use it or lose it

[imagineero]

Back to work for me on Wednesday after a couple weeks off, its been a very mild summer this year in aus which has been great for me because I suffer in the heat and we do out biggest jobs in summer generally. I smashed out some huge trees in December and got enough of a workout doing it that I impressed myself in the mirror one morning. Had to casually saunter back into the bedroom and do a little flexing for my girlfriend. Wish I could say she rolled her eyes in ecstacy, but it was more likely she was having trouble containing her laughter.

The holidays gave me some time to relax, and do maintenance on the truck and gear. My shoulders and forearms feel a whole lot better, but boy did I lose some muscle mass! My arms are about half the size they were 2 weeks ago, cant believe it happened so fast. My first couple weeks are mostly smaller jobs which should help me ease back into it, but they say January is going to be a scorcher :-(

My new years resolution is to try to find ways of climbing that put less stress on my body. 34 this year so I figure I still got quite a few years climbing ahead of me, but I'm trying to steer clear of surgery/pain killers etc. Anyone got tips that dont involve wraptors?

Thanks,
Shaun

 

[Saw Dust Smoken]

work smart and easier

Learn to use some style of SRT for bigger movement thru the tree. For short small moves DRT will work but not as effeicent. Far as age, Im about ten years ahead of ya. Switched over a year ago to only srt for entry and movement thru tree. Look thru the vids on SRT and experiment with them. I use some version of a RADS system on all climbing.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Yeah, put your 'man-suit' on!
Happy New Year!
Jeff

 

[sgreanbeans]

So whats it like in May down under?

 

[possumtrapper]

I had the same problem. I give myself the first 4 days off, then work out every other day to maintain muscle mass. 30 or 40 press ups and some crunches, plus wrestling the youngsters usually does it. It's lower impact than work, so lets your tendons/shoulders/forearms recover without losing the strength/mass you've worked hard to acquire. I'm 38 and learned the hard way, use it or lose it is dam right.

 

[imagineero]

So whats it like in May down under?

Depends where you're at. Aus is a big country just like the states so it varies a lot from north to south. Only the very far south and some mountains get snow, and even then it's not the kind of snow you need a shovel or plow for. It's more like the kind you could make a snowman out of if you scraped everything out of your yard. Plus your neighbours yard. And you might need a little more off the street ;-)

Up north people still go swimming at the beach in the winter. I live in Sydney which is colder but not very cold at all. Even in the dead of winter in the middle of the night you'd be lucky to see any less than 50F. In the day closer to 60. Pretty mild really, but people carry on about it like it's cold.

Tree work does fall off in the winter a bit though. This year I did pretty good and had work the whole way through. The previous year I had some downtime and was chasing off season work like doing rubbish cleanups or dump runs for demolition guys.

Shaun

 

[VA-Sawyer]

I'm pushing 55 and can tell you that I lose tone over the weekend. The older you get, the faster you FALL out of shape. Yes, I hate the off season.
Rick

 

[TreeAce]

I'm pushing 55 and can tell you that I lose tone over the weekend. The older you get, the faster you FALL out of shape. Yes, I hate the off season.
Rick

That made me LOL...., That was agood one. I shoulda went to the gym today but the kids go back to school tomorrow so tomorrow it is. If I didnt work out through the winter (and diet :frown I would be a big fat soft pretzl come spring.

 

[lone wolf]

Back to work for me on Wednesday after a couple weeks off, its been a very mild summer this year in aus which has been great for me because I suffer in the heat and we do out biggest jobs in summer generally. I smashed out some huge trees in December and got enough of a workout doing it that I impressed myself in the mirror one morning. Had to casually saunter back into the bedroom and do a little flexing for my girlfriend. Wish I could say she rolled her eyes in ecstacy, but it was more likely she was having trouble containing her laughter.

The holidays gave me some time to relax, and do maintenance on the truck and gear. My shoulders and forearms feel a whole lot better, but boy did I lose some muscle mass! My arms are about half the size they were 2 weeks ago, cant believe it happened so fast. My first couple weeks are mostly smaller jobs which should help me ease back into it, but they say January is going to be a scorcher :-(

My new years resolution is to try to find ways of climbing that put less stress on my body. 34 this year so I figure I still got quite a few years climbing ahead of me, but I'm trying to steer clear of surgery/pain killers etc. Anyone got tips that dont involve wraptors?

Thanks,
Shaun

Yup go at a nice easy pace and dont put yourself under a time limit.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

That made me LOL...., That was agood one. I shoulda went to the gym today but the kids go back to school tomorrow so tomorrow it is. If I didnt work out through the winter (and diet :frown I would be a big fat soft pretzl come spring.

I'm glad you find it funny. I just know that if the next climb job is of any size, I'll be hurting for a few days after. Not looking foward to that at all. Sawmill is slow too right now, so can't even get that workout. Sorry, but I just don't do the gym thing. I don't pay to sweat, I get paid to do it.
Rick

 

[TreeAce]

I'm glad you find it funny. I just know that if the next climb job is of any size, I'll be hurting for a few days after. Not looking foward to that at all. Sawmill is slow too right now, so can't even get that workout. Sorry, but I just don't do the gym thing. I don't pay to sweat, I get paid to do it.
Rick

I never meant any disrespect. Sorry if thats how i came across.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

No Problem. You came across just fine. I smiled when I read it, just poking back a little.
Gotta keep up the Gouchy Old Man image.
Have a great New Year.
Rick