Staying in shape with a newborn...

I've found that doing bisep curls at the gym tends to help to some extent. Try various forearm exercises that mimic forearm endurance (e.g. schest/ lat machine, bisep curls, pushups, modified pullups, strict pullups, ect. ect.)

Put the baby on your back and do sets of deadhangs and pullups. Continue this regimen until the baby turns 18, at which point you will have much more free time and will be gorilla strong. Training is a long con.

Lol. That's a good idea about a foot stool for endurance...now I see how you could stay on for 30 min, lol.

We just had our first kid in October. Honestly the little bit of rest will probably help your climbing. Here are the things I've learned so far.

-I've stopped caring as much about climbing. That's not to say I am not getting out but despite my conscious desire to climb and ski as much as possible, subconsciously I want to be with my daughter more. I could climb and ski more but my desire to climb things far from home without my family is not as strong. It's interestingly different because I love my wife but I've not had the same difficulty in the past leaving her as I do leaving her and my daughter at home.

-If your significant other doesn't climb then your friends and family are going to be the only thing that helps you get out. I've already had a friend who has offered to have me come with him and his wife. They don't have kids but she loves them so the group of three is a great help. My family is moving nearby so which is helping me to actually do more work climbing than fun climbing but whatever, climbing is climbing.

-A baby is it's own weight training program. They gain weight so you're always pushing yourself. Lifting them up and down 10 times an hour all day long is like a core workout. You can do tricep pushes or curls with them. Our daughter likes to be held before she'll go to sleep but only a certain way. I think it's actually increasing my bicep endurance.

-You're going to want to wimp out of training/climbing because you're tired. Push through you wuss! In the first month I bailed on skiing once because the kid screamed til 5 in the morning. Two things happened, she started sleeping better and I hardened the fuck up. Sleep when you're dead.

-Babies are extremely portable. There food source can also act as a carrier and entertainer! If you're really talented you can start to learn all their different little wimpers and cries and point that little poop/puke machine off the side of the trail and you won't have to carry anything. Despite what marketing is trying to brainwash our ladies to think babies need very little. They need to be fed and environmentally safe. All those fucking weird baby bottles, bibs, baby strollers, rocking chairs, diaper bags, bottle warmers, wipe warmers are a waste of money and time. Here's all you need to do if the baby cries for the first three months or so:
+Are they hungry? Stick a boob in the mouth.
+Are they covered in puke or shit? Clean it up.
+Are they uncomfortable? Cold? Hot? Hair wrapped around a body part Remove discomfort and give the tiny human the thing that all humans desire when they've been uncomfortable, human contact!

Other than that they'll mostly sleep. It comes in fits but they sleep like 14 hours a day. In the end just follow your instincts.

We're just entering month three and I think the first two were the hardest. Her mom is back to work so I'm taking care of her but we went for a two hour walk in the snow yesterday and she just slept. If you're worried about anything I'd worry about more when they get older and you'll have to actually entertain them because they can see beyond a foot in front of their little face. Of course then you can introduce them to climbing! I've been working out my daughters fingers...I'm hopeful she'll climb before she crawls. Fuck developmental milestones!

I saw a couple at the climbing gym last year, with a baby in tow. The kid would crawl off while dad was belaying mom; dad had to keep running over and grabbing the kid. One hopes mom wasn't climbing at her limit.

Having a kid was great training for sleep deprivation, which is very useful for some outdoor sports.

climbing friend,

stuff the child into your backpack climb routes of your choosing as normal for flash. If the baby it makes a sounds, simply give it a raw fishhead or perhaps a cheesesteak to temporarily satisfy its ever-increasing demands.

If you flash route, you may add one letter grade or v grade on your tick list, for the weight addition.

