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Get Fit, Stay Fit, Feel Good - 2026

So just got back from a Monday gym session. I complained about last Monday as I couldn't push any weight on the bench. Well today I did the same weight and hit all 3 sets at 12 reps. WTF? how come last week I struggled with doing a set of 10, 8 5 same weight I will never understand. Everything else went fine upped some weights and stayed the same on some shoulders but overall feel good about where I am going as long as I don't backslide on the bench again next Monday.
 
Hit the gym for upper body after a long moto ride yesterday and a couple on Th and Friday. Honestly I felt really tired.

Then a surprise when my strength was up. Had to double check the weight stack on bench. Thought I made a mistake. Same for a few other exercises.

Now back to exhausted but… a very tired leg is feeling better after another stretch. We will see how legs go tomorrow. I can tell I am not all healed but riding felt good.
 
Got another lower session in the books last night. Got to the gym late and then had to cut it short due to work commitment but still working on finding my optimal weight settings for lower body. I am increasing my squat weight 10 lbs a week right now looking for that point where the 3 sets will tap me out. started low but up to 95lbs total right now but going really slow due to not wanting ACL surgery again on my knee. So far so good, so will see how fast I progress on squat but other safer exercises I go up quicker on the weight. Still really liking overall progess with the new routine.
 
It was another sort of F it day yesterday. However the only F was Fucking do it!

Did a 10 minute bike warm up hitting 1.98 miles so well on pace.

Leg felt good! Strength solid. I forgot to do the dead lifts though. The lunges and heel touches certainly hit the bootie bolt so probably subconsciously said F it. :laughing

Those do create pain in the specific spot where I believe the bolt goes through the femur into the upper femur. PT Pro keeps adding little things specific to strengthening the buttocks. Starting to really get OK (not good) at one leg balancing. Looking forward to getting good at that!

A good stretch at home topped off a satisfying day, as any day where the mind says skip it and you don't, only to have a very good work out is a good day!
 
I really like Mark Lewis's channel and his approach to fitness and life in general. This touches on some of our more controversial topics.

 
Had to join one of the cheap gym options while (now) doing monthly trips to two of the East coast locations....and it's certainly a new experience. One dude was doing deadlifts and I noticed he was doing the same weight I've gotten to, but man....his form made me cringe. No belt, straightened his legs then pushed hips forward; back rounded the whole time. I shuddered watching each rep...and it's not a light amount of weigh he's doing.

I also noticed their smith machines were flipped around in the mirrors relative to how I'n situated mine....I'm wondering what's correct now. I won't change mine anyway; I like the bar lock rolling towards me, not away. I'm kinda confused why they had their set up opposite.
 
Mike95060 said:
I really like Mark Lewis's channel and his approach to fitness and life in general. This touches on some of our more controversial topics.
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To simplify it: every guy who wants to maintain a scintilla of performance as they age, will need to take on some type of TRT program. Those who are fortunate enough to be able to wait long into older age before doing so have the advantage of not needing the PED's as long in their life. Once you go on PED's/ TRT at an oder age, there's really no going off of it. As always, there are measures we can take to keep our natural Test levels as high as possible (for our own bodies). The obvious measures are what one would guess; sleep/ exercise/ limiting alcohol / sugar/ most rec drugs/ focused on low inflammation levels/ upbeat mindset, etc. Of course, everyone is different and will have different needs/ demands on their body and their programs...which means they may take more than I'd take (TRT) and may take it sooner in their lives than I will need to in mine.

That all being said, it's lame to criticize people for their personal choices of PED's as they get older and want to remain as youthful as they can. Food for thought.
 
SFMCjohn said:
pretty sure I can say without fear of contradiction that I’ll be too lazy to ever take on TRT therapy … guess I’ll just have to be resigned to accept giving up on scintillating performance as I age. :laughing
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If your not so depressed you are unable to get out of bed and your test levels are in the range of normal, I doubt you are going to miss that scintilla.

