   Excersises
  I go climbing once a week at my local climbing centre in Bristol, but i'm going home this week and won't be able to climb. Im concerned that over the 2 weeks of xmas i'll lose the progress i have been making with my arms. They are far far stronger than before i started and my hand grip is much better now.How can i maintain hand grip strength, or improve it over xmas without actually climbing?Am i likely to lose this strength over xmas?My arm strength is fine for climbing and not likely to go me thinks.Any ideas for exercises, or should i not be worried?Dave   
  Forearm strength, at least in my experience, doesn't tend to go away that quickly. 2 weeks should be fine, but if you're really paranoid, you could do some pull-ups or other such hanging exercises over your time off.   ;  This is what i was thinking but i have no chin up bar or any natural structures for that.   ;Quote:Original post by DaveThis is what i was thinking but i have no chin up bar or any natural structures for that.Well, other than that there's really nothing you can do. I wouldn't worry about it though, 2 weeks shouldn't weaken you much at all. When I used to rock climbing I'd go every weekend or so, sometimes skipping a weekend and I didn't notice anything.;Quote:Original post by DaveHow can i maintain hand grip strength, or improve it over xmas without actually climbing?I'm sorry that I don't know the name of them, but there are these small devices that you can hold and your hand and squeeze to build up/keep your grip. The're not those stree balls, but rather something that looks like this:  (O) // v//   vWhere those diagonal lines are foam covered plastic handles (ahd to use v cuz other slash doesn't work) and the (O) is a metal coil, so when you squeeze the grips towards each other in your hand (imagine holding your hand out flat, then bringing your fingers to your wrist, except sideways, and you will be squeezing with your lower hand and fingers) a large resistance is provided from the spring like coil. As for your arms, pushups, you can never do enough of them. As long as you have the time, it should be some time before you can just do over a 100 in a row and not feel anything.[edit]Oh duh, they're called Hand Grips [lol]   ;Quote:Original post by Drew_BentonQuote:Original post by DaveHow can i maintain hand grip strength, or improve it over xmas without actually climbing?I'm sorry that I don't know the name of them, but there are these small devices that you can hold and your hand and squeeze to build up/keep your grip. The're not those stree balls, but rather something that looks like this:  (O) // v//   vWhere those diagonal lines are foam covered plastic handles (ahd to use v cuz other slash doesn't work) and the (O) is a metal coil, so when you squeeze the grips towards each other in your hand (imagine holding your hand out flat, then bringing your fingers to your wrist, except sideways, and you will be squeezing with your lower hand and fingers) a large resistance is provided from the spring like coil. As for your arms, pushups, you can never do enough of them. As long as you have the time, it should be some time before you can just do over a 100 in a row and not feel anything.[edit]Oh duh, they're called Hand Grips [lol]I know what you mean! [grin]Ascii art rox;  We just had a discussion here about how Climbing would be a really good way to figh RSI because it would build more stregnth/endurance in the hands/wrists. I think it's one of the better geek ways to exercise.   ;  No pull-up bar, huh? How about Push-ups; no excuses there. [GRIN]   ;Quote:Original post by DrjonesDW3dWe just had a discussion here about how Climbing would be a really good way to figh RSI because it would build more stregnth/endurance in the hands/wrists. I think it's one of the better geek ways to exercise.Climbing is not a geek excersise. Wanking is a geek excersise.   ;Quote:Original post by DigiDudeNo pull-up bar, huh? How about Push-ups; no excuses there. [GRIN]Wrong side of the arm.Usually when climbing, PUSHING yourself away from the wall is considered poor tactics for getting to the top. Damn Newton and his gravity!Dave, you don't have an unfinished basement with lots of headroom and exposed beams do you? how about a tree? something you could hang a bar from.While not perfect, something like laying with your shoulders hanging over the edge of a bed/table and then trying to lift weights (bottles of water actually are fairly good, while not really that heavy, they're still better than nothing, and hey, water is (was) nearly free)   