jmeizis wrote:We just had our first kid in October. Honestly the little bit of rest will probably help your climbing. Here are the things I've learned so far. -I've stopped caring as much about climbing. That's not to say I am not getting out but despite my conscious desire to climb and ski as much as possible, subconsciously I want to be with my daughter more. I could climb and ski more but my desire to climb things far from home without my family is not as strong. It's interestingly different because I love my wife but I've not had the same difficulty in the past leaving her as I do leaving her and my daughter at home. -If your significant other doesn't climb then your friends and family are going to be the only thing that helps you get out. I've already had a friend who has offered to have me come with him and his wife. They don't have kids but she loves them so the group of three is a great help. My family is moving nearby so which is helping me to actually do more work climbing than fun climbing but whatever, climbing is climbing. -A baby is it's own weight training program. They gain weight so you're always pushing yourself. Lifting them up and down 10 times an hour all day long is like a core workout. You can do tricep pushes or curls with them. Our daughter likes to be held before she'll go to sleep but only a certain way. I think it's actually increasing my bicep endurance. -You're going to want to wimp out of training/climbing because you're tired. Push through you wuss! In the first month I bailed on skiing once because the kid screamed til 5 in the morning. Two things happened, she started sleeping better and I hardened the fuck up. Sleep when you're dead. -Babies are extremely portable. There food source can also act as a carrier and entertainer! If you're really talented you can start to learn all their different little wimpers and cries and point that little poop/puke machine off the side of the trail and you won't have to carry anything. Despite what marketing is trying to brainwash our ladies to think babies need very little. They need to be fed and environmentally safe. All those fucking weird baby bottles, bibs, baby strollers, rocking chairs, diaper bags, bottle warmers, wipe warmers are a waste of money and time. Here's all you need to do if the baby cries for the first three months or so: +Are they hungry? Stick a boob in the mouth. +Are they covered in puke or shit? Clean it up. +Are they uncomfortable? Cold? Hot? Hair wrapped around a body part Remove discomfort and give the tiny human the thing that all humans desire when they've been uncomfortable, human contact! Other than that they'll mostly sleep. It comes in fits but they sleep like 14 hours a day. In the end just follow your instincts. We're just entering month three and I think the first two were the hardest. Her mom is back to work so I'm taking care of her but we went for a two hour walk in the snow yesterday and she just slept. If you're worried about anything I'd worry about more when they get older and you'll have to actually entertain them because they can see beyond a foot in front of their little face. Of course then you can introduce them to climbing! I've been working out my daughters fingers...I'm hopeful she'll climb before she crawls. Fuck developmental milestones!

This post is probably one of the best I've read on a climbing forum.

Incidentally, I've got my first little girl arriving in a couple months. Can't bloody wait!

This one hits close as a stay at home dad of a two boys, 3yo and 3mo. Hell I'm trying to do a hangboard workout right now with the 3yo hanging off my feet...

Mainly I've stayed somewhat in shape and sane with an understanding non-climbing wife and a willingness to have really short days. I still try to get outside 3-4 times a month, weekly gym visits(hour away for me each way), and hang board.

Your priorities will shift out of necessity but try to stay psyched. I've found it helpful to get the green light for a 3-4 day climbing trip every few months which really helps with motivation.

It's not all doom and gloom and you get to do cool things like this pretty soon:

Emerald Lake:

When I lived in Montana, there was a local couple who kept climbing outside a few times each week with a newborn. Once she was old enough to walk, they had her in a harness clipped to a cam stuffed into a crack next to the base of the route while they were climbing.

Congratulations!

Ted - My post was a bit negative - can you tell I'm still in the extremely sleep-deprived stage?? I'm in love with my future rope-gun and am very excited for you to meet yours!

