Bullworker for the Elderly

[Guest guest]

I've always wanted a Bullworker, ever since it first came out, but,

with a family to raise, other things always took priority. Then,

last year I saw an X5 on eBay, old, battered and rusty (a bit like

myself) and got it for £2.60 (around $5 for any Americans reading

this). With a bit of chrome polish and WD40 it cleaned up a treat

and is perfectly adequate for my old and feeble muscles (I'm 71). I

got hold of the training book and was working my way through the

first 12 weeks of exercises when I was diagnosed with high blood

pressure and, searching the net, I came to the conclusion that

isometrics were inadvisable for high bp sufferers. So, reluctantly I

put my bullworker away and looked for other ways to keep fit.

Firstly, I came across " The Five Tibetans " (see

www.space.net.au/~dcmorgan/Tibetans.htm). Strip out the mumbo jumbo

about living forever and looking 20 years younger (I wish!) and I

found them a good " wake up " set of exercises for first thing in the

morning. Then, I came across Tabata (see

www.t-nation.com/findArticle.do?article=04-046-training) and thought

why not Tabata with bullworker? I went back to the " Specialized

Training " section of the X5 book and picked one exercise for each

main muscle group, - chest, arms, shoulders, abs., back and legs.

The Tabata method requires that you exercise for exactly 20 seconds

with exactly 10 seconds rest between sets, - no deviations allowed.

I started with one set of each and have now worked up to four sets

of each. When I reach five sets, I will change the exercises to work

the muscles in a slightly different manner. I do each exercise using

the Bullworker rhythmically with no long holds, which suits me and,

hopefully, doesn't raise my blood pressure. I find that this gives

me about 12-15 reps per 20 seconds, depending on the exercise. I do

this routine every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and a gentle 10

minute Pilates routine for core stability on Tuesday, Thursday and

Saturday. So far, so good, - it works for me.

Oh – and I walk the dog every day, 1 hour's brisk walk, whatever the

weather.

I hope this is of some interest to the older members, - and

remember – you'll all be old one day.

As a Track & Field coach, I have also started using Tabata with a

group of already very fit young men & women. It seems to be helping,

though whether it will translate into better performances next

summer remains to be seen – watch this space.

Jerry (BullworkerClub, - Geriatric Division!)