Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Upside down, boy you turn me,

One thing my trainer tried with me last week was hanging me upside down. He was getting tired of me lying on the floor and throwing my legs to the side to crack my back, so he thought hanging me upside down would get the pressure off my spine and help. And it just so happens he has the handy dandy leg cuffs with hooks on them. The first time I did it I was still a little ill and so couldn't remain in that position for long. But I did have enough time to do some upside down stomach crunches - basically lifting my torso up as high as possible.

Although I hate being upside down, I liked how I felt afterwards so I asked to do it again this week. I lasted longer and managed two sets. This time I did bicep and tricep curls upside down. Which is so weird. And, I also was supposed to do upside down squats. Think about it - something you take for granted is gravity, and when you are working against gravity, your whole world is turned upside down, literally. It is really really difficult to do. But, because it's so strange, I really like it, so hopefully I'll do it more.

13 comments:

Susan said...

Squats are bad enough without being upside down. :|

You're my heeero.

NoRegrets said...

Well, realize, I made it maybe an inch or two. Literally. It's REALLY difficult.

Tara said...

I've seen those contraptions at fitness stores. I wouldn't be against trying it some day!

Nate said...

Now we know why he wants you to wear the dress...

Unknown said...

I just had what I can only describe as a 'Susan moment'. All I can think of are the umm...things you could do with ankle cuffs... and hanging upside down...hmmm...interresting..

sorry ;-}

NoRegrets said...

G-THAT's why everyone was looking at me... gotta stop wearing the dresses to work out in.

WNG-sorry about what?? well, yes, but damn, it would have to be quick...or there would need to be at least horizontal rest periods...which I'm sure could be created... :-)

Susan said...

Ohhh G, I like that I have my own "moments"..:)

Churlita said...

Those crunches sound like a challenge. I just did them for the first time in over a year the old fashioned way and that was enough for me.

Unknown said...

OK - I'm not sorry! Ha!

And yes, Susan, those random moments are all yours.
See what I did there?

OoooK - no more pain meds for G!

Anonymous said...

Those upside down hook-up boots were very popular when we finished high school/started college. I think that they were called levitation boots, or seomthing like that. But then, they disappeared from the scene. I have always wondered what lawsuit was behind that. I only got to try them once, but I really liked hanging upside down. Of course that was over 20 years ago, so who knows what I would think now. I was also thinking relaxation, not exercise. But among the crazy things you do that I would never try (all that sky diving!) exercising upside down is one that does have me intrigued.

Tera said...

So does blood rush to your head and make you dizzy? And of course now this damned song is stuck in my brain!

Anonymous said...

I used to date a girl who had those things too...but I digress.

The back is such a hard thing to correct once it goes awry. The hanging should work pretty well it has for me in the past.

NoRegrets said...

DBN, well, not sure where you'd find it. My trainer has his own boots - doubt you could rent them...

Tera, for me, it's nausea... And these are cuffs and not boots, so they started hurting my foot. But, no pain no gain, right? right? :-)

yeah, backs suck. and so do disability insurance companies... grrr... but I won't go tere right now.