The Diet/Fitness Thread

[Sancho]

I'm getting cramp in the back of both lower legs lately, thats really slowing me down.
Not that being seventy one has anything to do with it.
After googling the symptoms, I came to the conclusion that it was the diet since I came to Japan.
Too much coffee with my addicted South American collegue at work, too many drinks with the Texan one,sandwiches, burgers, burgers, burgers.
So I've switched to: bananas, water, tea, pasta, fish, multi-vits and trust it gets better.
Any of you get these cramps?

Howdy, M'

Are you sure it's a muscle cramp and not some sort of tendinitis?

I'm finding as I get older that it's getting harder and to keep those tendons that run from the bottom of my feet to my heel and along the back of my legs loose and flexible - the plantar fascia to the Achilles' tendon to the hamstrings. I can't just bounce out of bed In the morning and hit it hard anymore. I've got to ease into the day and make sure everything is warmed up before trying anything strenuous, or I'll risk rupture.

I'd suggest a dynamic stretching regimen and then maybe an shoe insole that supports your biomechanical walking style. The Japanese make great shoes. I like Pearl Izumi and Mizuno.

[MANICHAEAN]

Thanks Sancho
Getting old is not much fun, but I work on the principle, if it works, use it.
I'll try the stretching and the shoe insole you mentioned.
I think its a combination of all the long distance running I used to do, so that now I've got:
1. Wearing of the right knee joint ( or so the X rays show.)
2. Varicose veins in the left leg. ( the result no doubt of No 1.)
3. Have had gout before, but got on top of that by cutting out offal and drinking loads of water.
4. Tendinitis I've had and recognize. Doc says dont stand up so much and rest with your legs elevated.
5. This new one, cramp is a bit of a mystery as there are so many variables when you research it.
Take care
M.

[Sancho]

Good principle.

I'll piggyback on that thought:
- use it or loose it
- if you stop moving you rust

Out of curiosity, do you still run?

Also, have you ruled out a thrombotic vein?

[YesNo]

The part about stop moving or rust made me realize I best not skip my walk this morning.

I think I'm going to sign up for a yoga class. I've tried that on my own from a book and stretched my ankles so much I had to stop. If I can handle that I'll try Zumba.

[Sancho]

Hey, that gives me an idea for a workout T-shirt. Something like:

TEAM WD-40



Move or Rust. If You Rust, You Die. So You Bet We Sweat

[YesNo]

Good T-shirt. The sweating part, however, now sounds like it would encourage eventual rusting, but it does rhyme.

[Sancho]

I was hoping the WD-40 would help with the rust. (Water Displacement Formula #40)

[Calidore]

I was hoping the WD-40 would help with the rust. (Water Displacement Formula #40)

Is that what the WD stands for? I never knew that.

YesNo: Having done some yoga now, I can't imagine doing it from a book, especially to start. Having someone live, even on video, giving you real-time cues and cautions (and timings) is a good idea.

[YesNo]

I agree about the yoga. I didn't try it long on my own. Maybe the routine will also make me more committed since it would be a scheduled event.

[Sancho]

Ditto

Despite several tries, I've never been able to stick with a yoga program - too much meditation and stillness involved. My wife and I tried Rodney Yee's yoga DVDs. She stuck with it. I did not. Therefore, she reaps the benefits and I do not. "Inhale...Axehale...Inhale...Axehale..." Screw it - I'm going for a bike ride.

As for WD-40, ain't the Internet grand? I've been using their stuff for years, but only recently learned about the history of the formula. Evidently it took the inventor forty tries to get it right. Presumably with WD-39 you still got some brown spots.

I love the smell of WD-40 in the morning

[YesNo]

If it is all inhaling and axehaling, I should be able to handle that. Just working my way up to zumba which my wife tells me isn't easy.

[Calidore]

Ditto

Despite several tries, I've never been able to stick with a yoga program - too much meditation and stillness involved. My wife and I tried Rodney Yee's yoga DVDs. She stuck with it. I did not. Therefore, she reaps the benefits and I do not. "Inhale...Axehale...Inhale...Axehale..." Screw it - I'm going for a bike ride.

As for WD-40, ain't the Internet grand? I've been using their stuff for years, but only recently learned about the history of the formula. Evidently it took the inventor forty tries to get it right. Presumably with WD-39 you still got some brown spots.

I love the smell of WD-40 in the morning

I'd be interested in seeing a version history of WD-40.

With yoga, it really depends on the style and who's teaching. I also have zero interest in the new-agey aspects of yoga, so I sought out programs that were specifically geared toward physical workouts. The Kimberly Fowler video I mentioned at the top of the thread is a good place to start.

[papayahed]

Ya, I can't do yoga either. It's too quiet. Tai Chi is also quiet but I find I really like it plus it gives you the whole range of motion like yoga.

[NikolaiI]

Don't eat more than you need. . don't eat any sugar, breathing - yes, is key. . deep, calm breathing is exceptionally good for you.

Honestly, not eating sugar, also, rarely eating meat, is so transformative. . . it really can change your life completely, and it gives you a rather large edge in almost any competitive endeavor. Because when your metabolism, immune system and the rest are freed of that burden, you can easily reach perfect health; and then things will come with so much less effort necessary than before, and you can achieve a ton of things that you wouldn't have been able to before.

[YesNo]

I agree that overeating is the worst exercise one can engage in.