Fitness and Exercise

[XanBcoo]

well cardio fitness and physical fitness are two very different things. i consider myself physically fit, but as far as cardio goes, i can barely do a lap without huffing and puffing.

What, by your definition, is "physically fit"? I'm confused as to what you're trying to say.

Surely cardio fitness is a part of physical fitness. The latter is a blanket term.

[Sapphire]

I believe he means stamina. Stamina, strength, speed, flexibility, etc. all have to do with fitness, but everyone has different levels.

[Buffalobiian]

I find that when people generally talk about fitness, they mean having high amounts of stamina and cardio capacity. Strength is often considered, but only proportional to your body height/weight/shape. Fitness drills commonly involve things like running laps or cross country, sit ups, push ups, chin ups, beep tests etc. Mostly exercise you can do out in the open. To a lesser extent, cycling and swimming. However, I haven't yet seen power weight training in so called fitness drills. In fitness classes held by gyms, sure. But they're generally known as a workout program here.

However, about judging fitness using the eye, it can be wrong, though how often, I dare not say. My Health and Phys Ed teacher was like a typical Aussie bloke. Had a belly, looked like he enjoys his trips to the local pub. But guys with rather well defined muscles were no match against him and his slightly chubby physique.

This makes me think: How healthy/fit are sumos? Obviously, BMI and body fat count are hardly a measure.

[Chiodos]

Actually hard to tell and all. I used to train all the time and my body size is not big and wasnt back then either but I had hardly no problam taking care of bigger sized people ecxept if they got the funny idea of lifting me up.......

But then again, think like this! When it comes to fitness and all, those Shaolin monks...

[TheBladeChild]

I ask because I wanted to drop some unwanted pounds this summer. So far Iv lost 10lbs since the beginning of summer through running a couple times a week and generally lowering my intake.

[Psyke]

It's more or less part of my career to keep fit, so it's good that I don't worry too much about it. For me these days I try to go for a run daily, of about 5km. Some days due to half marathon training I will cover long distances, but will need rest my knees in between the runs. I don't actually enjoy running a lot, but I'm motivated through the Nike+ which plugs into my nano when I run and keeps me updated with my stats.

[Sapphire]

Here's a Fitness and Exercise thread:

http://forums.gotwoot.net/showthread...t=energy+drink

[XanBcoo]

Merged.

To contribute, I ran across a great article linked from another forum. I suggest everyone read it, especially those looking to get in shape by improving their diet. It's a very reliable resource:

Tailor-made Nutrition: Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

I'm still working on gaining weight and adjusting my diet, but having a job means I don't get to eat as much as I normally do. I've started taking a protein shake to work, drinking it halfway through my shift, but that's only helped me maintain my weight after losing a few pounds earlier on. Very frustrating.

[NM]

Just wondering, have any of you guys tried out the 300 workout routine? I'm thinking about giving it a go...the only things I can't do on their list are the pull ups (just don't have the upper strength for it) and I'd have to reduce the weight on the "floor wipers" exercise (I only bench about 90 lbs right now). Apparently you have to do all these exercises with no break in between.

It's not something you should be doing everyday though since its a really intense workout on your muscles. I wanna give it a try this Saturday and maybe just do it every Saturday. Article said some of the cast who were about 40 lbs overweight lost alot of weight in a couple of months.

[XanBcoo]

I once read an article about it before, and while I can't seem to find it now, I remember that it debunked a lot of the myths surrounding the workout.

This T-nation forum thread does a pretty good job of discussing the pros and cons, however. The weight-loss thing seems to come from the insanely high number of reps on each exercise, making them essentially cardiovascular workouts.

Basically, the 300 workout isn't a magical routine that's going to get you real fit real fast. There are definitely better routines out there in terms of mass-gaining. Your personal goals are a huge factor though. I'll edit this post when I can find that article I mentioned.

As for my own progress, I'm coming up to the last week of my own summer workout program. It was a routine I found on SomethingAwful that was designed to mix strength and size training. I did a little research and decided to run with it for a few months. So far I've made definite improvements in every exercise except my chest (which I've brought up before - and am now thinking it was due to a shoulder injury). I'm a few pounds heavier, but still nowhere near my goal. Need to eat more. Once school starts again I'm thinking of starting up a new program.

Exciting!

[NM]

I do recall alot of people saying that the 300 routine was more of a test of endurance. I don't know, I felt like it could be the variation I needed with my own routine but I wasn't sure if it was truly effective or not (no way I can do all that without a rest in between each of those exercises).

Usually I go to the gym and start off with cardio (mainly the stairmaster machine or the elliptical) for about 25 minutes. Then depending on the day, I work on my chest, arms, or shoulders (and rotate each day). After the last one I use the next day to just do an hour of cardio (I figure if I have to give my muscles a rest I might as well get more cardio in there). But other than this, I don't change it up. I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on it and see if it was worth the time or not.

