FITNESS
Given
the fact that most of us would like to have great arms, broad, muscular
shoulders and a six-pack for a stomach, why aren’t we in better shape and
why can’t we stay with an exercise program once we start it? The ans
wer is
simple: exercising for the sole purpose of developing your body just isn’t
fun.
The best way to get a great body is to develop it through an
activity that is pursued for its own enjoyment. Let your great body be the
by-product of an activity that you love to do.
Avid cyclists have great legs that they are proud of but that’s not why they
cycle. They cycle for the love of the ride. Long rides or short rides on the
road or on a mountain trail all have the same intrinsic, secondary, benefit of
developing great muscular legs and providing great cardio-vascular conditioning.
No one gets on their bike embarking on a great ride thinking “I’ve got to make
myself do this.” That’s because cycling is fun.
What type of cycling develops your upper-body?
The sport of “Handcycling” is a new type of cycling for most us, where your
means of propulsion is with your arms, shoulders, chest and abdominal
muscles;
essentially all the muscle groups of your upper-body provide the power to
drive the cycle. Handcycling was first used by individuals who had lost the
use of their legs. Now, many cyclists and fitness buffs are discovering that
handcycling is not only fun and more comfortable than bicycling but that it
is also absolutely great for their upper-bodies. They soon realize that
“Handcycling”, is a means of exercising their upper-body that is fun to do
and easy to stay with; and an activity that they stick with month in and
month out; year in and year out. It offers them the fun of cycling while
developing their upper-body at the same time!
Bearing witness to this fact is the amazing
transformation
shown here by Pat Morley. Even we couldn’t believe it when we received his
pictures and the story that follows. After seeing himself in a video and being
disappointed in what he saw and the realization that his mother was also
suffering health effects related to weight problems, he decided to go on a buddy
diet with his mother. Pat discovered the Freedom Ryder in Bicycling Magazine and
decided to give it a try. He altered his diet and began eating six small meals a
day and at the same time began handcycling six days a week, twice a day for an
hour to an hour and a half each ride. He alternated between easy and hard days
and changed the position of his hands on the cranks to simulate pull-ups and
then push-ups alternately using different muscle groups. In five months an
amazing, almost unbelievable transformation took place. When I asked Pat if he
did any other exercise to get in such good shape he replied a few crunches, but
not many. When I encouraged him to ride a conventional bicycle for his legs Pat
replied, “No, I am kind of addicted to the handcycling”. When I last talked to
Pat, several months after receiving these pictures, he was still going strong.
He said he weighed a few pounds more but thought it was more muscle.
Not everyone will have pat’s dedication, but his story and
these photos make a strong statement as to the benefits of handcycling. Even
moderate handcycling will develop your upper-body and the results will be
quickly visible and dramatic. But the best thing; it’s fun and you stay with it.
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