I humbly ask for your opinions...

[GnomusMaximus]

OK I've just finished my last games of the season. Time to take some time off...OK enough of that...and get ready for next year. Looking for some opinions on how I should set things up. Here's the background:

2 young kids (2 and 4), pretty time consuming job. For the past 2 years I've been lucky to "work out" 2 or 3 times a week. Mostly 2. As a result I've done almost all compound big movements, no f'n around in the gym. Don't talk, don't stop etc. I feel I've done the best with what I had.

Now the boys are getting a bit older and I think I will be able to get in 3 or 4 days/week. Along with throwing/carrying rocks I also used to enjoy things like biking, jogging, XC skiing, snowshoeing and occasionally rolling around on a matt hoping some 20 something kid doesn't choke me out or break my arm. Also I have been becoming more concerned with health. In my sport you don't get points for having nice abs (as a matter of fact I don't think we have anyone that can see their abs) but I'd like to meet my grandkids if you get my point.

I have 2 basic ideas. Option a) is to stick with 2 days of strength training and use the other days to do stuff like biking/snowshoe etc. If something comes up the Strength stuff takes priority. Option b) is to set up a 3 day/week strength program and use any "extra" day for playing in the snow/woods/dojo. Any thoughts O Over 35 people that I know all deal with similar issues?

[greyhair]

Oye!
Tough question.
When my sons babies, I bought about 400# of iron and bars to train in my basement when the opportunity presented it self.
When they got a little older, like yours, I switched to Early AM lifting and cardio at a commercial gym so I'd be "out of pocket" when everybody was sleeping.
The only "sports" interest I have is boxing, however, where I live I'd have to travel about 40 minutes to get to a gym and thats just too much time. So I've bought a couple of heavybags, three speed bags/one platform an uppercut bag and two double ended bags for my basement. I usually train on the bags in my free time. I'm proud to say, the house shakes ;)

IMHO, adaptation is key to long term training when you have a family.

God bless.

[EnigmaPower]

OK I've just finished my last games of the season. Time to take some time off...OK enough of that...and get ready for next year. Looking for some opinions on how I should set things up. Here's the background:

2 young kids (2 and 4), pretty time consuming job. For the past 2 years I've been lucky to "work out" 2 or 3 times a week. Mostly 2. As a result I've done almost all compound big movements, no f'n around in the gym. Don't talk, don't stop etc. I feel I've done the best with what I had.

Now the boys are getting a bit older and I think I will be able to get in 3 or 4 days/week. Along with throwing/carrying rocks I also used to enjoy things like biking, jogging, XC skiing, snowshoeing and occasionally rolling around on a matt hoping some 20 something kid doesn't choke me out or break my arm. Also I have been becoming more concerned with health. In my sport you don't get points for having nice abs (as a matter of fact I don't think we have anyone that can see their abs) but I'd like to meet my grandkids if you get my point.

I have 2 basic ideas. Option a) is to stick with 2 days of strength training and use the other days to do stuff like biking/snowshoe etc. If something comes up the Strength stuff takes priority. Option b) is to set up a 3 day/week strength program and use any "extra" day for playing in the snow/woods/dojo. Any thoughts O Over 35 people that I know all deal with similar issues?

Depends. Personally I would stick to twice per week workouts.

[alec_braithwait]

I'd carry on with the 2 workouts a week and then do one of the others like cycling on the third day.

You know your routines and it's not a big change, plus if you find you cannot do the third day very often, a muscle group is not losing out.

I'm curious, are there weight divisions on your chosen sport, wouldn't it be of benefit to have less bodyfat and more muscle?

[bird72]

it's not easy. the only way that you can do a complete program is early in the
morning. 5:00 a.m. maybe When children have not been awake. is a matter of getting used.

[Fifty+]

OK I've just finished my last games of the season. Time to take some time off...OK enough of that...and get ready for next year. Looking for some opinions on how I should set things up. Here's the background:

2 young kids (2 and 4), pretty time consuming job. For the past 2 years I've been lucky to "work out" 2 or 3 times a week. Mostly 2. As a result I've done almost all compound big movements, no f'n around in the gym. Don't talk, don't stop etc. I feel I've done the best with what I had.

Now the boys are getting a bit older and I think I will be able to get in 3 or 4 days/week. Along with throwing/carrying rocks I also used to enjoy things like biking, jogging, XC skiing, snowshoeing and occasionally rolling around on a matt hoping some 20 something kid doesn't choke me out or break my arm. Also I have been becoming more concerned with health. In my sport you don't get points for having nice abs (as a matter of fact I don't think we have anyone that can see their abs) but I'd like to meet my grandkids if you get my point.

