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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Joyful Pain: Step By Step

Step 1: Lay on back, with knees up in the traditional 'about to do a stomach crunch' position. Hold a dumbbell of whatever weight will challenge but not destroy you (I started out with an 11 kg weight), above your head so it rests on the ground, with both hands on the bar. This will of course put your arms above your head, flat on the floor to start out with.

Step 2: Do a stomach crunch. Not a full sit-up, which are bad for your back, but a crunch. As you do so, bring the dumbbell up and over, and touch your knees with it.

Step 3: Controlling the weight with your arms still so that they don't fall back too fast, lie back flat into the first position.

Step 4: Repeat until you find yourself wishing for the sweet embrace of death.

2 comments:

Simon said...

That's hard work! I just did some! Now I am a bit sore.

Here's my current nemesis:

Sit up straight on a bench or chair, looking ahead. Ideally you'll want a mirror in front of you. Have a light dumbell in each hand (I'm using 3kgs).

Raise the dumbells in front of you with your arms straight and ahead. Lift them from hanging by your sides until the dumbells are at ear level. Lower them slowly, keeping them under control.

Repeat x10

Now, go out to the sides, arms straight and in line with your body. Ear hight again.

Repeat x 10

Last one. Arms slightly bent, lift them out to the side, and up to meet above your head, hands facing each other rather than side-by-side.

Repeat x10

Now you've done all that, wait 30 seconds and do it all again. If you have to, take breaks of up to 10 seconds so you can finish the set.

The Megapope said...

Ooooh nice. I'll try those tomorrow!