Fitness and Exercise

[poopdeville]

I used to play foot ball (by which I mean "soccer"), and so ran about 40 miles a week. I was still a big fat ass though. I learned about lifting weights at a pretty "serious" Florida gym. I did that on and off for years, getting "big" and "small" (but always fat). I lost a bunch of weight a few years ago, and slowly gained it back. Atkins was too boring to keep up forever. Now I'm on the pizza and beer diet, where I eat about 1500 calories worth of pizza and beer in a day. And I drink lots of water and eat my vitamins. And I lift weights, do squats, and 100 sit ups on an exercise ball every 3 days. I do interval training (with a standup bike) the next day.

That routine gives my muscles enough time to heal between sessions. They always hurt like hell on the second day after a work out, but they suddenly feel better on the third day -- the next workout day.

I used to go crazy with the weight when I was in high school. After a lot of foot ball, my legs were pretty strong. And then I started doing squats, and was able to inline squat like 850 pounds a few weeks later. It was pretty sweet when a buddy and me both kicked a soccer ball simultaneously and hard, Rasengan + Chidori style, and I flipped him end over end, as he was airborne and my foot pushed his backwards. Also, it's kind of fun to walk fast while you're in downtown Portland, and then accidentally JUMP three feet into the air Mario-style because the person in front of you suddenly stops for no apparent reason (and slamming your foot down instead of stepping is the only way you can stop). I got funny looks that day.

I would put on an extra five pounds of weight on my bench presses every week. That's fast... people would tell me to be careful. And they would end up carrying a bit of weight if they spotted me, but I always made it to 15-12-8 reps without help (while going for 8-to-failure as a goal) or even 15-12-8-8 reps. The rationale for that breakdown of sets is to tire your muscles out quickly in the first and middle of the second set, so you are in "failure mode" for something like 16 to 24 reps. It's TOUGH to push or pull in that state. Your muscles aren't even tired so much as your brain is tired of signaling your muscles to push or pull. This is why people strain when they lift: their nervous systems are trying to find new muscles to signal to in order to lift the load. Making "new connections". It's like learning how to roll your tongue or wiggle your ears. http://www.wikihow.com/Wiggle-Your-Ears Straining is like the "experiment" part. With a little practice, you can lift the same load with less effort. You will "know how it feels", and so can focus your concentration on it instead of wasting effort (and brain chemicals) on straining.

Strengthening the nervous system is an important part of strength training. Probably the most important part. At least if you want to get strong. There are better things to focus on if you want to get big.

I have always hated cardio workouts. Too boring. Sport can be an exception, if you at least have to put your mind to work to win. I hurt my ankle pretty badly in college, so I haven't played any team sports for a long time.

[Penner]

OT: I've never really understood why the hell americans call it "Football", the ball touches a players foot like.. once?

Whereas soccer is like the definition of the word Football, they kick a ball the entire game using only their feet.

Sup with that? :P

[XanBcoo]

And then I started doing squats, and was able to inline squat like 850 pounds a few weeks later.

Wait, really? Are you talking ass-to-grass or just like, this?

I also have a part of my routine that's similar to what you described, called a rest pause set. I do one heavy compound exercise (bench, squat, overhead, or deadlift) getting a 3-5 rep max, then I move onto the rest pause, where I go to failure for 3 sets, taking no more than 20 seconds in between. It's been really effective.

[poopdeville]

Wait, really? Are you talking ass-to-grass or just like, this?

Squatting lower than my current toilet seat, so my knees were bent at about 85 degrees at the bottom. It was an incline squat, so it was 30% or so relatively lighter. (So I could presumably do about 500 pounds standing -- but then again, my core would have to be much stronger to do it standing, too)

[Animeniax]

Supposedly Apollo Ono can squat 1800 lbs. He claimed so to a paparazzo.

I need to do more lower body work but my legs are getting nicely toned and stronger just by running.

And today I strained\sprained something in my forearm while doing biceps curls. So that will impede my progress. And Spring break starts this weekend, which will further impede my progress.

[Rekeco]

I never knew this thread existed. Was about to start one too, good thing I searched.

My girlfriend and I started doing half-marathons and sprint triathalons last year, and this year we're just training for a few that are coming up.

A couple of years ago, I would of never thought that I would be doing these type of activities. I was 240 lbs, and being 5' 7.5", I was quite round. I'm down to 185 after going up and down, building muscle and losing fat. It's been wonderful and I found something I enjoy doing... running.

One day I want to do a full Iron Man competition, but for right now ... I think I'ma try to do a full marathon sometime this year.

[XanBcoo]

Damn man, that's really cool. Good job on losing all that weight.

[Rekeco]

Damn man, that's really cool. Good job on losing all that weight.

Thanks, it took a while though. Haha, I like to eat >.<, one of my biggest downfalls haha. Its quite doable though, never give up.

[KitKat]

I was running nearly every day at the end of last summer, but stopped once it started to get cold outside. I'm hoping to get back into it starting this week though, now that spring is apparently here. My goal is to be able to increase my endurance so that I can run my whole route without stopping by July. Wish me luck!

