Grunts, Groans & Magic Salad

Posted on by Victoria

I remember…being young and lacking grace.  It never occurred to me, as I mocked my elders for their peculiar creaks, moans, and sighs, as they labored to get up off the sofa, that the sounds were involuntary.  Mostly.

As the ‘sitting is the new smoking’ warnings became more potent in the pandemic, I realized I’m just as guilty.  Involuntary audibles?  Yes, and I began to notice age had nothing to do with the noises, and I’m not alone. The grunting and groaning, the odd side effects of a sedentary life? A clarion call about movement, or lack thereof:

Reflecting on this topic, Krissy Brady for Huff Post observed:  

…” an uptick in random sounds (grunts, oofs and other varieties of strained exhales), every time you sit, stand or bend over; a phenomenon that makes something as effortless as rolling over sound as strenuous as running a 5K.”

Oh, golly.  I think she nailed it!  Brady layers in detail in her article, reminding readers that extraordinary athletes deploy purposeful grunts when they’re in game mode.  Yes!  Tennis players, weightlifters and perhaps the expulsion of energy is a contributing factor in peak performance?  I grunt, therefore I excel?  Maybe it’s just the auditory wake-up call for some of us, a bark to the major muscle groups, “Hey guys, we’re moving the gluteus and the maximus from the sofa…all together now!”

I jest and while I’m not disparaging expressions of pain, I need to poke a little fun at myself because I’ve got my own color commentary, a body-squeaking soundtrack following me along these days.  There’s a certain pop and a creak from my right knee and from time to time, I have a heel that joins in if I bounce up too quickly, providing unexpected percussion of its own as my structural anatomy reconnoiters itself.

My antidote?  Loads of stretching and Pilates.  I notice a mobility difference if I skip even a single day and on days when I’m feel smug and sassy, I continue my campaign…to convince myself that French fries are a vegetable.  Technically, they are humble potatoes, and comedian Jim Gaffigan’s one minute bit about salad is giggle goodness.  He’s got me!  Take a peek…and while you’re doing that, I’m gonna oof and grunt…and smile.  Life is good!

xo!

Vicki 😉

69 thoughts on “Grunts, Groans & Magic Salad”

  1. Pingback: Don’t Call Him a Lazy-Boy – Victoria Ponders…

      2. I like what Brady mentioned in her article…the reminder that grunting can give core muscles extra ‘oomph’ but she didn’t mention weightlifting…just tennis and martial arts. I’d need to read about “Kiais”…related to breathing and diaphragm work. That’s new to me! 😉

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  3. Keeping moving is so critical as we age. I have arthritis in my hips. A couple of years ago it was really bothering me. As a result, I was moving less which only made the problem worse. Eventually, I forced myself to get up and move. It has made a huge difference. These days I rarely miss a day of working out. I just finished James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” and one of the pieces of advice that stuck out was “Never miss twice!” It’s okay to miss a day, but I try really hard never to miss two days in a row.

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    1. Oh…Michelle…I’ll need to pick up the Clear’s book…I’ve heard about it several times but keep forgetting. I love the ‘okay to miss twice’ concept…it’s so true for me. I also love hearing that you’re feeling some relief from purposeful movement. I feel the same…if I don’t follow my routine I pay for it later. Cheers to you for sharing the reminder about “Atomic Habits”. Sending smiles and hugs! 😉🥰😉

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    2. Oh geez…I just watched the clip from Louis C.K….yep, “Your ankle…it’s just worn out..” — too funny…and pretty close to home. Humor = truth. Thanks for sharing the giggle, Dr. Stein!

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  6. This is great, Vicki! I had an achy, creaky body for year, so I can relate. The anatomical percussion got me! 🤣 We have neighbor couple in their 90s who are always out doing yard work and aspire to be that fit and active when I’m their age… just gotta keep moving.

