Ok, I'm not particularly competitive about this, but... I need some fitness goals.
I move a lot. For the past 2 years, I had access to an Olympic pool. I went from considering swimming a chance to splash around to putting in two sets of 2 km each day. I think I'll have a pool and a weight room again in about a month. I'd like to make the most of this but I'm not certain what my goals should be. I have almost unlimited time to dump into this, but I'm also old. I don't particularly feel old, but I'm at the stage in life where impressing others isn't much of a motivation, but topping my personal bests is a way to convince myself that I'm not dying... yet.
Any advice?
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[–] Coz 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
You don't care about looking good, but you care about having a functioning body. Knowing that there's a point after which exercise is too much, figure out what that point is, regarding the performance measures you care about, and use them as a final goal. For example, doing aerobic exercise is considered good, but after 40 minutes - 1 hour of sustained exercise, it starts to become detrimental. Can you swim 40 minutes without rest? split that big goal in chunks, first 5, then 10, and so on. If you can get to 40 minutes, while you probably wouldn't be as fit for any competitive level, from the point of view of that single measure, you're more alive than any average 17 year old.
That's just an example, however no one but you can figure out your goals.
[–] pitenius [S] ago
Not sure which measures I care about... I guess that's my problem.
I could three months ago ;).
That's part of what I meant by old: there's no "competitive level" at some point. But... have you seen the "average" 17 year olds today? It's a sad time to be a dirty old man with all these chili-piles around.
[–] Coz 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
However there's definitely some motivation in you, or you wouldn't have made the post and replied to my comment. Maybe you should watch a few videos or read a few things about what people do when they are fit, and along the way you might find your reason to work out. The main reason I'm into fitness it because it gives me a feeling of freedom. I want to be able to crank a handstand whenever I feel like it, not necessarily in front of other people.
If competing motivates you, get a buddy and try to top each other's personal bests. When that happens, your buddy has to buy you a beer or a steak.