That Was Then

That is my arm at the age of 44 or 45.  I forget when the picture was taken.  My bicep pumped up to close to 19 inches.  Seems like a hundred years ago, but it was only 3 or 4.  I've read that muscle has memory, which is to say that if you have previously been a weight lifter, then when you get back on the weights, your muscles will quickly return to their former size.  Of course as I approach 50 that rate of return diminishes quickly. 

Truthfully, however, I'm not interested in bulking up again, or pushing massive amounts of weight.  I'd like to be lean.  Frankly, my joints just ain't what they used to be.  When I was 44 I had to have shoulder surgery, and though I came back even stronger, now my other shoulder hurts when I lift.  I hate surgery more than I want to lift heavy, so no more bench presses, which is a terrible lift for the shoulders. 

At the moment I'm still getting my basement back in order after the flood, so I haven't set up my home fitness center yet, but when I do, I'll post a picture to let you know what I've got to work with.  I also have the church fitness center available   (http://conyerscog.org/index.php?p=1_8_FITNESS-CENTER), so I may need to put some time in there as well.  I'll post a before picture to compare with on October 31, 2010.

My verse for the day:
11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. 12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said." (Josh 14:11-12, NKJV)