jmeizis wrote:We just had our first kid in October. Honestly the little bit of rest will probably help your climbing. Here are the things I've learned so far. -I've stopped caring as much about climbing. That's not to say I am not getting out but despite my conscious desire to climb and ski as much as possible, subconsciously I want to be with my daughter more. I could climb and ski more but my desire to climb things far from home without my family is not as strong. It's interestingly different because I love my wife but I've not had the same difficulty in the past leaving her as I do leaving her and my daughter at home. -If your significant other doesn't climb then your friends and family are going to be the only thing that helps you get out. I've already had a friend who has offered to have me come with him and his wife. They don't have kids but she loves them so the group of three is a great help. My family is moving nearby so which is helping me to actually do more work climbing than fun climbing but whatever, climbing is climbing. -A baby is it's own weight training program. They gain weight so you're always pushing yourself. Lifting them up and down 10 times an hour all day long is like a core workout. You can do tricep pushes or curls with them. Our daughter likes to be held before she'll go to sleep but only a certain way. I think it's actually increasing my bicep endurance. -You're going to want to wimp out of training/climbing because you're tired. Push through you wuss! In the first month I bailed on skiing once because the kid screamed til 5 in the morning. Two things happened, she started sleeping better and I hardened the fuck up. Sleep when you're dead. -Babies are extremely portable. There food source can also act as a carrier and entertainer! If you're really talented you can start to learn all their different little wimpers and cries and point that little poop/puke machine off the side of the trail and you won't have to carry anything. Despite what marketing is trying to brainwash our ladies to think babies need very little. They need to be fed and environmentally safe. All those fucking weird baby bottles, bibs, baby strollers, rocking chairs, diaper bags, bottle warmers, wipe warmers are a waste of money and time. Here's all you need to do if the baby cries for the first three months or so: +Are they hungry? Stick a boob in the mouth. +Are they covered in puke or shit? Clean it up. +Are they uncomfortable? Cold? Hot? Hair wrapped around a body part Remove discomfort and give the tiny human the thing that all humans desire when they've been uncomfortable, human contact! Other than that they'll mostly sleep. It comes in fits but they sleep like 14 hours a day. In the end just follow your instincts. We're just entering month three and I think the first two were the hardest. Her mom is back to work so I'm taking care of her but we went for a two hour walk in the snow yesterday and she just slept. If you're worried about anything I'd worry about more when they get older and you'll have to actually entertain them because they can see beyond a foot in front of their little face. Of course then you can introduce them to climbing! I've been working out my daughters fingers...I'm hopeful she'll climb before she crawls. Fuck developmental milestones!

Cool, thanks for the beta. ;) PCowan awesome pics. I wish I could get outside 3-4 times a month BEFORE having a kid, lol.

I served my four years in Chicago, it's where #1 was born, so I know that pain too!

climbing friend pcowan!

This photographic evidence of infant child doing deadhang for maximum crushing grip strength is quite amazing! If only my parents forced me into regular training schedule at age 1.5!

Either he will suffer the severe tendon damage and stunted growth, or he will have the veiny forearm so strong the holds even of solid granite will explode crumbling before his otherwordly strength, and he will grace magazine cover after cover for his bold and crushing flash, thrusting up the most difficult route around the world.

May you tell us more of the weekly training schedule of the infant? Would he prefer the repeaters or the single maximum hangs? Would he also do the pull ups and front levers? How may he reach the next holds at the gym on routes designed for taller adults? all points off dyno?

Does he enjoy taking off his shirt and bouldering in the meat cave at the local gym?

Does he exercises for shoulder stablization? Or are his tendons simply so pliable at young age it does not matter?

Aleks Zebastian wrote:How may he reach the next holds at the gym on routes designed for taller adults? all points off dyno?

Climbing friend Aleks,

A week ago I saw a 7 year old kid doing V5 at Movement, he was indeed dyno'ing every other hold. He also gave me beta on a route I was working, and it was legit. Made my day. What that kid will be climbing as an adult I can only imagine.

Dont have any kids, but buildering your house is a great way to pump out.
Moulding around doorways gets me, and you can go from facing one way to the other.
congrats!
wish I started climbing at 2.
that baby is crushing it already...

Most powerful climbing friend Aleks,

The mind numbing granite crushing powers being developed are typically done on his own schedule. Usually once weekly, 1-3 dead hangs of random length(preferably to optimally interrupt dad's workout). This is typically followed by an exercise of his own design: hanging on dad's feet while he tries to finish his workout.

As he loves the ladies and showing off he ONLY crushes in the meat cave shirtless at the local gym.

I hope these training tips can be meshed into your own most powerful training for the granite pulverizing veiny forearms of doom.

PCowan wrote:Most powerful climbing friend Aleks, The mind numbing granite crushing powers being developed are typically done on his own schedule. Usually once weekly, 1-3 dead hangs of random length(preferably to optimally interrupt dad's workout). This is typically followed by an exercise of his own design: hanging on dad's feet while he tries to finish his workout. As he loves the ladies and showing off he ONLY crushes in the meat cave shirtless at the local gym. I hope these training tips can be meshed into your own most powerful training for the granite pulverizing veiny forearms of doom.

Climbing friend,

This is part of glory of the climbing training for flash. Each man, woman, and infant must make their own way through countless conflicting informations and advice. It is nice to see the infant he does not become too obsessed with a detailed plan at such a young age and seem to enjoy his training. May his guns be sculpted and his style most impeccable!