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Training journal while learning to unicycle
I set several personal bests this morning :-) The most important one was swimming 3000 meters (500 more than previosuly), but also nonstop (500 more than previously) and not only that, but all of it was crawl! Previously I had to switch to breast stroke after just 200 meters in order to "breathe", but now I managed to pace myself and breathe on every third stroke, taking a deep gulp of air to really fill my lungs, and even more importantly, breathe out completely and not just partially each time. That is the secret I think - in order to get as much oxygen as you can. After about 2200 meters I was even able to start breathing for every fourth stroke and the last 50 meters I did a sprint, breathing for every fifth stroke, really feeling the urge for air as my blood levels of carbon dioxide rose quickly. On top of this, I managed to jog slowly both ways, not only from home to the pool, but also all the way back afterwards, cutting the time for 5 km from about 45 minutes to about half an hour - and that while eating an apple on the way home! All in all, I pushed my limits way beyond what I thought was possible at this time in my progress towards getting in better shape. I think that's just excellent with regard to being able to mentally overcome my difficulties in unicycling right now, where I need to "lean forward and ride" as I've read several places as the key to move from standstill to movement. It's all in your brain (when your muscles have adapted to the balance thing, anyway). I'll list my training efforts since 1 May here, to document the progress: 7 May: 2000 meters swimming in 50 minutes - indoor 25m pool 12 May: 10 km running in 67 minutes 22 May: 2500 meters swimming in 51 minutes (2300 nonstop) - indoor 25m pool 23 May: 2 hours walking 27 May: 10 km running in 63 minutes 29 May: 15 minutes swimming - Oslo fjord - about 15 degrees 31 May: 50 minutes walking 2 June: 2500 minutes swimming in 67 minutes - outdoor 50m pool + 5 km jog/walk in 45 minutes + Day 1 unicycling - 3 hours 7 June: 4 hours biking 13 June: 2500 meters nonstop swimming in 55 minutes - outdoor 50m pool (drove the car there) 14 June: Day 2 unicycling - 1,5 hours 17 June: Day 3 unicycling - 2 hours 20 June: Day 4 unicycling - 3 hours (hurt my knee) 24 June: 2000 meters swimming in 47 minutes - outdoor 50m pool + 5 km jog/walk in 45 minutes 26 June: 3000 meters nonstop crawl swimming in 57 minutes - outdoor 50m pool + 5 km jog in 30 minutes This in addition to the regular morning exercise of 50 push-ups and 600 abs crunches. My weight has gone down from 97 kgs on 10 May to 88 kgs today, with minima at 83 kgs on 3 June (which was the equivalent of 87 kgs since I had no food inside) and 84 kgs on 21 June (probably also on a rather empty stomach). So I really feel like I am making progress. I can't really remember being this fit for more than 10 years :-) Considering that I've been running 10 km in an hour, I might even consider that my shape is as good or even better than when I did 30 minute runs of about 5-6 km back in 1995-1998 as a student, and if so then I have to go back to when I was 17-18 to beat my current fitness level. And I ain't gonna stop here :-) :-) :-) -- lillestrøm_uni My 'training journal' (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/sho...php?p=1025788). My todo list (augustdreamt™): -Assisted mount-ride-idle- / *Ride */ PD / Turn / Idle / Hops / Curbs / Uneven ground / 'Mount / Rolling mount / Jump mount' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRW7ePkZ_8E) / Side mount / Kick-up mount ------------------------------------------------------------------------ lillestrøm_uni's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17152 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/69883 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
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#2
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Training journal while learning to unicycle
lillestrøm_uni wrote: taking a deep gulp of air to really fill my lungs, and even more importantly, breathe out completely and not just partially each time. That is the secret I think - in order to get as much oxygen as you can. it's things like that which are pushed out of attention due to the immediate need of attention to other things, like getting air in to breathe. It's probably a good example of what my original posts in the 'learning' thread are all about... not the everyday mantra's and obvious things to DO, but a question on what things might be being missed or being done extra that isn't realised. In your case and swimming you probably didn't realise at first you weren't fully exhaling, which means you can't really get a full and fresh inhale. This in addition to the regular morning exercise of 50 push-ups and 600 abs crunches. My weight has gone down from 97 kgs on 10 May to 88 kgs today, with minima at 83 kgs on 3 June (which was the equivalent of 87 kgs since I had no food inside) and 84 kgs on 21 June (probably also on a rather empty stomach). Be aware that ab crunches are a bit