Remaining physically fit after leaving the military
I've a friend in England who's a GP and he smokes cigars.. His philosophy is why live healthily with the goal of adding 5 years onto your life. He says these 5 extra years come in at the end where you don't want them rather than in the middle - where you do. I find that a compelling argument!
Me? I row 3 times a week - I average ~40km/week. A sport you can do sitting down. Highly recommended. I once read that it's second only to swimming for its health benefits. For sheer enjoyment, I'd rate it #1. It enables me to enjoy life as I want - wine every day and yes, the occasional cigar.
Me? I row 3 times a week - I average ~40km/week. A sport you can do sitting down. Highly recommended. I once read that it's second only to swimming for its health benefits. For sheer enjoyment, I'd rate it #1. It enables me to enjoy life as I want - wine every day and yes, the occasional cigar.
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After a few years of dodging 107's on dodgy knees I now try to pushbike as much as possible. It's not some mental downhill weapon, just a robust hybrid that I can trundle down to the shops on. Low impact on aforementioned limbs, most recommended 
And I have a rule that if I can't be @rsed to walk to the pub, then I probably don't want a drink. Seems to work for me.
And I have a rule that if I can't be @rsed to walk to the pub, then I probably don't want a drink. Seems to work for me.
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left in 95, now have a job thats 30 minute walk away works for me. Oh and have a supermarket to pick the wine up on the way home sorted... not turning in to a fat person yet. works for me.....
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I bought a new DJ about 5 years ago as the old one was getting a little tight. I got the old one in 1963.
Left the rather sedate life of the 90s RAF in 1999 for an even more sedentry job.
Now cycling more than 30 miles each day at weekends and going to pubs a long way from home.
Now cycling more than 30 miles each day at weekends and going to pubs a long way from home.
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At 62, I long ago gave up anything which twists my knees such as ball games so, living in Lanzarote, I use the all year warmth to enjoy swimming, and walking in the hills. That and staying out of the bar seem to work.
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20 miles in 4 hours? Yer car's buggered mate!
Some let themselves go..
It's great to hear that some of us still try to stay fit and trim after leaving the Service. I eventually relented last year on Foreign Staff Course and got a 'new' set of Service Dress (second-hand, actually) and paid a local tailor equivalent of Ł8 to re-rank and fit medal ribbons and brevet (all salvaged from the old tunic). Perfect! Now I am living with Mrs WP on a pittance Abroad my weight has dropped and the No 1s hang on me. Oh well.
It is clear some who leave the Services give up any pretext of keeping fit. About a month ago when that Foreign Office 'team' got into a spot of bother in Libya, the BBC had an 'expert' on to discuss what was happening. The enormous bloater claimed he was ex Sgt SAS (THAT man on the Balcony) and wheezed complete and utter rubbish to the fawning interviewer. I'm sure what he said may have been OK, but I struggled to take seriously a guy who would have been uber-fit and now was probably hovering around 25 stone. Surely personal pride, inter alia, would want a relatively young guy (I guess about 50) to try and keep his weight down! Or am I being a bit mean?
It is clear some who leave the Services give up any pretext of keeping fit. About a month ago when that Foreign Office 'team' got into a spot of bother in Libya, the BBC had an 'expert' on to discuss what was happening. The enormous bloater claimed he was ex Sgt SAS (THAT man on the Balcony) and wheezed complete and utter rubbish to the fawning interviewer. I'm sure what he said may have been OK, but I struggled to take seriously a guy who would have been uber-fit and now was probably hovering around 25 stone. Surely personal pride, inter alia, would want a relatively young guy (I guess about 50) to try and keep his weight down! Or am I being a bit mean?
I promised I'd stay fit, but I haven't. 17 years sat behind a desk/in a car mean that my fitness regime has to occur outside of work, and the reality is, it doesn't.
I'm 2 and a half stones heavier now than I was in my 30's. - Though I am making effort to reduce that now I have type 2 diabetes. Right, it's midday, must pop offline for a donut.
