Do you exercise?

Carpet cleaning is a physical type of job so do you have any fitness/exercise routines?
Personally i run 3 times a week supplemented by some crossfit type exercises including press ups,burpees,box jumps etc

I train hard in the winter months for an early marathon and still knock out a few sets of pull-ups each day. Just place a pull-up bar near the kitchen and do a couple coming and going...it adds up fast! If you did nothing else, your shoulders, back, chest, arms, and abs would be good shape to handle the cleaning.

During the cleaning months, I don't really do much other than some cycling. I might be just getting old, but I just don't have the energy to clean like a banshe and still hit the gym anymore. It has come down to one or the other.

For me it's cycling. These old bones only like low impact activities anymore.

None for me other than my huge cleaning arm, that gets plenty of exercise.

I push a wand and drag hoses everyday. Ok I'm a bum!

I'm guilty of not exercising but I probably don't have to mention that after posting my Avatar:D 
 
After a big cleaning season there always something aching. One year was an elbow,  the other shoulder, etc. and I'm sure not being physically active is a major contributing factor. This year I pulled a muscle.

I decided to take this week off. I cut done on my food intake and do some walking. I drink only water and coconut water. breakfast has been oatmeal and bananas, lunch is a salad, tuna salad or chicken salad, dinner is what ever my wife makes. I started that last Sunday and I've lost 7-8 lbs

Nice job, Mo, not many have the drive to make changes like you did...you are rare these days. That oatmeal breakfast will go a long ways to achieving your goals. In fact, don't stop at one flavor, try them all!!

For me, the simple addition of some peanutbutter or maybe a rasing cookie in the oatmeal turns a bland meal into a real treat. Take a look at a site called "Mr. Breakfast" where you will find about a 140 receipes for oatmeal alone....and I have tried them all!!

I could us that. I have a cup of coffee for breakfast most am. Oatmeal is a fast winner I'll check that site out. Should help lower my cholesterol too.

milspec6 wrote:I train hard in the winter months for an early marathon and still knock out a few sets of pull-ups each day.  Just place a pull-up bar near the kitchen and do a couple coming and going...it adds up fast!  If you did nothing else, your shoulders, back, chest, arms, and abs would be good shape to handle the cleaning.

During the cleaning months, I don't really do much other than some cycling.  I might be just getting old, but I just don't have the energy to clean like a banshe and still hit the gym anymore.  It has come down to one or the other.

I havnt even considered trying to run a marathon let alone a half,most ive run is about 13km.How much running do you do to prepare for a marathon?Im not a runner as such,i do run abit but still pay abit of rugby,touch rugby and 7 aside soccer so just dabble in all sorts to try keep fit

Every day I eat oatmeal for breakfast. Sweetened with honey.

I lost 40 pounds from July last year to December last year. I changed what I eat and how much I eat. Intake alone, is what it took for me to lose weight.

Good on you Mo its amazing the difference when you watch what you eat.Im lucky im a small guy yet if i dont watch what i eat or stop exercising i start growing outwards!Imagine if you lose say 10lbs it like the equivalent of not carrying a wand around 24/7

WOW 40 LBS!! Way to go Freemind that is awesome.

Mil you are an oatmeal freak. Gotta try the honey. I have about 5 different flavors of honey

Way to go Freemind thats like not carrying around 4 wands 24/7
Gee it must feel great thats inspirational

bcs wrote:

milspec6 wrote:I train hard in the winter months for an early marathon and still knock out a few sets of pull-ups each day.  Just place a pull-up bar near the kitchen and do a couple coming and going...it adds up fast!  If you did nothing else, your shoulders, back, chest, arms, and abs would be good shape to handle the cleaning.

During the cleaning months, I don't really do much other than some cycling.  I might be just getting old, but I just don't have the energy to clean like a banshe and still hit the gym anymore.  It has come down to one or the other.

I havnt even considered trying to run a marathon let alone a half,most ive run is about 13km.How much running do you do to prepare for a marathon?Im not a runner as such,i do run abit but still pay abit of rugby,touch rugby and 7 aside soccer so just dabble in all sorts to try keep fit

It really doesn't take as much running as one might think.  Your training only carries you about 60% of the distance, it is the desire that covers the rest.  I will have one day per week where I run long distance and the rest are about what you would expect if training for a 10k (5-7 miles).  The key is to just listen to your body and never push too hard....the turtle and the hare applies here.

