Regaining lost ground

[draconis]

Back around the time gryphonrhi and I got married, I was teaching classes at a kung fu school and training for my black sash. At that time, I was biking an average of 15 miles 5 days a week, plus doing the following workout 3 times a night, 5 nights a week:

15 minutes of stances (60 seconds for each position)
20 pushups, 5 on backs of wrists, 5 on fingertips, 5 on knuckles, 5 on palms.
30 leg-lifts
30 crunches
25 dog-kicks, each side
10 toe raises
10 lunges, each side
Anywhere from 1 to 4 dynamic tension exercises.

I was in the best physical condition I've ever been in in my entire life. While I don't expect to recapture that level of conditioning, I would like to get back to being able to do a similar workout. This is what I have been using as a guideline:

14 minutes of stance training (slightly different stance set to reflect my current martial arts style, but still 60 seconds per position)
30 pushups, 15 on knuckles, 15 on palms
30 leg lifts
30 crunches
30 dog-kicks, each side
15 toe raises
15 lunges, each side


Here is where I stand on those goals at this time, based on last night's workout:



















Based on last night's workout, once I'm up to the full number of reps and the full time duration for the stances, the whole workout should take me about 40 minutes. Last night's was between 30 and 35 minutes, and by the time it was over, I was literally dripping with sweat.

Sheesh... and to think that I used to do that three times a night, and not even be breathing hard!

Clearly, I've got some ground to make up!

Comments

[themouseketeer.livejournal.com]

I've never been fit. Never done workouts. Never exercised regularly. Can't comprehend doing 40 minutes every night let alone *three times* a night.

I was fitter once when I was training for a 5 day canoeing and hiking expedition. But that was a long time ago.

So I just guess I'm working on a different baseline!

[themouseketeer.livejournal.com]

Actually I think I'm finding it hard to comprehend taking that much time out per night for *myself.* Something I have just realised and am working on..

[jcbdragon.livejournal.com]

Oh, it wasn't that I used to do a 40-minute workout 3 times a night... it's that I taught 1.5-hour-long martial arts classes, 3 every weeknight, each of which included that 40 minute regimen. That didn't include actually going through all of the techniques, forms, drills, etc. along with the students in each class.

There's a reason I said that was the best shape I've ever been in, in my entire life!

[themouseketeer.livejournal.com]

::blink:: Uh. Yes, I can see that!

4.5 hours.

Every night.

Wow.