FIGHTING FIFTIES — ENTRY TWO

The Wobble and the Wake-Up Call

Well, it’s been an interesting eight weeks. And by interesting, I mean humbling.

I’d love to tell you it’s all been smooth sailing — weight falling off, fitness coming along nicely and everything going to plan. But that wouldn’t be honest.

So here it is: the training wheels can’t come off just yet. I’ve had a wobble. A proper one.

It started with a meal. Seven courses, the kind of thing you say yes to because you can’t live like a monk. And fair play, I’m certainly not apologising for enjoying a night out.

But the richness of that food came as a bit of a shock to the system after six weeks of treating my digestive system much more kindly. My guts let me know about it — and not gently. I felt rough for seven or eight days.

Looking back, it was a good reminder. Linda had warned me it was likely to happen. That’s the thing about Linda and Steve at fitin.co.nz they’re supportive, knowledgeable and experienced. Sometimes, though, you just have to find out for yourself!

Two weeks later, I was back on track. But it taught me something important.

It’s a Mental Game

This is as much mental as it is physical. It’s not just about changing habits; it’s about changing the way you think. And here’s the thing — I’m not walking past the biscuit aisle while the biscuits call me back. I’m no longer craving the sugary stuff. That part has genuinely changed.

What I’ve learned is the importance of preparation. Preparing meals for the following day, being mindful about what I’m eating and having the discipline to stick with it. It really is a strength-of-mind exercise.

Nobody can fully prepare you for that. You have to experience it yourself.

The Circuit That Broke Me

Then there were the fitness sessions with Steve. Man, did he work me hard. For me, not for him — he’s fit as a fiddle, the bugger!

The circuit I did — six sets — would probably make genuinely fit people laugh. It’s a warm-up for most. But I was absolutely ruined at the time, and pretty much ruined again the following day.

It opened my eyes to a few things.

Strength-wise, I’m nowhere near where I need to be. I’ve let myself go, and I’m certainly not 25 anymore. But what really shocked me was my cardiovascular fitness. How puffed I got, how much I struggled to catch my breath and just how unfit I’ve become.

And then there are the joints. Years of playing football as a kid have certainly taken their toll on my knees. Building up the muscles around those joints to give them more support is part of the plan. There’s no point being strong or supple if the joints can’t hold it all together.

Steve understands that, and he’s balancing the exercises accordingly.

Built for Comfort, Not Speed

I’m not taking up running. I was never built for running. I’ve always been built for comfort, not speed!

But walking — that’s where I can make a difference. Getting out at a brisk pace, around five kilometres an hour, a couple of times a week, and trying to get some cardiovascular fitness back.

When I was a kid, I’d play three rounds of golf in a day during the summer holidays, walking and carrying my own bag. That built a level of fitness I never appreciated at the time.

But as you get older, become more sedentary and stop playing as much golf, that fitness gradually disappears.

And talking of running, here’s a little insight into how my brain works.

When I was 39, a friend asked me, just six weeks before an off-road marathon, whether I’d like to do the half-marathon.

I said, “Behave yourself. I’ll do the full.”

No training. Nothing. My time was hardly impressive — twenty seconds under five hours without a single training run.

Why did I do the full? Because if I’d only done the half, I’d never have done a marathon. I wanted to get it out of the way so I’d never have to visit it again!

Perhaps that tells you something about my approach to life. I’m not always very good at taking things one step at a time. Patience has never been my strongest attribute.

The Honest Scorecard

So, where am I eight weeks on?

I’m not particularly happy with my progress, but I know that’s largely down to me. I need to up the effort in all departments.

That said, there has been progress. I’m feeling slightly stronger, my angry shoulder is improving, and I’m hoping to start hitting a few golf balls again.

I’d love to be enjoying nine holes of golf within the next month or so. Having played just four rounds in the past two and a half years is frustrating, to say the least.

The biggest realisation, though, has been just how poor my cardiovascular fitness is. It’s worse than I thought, and that’s probably been the biggest wake-up call of the whole process.

Sometimes finding out how far you have to go is just as important as recognising how far you’ve come.

Six weeks from now, hopefully I’ll be in a better place than I am today. When progress is gradual, you don’t always notice it. Sometimes you have to stop and reflect on where you started.

I’ve had a little deviation from the straight road, but I’m still moving in the right direction. I just need to be a little more patient and put in a bit more effort.

I have to give credit where it’s due.

The support from Linda on the nutrition side has been incredible. I’m learning so much more about the body, food and how what we eat affects how we feel.

And Steve — who’s doing his best to help me save my body from the scrap heap - he clearly knows his stuff and is a champion of a human. 

The principles, exercises, recipes and advice available through their website are straightforward to access and, more importantly, easy to put into practice. They don’t just give you a plan; they help you understand the reasons behind it.

For a bloke like me, that makes all the difference.

How long will I be on this journey? I honestly have no idea. Life is busy, work is crazy and home life is full-on. But one thing I do know is that Linda and Steve have given me a much-needed wake-up call and made me realise that the road I was heading down wasn’t the best one to take.I’m so grateful to them for that! 

I won’t suddenly become a fitness fanatic overnight, but I will keep trying to apply what I’ve learned. The recipes, the principles and the way of thinking are things I can carry forward regardless.

And that’s probably the most important thing I’ve taken from these first four months.

I’m not where I want to be. Not even close. But at least I now have a better understanding of what needs to change for me to get there.

So, onwards and upwards. More walking, better preparation, eating properly, keeping hydrated and, above all, being a little more consistent.

If you’re fighting your own battle in your fifties, you’ll probably understand that it’s not always a straight road.

Until next time, I’ll keep fighting.

And if you’re looking for a bit of help getting yourself moving in the right direction, check out Fitnz.co.nz  You won’t regret it.

Tommy Long

Fighting Fifties — Tommy Does Golf