Fly_At_50

Few words as I enter the next year. I fell off 🤪

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CXvysFdFVPI/?utm_medium=copy_link

It’s all gone pear shaped in a pear tree again for Xmas ! With Covid-19 and its various mutations continuing to impact all our lives, I’ve personally found it challenging to maintain my mental and physical heath recently - hence why I’ve gone into hibernation, feeling I have nothing much to say. Then I remembered the reason I started this account. It wasn’t to boast about my own weight and fitness progress, but to challenge myself and shine a light on the darker times we all experience but don’t want to admit - and to inspire people to keep on pushing towards their own goals when times are tough. Instagram doesn’t make it any easier with photos of beautiful, slim and successful people flaunting their perfect lives. It’s tough to constantly keep reminding yourself its “a trap” and most people’s daily lives don’t look anything like that. As usual with me, when I stop training, I start eating, which makes me feel like a massive loser. I’ve only put on a few pounds back on which must be down to all the hard work I’ve been doing before my hip injury, but still I feel like a failure as I was making good progress. But being hard on oneself really doesn’t help at all, so my advice is to give your ‘elf a break this Xmas! I’m proud to have actually buried my 3 month on / 3 month off health cycle and managed to give Diabetes a swerve this year. My last cycle lasted 10 months and I feel confident I can get back on track in 2022. I’ve resigned myself to the fact I’ll be putting on a few extra pounds this Xmas holiday and will need to revisit my previous training sessions to build muscle and stamina before resuming training again in 2022. But if I did it once at age 50, I can do it again at 50.5. Please spend quality time with your friends and family this Xmas if possible, and if you can’t then jump on Zoom and celebrate that way. Either way, I wish you all a happy Xmas and NY. ❤️

This Summer my 10 year old started mixed martial arts (inspired mainly by Cobra Kai 🙂 and I’ve been watching proudly from the sidelines as he has effortlessly absorbs each technique, finds his own rhythm and builds confidence.

In a post middle aged moment of madness I decided that I was going to start the adult classes. It’s been 10+ years since I attended a muay thai boxing class, but I wanted get away from running 5k’s that were causing me some hip discomfort and see if I could still throw down.

I’ve been doing yoga recently which has really helped with my hip flexibility and suddenly head kicking seemed within my grasp again, so I attended a session last week.

The pad work felt amazing, mentally and physically, and I sparred with a 20 year old 6’ 3” rugby player - no drama.

My fitness and power was still there, probably down to the distance running, muscle memory and natural dad strength (It’s a real thing honest 😛

It seems there’s life in the old dog yet and proof that even at 50+ anyone can open up a can of whoop ass with the right mindset and some hard work.

Can’t wait for training tonight 🥊🥋

Correct, that is me holding a yoga mat. Stranger things have never happened 😅

I haven’t been doing the physio exercises I was advised to build muscle around my injured hip and therefore haven’t trained for a couple of months. Honestly, I’m not in heavy lifting gym mode and can’t run distance until I’m mended, so wanted to look at other options.

This morning I took the plunge and did my first hot yoga class to see it agreed with me and me with it. Not only was it tough, but it loosened up my entire body (especially my hips) and gave my brain some much needed calm.

I’m gonna ache in the morning but I may just have become a yoga convert and have much to learn. Let’s see how it impacts me as I try and mend these old bones!

In two weeks I’m turning 50 and I’m celebrating with a week away in the sun. Awesome right?

Well yeah of course. We all deserve a break, especially after a very tough period, but that means wearing….well, not a lot more than swim shorts and flip flops most men.

It’s always a very self conscious time for people who aren’t happy with their body’s, including me, so understandably I’m trying to my hardest to reach my goals to look decent in a pair of swim shorts.

After 5 1/2 months of running, weight training and eating well, my health stats are much better and I’m finally able to fit into my favourite swim shorts and the pair of jeans that tell me if I’m in good shape - or not. You know the ones! I’ve had to buy a nee belt with extra holes.

I feel physiologically like I have my diet under control. It’s never ‘in the bag’ and always ‘sorted’ and I’m always going to have to stay on top of my health, especially after age 50, but I’ve learned what works for my mind and body. Tbh, I’ve always known it, but implementing and maintaining it was always the challenge.

I value the hard work and sacrifice I’ve made, but now I know how to maintain it, my confidence is back!