cheap so don't get too into how many you can do. You would do better to put your attention elsewhere (maybe hand-weights for leg and arm muscle development and for further calorie expenditure). Think of it this way... a person can pretty much stand or sit for as long as needed due to the 'core muscles' which is generally just a shortcut for saying stomach and lower back muscles. Now if you didn't already have 'a strong core' to begin with then you wouldn't be able to function as every other person who sits and stands and leans and sways etc, as a 'weak core' would mean you would struggle keeping your upper body up in the first place. Now clearly you aren't falling over yourself so your 'core' is clearly ok. I could probably do lame crunches all day if I didn't get bored or hungry or need to pee etc. It's not about quantity it's about quality. Anyone can do a thousand rubbish crunches that are useless. What counts with ALL muscle development is actually taxing the muscles with a handful or two of intense use e.g. for arms doing roughly 10-12 heavy weight lifts as opposed to lifting a pencil 100,000 times, and for abs doing probably at a guess around 30 to 50 intense crunches (perhaps like slow movement V crunches where you lift your feet off the ground at the same time and basically touch your toes vertically if you are flexible enough, Pilates like). As with all new exercise that is different from what used to be the normal daily routine (watching tv eating a bag of Doritos and smoking 20 cigarettes during the ad breaks) there will be muscles that are engaged more than usual which you will feel sore from at first as they get used to being used, but like I said above with the stomach it's not particularly beneficial to do many crunches / sit-ups as you aren't likely to put on any significant or even noticeable muscle-mass in those muscles without steroid abuse and some hardcore crunches using weights/resistance to intensify the muscle requirement. You'd fair better to put that type of training (minus the steroids of course) into your legs and arms i think. It's always better to strive for some more muscle than to just do lots of aerobic-like exercises as a person with more muscle doing nothing burns more calories than a person with less muscle doing nothing, so in the day to day scheme of things when not actually working-out a person with more muscle is accruing more calorie expenditure 'on the cheap' so to speak. Moderation is the key though because who wants to be a 100 kilo mound of muscle who gets puffed walking up a flight of stairs and has lots of strength but no stamina. So I really feel like I am making progress. I can't really remember being this fit for more than 10 years :-) Considering that I've been running 10 km in an hour, I might even consider that my shape is as good or even better than when I did 30 minute runs of about 5-6 km back in 1995-1998 as a student, and if so then I have to go back to when I was 17-18 to beat my current fitness level. And I ain't gonna stop here :-) :-) :-) Maybe even write-down what you are currently doing and store that away somewhere for future reference in case you lose the plot a little and change things too much and lose your way... that way you can always read what your plan was for now when things felt great and you were making progress. It's just too easy to change small things bit by bit and then completely get lost and forget where you were going and how you were getting there. -- nubcake ------------------------------------------------------------------------ nubcake's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15954 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/69883 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#3
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Training journal while learning to unicycle
lillestrøm_uni;1050262 wrote: I'll list my training efforts since 1 May here, to document the progress: 7 May: 2000 meters swimming in 50 minutes - indoor 25m pool 12 May: 10 km running in 67 minutes 22 May: 2500 meters swimming in 51 minutes (2300 nonstop) - indoor 25m pool 23 May: 2 hours walking 27 May: 10 km running in 63 minutes 29 May: 15 minutes swimming - Oslo fjord - about 15 degrees 31 May: 50 minutes walking 2 June: 2500 minutes swimming in 67 minutes - outdoor 50m pool + 5 km jog/walk in 45 minutes + Day 1 unicycling - 3 hours 7 June: 4 hours biking 13 June: 2500 meters nonstop swimming in 55 minutes - outdoor 50m pool (drove the car there) 14 June: Day 2 unicycling - 1,5 hours 17 June: Day 3 unicycling - 2 hours 20 June: Day 4 unicycling - 3 hours (hurt my knee) 24 June: 2000 meters swimming in 47 minutes - outdoor 50m pool + 5 km jog/walk in 45 minutes 26 June: 3000 meters nonstop crawl swimming in 57 minutes - outdoor 50m pool + 5 km jog in 30 minutes This in addition to the regular morning exercise of 50 push-ups and 600 abs crunches. *My weight has gone down from 97 kgs on 10 May to 88 kgs today*, with minima at 83 kgs on 3 June (which was the equivalent of 87 kgs since I had no food inside) and 84 kgs on 21 June (probably also on a rather empty stomach). So I really feel like I am