Quincyonthego Weblog

When I headed back to the swimming pool 7 years ago, I was 15 pounds overweight, depressed, and suffering from chronic back pain. At 43, I was ancient. The only reason I was standing on the deck at the South Shore YMCA, stuffed into a bathing suit double the size I once wore, was the stern warning from my doctor that if I didn’t find some kind of non-weight bearing exercise to do, I could kiss what was left of my health goodbye.

7 years and 1000 miles of lap swimming later, I weigh 112 pounds; I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been; and my worries and cares wash away every time I put on my cap and goggles, and slip into the pool for a brisk mile long workout with a handful of the other Y regulars who feel as passionate about swimming and exercise as I do.

It’s never too late to start. You are never too big, never too old, never TOO FAR GONE–that you won’t experience the thrill of a lifetime if you can commit to even a modest but regular exercise routine–doing something that gives you pleasure, and helps you deal with the mental and physical stresses of daily life.

If you join the Y, you will also make new friends and acquaintances. You will find yourself trying new things. Checking out the Stairmaster, or lifting weights in the fitness center. Spending a few minutes in the sauna, the whirlpool, or the steamroom.

But even if you don’t join the Y or any other fitness organization–adding quality and deliberate activity to your life will make you happier and healthier.

It’s that simple.

I have not owned a car for over 8 years. As a result, I walk everywhere. My normal day begins by walking a mile to the library in order to perform legal research. While walking, I sing or figure out my research strategy. During the day I walk to lunch, to the bank or to various places to do errands. At the end of the day I go to the pool at the YMCA. I am not a proficient swimmer, so I do a modified crawl stroke, trying to stretch all of the muscles in my unsculpted body. If and when my friends arrive at the pool, we may swim or, more probably, will stand in water up to or chest and talk. I have fibromyalgia which causes constant pain in my muscles, neck and feet. It also causes debilitating cramps throughout my body. I use the talking sessions to utilize the techniques which I learned in extensive, customized physical therapy sessions. These include stylized and disciplined stretching of all muscles. After two hours in the pool, I feel rejuvenated. My body is in less pain and my mind is refreshed after hours of reading law books. Then I walk a mile home. None of the above makes my body look any better, but it feels better. Imagine how I would look and feel if I had done nothing. I am unable to run, and I find Nautilus and traditional exercise boring. I have tried yoga, but following the leader’s instructions has led to paralyzing cramps.

When I walk for enjoyment, it is usually in the neighborhood of Wollaston Hill. There are few cars and the houses are beautiful. I also walk to Pagent Field to enjoy the views of Black’s Creek and Wollaston Bay.

I have terrible insomnia, so I often go for short walks in the middle of the night

Any suggestions will be welcome.

i love staying in shape, and running is one of my favorite ways to achieve that goal.

my girlfriend is a fantastic cook and will occasionally side track me with her chicken primaveras and her fettucines and marsalas and for a month or two i will drop exercising completely and just eat her amazing food and be a bum basically. about a month into that scenario i stop denying my lazy behavior and discover that i have put on a little unwanted weight and end up going completely die hard in my efforts to not only take the undesired weight off but also to become stronger and faster.

my favorite route to run is about 4 to 5 miles long. i run down to wollaston beach and turn right, towards merrymount with the water on my left. a little ways down, i turn right onto fenno street, down past beechwood knoll school on my left, and up to hancock street where i turn left towards to the stadium. before the stadium i turn left onto 3a and take it down to the intersection just over the little bridge across blacks creek, and i go left towards the beach once more. once i have arrived at the beach, i go left back towards my house and with the water on my right, i run all the way back down past tony’s and the beach comber and i turn left right after the clam box, and at this point i am just about home, exhausted but envigorated!

i love running early in the morning, about 5or 6, because the beach is absolutely breath taking as the sun is coming up, and the weather seems to always be perfect, never too hot. so, if you can motivate yourself to get up and go running that early, you WILL NOT regret it…. after i run, i also usually lift weights 3 or 4 times a week as well.

John Allen –18

i quit smoking 8 months ago, and i run at least five times a week now. my favorite route is about 4 or 5 miles long. i run down to the beach and turn onto it so that the water is on my left. at the intersection at the top, i turn onto furnace brook and follow it down to hancock street, where i turn right and run til i get to billings. then im just about home. the only problem with it is there are a couple big streets to cross, which means you sometimes have to stop to wait. so id recommend going at a time when theres not a lot of traffic.