Aug 2021
Fitness not about being pretty
I took this photo one day when no one was in the locker room. I didn’t want to look like too much of an idiot in person. Online or in a story looking like an idiot is simple fate; I am not in control. I was preparing to write another reflection or progress update on my fitness journey begun in June 2012. I planned to write about the struggle to keep fit and maintain a trimmer weight. We then isolated at home and the Covid effect took place. After putting on my Pandemic Pounds I look back at this photo and think, I look almost good. At the time I was at 230 not 220 and felt stuck there. I became unstuck and overinflated .
Where am I at now? I weighed 245 this morning down from the 248 I was weighing when I threw out the anchor. I have heard focus on weight, body shaming, or fat ridicule is not in vogue now. Something has to motivate me and public weight reporting on Facebook and in my blogs seems the guide rail I need. Before I went into the Covid Cave, my cardio fitness was excellent. I did have solid muscle tone and I was building, a good trend. I longed for a restart of the weight loss.
I had made fitness a habit. I would go to Gold’s Gym jump on the elliptical for thirty minutes then go lift weights. The elliptical set at a resistance of twelve on random was simply a good warm up. I didn’t even break a sweat. I came back after my Moderna vaccinations and appropriate activation time. I was away from the gym for nearly a year. The first day back I jumped on the elliptical. I immediately questioned who was the idiot that thought thirty minutes was a great idea. I had even reduced the resistance. As I watched the never moving timer I began thinking maybe I didn’t need any resistance.
Today I did my thirty minutes at ten resistance. I kept pace and then did other exercises after I was done. I felt like yes I am getting there. Which caused me to be totally over the no–vac morons, please do not start this again. Yeah you can live your own life, But No, you have to start screwing with mine. I read a local high school football team is skipping a week of practice due to Covid. I thought here we go again. I am willing to wear a mask in the grocery store, but no I will not skip the gym again. Please use the brain God gave you. I know you can find it if your look around. If it seems lost or stolen ask your wife where she hid it.
A five year old Georgia boy died from Covid. I want my wonderful two year old grandson James to thrive. As Chris Farley would say For the Love of God consider the children. We must stop the feigned outrage and intentional ignorance.
I did write a short story and two novels while I got fat. Yes, I could have organized a better at home fitness campaign. It is hard to establish a new habit especially when a demanding character insists on telling their story.
I will continue to go to the gym; I will avoid close quarters with others. I will update how it is going. I will try not to travel to our kitchen for a recreational adventure. Maybe I can start the weight loss trend again. I may be an old man, but I need not be a fat old man. A little fat shaming is good for me. It is OK I have a good build and no one ever called me skinny — not ever. If I do catch Covid and spread it to you the un-vaccinated, it is on you. I will pray for your soul, but I am taking no blame for your death.
If I don’t continue to work out, it will impact my own health. My grandson would be so sad, if I wasn’t fit enough to do all the adventures I have promised him.
My novel The Solace of Solitude is available in Kindle Books on Amazon — $2 will go toward the Elmwood Community Foundation’s effort to build a health and fitness center.
Forgottonia -- Shire Tales 