life, kids, and brazilian jiu jitsu » fitness

Shoulder improvement

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:25:36 +0000

However slight – I’ll take it.

Rode my bike to work again today. Almost 3hrs in the saddle.

Will pass on BJJ tonight. I am tired and my shoulder doesn’t need to be tweaked. We ARE going tomorrow.

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Does John McKay go overboard from time to time?

admin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:44:55 +0000

The answer is YES.

Rode to and from work yesterday. The ride home was done in the rain. I was…tired afterwards. Energy input minus energy output for the day left me down 3020 calories. No wonder I felt like jelly afterwards.

I feel good today. Shoulder MAY be improving day to day. But it is slow.

Happy Saturday.

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Kingston to Bath to Kingston

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:29:15 +0000

How do I work exercise in to my day when I have to be at work at 3am? Well. It’s pretty numb but I rode my bike to work. 33km each way. Over 3 hours of riding today. I may have burned over 2000 calories today and my legs feel like jelly. It’s hot.

If they call me I have to go back (in the car this time). If not, I’ll take Aidan to BJJ.

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Sunscreen and in-line skates and a patient son

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:37:24 +0000

Went roller blading in the sun today. #30 sunblock was a must. Aidan was the “fighter escort” on the bike. Quicker and more agile. We flew.

Healthful dinner with Annette and the boys. Then…CHEESECAKE. Annette was busy today but was up at 6:45 making cheesecake for the boys. It was fantastic. It won’t last long.

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YES John McKay is still injured

admin — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:21:47 +0000

Yes. Yes. Yes. Pardon me? Yes. Still injured. Yes it is taking a long time. Very little blood flow to connective tissue and all that…. No I’m not getting any younger? Yes I’ve had it looked at. Yes.

Quit acting like I’m a teenager? Yes that’s good advice. Yes. No I haven’t lost any more weight. If I get sick? I’m sure I’ll be fine. Yes I am eating. I know I’m not 18 years old. Yes yes.

Nope I’m quitting BJJ for sure. No more running or dieting either. In fact I’m going to give up on enjoying life completely and develop an underachieving and self absorbed attitude just like everyone who thinks they know how to make my life “better”. Wish I’d kept my fat clothes…oh yeah, never had any.

I don’t think much of people who resort to the use of profanity. Guess that makes me a hypocrite.

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Motivation

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:55:54 +0000

I sometimes wonder if being injured isn’t a good thing. Why? Well, motivation i harder to come by when I am injured. The worrying and the pain takes mental energy to manage. Energy that is needed to re-tool my exercise regime to incorporate things that spare my shoulder. Being injured probably makes me tougher, providing I don’t let it get to me! Ha!

I went for a run tonight in the moonlight. The firefly’s are out. It was good to tear along the trails in the dark.

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More BJJ Cowbell

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:00:22 +0000

I’m going to move this blog towards a focus on BJJ and less on daily musings.

Daily musings, such as they are will be moved here.

Last night at Martial Arts Planet I watched Aidan work on side control in the No-Gi class. A transition to harvesting the near side arm. I spent most of the class on the side lines stretching and gently manipulating my shoulder.

Tonight, hopefully some in-line skating. I go back to physio on Thursday. No appreciable improvement so far.

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I am John McKay’s foray ice management

admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 15:05:26 +0000

Weather is warm is warm here in Kingston! And here I am, experimenting with ice. Being 46 has its drawbacks. Namely the time it takes to heal. And connective tissue injuries are notorious for taking a long time to heal. Limited blood flow battles inflammation etc.

I’m actually trying to freeze my shoulder. Here’s what I’m doing to try and rehab:

ICE. Reduce inflammation and give it half a chance to heal. Zip lock bags and yes, I am enjoying the ice-maker on my Fridgedaire.
Exercises as prescribed with the yellow theraband
Stretches as prescribed
ibuprofen, Omega 3 to battle inflammation

Anyone out there had any experience with home ultrasound? I mean they look gimmicky but they are cheap. What have I got to lose? Anyone?

I ran yesterday. When the boys cycle beside me I tend to sprint parts of the run. They jump when I cruise behind them on the downhills, running quietly on the balls of my feet at top speed and then say something from right at their shoulder when they think I should be far behind. It never gets old.

“You know that you’re a freak right Dad”

I am John McKay’s foray into cold management.

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“What was that about a bike ride in the dark?”

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 02:32:52 +0000

You wake up, shower drive, meetings, computer stuff, drive, physio therapy, tortellini and tomato sauce, dishes, kiss kiss, bang bang…. blah blah.

Then someone nice gives you a call and is so positive that you smile.

Then you ask the boys if, on the off chance, they might consider contemplating, the possibility of riding my coveted Rocky Mountain race bike beside me while I run in the dark? Who am I kidding? They’re on their computers.

Then, I decide that bed is a better option, I get a drink, and Aidan brings in the dogs.

Now Aidan, to be fair, rides beside me a lot. he always has. But wait…

“What was that about a bike ride in the dark?”, Liam asks.

So we’re back. Ran 7.5km on dark trails and quiet streets. Liam rode and lit the way with my Petzl head lamp. And we talked.

Life is very very good.

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Garmin Forerunner 305

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 17:11:20 +0000

This is my weapon of choice for tracking my runs. The screen displays 4 pieces of data live as I run and I have 3 screens. I leave elapsed time, current heart rate, distance run, and calories burned on the screen but there are many more optiond.

It’s a GPS, heart rate monitor and watch and it appears to be bombproof. I upload all the info to my laptop.

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