I'm 2 and a half stones heavier now than I was in my 30's. - Though I am making effort to reduce that now I have type 2 diabetes. Right, it's midday, must pop offline for a donut.
Surely personal pride, inter alia, would want a relatively young guy (I guess about 50) to try and keep his weight down! Or am I being a bit mean?
Whenever I visit my parents 'ooop north', I'm staggered to see the sheer numbers of people who have let themselves go in their teens and 20s. I'm convinced their idea of keeping in shape is realising that their clothes are a bit tight and popping into Primark to buy the next size up rather than eating less and being a bit more active. I call it the P-Plan Diet, and I'm sure it's now a British phenomenon rather than just a northern one.
I had an accident a couple of month back where I seriously damaged my shoulder and back, and as a result I have been off most forms of phys other than things like the step machines which are non impact / upper body weight bearing. As a result, I have had to modify my intake, watching what I eat and drink more than I would normally. I seriously doubt if many people you see waddling around our town centres these days would take the same approach. But frankly, I don't want to offend the world anymore than I already do with my presence by becoming a complete lard arse to boot.
Frankly, if I ever let myself go to that extent, I would rather go and get the Mess Webbley and put and end to the shame of it all.
Edited to add - before anyone says it, I acknowledge that I am not an Olympic specimen, and am more likely to appear on the Most Wanted List vice the cover of GQ or some other such glossy toilet paper. I just believe that above and beyond the requirement to pass a military fitness test, individuals should have enough pride (and desire to stay reasonably helathy) to look after themselves and keep in good order if for no other reason than to be able to enjoy life rather than spending it in the doctor's surgery with untold ailments and complaints brought on by a life of being lazy.
Last edited by Melchett01; 24th Apr 2011 at 14:54.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Melchett, I admit I am a good stone overweight and well built for where I live but when I go on a cruise ship I get a terrible inferiority complex with all these overweight ****s stealing my space.
I am amazed that the lifts can accommodate 18 people. Certainly not 18 of those specimens.
I am amazed that the lifts can accommodate 18 people. Certainly not 18 of those specimens.
Got teaching job after service flying - coaching sport meant I put on 1 stone only. Stopped coaching when I got a management position; put on another 2 stone. Emigrated and am building my own 2 storey house by hand (slowly); lost 3 stone. There are no fat carpenters! Gardening is a good substitute (apparently).
Can recommend the Canadian Air Force exercises (google '5BX') for getting you back in shape. They do work for all ages, but note the sit-ups should now be crunches.
...and try to stay out of the bar Mon-Thu.
Can recommend the Canadian Air Force exercises (google '5BX') for getting you back in shape. They do work for all ages, but note the sit-ups should now be crunches.
...and try to stay out of the bar Mon-Thu.
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As a regular golfer I never cease to be amazed by the number who choose to drive around the courses in carts rather than walk. At 67 plus, I never ride. If I can't walk the course then I would see very little to be gained from the time spent, believing that just swinging a club isn't much better than playing a game on a computer screen
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walking five miles with a bag of bats
I still manage 20 miles a week, but if petrol goes up much more I will have to cut down the distance I drive..
exascot - I think the answer to your question depends entirely on what level of fitness you maintained when you were in. If, as your nom-de-pprune suggests, you are an ex-truckie used to eating your own body weight 3 times a day (gear up, flaps up, breakfast up etc etc) then not much effort required
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Mindset is what it takes.
Speaking with Ms DR this morning, I confess to working on the principal of I have paid for it so I am eating it. (Mess food due to unaccompanied service) whereas when at home I eat very little balanced by quality restaurant visits once or twice a week. I have been home now for 2 weeks, done a little gardening, driven the hoover around as DCoS is working, done no formal phys whatsoever, and have noticeably lost weight.
Unless it is all that exercise I am getting that remains behind closed doors!!