making progress. I can't really remember being this fit for more than 10 years :-) Considering that I've been running 10 km in an hour, I might even consider that my shape is as good or even better than when I did 30 minute runs of about 5-6 km back in 1995-1998 as a student, and if so then I have to go back to when I was 17-18 to beat my current fitness level. And I ain't gonna stop here :-) :-) :-) Well, I have to admit that I didn't manage to follow up on this. In addition to the unicycle riding I've already posted about, I did a little running, basketball (not much more than what I posted about, if any) and swimming - a pitiful 3 - *three *- sessions covering 1000, 2000 and 2500 m respectively. Add to this a lot of good food, beer and wine - I'm basically back to my old eating habits, plus that I feel ill during Christmas and didn't do my daily routine of morning exercise since Christmas Eve, and you've got me pretty much back where I started at the beginning of May. I weighed in at 94 kgs on my friend's Wii on Friday, up 11 kgs from 2 June when I weighed myself there last time (83 kgs). That was down from 97 kgs at the beginning of May (so I am not quite as heavy now as I was then, but if you give or take a couple of kgs due to the measurement accuracy, my clothes and how much I ate before I weighed myself, then I am more or less back where I was. So, now I am starting a new diet. I won't do it for as long as I did in May (about 24-25 days and losing 11-12 kgs in that time) - my first goal now is to do it until next week, when I have a business trip and then I will eat lunch and dinner there. Then I hope to continue for another week at the end of the month. If I succeed in losing 5 kgs by the end of January I'll be very satisfied. Round that off to 4 and I'm down at an even 90 kgs (or 200 lbs for those in the US). That would be a nice starting point for February. But, of course, weight loss makes no sense without exercise, both in order to keep the muscles from withering and making sure it is actually the fat that disappears, but also in order to feel healthy and last, but not, least - to stay slimmer, and not go back up. I think the lack of exercise this fall is at least as much to blame as my increased eating. So, I am aiming to take up swimming again, at least once a week, which is what I tried in the fall but I couldn't get up in the morning - the swimming is only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 0630 to 0730 at a local school, so I can go there before work (like the others). One of the other guys there actually run there from home, and then he runs back (or to his office, I am not sure). That way he warms up before swimming, as he says. Pretty tough to go out running at 0600 in Norway in the winter, if you ask me. I'm not aiming that high, but if I can do the following, I will be happy: - Daily morning exercise - Swim at least once a week (except when travelling, which was also a reason why I couldn't get a good routine for the swimming this fall) - Go out for a walk twice a week or so - Get out hiking or skiing at least one weekend in February (January is already fully booked) All right, I'll keep posting here about my progress with the diet and the exercise. And then I'll also see, of course, when I can get back in the unicycle saddle. My feeling is that it won't be until late spring when I can do it outside, though... -- lillestrøm_uni My 'training journal' (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/sho...php?p=1025788). My todo list (augustdreamt™): -Assisted mount-ride-idle- / -Ride- / -PD- / -Turn- / -Uphill/Downhill- / Idle / Hops / -Curbs- / -Uneven ground- / Mount / Rolling mount / Jump mount ------------------------------------------------------------------------ lillestrøm_uni's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17152 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/69883 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#4
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Training journal while learning to unicycle
Weighed in at 91 kgs this morning. Now I think I stabilised my weight, yesterday I was still emptying my intestines and drinking lots of fluids. So this is now my "dry weight" that I can refer to when I keep dieting. My similar reference weight in May was 93 kgs. I will try to post here every day about the progress. Still didn't do the morning excercise, don't feel completely restored yet. Will try to go early to bed and then see if I can get up at 0530 tomorrow morning and go swimming before work. Obviously, if I manage to do that and I feel fine with the exercise, then I could really boost my metabolism and burn fat while doing the diet. So far today I feel fine, haven't really been very hungry. I feel it of course, but I keep drinking the mixture and additional water, like I did yesterday, always keeping the stomach full, as far as possible. The weather is also better now, it's around 5-6 degrees outside and it didn't rain today, even if it was grey all day. So, all in all, a nice Monday :-) -- lillestrøm_uni My 'training journal' (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/sho...php?p=1025788). My todo list (augustdreamt™): -Assisted mount-ride-idle- / -Ride- / -PD- / -Turn- / -Uphill/Downhill- / Idle / Hops / -Curbs- / -Uneven ground- / Mount / Rolling mount / Jump mount ------------------------------------------------------------------------ lillestrøm_uni's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17152 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/69883 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#5
