FabSwingers.com forum: All round athletic ability

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Looking at people's avatars, it's clear we have some very fit members on these here forums.....who'll hopefully be able to help me on my quest...

There are so many activities one is able to engage in to become fitter, stronger and faster.... Weights, yoga, running, Insanity/T25 type training, playing sports I.e. football, swimming, cycling....

I'd like to be a jack of all trades.... I do play football and have started yoga classes once a week....but I can't do everything.....I'm 33, have a family and other typical commitments.

How does one achieve all round physical ability.... Stamina, endurance, speed, strength and flexibility....in a balanced sort of way.....? Is it possible? Any thoughts and/or recommendations would be most appreciated.

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By *etitesaraTV/TS
over a year ago

rochdale

As a cyclist, its very good for stamina and explosive sprint speed but awful for flexibility.

I would advise yoga for that alone.

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By *risky_MareWoman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

There's always more you can do, it's endless! I have always ridden horses daily, as I'm riding less at the moment I swim 3 or 4 days a week, and I do a very aerobic dance several nights a week too. I reckon that keeps most of me in full working order!

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By *nigmatic1Woman
over a year ago

A seaside town near you!

Swimming is a good all rounder ...I lost 3 stone without dieting!

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By *igeiaWoman
over a year ago

Bristol

I've heard swimming and cross country skiing are the best for all round. Mind you, I walk a lot and swim occasionally and that's about it for exercise for me so I have no idea where I picked up this nugget of information.

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By *o new WinksMan
over a year ago

BSE

If you have limited time look at Tabata training programmes.

They can be as short and intense as you need.

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By *uitar_antiheroMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

You're right man, there are plenty of fit folk on here. I'm not really one of them, not to look at anyway, but my routine of exercise is;

Monday: football in the evening.

Tuesday: pilates or badminton followed by a 5k run or football

Wednesday: body attack class

Friday: body box class followed by badminton

I do my sports & exercise after work before I head home for the most part. But I am total foodie with a sweet tooth so I can ruin my efforts with a tub of Ben & Jerry's.

I did find one week I shed some weight by sticking to that routine but eating a little better, such as having prawn salad & couscous for dinner a few nights.

I guess a mix of exercise & cutting down on "treats" will see you right.

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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago

yumsville

physically: exercising consistently

sexually: shagging consistently

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By *imply_SensualMan
over a year ago

warrington

It depends what you want to achieve from it all really, e.g. what do you want the stamina, endurance, flexibility for?

I will admit to not doing a great deal, 5-a-side, running, a bit of swimming, but more importantly, I watch what I eat and don't drink a great deal (unless I am on a night out).

I have retained my fitness, my shape, my strength, my stamina and I am still relatively flexible.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Swimming as its also stress free on the joints too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Boxing/Boxercise is a good all-rounder.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Strong lifts;

Bench

Deadlift

Barbell Row

Squat

Will make you stronger and more athletic.

For stamina and fitness.

Swimming

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Yoga is for life. You can still practice this discipline into the twilight of old age. The ultimate balance of toning mind, body and soul. A good teacher is vital in the early stages.

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By *ensualtouch15Man
over a year ago

ashby de la zouch

In one word crossfit xxx

With my pt cap on, these threads are always difficult .I have been learning the fitness craft for over 20 years and still learning, to give good advice one needs a conversation to articulate targeted effective advice on a forum is difficult.

I cannot emphasise enough that understanding your own body ,and how the vast variety of different excercise affect you is key to all round mental and physical welbeing without injury xx

Yoga is fantastic as is rowing

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Anyone got a butt toning exercise? I'd love to have rock hard buttocks like some guys I've, er, seen.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Anyone got a butt toning exercise? I'd love to have rock hard buttocks like some guys I've, er, seen.

Squats

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Lots of fantastic advice...

I've heard of crossfit - I've also heard one needs to be at a certain level of fitness before they even consider it...?

I'd like to just be ...'better' than I am, get closer to my athletic potential. At 33, my original potential has diminished somewhat, I'm sure...but I won't let that stop me.

The diet part, I'm working on...introducing better foods as I go.

I think I'll try the T25 program first, and perhaps take it from there...then join a gym and mix cardio (rowing) with weights...or something?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Anyone got a butt toning exercise? I'd love to have rock hard buttocks like some guys I've, er, seen.

Squats "

Really? Is that it? I 'bum dance' all the time (flexing my butt cheeks in time to the music) in the hope that it will give me a firmer bum.

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By *ensualtouch15Man
over a year ago

ashby de la zouch

33 is still young , however

As one ages we need to train smart as well as hard ,understanding that nutrition hydration and rest are equally important sides to the all round fitness coin.

Rather than us suggesting many all round fitness activities it could be wise to choose a few activities you would really enjoy to maintain the consistent motivation ,I do half hour of free running in a local wood ,tis just aan obstacle playground and fun

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"33 is still young , however

As one ages we need to train smart as well as hard ,understanding that nutrition hydration and rest are equally important sides to the all round fitness coin.

Thank you

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By *ensualtouch15Man
over a year ago

ashby de la zouch

"Anyone got a butt toning exercise? I'd love to have rock hard buttocks like some guys I've, er, seen.

Squats

Really? Is that it? I 'bum dance' all the time (flexing my butt cheeks in time to the music) in the hope that it will give me a firmer bum. "

If you wanted a boy shape I'd advise squats as these indeed would firm your bum however unless you're careful your thighs would grow more than perhaps you would like . Bum dancing is great keep it up xx I'd recommend glute bridges , give you a nice firm but round bum good for core too xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm going to get fit this year - I haven't done regular (or infact any) exercise is around a decade.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

For the most part, I run and train martial arts.

At weekends I tend to do one HIIT type training as part of my preparation for the football season as I've had to do pre season training on my own.