Overall I definitely have seen improvements (as my summer workout also comes to an end) but could lose some more weight. Good thing my new apartment has a gym...should suffice if I ever get a chance to workout.

[XanBcoo]

I do recall alot of people saying that the 300 routine was more of a test of endurance. I don't know, I felt like it could be the variation I needed with my own routine but I wasn't sure if it was truly effective or not (no way I can do all that without a rest in between each of those exercises).

Well, there's no reason you shouldn't go ahead and try it out. Obviously I'm not expert, so I'd say do more research, try it out for yourself for a good period of time and see what works and what doesn't. Experiment! Then come back and report here .

Usually I go to the gym and start off with cardio (mainly the stairmaster machine or the elliptical) for about 25 minutes. Then depending on the day, I work on my chest, arms, or shoulders (and rotate each day). After the last one I use the next day to just do an hour of cardio (I figure if I have to give my muscles a rest I might as well get more cardio in there). But other than this, I don't change it up. I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on it and see if it was worth the time or not.

No leg exercises??

I used to be totally against working out my legs until I learned that Squats and Deadlifts are basically the best things you can do when exercising. I've definitely become stronger after setting aside a day for legs and I actually have muscle definition in my legs now. Even if it's not a full day, adding a set of squats or even leg presses to your routine will do nothing but help you improve.

[NM]

I'll let you know how it goes then. Still going to give it a shot on Saturday and see how much I can get done. The routine is supposed to be done under 20 minutes but I don't see myself doing that on the very first attempt.

And I USED to do leg exercises alot when I first started out. But nowadays I work late till 7 so I'm at the gym really late so I just want to finish up and head home. I do see some toning on my legs to be honest and that was just from one or two leg exercises (used to do them along with my arms). I seriously need to get back into it, I really hate slacking but sometimes it gets the better of me. -___-

[animus]

It doesn't matter at what time you eat... if you haven't eaten enough over the day and feel really hungry at night it's ok to eat, as long as you stay in your calorie-range you can gain/lose/keep weight.. even if you only eat in the evening...

That's quite wrong. For certain people, certain times during the course of a day (especially at night) there are times where metabolism is really slow. Especially if you sleep 2 hours or so after eating, or sleeping on a full stomach. Sleep slows down all your body's functions, which means you aren't burning as much calories as you would be awake.

It's also not a very good idea to not eat your first two meals of the day and have a very large supper/dinner. Could probably be the worst thing you could do if you wanted to lose weight.

[Animeniax]

@KrayZ: sorry man, but yes, it does matter when and in what portion you eat. If you eat only one meal a day and it's 2000 calories, that's terrible for your body. You put your body in "starvation mode", since it starves most of the day, when it does get food, it stores it as fat so it's ready for the next starvation phase. Also eating before you sleep is bad because your body is at rest so all that energy is converted to fat. If you eat a big breakfast, you will typically work off the food throughout the day.

The main reason we were taught to clean our plates was because we were poor growing up, so we didn't have a lot of food, so waste was not allowed. Also, we had just immigrated from Vietnam and all the poverty and hunger of war, so it would have been sacrilege to waste food.

Those dishes look very tasty, though I'm not a big potato fan. It's always amused me how Americans eat a big heap of potatoes at dinner.

[KrayZ33]

Also eating before you sleep is bad because your body is at rest so all that energy is converted to fat

this is the big mistake both of you make...

if your body is at rest and you think it won't diggest normally anymore (which isn't true btw), then why does it convert and store it as fat... you know that is work for the body too...
so if your body doesn't work normally at night, then it wouldn't do that either. Fat is *produced* during the digestion

if you follow that logic, then the food would simply stay undiggested in your stomach until you wake up again..

people in Spain for example eat around 22:00 or even later... they are not more nor less fat than other people.
another nice example: weight yourself in the morning, then again before you go to sleep and then again the next day.. you'll see how much your body is working at night

as long as you stay under your daily needs (calories) you will lose weight, it doesn't matter when you are eating.. the only problem I could think of is that you can't sleep deeply if you eat a lot shortly before you go to bed..because your body *is* working very hard... there is nearly no difference in sleep and when you are awake, go ask your Doc. ^^ (during the digestion). Your body will burn around ~250g fat at night, which is alot.

and btw: If you work hard or do sports in the evening your body will NEED the good meal after it, if you don't supply your body with enough (digestible) carbohydrates etc. after your training, it's pointless.

however naturally you are right with the "don't eat just 1 big meal" part.. because your body will take what it needs from your muscles if you don't eat and drink properly during daytime..but eating so much with just a single meal is impossible in the first place ^^
so you will lose weight here too, but you will lose it where you shouldn't

but I'm not too sure about that either..

