Staying Fit at Sea

[Northern]

I'm interested in what everyone thinks about staying fit whilst at sea. Do you find the time to exercise on board? Is your life at sea healthy or unhealthy compared to the time you spend ashore? Do you think being physically fit is an important part of being a cadet or officer?

[Randomist]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

Obviously the requirement to stay fit that is placed on the Royal Navy is not enforced in the MN. It is however beneficial to stay fit, for personal health's sake.

On the ship I was on last, my cabin was right behind the bridge, I'm nearing the end of my cadetship so I was mainly on watch. This meant that I was able to get away with walking the 20 steps from my bed to the bridge, where I wouldn't do anything too physically demanding, walking to the lift down to the mess to get my dinner, maybe walk 5 steps to the bar and then get the lift back up and walk 10 steps to my bed again.

Bear in mind as a deck officer you may be required to lead fire teams in an emergency or do something that is quite physically demanding, so it is best to try and keep in shape. I've let it slip and consequently will be spending the 5 months on my next ship factoring the gym into my daily routine.

[dawg]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

There are surely plenty of opportunities at sea for burning a few calories.


I'm not so sure about the idea of using a rowing machine or dumbells at sea though...

[The H]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

I will be maintaining my fitness routine on board, as it is an important part of my life. However, I believe it is very much down to the individual.

[minchmermaid]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

If you put the rowing machine athwartships then time your strokes correctly the rolling of the boat will take all the effort out of your exercise. Another good tip is is too position you treadmill so that it is facing astern. As most ships have a stern trim, it means you will always be running downhill! :P

I gave up working out at sea because one day I had just completed a serious treadmill session and it was running down through the cooldown program and my legs were shaking and I was sweating, stinking and contemplating popping down to the hospital for a quick drag on the resusci-pack, when too my horror the general alarm sounded. The treadmill was on the maindeck, my muster station was on the bridge, seven decks up! I did not think I would make it up to the bridge and I litterally got through the door and collapsed in a heap behind the chart table only to be told it was a false alarm. After that I decided that anything more than a gentle walk on an afternoon where I am bored was just dangerous!

[CharlieDelta]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

I'm more worried about getting fit before sea! I'm not terribly out of shape but could do with losing a stone or four. Best make use of my gym membership now - it costs enough!!

[penfold]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

Weather permitting, I try to do 5-6 circuits of the deck 3-4 times a week. When on a car carrier, the cardecks were good for running round, although incredibly hot in the tropics, and you couldn't do it when fully laden so I made do with going up and down the stairs. The miserablist captain in that case didn't like people jogging on the weather deck as it meant going past his cabin's portlight.

[Northern]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

Is it safe to assume that most ships have a gym on board?

I can imagine that using free weights and stuff could be interesting on a ship in lumpy seas! Probably great for core strength!

[Beef1992]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

skull presses on a rolling **** should be fun haha. i think machine weights will have to used in those conditions

[RedWhiteAndBlue]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

I was at the gym three or four times a week on my last trip and didn't have any problems with it. The rolling wasn't an issue unless it was really bad, makes the workout a bit more challenging as long as it isn't to severe. As an engineer I was maintaining a certain amount of fitness just by being at work with manual lifting, stairs, etc. especially in the heat it can take a lot out of you.

Go for it mate, if you want to keep fit you will find a way. Take a skipping rope, that was my main form of cardio since treadmill was always fooked.

[Randomist]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

Really should hit the gym in a big way on my next ship.
All plans of excercise here get forgotten =[

[fernze411]

Re: Staying Fit at Sea

Has anyone seen punch bags in the gyms on a ship??

[ETwhat?]

yeah engineers get a better deal lots more stairs to climb, and generally if you do have a gym onboard you can use your own brain to decide if tis going to be safe to use it

[Brimbo]

if you use the cycling machine on your gym, face it towards the bow, since ships trim by a few degrees, your technically peddling on a slight gradient

[onara]

if you use the cycling machine on your gym, face it towards the bow, since ships trim by a few degrees, your technically peddling on a slight gradient

Hehehe, that was a very nice joke.

To the people who do some gym work while at sea, is it usually difficult to time it so you're getting the right kinds of food to refuel shortly afterwards? And what can you do if you think you need more calories than other officers?