Any Climbers Out There That Can Help Me?

Pheboh
Pheboh Posts: 88 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello friends - I just tried rock climbing today for the first time and loved it! I didn't think I had any strength in me to actually put two feet on the wall, but before I knew it, I was at the top of the 40 foot wall. But, I was also belaying for my friend so I was probably only on the wall for approximately 15 minutes during our 2.5 hour lesson. Even though I was only on the wall for a bit, I am TIRED! It's hard work!

Anyways, my question is: how do I log my exercise time? Let's say I spend 15 minutes on the wall, and 30 minutes belaying... do I just log my 15 minutes or does belaying count too? I want to be as accurate as possible so I'm considering getting a Fitbit if I can't be accurate enough in my logging.

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!

Replies

  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    When you're editing your Diary, you can add exercise: go to "Cardiovascular" --> "Rock Climbing, Ascending" and enter the time you were on the wall. This will suffice, don't stress if it's not 110% accurate.

    Also, Fitbit is just a step calculator, and a heart rate monitor can only accurately estimate running or cycling.
  • junlex123
    junlex123 Posts: 81 Member
    How much you burn for a given amount of time spent climbing will vary massively I'm afraid depending on the routes you're climbing that day. And pedometers like fitbit will be next to useless for this purpose, and heart rate monitors aren't much use either as rock climbing is a long way away from steady state cardio unless you're hammering routes you find very easy in quick succession.

    So you won't be able to get particularly accurate readings: personally I err on the side of caution and for every hour I spend in the climbing gym I count 15 minutes of the Rock Climbing, Ascending entry that FrnkLft pointed out. In actuality in a given hour I probably spend ~20 minutes actually climbing, ~20 minutes belaying, and the rest tying on/chatting/walking around etc.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    It's a tricky one as above. You're not climbing at a steady rate. Some climbs are just like climbing a ladder whilst others take ages and you're busting your *kitten* over it.

    And then you wipe out all your hard work with the Cake Break. :laugh:
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I wouldn't really "log it" for more than simply tracking purposes. Climbing for most isn't constant flow movement, unless you're a badass that's running an easy route.

    If I do 2 hours bouldering, I'll log it as 30 minutes ascending.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    *ahem*

    When you're editing your Diary, you can add exercise: go to "Cardiovascular" --> "Rock Climbing, Ascending" and enter the time you were on the wall. This will suffice, don't stress if it's not 110% accurate.

    Also, Fitbit is just a step calculator, and a heart rate monitor can only accurately estimate running or cycling.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    oh yippee!, its a hoot!
  • MDF247
    MDF247 Posts: 64 Member
    I sure miss climbing! First couple times out it can burn your forearms like mad and make your fingers feel like they are falling off. The body adapts pretty quickly, like most activities.

    I would say it's fairly impossible to generalize energy output for climbing, a hardcore climber can spend more energy working out a 3 move sequence then a beginner will clambering up an easy wall. Anyway, someone else said it I think... close enough is good enough.
  • Pheboh
    Pheboh Posts: 88 Member
    Thanks everyone!! Appreciate it :)

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