oldbutfit’s BodyBlog

Up till the age of 40 I was always skinny so trying to lose weight was not one of my problems.Soon after 40,however,I noticed for the first time that altho’ I was still skinny I started to have a belly.About that time I discovered the gym and over the next 20 years or so I gradually built muscles and with the help of cardio I managed to turn the paunch into a 6 pack.However,as I aged further my "fat"friend started again to pay me a visit.Knowing that was a sign of slowing down of metabolism I increased the amount of cardio by 100 calories per day and that seemed to do the trick….for a while.The next year the same thing happened,so burning extra 150 calories seemed to keep it in check. The year after that 200 calories was the answer but it was clear to me that as the years went by I had to reduce my caloric intake as well.Some may ask why don’t I build more energy-hungry muscles to "mop up"the extra calories but this is more easily said than done.At my age,67,a lot of muscle cells have already died off and there is a limit to the size increase of the remaining ones.  So all I can do now is to eat protein and some carbs up to my limit of 1950 cal plus burning some 700 cal daily to keep my weight gain in check.

What is in store for me ? It is obvious that I will have to continue toiling with this formula of progressively reduced intake /increased burning  until such time that I can’t ,whenever that may be. Until then I am grateful that ,physically,I am still allowed the opportunity to pursue it

A few weeks ago I received an email from 2 very close overseas friends who decided to pay me a visit. Very nice ,I thought ,so was looking forward to sharing our latest news ,etc.Needless to say we were all excited when they arrived last week to stay at my house .They were surprised to see me so skinny(I always look skinny with a shirt on,due to low bf) and I was surprised at their ever-enlarging girths.OK they were happy to exchange news but otherwise they were just into sitting in front of the TV one hand holding a drink(whisky/gin and tonic/beer etc you name it we had it) and the other snacking.The all-day happy hours were only broken by the intervening meal times.And the meals ,as requested ,were hugh and full of LDL(bad)cholesterol and triglycerides and lots of wine.The conversation often targeted me e.g "Why do I still bother to work out at my age(they are roughly my age as well),what do I want muscle for,do I realise you can bring about good health by just drinking red wine ".And of course they exercised too ,and with a straight face ,they said by walking from room to room (usually from the sitting room to the bathroom to answer the call of nature) !

After 5 days of "more of the same",until they left,needless to say I had not gone to the gym ,become totally lethargic and gained 5 lbs of fat.

Looking back ,while I was happy to see close friends their visit has revealed one startling fact ….close friends ,yes,but poles apart in lifestyle and we don’t speak the same language any more.And more than ever I need to sometimes relate to the likes of you who are presently reading my blog cos we share many things in common in regard to health and lifestyles and our determination to get and keep them

I have to thank my visitors ,however ,for their parts in causing my 5 lb weight gain which I will now use as my next challenge …to get rid of it by the end of next week