ZERO Burpess Given

QIC: Wobegon

Date: 11-4-2023

PAX: Burlap, Splash, THE Pony Express, Green Acres, D-Day, Bloodsport, Lemming, Starfish

My family participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s this past weekend, and YHC signed up for one of those annoying fundraisers you see on Facebook so often. Asd the Q schedule was open the same day as the walk, I figured I could come up with something at least a little different. The pax were told they would have the chance to buy their way out of some of the planned workouts with a small donation to the cause. But, before we got to that portion….

Warm O Rama with the standards. Pax was advised not to do the Cherry Pie thing during Arm Swirly Things. No one liked the foreboding.

As we walked to the top of the hill, the Q gave some explanation on our theme: some routines built around facts about Alzheimer’s, ending with the fundraising option. 

First up: top of the hill. 

About 1 in 9 people age 65 and older (10.7%) has Alzheimer’s.

So, we have nine exercises, ten reps each, mosey down and hill and back after each set.

  1. Squats
  2. Left Lunges
  3. Right Lunges
  4. Merkins
  5. Big Boys
  6. Freddy
  7. Ranger Merkins
  8. Hill Billy
  9. Copper Head Squats

Next up…Lido Deck

1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

  • 1 Squatty Potty, 3 dips
  • 1 squatty potty, 3 Irkins
  • 1 squatty potty, 3 Dirkins

Deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease between 2000 and 2019 have more than doubled. 

So let’s double it:

  • 2 SPs, 6 dips
  • 2 SPS, 6 Irkins
  • 2 SPS, 6 Dirkins

 

Mosey to Rock Area

Every 65 seconds, someone is diagnosed.

So, EMOM.

On timer bell:

  • 5 Side Stradle Hops
  • 4 Shoulder Taps (1-2-3-4)
  • 3 LBCs
  • 2 Heels To Heaven
  • 1 Merkin
  • Rest till bell

Five rounds of this.

Now, grab a rock:

It’s suggested a few lifestyle changes in your younger days can decrease your likelihood of the disease. They include:

  • Eat as healthy a diet as possible – diversify the food groups you consume and avoid ultra-processed foods. 
  • There are many ways to eat well; personalised diets incorporating foods that are local and affordable where you live and fit your needs are best. 
  • Exercise – be creative; walking, bike riding, tai chi, dancing… it all counts. 
  • Keep learning – challenge your brain, whether it is by picking up a new language, doing crosswords, singing… 
  • Pay attention to your cardiovascular health and any other chronic diseases. 
  • Maintain connection – humans are social animals; socialising replenishes our brain health and reduces depression and isolation. 
  • Pay attention to your general physical maintenance – check the health of your teeth, avoid head injury, make sure you get enough sleep, don’t smoke nor drink excessive amounts of alcohol.

So we exercised together to maintain some connections. A smattering of standard rock work, including the seasonally-almost-appropriate Elf on the Shelf. 

Rocks up, and mosey to the front lot.

Here we are. The big ask. The chance to get this thing done early.

In North Carolina, 180,000 people over age 65 have Alzheimer’s.

Partner up. Normal Dora, with 180 total burpees per pair.

BUT….you can decrease our total for $1 a burpee.

An early donor, the always inspiring Greenacres, had already knocked it down. Luckily we had both some bankers and some generous souls because in no time we had the 180 burpees more then paid for, possibly even in the negatives.

So, we mosey to the front for an early end, the promise of coffee on the Q, after 6 minutes of Mary.

We ended about ten minutes early, thanks to the generous pax. 

 

COT:

  • GreeNest next week, helping to set up their Christmas store; lots of help needed. See Starfish.
  • Thursday: Vets Day convergence at the Distillery.
  • Prayers for aging parents, praise and happiness for D-Day’s mother who loves her Apple Watch. D-Day is also constantly updated on her exercises with the healthy Canadian lifestyle. Way to go, Mama D-Day.

We remember aging parents often during COT and I know I am not the only one dealing with this reality. My family has watched a fast decline with my father and his struggle with Alzheimer’s. It’s been hard; it’s been sometimes full of sweet moments–no memory of the conversation from ten minutes ago, followed by clear recall of special occasions twenty years ago, then an “aspirational memory” of some moment that never happened but sounds nice. We continue to try and give my parents the help, dignity, and support they always gave us. 

Make the most of your time; things change quickly.

Great thanks to all those who donated and supported this crazy idea. Here’s me, my family, and my sister’s family getting ready to walk and me and my dad at Christmas a year or so ago; it should be noted: we’ve been known to wear matching Star Wars shirts LONG before the illness. Like, in the 70s. The stuffed flamingo is new, however. It made sense at the time. 

 

I’m thankful for this group of men in many ways. SYITG.