Here’s a few very simple things I’ve learned that could possibly can help you;

1. I don’t eat breakfast. I find that intermittent fasting from my last meal to my lunch really helps me keep my calorie intake in check. I now eat when I’m hungry.

2. I never leave more than 2 days (3 days max) between workouts and I mix my training methods up between running and weights mainly.

3. I drink caffeine in the form of coffee until midday ‘only’ so I can relax in the evenings - and drink a lot more water.

4. I stretch every day. I have a calf stretching step that I swear by and a back roller that helps me in between sessions. It doesn’t get any easier at age 50, so treat yourself to one to avoid injury.

5. I try to stay away from refined sugar. I don’t avoid it totally but a little isn’t affecting my weight due to the other health decisions I’ve made.

Hope this helps you make some good decisions today. The good news is that none of this is rocket science 😁

It’s all very well ‘losing’ weight but it’s impossible to keep muscle mass unless you’re ‘pushing’ weight at the same time - something I haven’t been doing and I’m feeling skinny!

I’ve decided to challenge the popular theory that men of a certain age can’t build and maintain muscle as much as younger men. Paaaaahhhh!

So, I’m starting to mix up my training to activate more muscle groups than a single sport or exercise does and put some beef on the right places this time. It means I’ll need to eat a lot more too. Muscles can’t be built without energy!

I’m reducing the 5Ks to 2 a week and hitting the gym to do 2/3 weights sessions a week. I’m also adding some muay thai work on the heavy bag to increase my strength, endurance and to release some tension (and see if I can still do a decent head kick :)

What are you mixing up this bank holiday weekend....apart from a few fruity🍹🤗

Don’t know what got into me tonight. I ran the fastest 5K I’ve ever run and sped up every KM.

Maybe it was down to my new pace setter 😘

@ Timperley Green

I’ve been looking for a new pair of trail running shoes that are functional, waterproof and comfortable - and also fly as f*ck ☺️

Enter the Speed Goat 4. Can’t wait to give these bad boys a spin this weekend.

So just like that I shaved off 3.5mins off my 5K this morning for a personal best of 35mins.

I brought down my pace to 7:00 from 7:45 p/km. Boom.

I knew after my last run I had more in the tank but was a bit scared off injury.

It shows that you have to push yourself and take risks to further yourself in whatever you’re doing. Get brave people!! 👊🏻

@ Littleton Road Training Ground

Loving this new app. Today I ran another 5K. Not a great time but the main thing I tied up my laces and did it.

Looking at my time splits every KM, it’s clear I have a lull midway during each run, but always speed up at the end.

It shows I’ve got more in the tank and will push myself harder. Next time I’ll eat breakfast and see what happens!

Have a great weekend everyone. Much love❤️



@ Timperley Green

No Robin hasn’t finally lost it. You’re quite right, this is a photo of a front door. The front door to my Victorian house. with lots of history that’s been ‘hanging around’ since 18-something.

I’m showing you my process of renovating my front door because for me, it represents commitment. I’ve not been particularly great at this in past relationships but I’ve been committed to bringing my door back to life. It’s a start right?

I started by stripping the old paint off and sanded it down to the original wood. Then I filled all the holes and unsightly knotty bits and sanded it again. It felt good bringing it back to basics to reveal a clean canvas. I did this process a few times, to make sure the surface was as flat and smooth as could be before painting, without it being perfect. I don’t believe in perfection.

Then I removed the brass fittings and bought a new letterbox. I undercoated it, lightly sanded it down again, washed it, dried it, undercoated it again and painted it vintage black, twice, before polishing and replacing the original brass fittings.

I did a lot of thinking during the hours I spent diligently filling in the cracks (not avoiding them) and pondered my career, my relationships and my future. I concluded, ‘what’s the point of just painting the door if the brass isn’t polished?‘ ‘What’s the point in making it look nice if I don’t put a draught excluder at the bottom to keep the cold out?’

In some way, committing to my front door was similar to committing to complete the running app. I know it would be time consuming and painful at times, but it has put a huge smile on my face.

I’m feeling a lot more committed to being….committed and don’t want to submit to fear again. Personal relationships require total commitment from both sides and even though I’m older and a bit weathered (just like my door) it doesn’t mean to say I can’t stand tall once again after a bit of self-renovation to face the world, post-lockdown

@ Timperley