I did notice when I was doing insanity that my cardio improved drastically.

Like has been mentioned, I'm looking into Yoga. I've downloaded some apps/videos, but think I might try a couple of classes first to get the basics.

There's too much to do, and so little time.

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By *irtyGirlWoman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

I'm knackered just reading this thread!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I only participate in sexercise, thats the only thing which appeals to me haha. Mr ess does the odd bit of weight lifting (when he isnt slacking haha) and he does wing chun training.

Miss Jay x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I'm knackered just reading this thread!

Haha

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Anyone got a butt toning exercise? I'd love to have rock hard buttocks like some guys I've, er, seen.

Squats

Really? Is that it? I 'bum dance' all the time (flexing my butt cheeks in time to the music) in the hope that it will give me a firmer bum.

Thank you for the advice. I'll have to googlify glute bridges later.

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By *ensualtouch15Man
over a year ago

ashby de la zouch

"Anyone got a butt toning exercise? I'd love to have rock hard buttocks like some guys I've, er, seen.

Squats

Really? Is that it? I 'bum dance' all the time (flexing my butt cheeks in time to the music) in the hope that it will give me a firmer bum.

Thank you for the advice. I'll have to googlify glute bridges later.

Lie on your back,feet flat on floor, legs bent , bum on floor . Lift bum off floor .Make harder by extending one leg and only using the other for lift x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

MMA training

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Triathlon is a great sport for all round fitness, combined with yoga and u can't go far wrong

However concept 2 rowing machines are the dogs bollox.

Not many sports are as intense as rowing.

Circuit training also great.

Kickboxing / training is great as is bag work for boxing.

But if I were to choose a weekly routine

I would

Run x 2

Gym x 2 INC mega squat sessions and rowing

A core session/yoga

A circuit or spinning class

And throw in a couple of swims one open water if you can.

Run

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Discipline and motivation is also very important.

Without it you'll fall back into bad habits.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Cross country skiers have the highest V02 max readings apparently.

Cyclist been not too far behind

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Anyone got a butt toning exercise? I'd love to have rock hard buttocks like some guys I've, er, seen.

Squats

Really? Is that it? I 'bum dance' all the time (flexing my butt cheeks in time to the music) in the hope that it will give me a firmer bum.

Thank you for the advice. I'll have to googlify glute bridges later.

Lie on your back,feet flat on floor, legs bent , bum on floor . Lift bum off floor .Make harder by extending one leg and only using the other for lift x"

Bum dancing continues in the van and glute bridges every evening from now on

Thank you xx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Wow, as scone one said... So much to do, so little time.

I'm embarrassed to say, I never did learn to swim nor ride a bicycle.... I hope to learn both this year though

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Discipline and motivation is also very important.

Without it you'll fall back into bad habits. "

Not having the time and motivation that's me

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By *eliciousladyWoman
over a year ago

Sometimes U.K

"It depends what you want to achieve from it all really, I watch what I eat and don't drink a great deal (unless I am on a night out).

I have retained my fitness, my shape, my strength, my stamina and I am still relatively flexible."

Great advice!

Well done on making the decision to get fit. At 33 it shouldn't take long to achieve a desired fitness level to maintain. As we get older it's not so easy to achieve.

For me exercise means cardio at least 3 times a week and what you eat is really important

Try to set yourself a fitness goal, nothing too crazy, maybe to compete in a local 10km charity run?

Good Luck

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By *eliciousladyWoman
over a year ago

Sometimes U.K

[Removed by poster at 19/08/14 08:27:28]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Anyone got a butt toning exercise? I'd love to have rock hard buttocks like some guys I've, er, seen.

Star jump squats - with weights

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

First to be a top athlete because that's what you I think you are asking for you have to be the right physical type.

That's nature and not under your control.

All top athletes are gifted and have something to work on.

A real realistic idea of what you want to achieve gives you a focus but it has to be realistic or you get disappointed and that impedes training or even kills it for good. Go to a good gym and get some professional advice for free.

For the rest of we humans a combination of mobility work,strength and cardio vascular work is the basis of all round physical fitness.

Doing a sport that needs all round fitness such as Rugby, Swimming, Triathlon etc helps to give your training a focus and a long term goal.

I found rowing the best all round exercise you can do in a short space of time and you can even compete in it.

Hope that helps.

ps watch your diet don't get faddy just be sensible.

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

Two things will really get you onto a great footing - flexibility and stamina.

Increasing your stamina will allow you to do lots of activities on a frequent basis - albeit some of them will tire you/use muscles etc differently.

Flexibility will keep your body in good form, so that you're less rigid, potentially prone to physical damage as well as struggle to engage in newer pursuits.

Yoga is an incredible exercise, with many forms. You not only develop a more supple body, you can help increase your stamina and strength too, so it's great that you're incorporating this already. You'll also benefit from improving your respiratory function, be calmer and so able to deal with stress better and have better posture.

You can improve your stamina in many ways - frequency of activity is an important element, as well as the duration and intensity of what you're doing. Look for what interests you, engage as much as you can and increase your intensity, duration and frequency over time.

Many things don't need to cost much if anything and if you're in a gym then you could find some classes that will help get your fitness level up.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Triathlon is good, because it's multiple exercises (i.e. using multiple muscle groups) and also provides you with a target, as in the date of the triathlon! Having a target is a good thing, whether it's an event, like a triathlon, a preferred weight or even just a distance run, rowed, etc.

For me, regularity is the key - try and do something at least 5 times a week that gets your heart rate up for over 20 minutes and ideally mix in some resistance/weight training too.

If you can make it something you enjoy doing, it makes the whole process so much easier too. Squash is a great calorie burner and is great fun.

Good luck whatever you end up doing

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