WHY a blog? WHY exercise?

I've been working out for three weeks now doing my take on Body by Science by Doug McGriff and Jon Little; more on specifics in future posts and by clicking on the videos and links on this page. Mary suggested that I might write a blog to document my efforts and to start the blog with that explores or more specifically to share why at sixty years old, I am going to start a rather rigorous exercise regimen after forty years of limiting exercise to what I could do with a remote control and a computer keyboard. So let's get started.

You can save a bunch of time and quit now because I certainly don't think I can commit to a single  explanation for why I decided to undertake what my trainer says is a grueling exercise regimen. Although I'm not entirely clear on the why, that won't stop me from sharing my thoughts on why . I'm going to list them as the come, but not necessarily according to importance.  As time passes and hopefully I progress, the priorities that motivate me are likely to change. In fact, I think what is drawing me to this process is already changing.

• I COULD BE HEALTHIER: My cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL are higher than they ought to be and I've not enjoying the muscle discomfort that statins have caused. After discussion with my internist, I completed an insulin-glucose tolerance test and my two hour insulin level was higher than most that I've seen. My blood pressure was also creeping upwards. 
• STAMINA: They say that 60 is the new 40, but while that may be the case, the next day you feel like your 80.
• I SIGNED UP FOR A HEALTH CLUB & TRAINER: I've exercised many years ago, but dropped off after a short while. I thought that a financial commitment might create an incentive to continue. 
• DID YOU KNOW YOU GET CAN ALL THE BENEFITS FROM EXERCISE IN ONLY 20 MINUTES? Doug McGuff and Jon Little have published clinical trials comparing the benefits of a 20 minute low volume high intensity interval training with daily "cardio" for over an hour five days per week. While "cardio" helps improve endurance, it does little to improve cardiac health. They note a direct link between building muscle mass and the metabolic improvement that reduces cardiovascular risk. So, 20 minutes seems to enough. 
• WEIGHT & MAN BOOBS: While my BMI is at the borderline of being overweight, love handles and man boobs, are not a pretty picture.
• ENERGY: I'd like both to have more energy and improved endurance.
• SCIENCE EXPERIMENT: The published research looking at exercise protocols do not support that "cardio" is in fact cardio-protective. Building muscle mass through high intensity resistance training has the greatest cardio-protective benefit. Let's see. I'll be a guinea pig, check out The Trail of the Screaming Forehead .
• JC: I've hooked up with a great trainer at LA Fitness who is  encouraging, understanding and interested in learning more about the physiology of exercise and nutrition. It's great to share this educational process with someone so supportive.

Have you started working out? Do you have a specific regimen? What motivates you to work out?