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    1. I love that — your neighbors, that is. Yes, yes. I want that, too. And thanks for giggling about anatomical percussion. I’m my own orchestra some days! Here’s hoping you have fewer aches and creaks in the years to come, my friend. Hugs and love…hugs and love! 💕💕💕

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      1. I took a yoga class several years ago and “just keep moving” was the teachers motto. She hammered the idea constantly and it stuck with me. It’s proven to be good advice for me for most situations- physical, mental, emotional 🤩👍😎

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      3. Don’t give me too much credit 🤣 I would like to run a marathon, but so far I’ve only managed several half marathons. I was pretty close to doing one last year, but had to bail out on the training because I needed a few weeks more to prepare than what I had. I have another half coming up next month and hopefully a full one in the fall. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

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  9. Ah Vicki thank you…you’ve made me feel less ancient this morning in describing your own orchestral body of work…just to get off of the couch 😉 I had the ankle thing for a long time but as you and Michelle note- you have to move in all the ways!

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    1. It’s good to have company! And you’re right — move in all ways. I think we’re in the same boat! Maybe…based on inspiration from your fun post yesterday, we should just be dancing! 😘😘😘

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    1. Thanks for that, Elizabeth! I think we’ve got some emerging consensus…a single day off is no big deal, but two becomes a bothersome trend. Thanks for the nudge about crunches. I could/should add that into the mix. 😘

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      1. I started doing crunches again three weeks ago after not doing them for a long, long time. It makes me feel much better physically and I’m proud of myself when I’m done!

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      3. I do small crunches, four sets of eight. Arm positions are forward towards my toes for eight, up to the sky, behind my neck then forward again (all eight times.) Leg positions, first set laying down legs straight on the ground. Second set of 32 bended knees, third set bended knees in the air. Fourth set legs straight up to the sky. Does that make sense?

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      4. Wow…yes! Thanks for sharing the detail. It sounds intense but maybe the changes in position with each set is better on the back. I will try – thx Elizabeth! A strong core is important. 😘

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  12. “I grunt, therefore I excel?” I repeat yet again, dear Vicki, you are a total and complete laugh riot. Thanks for the belly laughs (which some may call ‘internal jogging’). Now THERE’S a fun form of exercise!

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  13. I’m feeling quite virtuous now … ive just finished some exercise. I’m trying to get a routine going to silence some of the orchestra … but suspect it’ll be worse after my workout 🤭

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      1. I suspect I’ll already be in the orchestra … haven’t quite identified the source but something makes noises, not sure if it’s my hip or ankle … kind of pops … but a whisper noise and I don’t actually feel anything. But definitely need to address the stiffness and aches from sitting too much

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      2. Sorry to hear that — a pop with a whisper…sounds intriguing. Glad it’s not painful but I hear you about the stiffness from sitting. We’ll both try to do better! 😘

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      3. I take the view that I’m not just going to accept all the aches and stiffness are just old age and I have to accept it … I may have to accept the arthritis starting to appear in my fingers, but I am and will be more active

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  14. I’ve developed knees that impersonate a sound track from a haunted house movie, every time I walk up stairs, Vicki. I am glad I’m not the only one in the growing old sound department. Welcome to the club and let’s turn up the volume.

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    1. I love that! Let’s not lament and resist…let’s allow our sound effects and orchestra to be LOUD! And yes to the clicking and creaking up the stairs. Hubby and I don’t know if we’re hearing knees or ankles some days…the ‘tunes’ keep changing! 🤣😊🤣

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  16. Oh yes, a big topic with me right now. I’m slowly trying to take better care of myself. I’ve never been great about weights, but was doing pretty good with cardio a few years ago, but let that slide and I definitely need to get back into it. My aches and pains give me a good reminder . . . every day that I need to get back on the stretching, working out bandwagon. Ugh. One step at a time, right.

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    1. I’m taking so much comfort in the realization that we’re all dealing with the same stuff! So many cool reminders and comments about how to prioritize and do a little…do what we can. I fall off the exercise wagon easily, but finding my way back and remembering to stretch, just like you said, helps a bunch. Ugh is right! 😉

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