Page 1 of 2

Getting mountain fit by living in a city?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:36 pm
by iestrob
Hello.

I've recently moved down to London from my native Snowdonia - mainly for work reasons. As I used to be out pretty much everyday on the Welsh Mountains, I found myself to be in good shape, and getting fitter was no big deal.

Now, living in London, it's not as easy to go up a hill (London is surprisingly flat!) as it was back home. Has anyone got any good tips for me on how to loose the unwanted pounds, preferably - without going to the gym (not my scene).

I do run back and forth to work everyday, it's a round trip of about 6 miles, and sometimes I cycle in - but it doesn't seem enough.

Any thoughts or ideas on this would be great, thank you.

PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:43 pm
by bird
Hit the park and do pull ups, pushups,squats, and other bodyweight exercises
Weight is 90% diet, so lay off the bangers and mash to drop a few kilos.
Without hills around, I think the gym is your best bet if you canswing it.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:45 am
by SpiderSavage
Highpoint buildings, using the stairs.

Kayak the Thames.

Go to certain pubs where your life is in danger and you have to run for it.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:49 am
by JakobFisker
Find a crossfit center and a lot of stairs.. all you need..

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:05 am
by JJBrunner
No offense to you crossfitters but I used to do crossfit. I stopped, started hiking and my hiking abilities increased tenfold! Well maybe not that much but I was able to hike much better!

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:23 am
by JJBrunner
TacoDelRio wrote:
JJBrunner wrote:No offense to you crossfitters but I used to do crossfit. I stopped, started hiking and my hiking abilities increased tenfold! Well maybe not that much but I was able to hike much better!


Don't mock crossfit! Crossfit NEVER WRONG!


Haha, cmon now...we dont want to get the crossfit peeps started...

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:23 am
by JJBrunner
and yes i said peeps....no homo

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:41 am
by MoapaPk
The Penitentes of New Mexico get cross fit while hiking in the mountains.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:48 am
by emmieuk
Go to the park on the hill!! walking up and down that a few times will work!! or climb up the monument in baker st xx

Re: Getting mountain fit by living in a city?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 3:28 pm
by Jukka Ahonen
iestrob wrote:Has anyone got any good tips for me on how to loose the unwanted pounds, preferably - without going to the gym (not my scene).


Not sure if you weer looking for just outdoors stuff, but as a substitute for gym, would you consider martial arts? I understand some people have an issue with them, but at least for me personally it works a lot better than gym. My motivation tends to be a lot better, and due to the nature of the sport it develops different muscle groups quite evenly.

I can give you a few pointers and suggestions if you wish, just drop me a PM. And no, martial arts is (usually) neither a bunch of meatheads punching each other in the face, nor a bunch of wannabe ninjas re-living Karate Kid ;)

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:50 pm
by Gator
Living in flat south Florida I have found that a backpack full of books and a stadium full of bleachers does a lot of good. That and running on the beach.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:47 pm
by Bark Eater
When I lived in Florida I used to run stadium steps and it was a great workout to compensate for the absence of mountains. I had problems, though, trying to do it with weight on my back...too much stress on the knees and quads. Worked up to about 1-1/2 hours once per week (no extra weight), which was something like 3,000 or 4,000 vertical feet.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:34 pm
by SpiderSavage
When I get stuck in Florida, I do beach hikes. Insufficient but, its Florida.

Which is worse, do you think, Florida or London?

I've not been to London lately but I'd say Florida.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:10 pm
by Ski Mountaineer
Roadbike. All I use for training my legs.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 3:03 am
by Ze
JakobFisker wrote:Find a crossfit center and a lot of stairs.. all you need..


I think you need to read, he said he wanted outside the gym.

I agree on going to the park and doing pushups, pullups and such (does that count as not gym for you?). You need some real cardio still, though - if you want to have great conditioning for the hills. Stairs, although I don't know if there's any long enough for a good 10 + sustained climb. running and cycling will work well too.