Those dishes look very tasty, though I'm not a big potato fan. It's always amused me how Americans eat a big heap of potatoes at dinner.

I love my potatoes, especially "Pommes und Bratwurst!"

[Animeniax]

this is the big mistake both of you make...

Wow, I didn't think you'd argue with facts about human physiology.

if your body is at rest and you think it won't diggest normally anymore (which isn't true btw), then why does it convert and store it as fat... you know that is work for the body too...so if your body doesn't work normally at night, then it wouldn't do that either. Fat is *produced* during the digestion

Your digestive system is still at work same as your respiratory system and other vital functions, but your body (arms, legs, all of your muscles) is not, so there is nowhere for the energy created by digesting food to be used. Some of it will be excreted when you take a big dump in the morning, some will indeed by used by the body, but most of it is stored as fat.

people in Spain for example eat around 22:00 or even later... they are not more nor less fat than other people.

If they eat balanced meals throughout the day, eating at 2200 won't hurt. But I seriously doubt they eat a huge meal at 2200 every night. It also depends on what foods they are eating. Europeans as a group are leaner than Americans and have better eating habits.

as long as you stay under your daily needs (calories) you will lose weight, it doesn't matter when you are eating.. the only problem I could think of is that you can't sleep deeply if you eat a lot shortly before you go to bed..because your body *is* working very hard... there is nearly no difference in sleep and when you are awake, go ask your Doc. ^^ (during the digestion). Your body will burn around ~250g fat at night, which is alot.

I agree with the first part but that's the hard part about losing weight. I disagree with everything else. Your body is in a semi-comatose state when you sleep, it does not consume as much energy as when you are awake unless you're laying in bed doing nothing.

and btw: If you work hard or do sports in the evening your body will NEED the good meal after it, if you don't supply your body with enough (digestible) carbohydrates etc. after your training, it's pointless.

Shouldn't you eat carbs and energy food before the hard work? Then afterward you eat the proteins and fats that your body needs to build and recover from the hard work.

Really you should try to sell your idea as a new diet. It could make you millions if enough people suspend reality for the week or two they last on this diet before it fails like all the other fad diets.

[KrayZ33]

Wow, I didn't think you'd argue with facts about human physiology.

Your digestive system is still at work same as your respiratory system and other vital functions, but your body (arms, legs, all of your muscles) is not, so there is nowhere for the energy created by digesting food to be used. Some of it will be excreted when you take a big dump in the morning, some will indeed by used by the body, but most of it is stored as fat.

that's not true, your muscles will build up when you are asleep... and that's where the energy is used at night

If they eat balanced meals throughout the day, eating at 2200 won't hurt. But I seriously doubt they eat a huge meal at 2200 every night.

they eat that what I eat at around ~15:00 normally

I agree with the first part but that's the hard part about losing weight. I disagree with everything else. Your body is in a semi-comatose state when you sleep, it does not consume as much energy as when you are awake unless you're laying in bed doing nothing.

watching TV is less exhausting than sleeping for the body
no big deal but you can see that it works more than people think

Really you should try to sell your idea as a new diet. It could make you millions if enough people suspend reality for the week or two they last on this diet before it fails like all the other fad diets.

sry but that's what they tell you in any gym and this is what every nutritionist will tell you (at least more or less)

[animus]

I didn't say it didn't digest. But since your body is at rest, your metabolism during sleep is MUCH slower.

Let's say in theory, if you ate 2,000 calories spread over three meals (approximately 666.66 calories) you will burn more calories during the course of the day than a person that only eats a single evening meal consisting of 2,000 calories. The former is the better way to go if you want to lose weight.

Your body is like an engine, you have to have to fuel to rev the engine. When your body doesn't get food, your metabolism slows to conserve energy. When you eat a large meal, your metabolism starts, but there is simply too much of it, and it converts the excess into fat. This is worse if you do it close to sleep as well, when your metabolism slows down even further.

Not to mention sleeping on a full stomach can be quite counterproductive sometimes for sleep as it can be quite uncomfortable. Not to mention there's a higher chance of acid reflux. It's really a myth that you sleep like a baby on a full stomach.

[Animeniax]

that's not true, your muscles will build up when you are asleep... and that's where the energy is used at night

Why would your muscles need energy when they are almost completely still and not in use? If you work out, then eat properly, then sleep, your muscles repair themselves and require the proteins and simple carb energy, and the repairing is what adds to muscle.

watching TV is less exhausting than sleeping for the body
no big deal but you can see that it works more than people think

That's weird cause my body feels refreshed after sleep, but sleepy when I watch TV.

sry but that's what they tell you in any gym and this is what every nutritionist will tell you (at least more or less)

Not sure what kind of gym you go to, but I think those people have been telling you the wrong things man.