Seriously, the well known fact that guys who can run ragged around a rugby field yet cannot pass a RAFMSFT demonstrate that weight and fitness (and I believe the two are directly linked) is a balance of lifestyle, calories, and moderate exercise. For me running is very boring, yet lugging a camera bag miles along a river footpath at a sedentary pace on a warm day is fantastic and has its rewards in quality photographs when opportunities are exploited. I used to cycle a lot as a teenager accompanied by a guy who had just left the service after 22 years aged 40. That was enjoyable at that time. As reluctant as I am to admit it though, a 45 min gym session in the morning a few times a week to maintain RAFMSFT currency does set you up nicely for the day; just dont tell anyone I said so!! Once that facility is removed (retirement), I will rely upon prime time in the countryside to maintain fitness, and if that includes the occasional pub lunch then so much the better.
Speaking with Ms DR this morning, I confess to working on the principal of I have paid for it so I am eating it. (Mess food due to unaccompanied service) whereas when at home I eat very little balanced by quality restaurant visits once or twice a week. I have been home now for 2 weeks, done a little gardening, driven the hoover around as DCoS is working, done no formal phys whatsoever, and have noticeably lost weight.
Unless it is all that exercise I am getting that remains behind closed doors!!
Seriously, the well known fact that guys who can run ragged around a rugby field yet cannot pass a RAFMSFT demonstrate that weight and fitness (and I believe the two are directly linked) is a balance of lifestyle, calories, and moderate exercise. For me running is very boring, yet lugging a camera bag miles along a river footpath at a sedentary pace on a warm day is fantastic and has its rewards in quality photographs when opportunities are exploited. I used to cycle a lot as a teenager accompanied by a guy who had just left the service after 22 years aged 40. That was enjoyable at that time. As reluctant as I am to admit it though, a 45 min gym session in the morning a few times a week to maintain RAFMSFT currency does set you up nicely for the day; just dont tell anyone I said so!! Once that facility is removed (retirement), I will rely upon prime time in the countryside to maintain fitness, and if that includes the occasional pub lunch then so much the better.
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exascot - I think the answer to your question depends entirely on what level of fitness you maintained when you were in. If, as your nom-de-pprune suggests, you are an ex-truckie used to eating your own body weight 3 times a day (gear up, flaps up, breakfast up etc etc) then not much effort required
Diablo Rouge - I concur. When I have attended courses or been staying in a Mess, I eat like a horse, with predictable consequences. I also agree with the earlier post basically stating that your attitude to fitness before leaving the service determines fitness/BMI after leaving.
I know that when I leave, there won't be any 'slipping down to the gym for some phys' when it is a bit quiet at work. My new job is likely to come with a top gym membership, yet when I speak with city folk few, it seems, find chance to visit the gym - either too busy mixing with clients, or headhunters!
I received last week an email from a US military facility near where I am working advising, that due to 'numerous requests' the gym would be open form 0500. Keen or what? But then, our American Cousins do tend to be in bed by 9 pm.
I know that when I leave, there won't be any 'slipping down to the gym for some phys' when it is a bit quiet at work. My new job is likely to come with a top gym membership, yet when I speak with city folk few, it seems, find chance to visit the gym - either too busy mixing with clients, or headhunters!
I received last week an email from a US military facility near where I am working advising, that due to 'numerous requests' the gym would be open form 0500. Keen or what? But then, our American Cousins do tend to be in bed by 9 pm.
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The gym at Ramstein used to be open all night.
Having driven a couple of thousand miles in the past week, I can feel every morsel that passed my lips. The body slows down; we slow down. The pace of life however, is relentless.. it even picks up (for me, anyway).
Best I get to the gym tonight and hit that jacuzzi hard.
Having driven a couple of thousand miles in the past week, I can feel every morsel that passed my lips. The body slows down; we slow down. The pace of life however, is relentless.. it even picks up (for me, anyway).
Best I get to the gym tonight and hit that jacuzzi hard.
