I love that pic of Warrior above years ago at his gym in Arizona. He looks so happy and I’m very glad he was able to have that in his life at that time. Years later, he had his barn gym on their property in New Mexico but today, I am sharing a few of MY home gym stories. Fitness has been a huge topic on here over time plus it’s mentioned in my book, “Spirit and Belief” but I wanted to delve a little more into it today. You can say passion or even obsession which I blogged before, but it is different for us all.
I won’t get into my beginnings as that has been told, but of course much has evolved. Working out became fun for me although it may not be for some. It shouldn’t all be sweating your body weight because come on, that’s not fun. Warrior may not agree or look at his routine the same way, but it can be both WORK and FUN! Maybe some aspire to the ” no pain, no gain” attitude and I DID years ago but not anymore. Obviously a bodybuilder or pro wrestler mindset will be entirely different and I respect that. Our mindsets in other ways do take on a few parallel roads as I will share with you all today.
Warrior had mentioned doing 500 sit ups (or crunches which are easier) but my number was half that at 250. Well, the 250 came a few hours after dinner but I probably did 100 or so earlier in the day. Sure, you can maintain those muscles but losing weight won’t happen with crunches unless you combine it with other exercise and diet. It all depends on your personal goals. So, this is about ME now and not what Warrior did or how hard he did things. I did those 100 crunches as part of my routine every day but the extra 250 was because of guilt tripping over food at dinner. Yeah, it was that way for a while. I don’t do those crunches or any at all nowadays but push-ups replaced them. I do 20 but I used to do 30. I feel that more in my core as sit ups hurt my back. If I would’ve been more disciplined with them years ago, perhaps it could’ve gone another way but these times require more of a new approach with my core strengthening which works for me. 
Squats were a huge part of Warrior’s regime and as years progressed, they became part of mine. He showed the heavy metal rock band “I See Stars” how to properly do a squat as part of “The Warrior Show” which you can find on YouTube. I watched these years ago but had to find them again for this post. He lifts a bar and shows them how it‘s “like shi**ing over a hole!” Warrior the drill sergeant indeed. We have a 20 lb. kettle bell that I used for a few years and would do 20 squats, 5 days a week. I loved it but over time, the body responded. Readers will know my posterior is nonexistent and a piriformis muscle along with the glutes became affected. I pushed through the pain but needed my PT to help realign those areas. I can use smaller weights and squat but don’t. Oh, there’s more…
My husband has always had weights and lifted on his own workout bench for years. We have some little arm weights of 3, 5, 8, and then bigger 10 ones. The 30 lb. one always alluded me until a few years ago. He would do arm curls and I eventually was able to lift it somewhat at my elbow. I sure did want to try and lift it. I started small of course but it kept calling to me as an “ultimate challenge.” Finally was I able to lift it above my head like a gorilla press! I actually cried. I did 10 reps but probably should’ve just done it on occasion. Never did I feel any pain but after looking at my paperwork from the ulcer (a couple years ago,) a hiatal hernia was listed. My doctor never mentioned it as a concern since internal ones go away with medicine. How would I get that on top of everything else including gastritis? It’s all in the gut for sure. I was never told the specifics (but I DO know how I got the ulcer and it wasn’t medical) so I put it together with lifting that 30 lb. weight. Maybe not but with my lack of power legs and a backside always, I just assumed. No lifting again for me and it made me sad. 😞 I loved lifting that 30 lb. weight and my workouts are fun. 
The kids even would say how Mom will miss her work out when we were on vacation. They wouldn’t say that about their Dad! I would do little things in hotel rooms though… They were right so I would either do much before we left or after getting home. Not anymore. Sweating isn’t that common for me either. On the elliptical machine, jumping rope or jacks for a minute, or in the sauna is where I sweat. Still cardio but more yoga and you know what? I am FINE with it. I proved some things but don’t need to at this point in my life. Even on our old elliptical machine I was crazy at times. It was only 20 minutes a set but once we had neighbors unexpectedly come over and I was downstairs working out. For some reason, I didn’t get in my morning time— I can’t remember. I had 5 minutes to go and warriors- I finished before greeting them! 5 minutes can seem fast but when company is over, it is an eternity. I was too close with finishing and just had to do it to the end. 
That’s all in the past as my attitude is somewhat more at ease. I still believe in anyone becoming disciplined in the way that works in their life but unlike my emotions~ I don’t push to extremes. It isn’t for me. We now have a more modern elliptical which I get on from time to time plus a few other machines. We also have a big exercise ball I use as well. Does anyone have an inversion or teeter table? It’s great for a whole body stretch and back pain. The guy in the commercials is in his 80’s I think! It works and I love it. The recumbent bike is more of a rarity but those do make me sweat a little more and I need that in the winter. My hamstring and sciatica might act up, but no more other injuries coming my way. The body doesn’t heal as fast as it used to which sucks… I know… ☹️ I do use our chair back massager and belt which works wonders. I’m not gonna get an A** at my age either! 
Well, warriors~ those are some of my home gym stories that many who work out may identify with. If you don’t, that’s OK as we all need exercise but our body will tell us. YES, the body can handle a lot but risking pain isn’t my thing like it used to be. Don’t get me wrong as I am not an old lady but I will still be active someway, somehow, even as I age more. Who knows exactly as we probably can’t take all this equipment with us when moving elsewhere but couch potato or TV junkie, I am not! Whether you go to a gym or do stuff at home, just move your body every day. We need to as being active and fit matters. Not excessively, but it does. Warriors get the job done but be your own warrior with fitness. Now, get off the couch and move it! 
P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to my U.S. readers! Be grateful always… 🦃🍽️🥧😋🙏🏻🍎🌽
P.P.S. I recently just posted my 50th YouTube video!!! It’s all about a few U.W. fans who had contacted me as I share a little of their stories… Check it out here:
*** If this link isn’t active, just search up my channel.., I hope you enjoy! It’s called: “To all you Ultimate Warrior fans!”
*** You can find me also on a U.W. fb group, Twitter, and Instagram which has a tribute group as well. 💙🥰👍
mywarriorwritings.com 