We all know that guy*. The weekend warrior type who plays softball or some other sport once a week and does so with the mindset that he’s still 20-years old and in the best shape of his life.
It’s this same guy who, for the three, four or even five days after a game complains that he’s sore, grunts every time he gets up from a chair, can barely walk but still believes that he’ll adjust, get back into the swing of things and will be fine in a week.
Trust me, I know. I am that guy.
Softball 2010 (I might’ve actually worn that same green hat yesterday!)
Softball, 2014 style
Last night I played in a double-header. The fact that it was my first time playing in two years isn’t important nor is the fact that I sucked at all relevant (if I were the coach, I’d have benched me.) I played all but two innings and did so with the same reckless abandon as any red-blooded American male would – at any age – and fully expected to be in a state of agony as a result.
Yet despite some minor stiffness in my lower back – a lower back with a long history of issues – I actually feel fine this morning. My ego hurts a bit from playing poorly, but the body held up rather well and I think it’s because of the workouts I’ve been doing the past 6+ months.
Spartan Workout of the Day
I mentioned awhile ago that I quit the gym and now try to follow a workout regimen without the need of a treadmill, bench press or other weight machine. As a matter of fact, on my phone, I have the following list of exercises to remind me of all that I can do in a park, my yard or even the living room:
| push-ups | planking | crunches | flutter kicks |
| scissor kicks | body squats | burpees | bird dogs |
| jump ropes | step-ups | leg raises | lunges |
| vertical jumps | |||
When it comes to cardio – which admittedly we all could use more of – there are also a plethora of choices which include bike riding, walking high knees, running high knees, butt kickers, shuffle, straight leg march, high knee skip, backward run, sprint, bear crawl/run combo, etc.
A sub-set of those who follow me on Facebook know that about two, perhaps, three times a week I’ll do multiple sets of about six or seven exercises above. I know that I could – and should – do more, but that’s the reality right now.
However, if leaving the softball fields last night with little to no whining of soreness and waking up this morning with just the usual stiffness in the lower back is any indication as to whether or not that type of workout is, well, working, I’m going to have to say that it is.
If you’re looking to get back into the swing of working out and know damn well that you’ll only go to the gym a short time before becoming lazy, feeling self-conscious, unmotivated, having no workout partner or whatever the excuse might be – I truly suggest trying the exercises above, a few sets at a time. They’re easy, quick, inexpensive, can be done privately and most importantly, they work!
By no means am I a fitness trainer – nor do I play one on TV – but if you need any advice, tips, motivation or just want to talk about your journey please let me know. Maybe a Facebook group page or message board could be put together.
* I say “guy” only because in my long, intermittent, softball career have I rarely heard women complain like us guys. I’ve no doubt women get sore and/or need long stints in a hot tub to recover from playing softball, but I have to say that if they do – they do a remarkable job of not announcing it to the world and seeking sympathy a long the way like men do.
