Sport for upper body workout?

[crashpants]

I've been skating regularly for two years now, and I've burned off 50 pounds of excess weight. My legs and butt are in good shape, but my upper body, not so much. The weight loss resulted in some extra skin that I'd like to backfill with a little muscle.

I know weight training is the ultimate answer, but, boring. I'd like to find a sport that is as much fun as skating but which works the upper body. I thought about rowing. What have other people tried?

[cass38a]

You could ensure that lots of power cleans are in your off skate training, power cleans are an awesome all over body workout as well as building an explosive push in your legs.

You could do gymnastics? Those guys have awesome upper bodies and little stick legs so that would balance out nicely I know nothing about gymnastics so this was just an observation on their bodies.

[Mort]

Gymnasts also have excellent balance and flexibility. Something else that will aid in your skating and overall fitness.

Rowing is good, so is working a heavy bag with boxing gloves.

Maybe even take kwon do, or some other martial arts practice. We used to do a lot of stretching and push ups.

[crashpants]

I'm going to add swimming as a regular part of my routine. There are several indoor 50 meter pools here that are free for DC residents. I figure that will be a low-impact way to strengthen my joints and add bone mass before moving up to something more stressful. I'm 59, so these things matter...

[speedysktr]

Originally Posted by crashpants

I'm going to add swimming ... ...strengthen my joints and add bone mass before moving up to something more stressful...

You may want to dig a little deeper on the bone mass thing; seems like I might have heard that it's not so helpful for that and in fact may be detrimental. I googled "does swimming help bone mass" and virtually every thing I clicked on said, not so much and in fact may be detrimental to bone mass.. Not that it's not a fantastic exercise and may be the best thing for you, I just don't want you to have the illusion that it's helping your bones. Weight bearing and transfer is key for that.

Link to article on Live Strong's page.

I say suck it up and hit the gym or start a home calisthenics routine. Get some dumbbells and a chin up
bar and you've got all you need to get yourself going. A solid routine of pushups (with varying hand
placements) pull ups, curls, overhead presses, and bent over rows combined with a diverse ab routine
will be more than sufficient for getting your upperbody in fine condition and adding some muscle mass.
Yeah, it's not fun or exciting, but unless you're really interested in doing something a little more
aggressive, there doesn't seem to be a lot of sports that really will help. Face it. If you really wanted
to be successful at the sports that helped with this, you'd want to do this routine anyway to help
your progress with those sports.

[skaterdog]

Originally Posted by speedysktr

You may want to dig a little deeper on the bone mass thing; seems like I might have heard that it's not so helpful for that and in fact may be detrimental. I googled "does swimming help bone mass" and virtually every thing I clicked on said, not so much and in fact may be detrimental to bone mass.. Not that it's not a fantastic exercise and may be the best thing for you, I just don't want you to have the illusion that it's helping your bones. Weight bearing and transfer is key for that.

Link to article on Live Strong's page.

Yes. I have been a lap swimmer for many years. It is good for toning your upper body (chest and back) and a great compliment to skating. It doesn't help much with weight loss and doesn't help bone mass because it's not weight bearing.

The fact that it's not weight bearing makes it a great way to keep in shape through minor injuries.

[crashpants]

Yup, doing the pushups too. I have a couple of hernias showing, so weight lifting is completely out for now until I'm back under a health plan and get them repaired. Don't want all my guts popping out just now. That's also why I had to reject rowing, because of the push through them. I'll probably get a small bench and handbells so I can do butterflies and one-arm lifts - anything that doesn't stress the abdomen directly.

BTW, those hernias popped out when I did some Supermans to help my lower back. Sucks gettin' old...

[Mort]

I had a hernia before, it did suck. Its not to do with age. Its a weakness you either have or don't. Mine was in my groin. Crappy thing is even if your strong it doesn't keep that from happening. I got good muscle build and ended up with one.

[speedysktr]

Hey, I just met you,
And this is crazy,
But here's an idea,
Fix the hernia, maybe?

Seriously; you don't set sail with holes in your boat.