If you want to blast your hormones to the moon, by all means exercise that free will too. Just be honest about it, don't throw shade at doctors and don't try to impress everyone with how awesome you are. Food for thought.
 
do they have a test for Mr budman’s “F” level—as in just go for my f-ing walk every day?

finding a scintilla of motivation on the daily to get my minimum-effective-dose of motion would probably be helpful, I admit it. :clown
 
SFMCjohn said:
do they have a test for Mr budman’s “F” level—as in just go for my f-ing walk every day?

finding a scintilla of motivation on the daily to get my minimum-effective-dose of motion would probably be helpful, I admit it. :clown
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I admit that too. I'm just starting to pull out of a period of low interest and activity. I have been tracking my fitness long enough to notice patterns and cycles. There are weeks when I'm down, sometimes a few of them in a row, and they really fucking suck. Mentally and physically. So far I have tried to use that time rest, recover and remind myself that good health is marathon not a sprint. I use fitness to make my life feel good. Sometimes I have to admit to myself that fitness is not doing that at the moment and I need to adjust. I usually take care of other things for a little while, reshuffle the priority's for a bit and try not to spiral into a deeper shade of blue. Those periods are usually when I try new activities and experiment. Novelty is good for us I think. If there ever comes a day when my copes don't work, yeah lets talk to a Dr, make some measurement's and find out why. YMMV.
 
Always good to get full blood panels annually, and library as much personal data as possible. +1 to novelty.
 
Mike95060 said:
I admit that too. I'm just starting to pull out of a period of low interest and activity. I have been tracking my fitness long enough to notice patterns and cycles. There are weeks when I'm down, sometimes a few of them in a row, and they really fucking suck. Mentally and physically. So far I have tried to use that time rest, recover and remind myself that good health is marathon not a sprint. I use fitness to make my life feel good. Sometimes I have to admit to myself that fitness is not doing that at the moment and I need to adjust. I usually take care of other things for a little while, reshuffle the priority's for a bit and try not to spiral into a deeper shade of blue. Those periods are usually when I try new activities and experiment. Novelty is good for us I think. If there ever comes a day when my copes don't work, yeah lets talk to a Dr, make some measurement's and find out why. YMMV.
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:thumbup

I’m actually having a bit of a crisis, “feel good” routine wise, cuz on Monday I quit my spiritually-rewarding and profoundly challenging, but otherwise undesirable job (didn’t like the way my new boss talked to me).

anyway, my whole fitness routine, such as it is, was based upon the structure of a 40 hour work week. so, I’ll need to find the self-discipline, pdq, to replace the old routine/structure, or I’m gonna put on 10 lbs before I know it. :laughing

wrt going to the doctor to get bloodwork … f that noise. the only time I go to see a doctor is when they take me there in ambulance. :toothless :clown
 
Holeshot said:
Always good to get full blood panels annually, and library as much personal data as possible. +1 to novelty.
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I have to go to the blood test thing. I know you posted back a ways on the extra test that should be done. I just asked the nurse (because I never get to talk to my Dr. Nor have I met him. :rant ) what they are looking to do so I can request a fuller blood panel as you put it.
 
SFMCjohn said:
:thumbup

I’m actually having a bit of a crisis, “feel good” routine wise, cuz on Monday I quit my spiritually-rewarding and profoundly challenging, but otherwise undesirable job (didn’t like the way my new boss talked to me).

anyway, my whole fitness routine, such as it is, was based upon the structure of a 40 hour work week. so, I’ll need to find the self-discipline, pdq, to replace the old routine/structure, or I’m gonna put on 10 lbs before I know it. :laughing
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Might I suggest a quaint little 10K along the Santa Cruz Coast? You might still be able to squeak in a W2W registration. The offer still stands to pre game/park at my house if you get in. :teeth

Props to walking when the atmosphere is toxic.
 
yes, guess i should give myself more credit for finally just walking away from a toxic environment—probably a very important facet to any effective “feel good” program.

for example, once I made the decision to simply walk away from the job, my sleep improved dramatically, which I’ve otherwise been struggling with. :angel
 
Holeshot said:
Always good to get full blood panels annually, and library as much personal data as possible. +1 to novelty.
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Berto,

This is what they are planning to do.

I am not anywhere near knowledgeable on this stuff.

CBC with Differential
TSH
Hemoglobin A1c
PSA scree, Annual
Lipid panel, fasting
Comprehensive metabolic panel , fasting
Creatine Kinase (CK)
 
SFMCjohn said:
:thumbup

I’m actually having a bit of a crisis, “feel good” routine wise, cuz on Monday I quit my spiritually-rewarding and profoundly challenging, but otherwise undesirable job (didn’t like the way my new boss talked to me).

:toothless :clown
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Welcome to retirement SFMCjohn!👏🏻🎉
Ride moar BARF more stress less. No longer a camper but still riding. Does riding mean my T is okay?
 
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