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Sailing can be physically demanding or you can spend most of the time in a bunk.
How hard do you work to maintain your fitness.
For example could you pass the physical fitness test for the Marines. Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test Chart - Males
At 42, I am not in the same strength realm as an 18yo.. but my job does keep me fit. It is a hard and rather physical job that combined with the weekly miles I put on my bicycle and my dislike of elevators, keeps me in decent shape.
at almost 6 foot tall, I only weigh 170 and have a blood pressure of 112/55. I must be doing something right. Now if only exercise would bring back my hair...
I raced bicycles for 15 years. Not in shape like that now. I could still probably ride circles around most Wisconsin cheeseheads. However, sailing demands other kinds of fitness: Some efforts require near maximal upper body efforts, and at times having agility has an impact on safety.
I think V02 Max is the gold standard for evaluating physical fitness currently. Resting heart rate and post exercise heart rate drop are also good. Of the Marine tests I can see the timed running test, but counting pull ups and crunches seem kind of silly.
Please provide us with a bit of personal background, that we might have a better understanding of why you think standardized measures of muscle strength and endurance of people who fight wars is "silly" and that overall cardio fitness is all that need be measured?
And with this understanding be better able to assign credence or lack thereof to your comment.
Started working out at 13 when I bought a starter set of weights from Sears. Played football and lifted from teens to high school to college then 5 years of semi-pro. Got into power lifting after football then kick boxing and Tae Kwon Do after that. A hip replacement put an end to the Tae Kwon Do but still lifting although the heavy stuff is over. Usually 4-5 days a week. Never got in to long running more than 4-5 miles. I think longer than that tends to break muscle down at least for me. Compare a sprinter vs a marathoner and their body types. My cardio tends to be shorter duration but higher intensity like running hills or stadium steps. It's harder but with less impact. Lunges especially good with weight in each hand. It is low impact and works more leg muscles than just about any signal leg exercise while providing cardio benefit. Variety is what it keeps it from being boring.
If I had to chose between one or the other resistance/weight traing vs cardio/areobic I'd go with the weight/resistance. You can do the weight resistance with out rest between sets to get a pretty good cardio benefit.
OK, here is by tidbit. We're not into long-distance cruising, which is an entirely different kettle of fish. We anchor every day and I have a rowing/sailing dinghy (yes, even with a little engine it does not compete with an inflatable speed demon...) I go rowing shortly after we've anchored (fairly vigorously) and a couple of times a day if we stay in an anchorage. However, my mate/admiral/spouse basically sits on the boat. Funny thing, though... I need Lipitor, she doesn't... Go figure...
Edit - I just saw the chart, for my age, no problem except the run (7 stents in heart and legs).
Given that I only need 100 points for first class - I can do that on pull ups and sit ups alone.
I'm not too far off. For my age range, I'm only about 30 seconds off on the 3 mile run. I can hit that number. I can do 2-3 pull ups. I need to get to 4.
I like this, as a general guide for myself. I've been exercising quite a lot and haven't really known whether I was doing well vs. other people in my age group.
Running is bad for you. Wears out your knees and hips.
Swimming is better being non weight bearing exercise.
At least that is how it seems to me at 65. Just back from 3 weeks skiing in Utah so must be doing something right as while I no longer can ski hard all day I was able to enjoy my time in the mountains.
Yeah...I gotta weigh in on this discussion. I hate to say it but when we go cruising (chartering - throughout the Carribean and Med.) most sailors (with a few exceptions, seem to me, to be quite obese.
So what exercise regime do the few are in shape follow. I like the idea of extensive rowing of the dink, do others swim or bring weights or exercise bands on board or ealy AM runs on shore?
I'm 59, 155#, resting heart rate of 56 bpm and blood pressure of 86/64.
This weekend its a 16 mile 3 day backcountry ski trip in the Colorado Rockies.
We are 2 years from crusing 6 months a year....I can' totally give up the Colorado lifestyle!
folks as into fitness as to be addicted to the exercise need the program with all the exercise bells and whistles.
normal folks do not.
lazy souls even less..lol...i cruise full time. i live on my boat. the work/energy i use and spend just in getting to shore is enough to keep me as fit as i wish to be. i also walk around town a lot...so is a triathlon for cruisers--row to beach, land dink without it becoming a hat on ye, and walk forever and carry heavy items home from store. quadrathlon...lol
that is plenty of exercise for anyone who cruises.
happy sails.
oh,yes, and as surf in this 'hood is up, is work just maintaining an upright poisition for cleaning house..we have 3-8 ft seas from south in this south facing bay today, yesterday and many other days.....excellent use of muscles.
heart rate rises to over 200 when ye think you will be or are dragging anchor in a heavy wind--btw, heavy wind is over 30 kts. rocks are very close....
btw--i have underlying collagen disease, am old , and i dont give a ****, except about enjoying life sans pain.....
