Exercise

[Dave2002]

I'm sure our strength has diminished during the last six months or so. Now trying to counter this by various exercise routines. Walking is probably one of the best, though the weather here doesn't always help. When it's not so bad, the nearby hill (rather steep) is a quite a good challenge. Try to do to the top level stretch and back in under an hour ....

We also have an exercise bike and Wii Fit kit, which give some approximate benchmarks to measure oneself by.

Currently in a bit of a lull, so will have to work back up again. I ought to be able to do the exercise bike for 10 minutes on level 6 - which gets my heart rate up to 110-120 depending on how I feel. I can go for longer - say 16 minutes, but then that's not really pushing myself.

I ought really to get the bike I acquired years ago out of the garage, and use it, but I've not got round to it ....

Anyone else struggling to keep fit?

[alywin]

Yep. I have a bike, but it's in storage on account of the fact that we're stuck in a first-floor flat with nowhere to put it. I keep meaning to buy a skipping rope ...

[Serial_Apologist]

I would certainly not get an exerrcise bike - what is the point of a bike that goes nowhere? Much preferable to use my real bike, which gets me out and about, benefitting from London's, er, fresh air.

[Nick Armstrong]

I would certainly not get an exerrcise bike - what is the point of a bike that goes nowhere? Much preferable to use my real bike, which gets me out and about, benefitting from London's, er, fresh air.

You and me both, S_A!

[muzzer]

I got a bike when the gyms shut and it’s served me very well. Currently grounded thanks to, would you believe, bending over in the field on Sunday. In my defence I’d bowled 8 overs straight off. I think Pilates must be the way forward. How do people stay flexible as anna domini gets more shrill? Pilates? Yoga?

[LHC]

I would certainly not get an exerrcise bike - what is the point of a bike that goes nowhere? Much preferable to use my real bike, which gets me out and about, benefitting from London's, er, fresh air.

I have a bike trainer stand, which means I can quickly convert my bike to an exercise bike when it’s difficult to use the bike outdoors.

[antongould]

I got a bike when the gyms shut and it’s served me very well. Currently grounded thanks to, would you believe, bending over in the field on Sunday. In my defence I’d bowled 8 overs straight off. I think Pilates must be the way forward. How do people stay flexible as anna domini gets more shrill? Pilates? Yoga?

Not available for the decider today then muzzers ....... ?????

[Dave2002]

Yep. I have a bike, but it's in storage on account of the fact that we're stuck in a first-floor flat with nowhere to put it. I keep meaning to buy a skipping rope ...

Ah - I think we also have.a heavy weight hula hoop. I’m sure it’s very good for those who have space and can figure it out I think I did once get up to 10 rotations. We don’t use it too much, but it is available, and we have used it outside. I’m not sure that either hula hoops or skipping ropes would go down well with residents in the flat below yours.

Re exercise bikes, we were recommended ours by a cycling enthusiast who goes on cycling holidays. He reckoned that after using the exercise bike for a while, real rides which were classed as difficult became doable or easy. They do take up space though, and ours is extremely heavy. The good thing is that it does have some forms of objective measurement, and it will also work with Kinomap, for those who like that sort of thing.

I also have some exercise bands, which are good for foot exercises - but then so is walking - I guess.

Some friends recommend Pilates, which I’ve not tried, but it might be good for some purposes, as I believe low impact, but has some effectiveness.

[cloughie]

I got a bike when the gyms shut and it’s served me very well. Currently grounded thanks to, would you believe, bending over in the field on Sunday. In my defence I’d bowled 8 overs straight off. I think Pilates must be the way forward. How do people stay flexible as anna domini gets more shrill? Pilates? Yoga?

Would that be a Pontius decision?

[teamsaint]

Like Muzzer, I used to enjoy a long spell up the hill in the hot sun, but I don’t play these days. Bowling is certainly a high impact activity.
I took up running regularly about a year ago, and despite all the negative comments one sees about knee issues, my slightly dodgy right knee is the best it has been in many years, probably due to strengthened muscles around it. The secret I suspect is not to overdo the mileage, and vary the surface you run on.
Lockdown and part time furlough has given me plenty of time to run. In some ways it is a perfect activity here. Leave the front door, and in a couple of minutes you can be running in woods, field edges, quiet lanes etc .
If anybody is interested in giving running a go, the NHS “Couch to 5 K “ is a fantastic programme, and a very successful one.the aim is to get non runners to be able to run a 5k by the end of 10 weeks or so.

[gurnemanz]

Due to state of lower body joints and back, running is an activity I can't contemplate - anything beyond a gentle 5-6 metres max, that is, which I can stretch to on a tennis court. When lockdown started I resolved to go out on my bike once a day, about 5k, and have kept to that. A phone app records details of rides. Coupled with gardening, I am probably getting more exercise than ever and have lost weight over lockdown - also no doubt down to reduced ale consumption and eating out.

[Serial_Apologist]

Would that be a Pontius decision?

Oh very good! But I think not - and in any case there are already far too many aircraft up there polluting, creating unsightly vapour trails and noise!

[Cockney Sparrow]

As digression is allowed (and I don't do puns) perhaps I can mention when gardening yesterday I heard and then saw a flight of 6 (IIRC) hurricanes/spitfires on their return leg to Debden (then finally Duxford) yesterday - after some research, they had flown to the location of Battle of Britain air stations. I hope the link below goes to the image of the flight plan (I'm not twitter conversant).
Yes - they make a lot of noise, agreed! (My mother who was in the WAAF recalled being at Biggin Hill and taking cover under a bed frame when the airfield was attacked...).

https://twitter.com/MikeLingPilot/status/1305786864352268288/photo/1

[muzzer]

Not available for the decider today then muzzers ....... ?????

Only to listen ;)

[teamsaint]

Only to listen ;)

I know Morgan is a better captain than I would be, but was that really the right call for the final over ?

Anyway,I just signed up for my first 10k trail run ( I think it used to be called cross country !!) in a couple of weeks time, so I'm a bit nervous. Plenty of training done , so I should be OK to get round in a not- too -embarrassing time, ( or just without stopping) but I'm hoping the decent weather holds up. I tend to enjoy running on my own in the main, but with so few group runs going on, this should be a good change, if fairly challenging.