I had a hernia meshed over in '92 and I'm 47.
what's the problem with getting it fixed?

[crashpants]

I'm in between health plans at the moment.

[speedysktr]

Originally Posted by crashpants

I'm in between health plans at the moment.

well, that would essplain it, Lucy. Bummer, dude. Be careful.

[Foot2big]

Bunch of good information in here which will be totally unuseful until you address the hernia. I was born with an umbilical hernia, and they repaired it when I was young.

All power originates from the solar plexus, the hernia area is right beside this area, and assists with the anchor CORE if you will.

You're f'n with fire, I'd even hold up on the skating till you get it fixed.

[evilzzz]

Swimming is great.
It's fairly aerobic, and also great as a no/low impact recovery workout.

What's more, it has a lot in common with skating, in that good balance and technique are far more important that strength, and it helps to develop your weaker side.

[Foot2big]

The sport of "pull-ups" is highly underrated. It's both not fun and excruciatingly difficult. I highly recommend against it.

(it's what I do for upper body)

[Big Nick]

Darts.

[Jim]

If you're looking to develop upper body but want to do it in the most fun way possible, follow these steps:

Step 1--- Put your skates on and stand upright.

Step 2---Make a fist, punch straight out and hold it there. Make sure your arm is parallel to the floor.

Step 3---Have someone measure the distance from the floor to the top of your fist.

Step 3---Add 10 centimeters to the measurement for the total length.

Step 4---Go to a used sporting goods store or Ebay and buy a good used pair of cross country ski poles in that length. (Around $25.00)

Step 5---Next time you go skating, take your poles with you. This is called nordic inline skating and its tons of fun plus you are working your skating muscles and upper body at the same time.

You should probably watch a few videos before you go out so you know something about the technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQamnlnvWV4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRS4d8n759g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNyqWZgnBJo

The guy in this video shows both the classic and skating techniques:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2dZk2v2IK8

The above are all rollerski videos but there's really not much difference. The below link is an article on nordic inline skating:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/26...ith-ski-poles/

The tips on some XC ski poles might not be sharp enough to give good grip on pavement so you'll have to sharpen them on a grinder. When they wear out, you can buy special ferrules with hardened sharp tips for around $20.00.

I've heard a thousand times over the last few decades that XC skiing is the absolute best for a total body workout and I believe it. This is what is done for dryland training in the off season by ski racers. It's also what I do between the time of my last skate race and when the snow comes.

Now wait 'til they see you on your local trails there in DC!

[speedysktr]

This?..

Originally Posted by Big Nick

Darts.

...yes!


But this?....

Originally Posted by Jim

...Next time you go skating, take your poles with you. This is called nordic inline skating...

...for the love of God, NO!!!
If you're that desperate, just sit down and punch yourself in the
face repeatedly. At least I could walk by and give you a nod of
respect for taking the high road. "Look at him, he's a bloody
mess, but he has his self respect as a speed skater. Kudos."

If you're not a die hard XC skier, using these things for legitimate
training, then, ugh, I just threw up in my mouth a little, then don't
do it. Take the ski poles, strap them to your recumbent and throw
it all off a cliff or burn it at the stake. You can still salvage your
speedskater soul. Do it. Do it, NOW!

[speedysktr]

Originally Posted by Jim

...Now wait 'til they see you on your local trails there in DC!

You're probably gonna get your ass beat. That's what we
do around here to skipolers. We made a truce with the cyclists
to help them weed out the recumbents in trade for helping us
weed out the skipolers.

[slowsk8]

I use poles when I ski, I don't when I skate.
Sorry, but I have little to no respect for anyone skating with poles unless they are truly training for cross country skiing, IE: using the skates that look like a short ski with just two wheels.
If you really want that workout in the winter...go skiing!!!!!!

[Jim]

Originally Posted by speedysktr

We made a truce with the cyclists
to help them weed out the recumbents in trade for helping us
weed out the skipolers.

Tell me what's wrong with recumbents before I finish saving up enough money to buy one.