Getting and Keeping in Trim

[hummingway]

How about this: Calgary adventurer plans to pedal boat across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii
I heard this interviewd on the radio yesterday.

[Livia]

Thanks! Hope I didn't de-rail the thread.

As to the OP's question, right now we are hiking a lot on land even when anchored so the leg workout is not an issue. We hope to continue the same when we go south and add more swimming. Of course, we are more "do sports for fitness" than "gym" people and everyone is different that way. And we do NOT look like Rebecca - that girl is ripped!

[mikeandrebecca]

Livia: I think I may forget about the new solar panels and just hook Rebecca up to one of those pedal things!

[Livia]

Originally Posted by mikeandrebecca

Livia: I think I may forget about the new solar panels and just hook Rebecca up to one of those pedal things!

Are you sure your charger can take that current!!?!?

[mikeandrebecca]

lol

[s/v Beth]

If I get a generator to do 40 amps over and hour (or 20 amps over two hours) and my wife does the same- that is 80 amp hours! If the batteries are down 50 so they suck up the charge, that is a days worth of refrig and radio! I can deal with that.

[hummingway]

Except you're only going to get 4 amps at 50 watts and 12v aren't you?

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by hummingway

How about this: Calgary adventurer plans to pedal boat across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii
I heard this interviewd on the radio yesterday.

Chase Boat?!?!...The wimp!...

All kidding aside....Here's a way to keep trim aboard!

YouTube - Extreme Trans-Atlantic Rower (CBS News)

[hummingway]

Wow, no body fat on that girl and no MOB routine to fall back on either!

[Canibul]

I think I get more than enough physical exercise chasing my tail and jumping to conclusions.

[barnakiel]

Swim!

I bet it is the best exercise you can get when cruising.

We were out sailing for 6+ years and now we are in a place where we can go back to our standard exercise routine. It took us a year (3 times a week) to be able to run 10k without panting our lungs out.

I think sailing is a very healthy sport, but long-distance and off-shore trips do degrade our fitness to unacceptable levels.

b.

[s/v Beth]

Your right about the amp-hours of course. Don't know what I was thinking. Barnakiel- I am interested in how long term voyaging degrades fitness- is it that lack of sleep? Or in inability to get your workout?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Roaring Girl

Months aboard on the hook or on passage really aren't that good for muscle strength outside a few upper body parts, and unless you're really dsciplined about rowing etc, it doens't do much for cardio either.

So we'd quite like a workout routine on the boat we can design for this summer's sailing. We can do quite a lot in terms of situps and so on, though we're a bit restricted for space. And the foredeck accommodates some pilates/conditioning type work.

Any thoughts on good routines/exercises that help to keep up condition and fitness when power walks etc aren't that easy to reach/

Have you tried "Dynamic Tension"... Basically you imitate the positions for the various Multi-Gym machines (one at a time.. Wally!!)... then go through the movements visualising mentally the weight your lifting/pushing etc, then transferring that effect/strain to the area your exercising...
All you need is space to swing/move your arms and legs.
It works well for me combined with a Flexible Body program...
At anchor you could use the Boom to hangs from for stomach crunches...
When hauling anchor, do it by hand in comfortable conditions...
Hope you find this of use.. voice an opinion....lol

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Your right about the amp-hours of course. Don't know what I was thinking. Barnakiel- I am interested in how long term voyaging degrades fitness- is it that lack of sleep? Or in inability to get your workout?

I think sleep deprivation is an issue only with singles. I always sail the long distances with my first mate, so, yes - I sometimes lack sleep, but there is no issue of any trim degradation from lack of sleep (other than being less than present-minded over short periods of time).

What I understand by degradation of fitness level is that the strength of body muscles gets lowered and the respiratory fitness falls dramatically and they are not retrieved by getting good rest and more regular lifestyle.

I can explain this by the following example - We started from Sweden in 2004 and just one year later we were in FP. All the way we swam and trekked whenever possible. Before our departure, I could run, bike and climb for hours without much fatigue. Now upon our arrival in Gambiers I found that it was next to impossible to climb the mountains there - actually walking the village was quite painful in the first week. And our passage was nothing special - only 72 days.

Now the biggest and nastiest surprise came when (after 6+ years of intensive sailing/cruising) we made a longer stop in Las Palmas where we have access to the swimming pool, gym and a park where we can again run our traditional 3x30x130. It took me a year to get back to the point where I can run 10k comfortably.

So, my observation is that extended passages and liveaboard life-style very seriously and negatively influence our fitness and athletic capability, and probably the worst part of it is that we are not always aware of just how much.

b.

[Squeaks]

Lisa does yoga on the foredeck and I jump to conclusions :-).
But what I wanted to add was that I read somewhere about a (larger?) boat that had a mini treadmill under the main cabin sole! Might even have had a generator hooked up for more walking/running resistance and charging capability.
John