Help Bells Get in Shape for a Job

[Sir Pinkleton]

My only suggestion might be to run a great deal before the test, if you're having a problem with it.

One option I've heard of, to get better at sprinting, is to go on a walk. from one light pole to the next, sprint. Then, walk to the next light pole. And then repeat this process of sprinting and walking. That's what the runners at my highschool did, anyway.

But I'm no expert about the human body and exercising it.

[Funka Genocide]

yeah you're not going to be able to go from 0 to 10 pull ups in a month.

But basically, just do approximations of the exercise until you can do the actual exercise, then do it until you can do 10. You might be a freak of nature and churn your way to 10 in a month, but it's highly unlikely.

Someone said rows, those are good. Also, doing lat pulldowns with high weight, low reps. Once you're doing those with more than your body weight, you should at least be able to churn out a few pull ups.

Work your way up to 1, then keep doing it until you get more comfortable. I personally think 1 month is too short a time frame, but 2 months seems feasible. Then again I am by no means an expert, I'd suggest getting a personal trainer but I mean, you're doing this to get a job so that you can afford things like a personal trainer I'd assume, which makes my advice moot.

Just keep working out and who knows! Maybe you'll do it in time!

As for running, you'd be surprised how quickly you can acclimate your body to distance running. It really is all about overcoming that initial hurdle of "what the fuck is going on" your body experiences when you do something new. Concentrate on even breathing, maintaining a constant pace (even if it feels really, really slow) and running for a set period of time, not distance.

If you can jog for 20 minutes, you're at a good starting point to progress.

and walking has very little to do with jogging. I always find it funny when people cite their amazing walking abilities as a measure of good health. The human body is designed to walk long distances, unless you are seriously obese or crippled you can pretty much walk forever, it's basic physiology. Moving at a faster rate of speed brings your body out of homeostasis (which is pretty much maintained while you casually stroll along) and puts pressure on your various biomechanical systems which is not at all extant while walking. In terms of energy consumed per distance traveled the two activities are approximately analogous, but running is more a matter of biomechanical efficiency than total energy used.

Also, sprinting is an anaerobic exercise and so has very little to do with jogging as well.

If you're serious about improving your physical condition, you should be honest about your current level of health. You are likely very unhealthy, don't sugar coat it, use it as motivation to improve.

[Sir Pinkleton]

About the jogging thing:



So technically, long distance running is what you should be best at. :p

[Corel]

Originally Posted by Funka Genocide

yeah you're not going to be able to go from 0 to 10 pull ups in a month.

But basically, just do approximations of the exercise until you can do the actual exercise, then do it until you can do 10. You might be a freak of nature and churn your way to 10 in a month, but it's highly unlikely.

Yep, concur exactly with this. The average improvement I've seen in people is going from 1 to about 3 or 4 in a month. (Which isn't too crazy, seeing as what gains the body develops the first time you properly start exercising your body.

Work your way up to 1, then keep doing it until you get more comfortable. I personally think 1 month is too short a time frame, but 2 months seems feasible.

Yeah, the first time you attempt pull ups most likely you're going to kill all your muscles from how new and exciting this all is, which will probably deter you from doing it from a while. Shame it's such a short terms notice.

Oh, and a tip about pullups, look upwards and over the bar and imagine that you "feel light". It will help.

Also to add to the running, if you're maintaining a slow pace make sure you're not exerting yourself more than you should be. Imagine your legs are pendulums and that they only need to move slightly to actually get anywhere. I would advise against music, as you will want to find your own natural rythm with running and correct any mistakes you feel. Music can intefere with this sometimes.

Oh, and if when you are jogging it starts to become unbearable there is no shame in slowing down to a walk for 30 seconds to a minute and starting to jog again. Stick with it.

We wish you all the best of luck in the fitness thing. Just some friendly advice; it never gets easier, you just get more used to the pain! Bwhaha!