What's your fitness program?

[emalebiga]

I have started two forms of martial arts, Tae soo do and Karate. I do workouts with an instructor 4 times a week and it has been great. I have to say Tae soo do helps a lot because of its focus of controlled breathing. After awhile you start learning how to get as much out of a breath of air, and as a result your breathing rate during exertion lowers. The other great things is the core and leg workout that you also get.

[Rockhound76]

Originally Posted by Rick155

I took up road cycling about a year ago after an illness in order to improve my health and keep weight off.......I should add some upper body exercises....probably some kind of weight training...but it's tough to find the time. Meanwhile the cycling is not only helping me be healthy and keep the fat off, it's a great way to get out and see the area! I wish I'd taken it up years ago. Requisite scuba-related comment: getting a good cardio workout on a bike is also a great way to improve your breathing /air use efficiency.

Rick

I agree. I am also a long distance cyclist. It has helped my weight and my SAC rate. My resting HR dropped from the mid-70's to 58 in three years. I'm still overweight (based on BMI), but I feel so much better. If only my wife weren't such a good cook...

You need to lift a couple of days a week to keep up your bone density. Cyclists are more prone than most to bone loss, male or female, due to the low bone stresses. Bone stress is necessary for bone strength.

I spin 5 days a week, rest on Saturdays and ride fairly long (65-75 miles) on Sundays. I'll lift two days a week most times, but feel better when I lift 3 days. I'll also sign up for a Century or do a solo brevet every couple of months, just to have something to train for (my charity group rides across the US into Canada almost every year in a relay ride for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society).

About the weight lifting; if you build muscle mass, you increase your body density. I've dropped about 5lbs of lead without losing a pound. By exhaling a tiny amount when free-diving, I sink like a rock. It's a pretty cool feeling, especially since I've been "fat" my whole life.

[cmburch]

I swim 2 to 3 thousand yards a few days a week at the local Junior College. I do not consider swimming a program, just something that I like to do. In fact, any "fitness program" where I felt like I had to go, for me would not be fun unless I did it with my friends such as weight lifting or biking in place. I live in a hilly area. I bike down to the marina, or on Mare Island, or to the farmers market. I love XC skiing and also kayaking. I know that it is important to get the heart rate up a few times a week for a short duration, but this would only happen when swimming butterfly or sprinting, kayaking against a current or strong wind, and when I want to go fast XC skiing . I normally cruise at a leisure pace in everything. I consider my lifestyle next to lethargic. My daughter says that I know how to take it easy. But for SCUBA or free diving, some laps with a kick board is good for my legs and ankles.

[rye_a]

Eat Normally
Lift Weights M,W,F
Cardio Tues, Thurs
Ski, bike or hike on weekends

[SkuaSeptember]

12 oz. curls.
Leap to conclusions.
Wrestle with my conscience.
Climb on my soap box.
Jog my memory.
Dodge responsibility.
Run from my past.
That about does it.

[Chocoholic]

I've been doing the Eliptical trainer for awhile now and I am adding in lunges, squats, arm weights starting Tuesday. I also am going to add Denise Austin pilates. Now that I have it in writing and you have seen it, I have to do it!!!

[Chocoholic]

Oh, it also helps to have a goal. My short term is going skiing and not being the first one to get worn out. Longer term is going to Grand Cayman and being in bathingsuit shape (notice NOT bikini shape). Longer term is family reunion this summer. Another goal is to set and example for my nieces, who are young. Then it's just staying in shape and looking forward to being able to dive when I am much older.

[strfish7]

Yoga 4X week, kickboxing 2X, one 30 mile bike ride, various cardio activities at the gym, and the occasional run are what keeps me happy.

[bane51031]

I workout 4-5 days a week, 30 minutes circut weight training followed by 15 min. cardio.

Was working out longer before and didn't seem to be reaching my goals after I had dropped 80 pounds, so I switched it to the current workout.

The workout now only takes 45 minutes and I do no chit chat during this time, another problem I used to have, now that my workout time is not my social hour I seem to be on track again.

[doczerothree]

wrestling with my horses