Drag a 2,000 sf chute up a 53+' mast by hand when everyone else in your class are using gorillas on pedistals. You'll need to be able to do more than 3 pull ups. Even after 4+ days of racing. Note the takedown line, chute gets dragged into a tube bag below deck all the way to the back of the bus. Lots o' friction.
Drag a 2,000 sf chute up a 53+' mast by hand when everyone else in your class are using gorillas on pedistals. You'll need to be able to do more than 3 pull ups. Even after 4+ days of racing.
i do not have to kiss the arse of testosterone nor do i have to muscle up sails that are way too much for me to handle--i am smart--i have no test0sterone buildup or requirement to have bigger and better without ability to handle...i have a nice slow ketch and i enjoy being able to manage it without having to die every time there is a lil wind....
i use no spinnaker, and i use no oversized anything.
my mast height is 48 ft from step, on keel. my mizzen is nice and andle-able...what do i need this bs for--i am a happy full time cruiser.
i do not race ...
my idea of extreme sailing is full mizzen and full jib in 50 kts winds....
I think V02 Max is the gold standard for evaluating physical fitness currently. Resting heart rate and post exercise heart rate drop are also good. Of the Marine tests I can see the timed running test, but counting pull ups and crunches seem kind of silly.
Max oxygen consumption is the measure used to describe aerobic capacity. However, as said by others, aerobic capacity isn't the only component of fitness that is important to sailors. I think sailors need to lead a healthy lifestyle (food, exercise, etc.), just as anyone does. Sailors may have some activities that are more demanding than landlubbers, making additional attention to other aspects of fitness useful. The test for marines might not be too bad to get an idea of where your fitness is.
I get a kick out of Zeehag's take-no-prisoner comments... In any event, she's right when pointing out that the daily routine (if you can call it that) of just handling the boat and... living without a car on land, hauling things, doing things, just moving around will go a long way in keeping you in decent shape. Also, do NOT install a TV on your boat for any reason, and keep any Internet, if you must have it, down to essentials. None of us need or want to run marathons or win Olympic medals, just be happy with all limbs functioning properly. Rely as little as possible on mechanized assistance such as dinghy engines. Crank the winches when tacking - your biceps will thank you.
I weld cut and grind and hump around pipe all day every day and it does jack for your fitness in any other active
manner
On the other hand i find i I AM WORTH the hour a day i give to myself in the gym
All my other stuff as you can see are things we do as a FAMILY ,I can find for example other pictures of the whole family at various events between 2 and there 80s
And people wonder why everybody's fat these days even 4 year olds
As a New Yorker where hardly anyone has a car, I can say that walking and biking everywhere does help, but it's not the end all be all. There are significantly less obese people in NY but you can still get fat assuming that is enough! You have to exercise for your heart!
I'm 29. We've just recently moved aboard our boat and I've been getting creative with my exercise routines as I no longer have access to my beloved gym or spin class. We're still on the hard so take my input with a grain of salt. I go for runs with my dogs (mostly to wear them out) and do pilates. Also, fun fact, a gallon of fresh water weighs 8.34lbs and salt water weighs more. I've been screen shotting exercises from my digital edition Self for over a year so I have plenty of moves ready to go. Once we're cruising I plan to swim as much as possible, run when I can and hike/climb/whatever depending on where we go.
I'm 29. We've just recently moved aboard our boat and I've been getting creative with my exercise routines as I no longer have access to my beloved gym or spin class. We're still on the hard so take my input with a grain of salt.
Pleeeeze !!!!
We will take what you have to say with a bag of salt.
Your not even thirty yet. I've got liver spots that old.
Come back in another 30 years.
Are you even allowed on this forum.:laugher
The main thing is to not be overweight. Makes it much easier to move around the boat efficiently and quickly. I'm 6'3" and when I touch 230lbs, life sucks and the body has aches and pains.
When I'm under 215, life is good. 205 right now, with 1/2 hour of hard of cardio daily, some sit ups and a couple of light weights.
I could pass it using any 2 events, and I consider myself out-of-shape. 25 years ago it would have been even easier.
Let's see....
* Get up out of the chair at work. Get out in the field.
* Kayak when sailing. Don't use the dingy so much.
* Bicycle or run or hike steep ground. Something for everyone.
* Sail the boat vigorously. That doesn't imply you're in a rush.
* Run up stairs.
* Enjoy some other sports. I used to rock climb a lot and though 35 pull-ups was pretty normal. Bike racing too.
* Rake the leaves, mow the grass, and enjoy the time outside... Don't hire work done that would actually be good for you. Stupid.
I remember taking that test at age 18. 19 pullups, 110 crunches, 18:20 on the run. Needed that last 1/4 of a pullup to hit 20.
Now? Well let's just say that sailing the boat or working on the boat, either gives me a lot of exercise -- I lose weight, gain strength and am overall more happy after either one. And I'm not bored while doing it.
I'm not too happy with my current level of fitness but that's another story.
18 months ago I was running 3 - 4 miles per day and thought I was in fair shape, then, someone loaned me a P90X DVD. Holy crap!
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