After 63 Crossrope workouts

At one time in my life I was a young, hard-charging, physically fit United States Marine. “To all squids and rust-pickers: Haroogah! Haroogah! Haroogah!“

My wife said that when she came over to my house 26 years ago when we were first dating, my pecks under my tank top made her swoon. I was the Marine Liaison Officer at an Air Force special ops base (Hurlburt Field). Therefore, I got two-hour lunches per USAF SOP. A buddy and I would use them for working out in the gym...then we’d go to lunch. If I worked past 15:00, I’d be the one turning off the lights and locking the doors. I got out in Nov 1994. It was a great gig.

Then self-employment and kids happened. I quit exercising altogether until last fall when I saw my wife’s incredible transformation after beating breast cancer and getting back into shape. I was worried she was going to dump me for a pool boy or something. She’d be wearing those leggings, and I be like day-yam, honey!

I came across this youtube channel called Jumprope Dudes. Although they are annoyingly over-gesticulating soy boys, I gave their sponsor a try: Crossrope.

Crossrope combines jumping with weighted ropes and all sorts of calisthenics...30 secs jump, 30 secs rest, 30 secs burpees, 30 sec rest, etc. Workouts are from 15-30 minutes, depending on your level. I really enjoy it, and it looks like I’m going to stick to it. Sixty-three workouts. I do three workouts a week. The basic app is free if you want to check out some of the routines.

If you’re interested, just get the 1/4 lb and 1/2 lb ropes for starters, then add the 1# and 2# ropes later. Those are all you really need. I got overly ambitious and bought a 3 lb rope. Hurts like h3ll when it hits the back of your head.

Before:



After:



I’ve also just feel better in general. For example, when getting back onto my feet after kneeling down to nail or paint baseboard, instead of grunting and groaning and getting up like a 90 year old, I realized that I was practically jumping up onto my feet.

As a beginner, I had to really watch my heart rate. 220 minus your age is your MAX, so for me that is 163. I would often have to skip an interval to get my heart rate down below 85% of max. But now, doing the advanced workouts, which will have three or four sets of god-awful exercises like burpees, explosive jumps, and mountain climbers in between the jumping (with only 10 seconds of rest in between), I rarely have to pause the workout. That tells me my ticker is getting healthier, too.

I had planned on doing truck stop and rest area workouts, but my new trucking career didn't get off the ground. Granted, it is easier to do a 30 minute workout when I can set my own schedule, but I don’t see why you truckers couldn’t find 90 minutes a week do devote to your health.

Now get ‘er dun!

 

Awesome! I read somewhere that sit-ups are no longer done in the military because they're so hard on your back. Might be true. Might not be. Crossrope has you doing elbow planks. You get the same core workout and definition, but no back strain. That's how I got my Schwarzenegger abs. Do 30 seconds on both elbows, then do left and right. Repeat that 3 times...just for grins. Sit-ups hurt my bones.

 

What do you mean? I never posted a leg picture, except for my swollen knee from doing a week of alley docking in an old International day cab with a hard clutch.

 

I think you're confused. I posted a fat gut, ripped abs (sorta), and a swollen knee. That's it. Any other body part pictures aren't mine.

 

I don't know. Probably nothing, but I'm pushing 58 and don't want to use up my allotment of heartbeats too fast.

It's just what the American Heart Association recommends. I supposed you could have a heart attack or blow something out.