The Cert Forums Fitness Challenge

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I just got a new bike yesterday: Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc '09

I got the bike through the bike 2 work scheme we have in the UK (employer dependant), so it isn't costing me that much and I don't have to pay the VAT. The only problem is that my employer buys the bike and lets me "rent it" but once the value (-vat remember) has been paid the employer can sell it on, or to you - nice employers may sell you it for £1 though

I decided to opt for a bike for a few reasons..

My old workouts were all about lifting weight and building muscle, not cardio work and that's something I've always felt could do with most improving (despite being slim and musclular, I'm not that 'fit'), living in the city put me off going to the gym because you just lose so much time getting there and back (by bus), I want to explore the surrounding areas - and get fit doing so, I can change what I do on the bike from crosscountry to downhilling (keeps the boredom away) and last but not least it means I can cycle to work, I think it'll be easier to motivate myself if I'm going there anyway, rather than going out randomely and it's also quicker to cycle than bus during rush hours and out of hours bus times are not as frequent so it should be pretty even.

I would have started today but I need to change the pedals because the ones I have are clipless and they don't feel too good without the footwear designed for them (and I don't want to go for that option as a few people I know have fallen off due to not being able to release their foot quick enough heh) and I also need to buy 1 or 2 bottle holders, repair kit and pump etc. I intend to start cyling to work from Monday though!

I used to go to the gym 3x per week but for the past 2 years I've done nothing. I used to have a good workout routine and good/bad diet, it was high in protein and carbs for energy and muscle repair/building but it was probably a bit nasty on fat+saturates(it's crazy how hard it is to avoid the stuff - though I'm doing a good job now). I've since upped my knowledge about nutrition but I let the workouts slow down and finally come to a grounding halt.

Long post, I know, sorry about that

Oh oh, I also forgot to point out another BIG reason I opted for a bike: I can continue to cycle for prolonged periods compared to running, where I find I have to slow to a walk before I can continue.

 

I work variable shifts but this week I've been up at 05:25 every day to start work at 07:00. Next week I'll be getting up later though

 

Mine does too!!! ...to tell me when it's time to go to SLEEP!

 

Well, ive got 2 bikes for sale, they are top end bikes, they should be in sales and swaps later. Treat yourself and get in shape lol

 

I'm up every weekday at 5am get ready for work and out the door at 6:30am to get in the office for 8:15am then straight into the computer lab room to do 40 to 50 press ups. Get a cuppa of coffee and work through to 5pm out the door home.

I don't know how I have been doing the above for well over a year now but hey that's life no one says it was going to be easy

 

Count me in. I'm doing two hours per day of step aerobics and one hour per day of walking at this point. I've lost about 25 lbs and still have 60 odd to go. I've been keeping sort of a blog about this over at SparkPeople.com if anyone is interested in that sort of thing:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal.asp?id=NEUTRALHILLS

It's a great, free site for those trying to lose weight, track their calories, and their exercise.

 

Excellent!

Welcome on board Neutral. Thanks for the link I will have a look.

 

I'm gonna give it a go
I'll try my best to stay current too
might help with some moral support on here, I need to get some upper body strength for diving anyway and it might be a good warm up before I start doing the crossfit WOD more seriously

Lost another 3lb last week, not the 10 of the week before, but at least i'm on the right track, not bad for a holiday weekend either ;)

 

I need the moral support as well hence throwing this open to everyone. Picked up a small injury to my right leg while sparring last Thursday so haven't done the squats but I have done the inital test and day 1 for both the Pushups and situps

Pushups

Inital Test: 17 good form pushups before it went wrong.

Day one the sets were: 10, 12, 7, 7, and then a minimum of 9 and I made it to 12 on that one.

Situps:

Inital Test: 34 good form situps.

Day one sets
15, 18, 10, 10, Minimum of 14 - I did 30

It does say on the site that if you managed more then 30 straight off to jump to week 3 but I have decided to try and keep the weeks in pace.

So far, not to bad, at the moment I found the hardest thing is keeping the correct form, but I expect the numbers to ramp up as off tonight.

 

I may give this a shot. I could certainly use the fitness.

 

OK day 2 - still no squats but the numbers looked far more scary today

Pushups: 10, 12, 8, 8, Minimum of 12, did 20 - giving me a new Personal Best . Total: 58

Situps: 15, 18, 15, 15, minimun of 18, did 44 - Again a new pb . Total: 107

so in combination with the Martial arts I am doing this seems to be working. Will give you the breakdown of each day as I do them.

 

Well, I did my cycle to work yesterday. According to google maps I did 14.6 miles in all. It wasn't that hard, just the odd muscle burn from time to time, but I was still sweating hard when I arrived at work and later at home (luckily my work provide a shower room).

I had, however, been out on the bike on Saturday and did around 12miles in one trip, so I was confident that I could manage the work routes. It is still different cycling at leisure and cycling to reach somewhere within a limited amount of time though. I managed to cycle to work in 40minutes, reducing the journey by 20-40 minutes (variable due to bus reliability), and made it home in 35 on a slightly shorter route, removing 30-45 minutes from my usual home time during the rush hour.

I've taking a day off today though, my legs are still stiff and the weather wasn't that great but I'll be back on it tomorrow and probably Friday.... maybe Thursday but I doubt it

All in all I'm very pleased with my purchase, definitely one of my better ones!


Edit: Google maps keeps changing the distance on my routes - so I could've done from 14.6 to 16.5 - not a big difference either way though

 

Damn, I have not started yet! lol

 

Don't think I'll do the CF challenge since my motivation for exercises comes largely from my ability to control my own workout.

When on holiday to Portland for a family reunion over the 4th. Got violently ill early the morning of the 5th and it's taken days to recover. Got up the nerve to hit the weights yesterday after work. Seemed a lot harder, but I'd also just increased my weight limits. Recovered enough to do my aerobic routine this a.m. for 45 minutes, so I think I'm back in the saddle. More weights tonight (lower body this time).

So far, I've got a total weight loss of 12 pounds since I've started working out. Comes in fits and starts which goes against my linear nature, but you do what you can.

 

I have never experienced linear weight loss I can fluctuate as much 2-4 lb in either direction over a day. Guess thats down to fluids

 

I go to the gym daily & do a 40 min walk @ 5.5kph.
This coupled with a better diet & i've lost 2 stone since Xmas and my waist size is down 2".
My BMI is 27.3 which means i need to lose 2.3 to get to my ideal BMI.
Fresh fruit, vegatables & low-fat food has all helped.

 

I did a 400yd swim and a 15 minute tread water (2 minutes with arms raised) for my Divemaster course last night, oh yeah and the swim was timed! lol
to get 5 points on it you need to be doing about 100 yards a minute, eek! no way I was aiming that high just yet ;)

more pool work tomorrow, and open water diving tonight out at the lake
carrying my fat ass up the steps from the lake in full gear (adds about 40kg) is a workout in itself

 

So do you need to do 100 Press Ups in one go or in four reps?