I have 2 basic ideas. Option a) is to stick with 2 days of strength training and use the other days to do stuff like biking/snowshoe etc. If something comes up the Strength stuff takes priority. Option b) is to set up a 3 day/week strength program and use any "extra" day for playing in the snow/woods/dojo. Any thoughts O Over 35 people that I know all deal with similar issues?


My answer my be totally out in left field, but do what's in your heart. Let your passion guide you. It's the long run that counts as we get older and you can always modify your activities as time goes by. What feels good to you? Where are you going to put the best effort? In your passion.

[tomdana]

I am in the same boat. I have three boys, 4, 7, and 9 and a job that works me 80 - 130 hrs per week with a pager and cell phone that sometimes take priority. I cherish time with my kids and wife. I carve out little bits here and there and try to make the little time seem big with quality. I hit the weights 3-5 times per week with consistency for a few months and then life hits and I get a little less consistent. The key is flexibility. Don't lock yourself in. Change it up. Have a plan, though change it often enough that all that you want to, can fit into rotation. Good luck. I feel for you bud.

[Luke Whippo]

the only day I've trained this week was monday, I'm still sore from that session.

I really have my mind on throwing my kettlebells (like in the "games") some single spin throws and wieght for height, I own a 70lb and 50lb bells, I think that'll be my next workout along with something else I haven't done in awhile in which the "love handles" thread inspired me, something that will trash the obliques.

maybe today, if not maybe saturday morning, lifting does me no good until sometime next week.

[GnomusMaximus]

I've used kettlebells to throw. 70lbs? Holy crap! That would feel like throwing a bus. Not a bad idea for my off season though...

[42wob-14ft]

My 2 cents would be to go with the 3 days strength training with 1 day for whatever. But that is easy for me to say my kids are all grown and out of the house. Try getting in some lifts that will transfer over to the games. By the way you had some good throws this year, nice improvments.

[Luke Whippo]

I've used kettlebells to throw. 70lbs? Holy crap! That would feel like throwing a bus. Not a bad idea for my off season though...


how do they compare to the real impliments as far as your distances?


I dusted off the bells yesturday, now the only throwing experiance I have is I spent 1 afternoon with 2guys learning the basic tech. that was like in 2005, I did a few sessions on my own after that but haven't done any since that year, and the weights moreso threw me around instead me throwing the weights, anyway-

started off with sideways sled drags working up to 100lb sandbag + 53lb bell in sled, 150' both sides.

single spin for distance- 53lb bell 1st-12-paces, 2-3rd throws-13paces
tried the 70lb bell- 9-paces
final throw 53lb- 14-paces (what a thrill that was)

throw for height, not accurate, but I don't think I was getting over 8.5' with the 53lb bell

did some one-arm snathes with the 70lb 5-ea. arm PR my tech is decent with my right, but left is horrible, I have a briused knot on my left forearm already, I just muscle them snatches still.

throwing is really fun, and I felt a new strength and power on the distance throws this time, I had control now!

[GnomusMaximus]

My 2 cents would be to go with the 3 days strength training with 1 day for whatever. But that is easy for me to say my kids are all grown and out of the house. Try getting in some lifts that will transfer over to the games. By the way you had some good throws this year, nice improvments.

Thank you, now if I can just get that darned thing over 12 feet. Hey, are you coming over to Scotland to play next year?

Kettlebells seem to go about 2/3 of the distance I throw a real weight. My limited understanding is that the chain and of course the length, allows for more acceleration than a static & shorter kettlebell. Glad to see so many people throwing stuff!!!

[girlygirla]

I've used kettlebells to throw. 70lbs? Holy crap! That would feel like throwing a bus. Not a bad idea for my off season though...

lol great idea http://xfinder.org/img/245/i08h1014difi/AAA.gif

[42wob-14ft]

Gnome, not going to be able to make Scotland but would love to. My son is stationed in Italy and wants me to come there, budget and work won't allow two trips. My 1st game I only got wob 9ft(very sad) I hit 12 this year and tickled 13 acouple of times(very happy). For me hitting 12 was a matter of relaxing and letting to pull come natural instead of try to force it. With what you are deadlifting I'm sure you'll hit 12 and beyond. Do you do clean and press or db snatch? Both help my wob.