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Training journal while learning to unicycle
Still 91 kgs, but I think the needle was a little on the low side today, as opposed to yesterday when I probably rounded a little bit down. I only read off my weight in whole kgs since the scale is analog and the scale is not that accurate. But I'd like to think that my first half kg is gone already - when I've taken this diet before I've lost around half a kg per day (first time in September 2006 it was 3-4 kgs in 8-10 days, second time in May 2008 it was 10-12 kgs in 24-25 days). All right, off to work... -- lillestrøm_uni My 'training journal' (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/sho...php?p=1025788). My todo list (augustdreamt™): -Assisted mount-ride-idle- / -Ride- / -PD- / -Turn- / -Uphill/Downhill- / Idle / Hops / -Curbs- / -Uneven ground- / Mount / Rolling mount / Jump mount ------------------------------------------------------------------------ lillestrøm_uni's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17152 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/69883 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#6
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Training journal while learning to unicycle
90 kgs today, or even a little under :-) I slept for almost 11 hours, so I probably lost a lot of water during the night. But still, it seems like I am on track for the 0,5 kg per day weight loss. Feeling fine, haven't really been hungry and at a long meeting at work yesterday I was the one who kept a clear head since my blood sugar level is constant with this diet, while for the others it went down after breakfast and then up again after lunch, then down again before dinner. This is also how I feel on regular days - so it is really important to eat more often (or use this diet) to stay alert all day. PS: I also dreamt about eating a big meal tonight... hehe -- lillestrøm_uni My 'training journal' (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/sho...php?p=1025788). My todo list (augustdreamt™): -Assisted mount-ride-idle- / -Ride- / -PD- / -Turn- / -Uphill/Downhill- / Idle / Hops / -Curbs- / -Uneven ground- / Mount / Rolling mount / Jump mount ------------------------------------------------------------------------ lillestrøm_uni's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17152 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/69883 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#7
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Training journal while learning to unicycle
I was up to 91 kgs again last morning, I think this could be because I had some soup Wednesday evening - not more calories than the diet drink but it contained some salt which retained more water in my body, and I also drank a portion of protein powder - last time I dieted I lost significant muscle mass as well as fat since I only took in carbohydrates during the three week period of the diet. So I will try to compensate this time by taking in some proteins as well. Today I weighed in at just under 90 kgs, so I expect to get down to 89 during the weekend. Will be interesting to see if that holds. I guess I'll be happy even if I lose 2 kgs this week - 3 kgs is pretty tough after all. Then again I am going to diet for 8 days, so of course I am hoping for 3 kgs. Have a nice day! PS: The weather has turned really cold (minus 6 now) but I am sleeping a lot and feeling like I am finally getting back to 100% restitution after my bronchitis that lasted more than 3 weeks since I started coughing on Christmas Eve, and I am also feeling better in my back and in other parts of my body that got small infections due to the decreased immune system during my illness. So I am hoping to take up my morning exercise soon, and that will help burning calories of course. I did do quite a lot of exercise last May, obviously it is much harder to lose weight when dieting if you're not moving your body at all... So far this year I've been working long days at work and mostly sleeping when I'm not working. Not healthy. -- lillestrøm_uni My 'training journal' (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/sho...php?p=1025788). My todo list (augustdreamt™): -Assisted mount-ride-idle- / -Ride- / -PD- / -Turn- / -Uphill/Downhill- / Idle / Hops / -Curbs- / -Uneven ground- / Mount / Rolling mount / Jump mount ------------------------------------------------------------------------ lillestrøm_uni's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17152 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/69883 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
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