For those who say that they hate running (you know who you are), you are wrong.  Watch a young kid, once they can sort of walk, they take off running.  Did you ever see them scowl when they did that?  Nope, laughing all the way.  The reason we start to hate running is because at some point someone else is telling us how far and how fast (coaches, drill instructors, etc.).  We start to hate running becasue of the way we feel when we do it now and not the actual running itself.

If you run when you feel like it and as far or fast as you feel like it, that little kid will show up again smilling all the way.

For me, portion size plays a factor. When cutting off the weight I ate 1600-1800 calories a day. I now consume about 2500 calories a day. (I am very active)

I don't eat many starches or processed foods. Potatoes, pasta, regular breads, etc. were all my weight gainers.

It DOES feel good to have the fat off my belly. My back thanks me.

When I'm done cleaning for the day I usually just want to chill and read post on the cleaners lounge:lol: I'm just to tired to work out.

I understand Mike, I am used up after cleaning as well. Sometimes just a nice walk after dinner fits the bill....helps the body ease down and prevent stiff muscles.

Cycling and cycle touring is my sport.
Once a year I load my pushbike, catch the train to the
last station on the suburban network and dissapear
into the country side for a week. It's great way to get fit
and clear the mind.
Cheers
George

Not really considered exercise, Juggling is wonderful exercise for mind & body.

This guy popularized it as a sport:  http://juggle.wikia.com/wiki/Jason_Garfield

One of the most important lessons I ever learned in life is at the 3:28 thru 3:40 minute mark in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMvokGpHQlA
He says STOP. How can you juggle if you're stopping all the time? But he's right.
Really it's a WAIT.
Throw - WAIT- Throw.

It's all thru life:

Driving - look ahead of you - WAIT for your opening - proceed.
Cleaning - Spray - Scrub (WAIT) - Spray
Swinging a bat or golf club, casting a fly, flipping a hose, a burger, etc ...  
- back motion - WAIT for complete exhaustion of energy behind you - begin forward motion, transferring all that stored energy from behind you to in front of you.
And like Jason says, it's just a cycle, repeated. Exhaustion in one direction - WAIT for complete exhaustion -  then motion in opposite direction.  
setting the hook - cast, WAIT for the Tug - Lift rod tip.
Trading - same thing - market thrusts - WAIT for exhaustion - Enter. Exit after subsequent thrusts.  
Powerful stuff learned from looking up at a few balls.

When you get even fairly good at it, your confidence level will increase in almost everything you do.  
You'll find yourself much more coordinated for your every day life.
Cat like reflexes, you'll notice yourself doing things you never did before - like catching a pen rolling off a desk, anticipating the swing of a door, the changing of a traffic light, the motion of the traffic in front of you.  As a cleaner/repair guy you will notice improved hose management skills, multi-tasking skills, customer communication skills (women see it as sexy, a man who can talk & work at the same time), carpet repair skills (you'll learn to WAIT at those critical times when you would otherwise RUSH and cut yourself), etc. etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.
All this from learning a simple thing like juggling three balls.  Plus, it's fun. To me it's also very meditative and relaxing.

Who knows, maybe one of you will become this guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP8tbLBls_M

Guarantee you'll win video contests here if you can show me your before & after juggling skills.

I am jealous, I was always impressed by jugglers.  My brother is a pretty good juggler, but when I tried it once a few years ago....well, let's just say that new ceiling fan looks nice.

It is funny how something so simple as running, cycling, juggling, etc. ends up teaching lessons on life.  Marathoning teaches you to pace yourself and every race follows the same format:

Excitement at the start with visions of fast times and fun
Despair and doubt in the middle as your energy begins to fade
Fighting to just keep going despite wanting badly to quit
Finding a new strength in the crowds and other runners as you cruise to the finish...success!!

When you think about it, starting a cleaning business functions in the same phases.  I like to think that I am over the 3rd phase and now entering the 4th phase by sharing the fight with the other cleaners on this board.....and finding that success at the finish!