[XanBcoo]

Thanks, it took a while though. Haha, I like to eat >.<, one of my biggest downfalls haha. Its quite doable though, never give up.

Unfortunately for us skinny guys, putting on substantial weight/muscle is as hard as losing weight is for big guys. I'm hoping to break 190 this week though.

Good luck running KitKat! Definitely post any progress you make in this thread for support.

All this talk about running/playing sports/marathons is making me really anxious to start swimming.

[Rekeco]

Unfortunately for us skinny guys, putting on substantial weight/muscle is as hard as losing weight is for big guys. I'm hoping to break 190 this week though.

Good luck running KitKat! Definitely post any progress you make in this thread for support.

All this talk about running/playing sports/marathons is making me really anxious to start swimming.

Oh I totally agree! I have a lot of friends who are quite skinny and are trying to bulk up, and it's really hard. I'll echo you in the fact that it's easier to burn fat then bulk up with muscle. Good luck with that man, you can do it. Taking any protein supplements?

I'm waiting for it to be a bit hotter. I'm going to go back to my old high school and start swimming everyday!

[shinta|hikari]

I used to weigh 216 pounds at 5'7 four years ago. I spent 5 months low carb dieting and going to the gym and lost 50 pounds. I stayed at around 156 pounds for a few years, maybe fluctuating a bit depending on my lifestyle.

Two years ago, I gained 30 pounds after almost becoming an alcoholic by drinking at least 350 ml of brandy almost every night and shoving down chips like there is no tomorrow. Then I took a look at a picture of myself and decided to get fit.

Now I am 136 pounds. I do HIIT running 3-4x a week, and do light weight training during the off days. I also swim once a week for cardio. I am not really interested in bulking up too much. I like the slim and muscular look more than the scary bouncer type.

[XanBcoo]

Oh I totally agree! I have a lot of friends who are quite skinny and are trying to bulk up, and it's really hard. I'll echo you in the fact that it's easier to burn fat then bulk up with muscle. Good luck with that man, you can do it. Taking any protein supplements?

Yeah, a staple of my diet is ON's whey isolate. It's one of the cheapest sources of protein: http://www.optimumnutrition.com/prod...ard-p-201.html

I try to follow John Berardi's 7 rules (that I posted one page back) and have as many whole food sources as possible, but time/money usually means I'm having a meal with the whey supplement. I'd say on average that for at least 3 of my 6-7 meals a day, the protein is coming from that.

I will, however, try to make sure that each meal is balanced. Like if I make a protein shake, I'll include cottage cheese for protein, natural peanut butter for fat, blueberries and spinach for carbs, and use the protein powder to add more calories and flavor.

I am not really interested in bulking up too much. I like the slim and muscular look more than the scary bouncer type.

The two common celebrities that men say fit their ideal body type seem to be Brad Pitt from Fight Club and Hugh Jackman.

Between the two I'd say my ideal was closer to Jackman. I want to be lean, but solid, not waifish.

[Penner]

Ya, i'd go with Jackman's bodytype over Brad's any day tbh :P

[shinta|hikari]

I prefer Brad's body type, but that is also because it fits my body type and height more.

[Buffalobiian]

Jackman's more ideal to me too. Brad's too wiry.

Edit: Actually... it's hard to say. Google image turns up with both of them varying a fair bit. Most of Brad's shirtless pics don't look good IMO from Fight Club, but this would be something I'd be aiming for:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/b...x-pack-abs.jpg

Brad's got more definition than Jackman, so I'd strike halfway if that's an option. If not, then I'd go Brad.

My biggest problem would be giving up rice/pasta/noodles. That's like..75% of my diet.

[Rekeco]

Jackman's more ideal to me too. Brad's too wiry.

Edit: Actually... it's hard to say. Google image turns up with both of them varying a fair bit. Most of Brad's shirtless pics don't look good IMO from Fight Club, but this would be something I'd be aiming for:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/b...x-pack-abs.jpg

Brad's got more definition than Jackman, so I'd strike halfway if that's an option. If not, then I'd go Brad.

My biggest problem would be giving up rice/pasta/noodles. That's like..75% of my diet.

Actually, in terms of diet. Pasta, rice, and noodles will always be hard to give up but necessary unless you are already athletic fit (4-9% body fat for males) in which you need those carbs to fuel your body.

Check out the diet from P90X if you can, phase 3 is a very Carb heavy workout diet.

[itadakimasu]

Does anybody goto the sauna?

I like to enjoy a good steam sometimes after I work out. It's refreshing I think

[Animeniax]

From a fitness perspective I never saw the purpose of using a sauna. Maybe to relax muscles but then I just feel fatigued and helpless. Maybe if they instituted unisex saunas.

[Rekeco]

Does anybody goto the sauna?

I like to enjoy a good steam sometimes after I work out. It's refreshing I think

If it makes you feel better/refreshed, go for them. They are supposed to relax you and your body.

Some people do it as a means of losing weight, which is one way to use them, but to be honest it's just water weight that you are losing. Go in if you want to relax that body.