Cardio for show, lift for tomorrow....
Jill’s Not-So-Brief Foray Into Golf
When I first moved to Seattle, I decided to take up golf. The hubs was very much into it and not being in NYC made it more approachable from a logistics perspective.
I took lessons straight away, which I recommend to anyone starting out. It is easy to develop bad habits where the slightest deviation can have very negative repercussions on your swing.
My instructor, who was a friend of Marc’s, started me out with the saying:
“Drive for show, putt for dough.”
For the “sportsball” people, that means everyone loves to whack the golf ball off of the tee as far as possible, which involves a club called a driver. BUT the real money in golf is made when you know how to putt. Even though it is a much smaller stroke, it is way more difficult than it looks on TV. Meaning putting matters a heck of a lot more than driving.
With Marc watching the PGA Championship this past weekend, the above phrase popped into my head. It made me think how can I extrapolate that statement into what I am doing with Go Long.
And so “cardio for show, lift for tomorrow” was born. Go ahead and repeat it. I’ll own the corniness because it is an important message to convey.
What does it mean?
Cardio is good for your health. It definitely comes in handy when you want to sweat a ton and fit into some hot outfit on the weekend. It is good for the heart and mind, and helps with endurance.
Strength training has tons of benefits that cardio will not help you with:
Squats - why do you want to be able to squat every day for the rest of your life? Hint: It’s called a toilet. But it’ll help with other activities such as gardening, running, and countless others.
Overhead press - think about being able to reach overhead to grab things that you need. Or if you need to reach around people if you are a doctor, dentist or nurse? What if you like fixing cars over the weekend?
Grip work - if you’re doing work with a barbell or with dumbbells, keeping your grip strong is critical for everyday activities such as opening jars and carrying food shopping bags by their handles.
Plyometrics - Anyone remember hop scotch as a kid? That is a simple way to explain what plyometrics is. I’ll post something more detailed on this, but these exercises help you with balance and increasing your power. Very helpful for activities such as tennis, hiking and walking. I did a bunch of plyometrics while rehabbing from my hip replacement surgery.
Strong skeleton - nearly 20% of US women 50+ have osteoporosis of the femur, neck, or lumbar spine. Weight training helps build and preserve that bone, no matter what your age.
You have many ways to complete strength training. Yes, I love my barbell work, but plenty of other options exist depending on the space you have and what your comfort level is. For example, a few of my friends love pilates and they are strong AF.
I can help you find what that sweet spot is for you.
Say it with me once again:
“Cardio for show, lift for tomorrow!”