a gym or run laps around washington sq park or do a bunch of situps and pushup at home. or…do none of the above and turn into an old man with a big bulging belly!!!
The best thing about exercise is the feeling you get when you’re done. But the feeling makes it worth it, you just have to start the painful habit of doing it.
You don’t have to join a gym to exercise. Go for brisk walks or runs in your neighborhood. You live close to the Hudson River Park walk. That’s free. Find a long flight of stairs and run up and down. I would start by just climbing up and down. Then progress slowly to a more rapid pace.
Try doing push ups. Buy some exercise/resistance bands online and do some simple exercises with them. You can learn some simple exercise to strengthen the muscles that surround your knees (yes, do both not just one) hence creating a more stable joint.
Start stretching more. It will help keep your muscles supple and more flexible. You are 32. The body starts to deteriorate at 30. Especially if you don’t exercise at all. You are no longer producing a significant amount of growth hormones to help your body heal. Exercise may help increase that production.
And YES, it is boring. But hey, the price of not doing it is pain. Somehow, I think you can get over the boring part.
Good luck.
one word for you about being bored at the gym: ipod.
Start off easy. You don’t need a gym membership to improve your overall health. Go for a brisk 30 min walk in the park everyday. Take the stairs as often as possible. If you have to got up a few flights bypass the elevator and climb. By the way, there is NO good excuse for not finding 30 min. to walk. Remember to wear your iPod.