Exercise

[mkreku]

Ug, I dont find anything attractive about overly muscular women (IE: a six pack).

Well, since you don't know how the human physique works, let me give you a run down. You can have the world's most muscular body, but if you're fat, you still won't have a six pack. This girl is very petite, but fit (as in almost no excess fat) so you can see her abs. Not "overly muscular" at all.

 

Is it because you're American that this simple concept eludes you?

[theslug]

wow mkreku wth? I mean i know you had a hot girlfriend in the past and there's probably some entitlement left over but gfted is a good man and a great friend so why are you being so mean to him? oh i know why because you like looking at dudes werineres

 

burned

 

also alan it is possible to make a ridiculously cheap home set out of various hardware and household products and sand. It's unconventional but if you look through the interwebs you will find salvation. now stop wasting your time with curls.

[alanschu]

Thanks theslug, I actually have taken courses on physical fitness, so I'm actually not clueless about this.

 

I have no interest at this time in making my own set of workout equipment out of household products.

 

 

If I had a chin-up bar I'd do those instead, but I don't. Nor do I have the desire to install one. I know how my psyche works, and starting out with easy exercises is how I always get back into working out again.

 

 

Having said that, my education in resistance training was only a small subset of my sports medicine courses, and it WAS 10 years ago. Why exactly are bicep curls "useless" and "not practical."

 

I have my thoughts on this, but I'm curious where the discussion comes from. I did a quick google search for it, and found that at this moment, there's a real focus and concentration on compound exercises, but the only real support I have seen for people saying that curls are pointless is because there's no typical use of that particular body motion.

[Theseus]

Ug, I dont find anything attractive about overly muscular women (IE: a six pack).

Well, since you don't know how the human physique works, let me give you a run down. You can have the world's most muscular body, but if you're fat, you still won't have a six pack. This girl is very petite, but fit (as in almost no excess fat) so you can see her abs. Not "overly muscular" at all.

 

Is it because you're American that this simple concept eludes you?

I go to the gym gym 3 sometimes 4 times a week for circuit training for a full body workout. I personally love to watch the womens body moves when they have definition. Especially women with a "yoga butt" perfectly round like an apple, as sweet im sure!

 

Yea six pack is all about eating right, and gaining muscles, cardio always helps too, but gaining muscle is the best way to loose fat since in the long run it burns more calories just having muscle. Eating complex foods also helps with this. That way it takes longer for foods to digest and it wont go straight to ones gut like starchy foods that turn to sugar and then make one feel a bit tired afterwards. I could go on and on thought. If anyone wants any tips or has any tips to share feel free to share

[213374U]

Having said that, my education in resistance training was only a small subset of my sports medicine courses, and it WAS 10 years ago. Why exactly are bicep curls "useless" and "not practical."

 

I have my thoughts on this, but I'm curious where the discussion comes from. I did a quick google search for it, and found that at this moment, there's a real focus and concentration on compound exercises, but the only real support I have seen for people saying that curls are pointless is because there's no typical use of that particular body motion.

Hehe. Yeah, the conventional wisdom (read: guru mantra) now goes like that.

 

The thing with curls is that the biceps is actually a rather small muscle. Bicep gains are going to be nowhere near as good as leg or back gains, if at all. Doing things like bentover rows and pullups you are hitting your arms pretty hard, and but you're also getting the added benefit of a stronger grip and some pretty good back work. Compound exercises' chief advantage is that they recruit several muscle groups (duh), which means greater fat burning and increased testosterone levels. You really don't need to throw in bicep curls on top of that, as it's a pretty crappy muscle and easy to overtrain, especially if you are a beginner.

 

Now, why is it said that you'll eventually hit a wall with bicep curls? Because of the way it's trained and the way dumbells are made, added to the above. Bicep curls are for some people actually more of a brachialis exercise (especially if you use the EZ bar and/or preach), than strict bicep work. The brachialis is a very strong muscle, but it's limiting the amount of work done by the bicep. Add to that the fact that dumbells generally increase in weight rather drastically (~2,5kg), and it's easy to see why curls aren't getting much love. That's not to say isolation exercises are useless or worthless, ofc. Just difficult to fit into a beginner's routine as effectively as would be desirable.

 

Starting Strength Wiki. Good starting routines, good advice on progression, diet, cardio, rest periods, etc. No bicep curls whatsoever, and it's guaranteed to get you stronger. Squat, my boy, is the word.

 

Sorry to steal your thunder, Wals. I'm stepping back now, promise.

Edited September 26, 2009 by 213374U

[alanschu]

I know that strengthening the core is of exceptional priority.

 

It's just hard to do while still being a lazy bastard. I conquered most of central Europe while curling

Edited September 26, 2009 by alanschu

[Maria Caliban]

Thanks theslug, I actually have taken courses on physical fitness, so I'm actually not clueless about this.

 

This is an exercise thread. By definition, some guy has to tell another guy how what he's doing is wrong.

[alanschu]

Note, when I do curls, I also due the extension. I'm just lazy and don't want to type that out all the time >.>

[213374U]

I conquered most of central Europe while curling

 

 

This is an exercise thread. By definition, some guy has to tell another guy how what he's doing is wrong.

True. No need to feel bad, though. I'm sure anyone here is more than willing to tell any girls what they are doing wrong, too.

[Walsingham]

Sorry to steal your thunder, Wals. I'm stepping back now, promise.

 

No worries! Although to be honest I had hoped this would be nice and simple. Anyone who wants to get specialist about fitness probably doesn't need a thread with starters or a program. This is supposed to be for complete n00bs, or lard-arses like me.

 

Keep it simple, keep it achievable.

 

Speaking of which, I'm just about to begin my warm-up on today's exercise. Who's joining me?

[alanschu]

I'll stick with pushups and sitsups (now that my muscles are done mutinying )

 

 

The cool thing about not working out for half a year is that I'll get to see all the gains from working out again

[Walsingham]

Phew, that was actually fun. 30 seconds is no time at all. I cracked up half way through when this small kid got inspired by my running and started hareing alongside me for about ten yards before laughing and stopping. Just opne more reason why I love running in public, and couldn't stand the gym.

[alanschu]

Hehe I have had kids do that when I go on runs too

[Rostere]

1. Count how many press-ups you can do in two minutes. You can stop and rest in the middle if you have to, or as many tiems as you like.

2. Count how many sit-ups you can do in two minutes. Ditto conditions. Tuck your feet under something or hae someone hold them down.

3. Run 1.5 miles. Ditto conditions, although you should keep walking if you need to 'rest'.

 

1. 85

2. 45

3. No time today, we'll see tomorrow

 

I think it's very hard doing sit-ups fast actually. I did not tuck my feet under something for this exercise, but it's possible it might go much faster then.

 

I actually used to go to the gym regularly before this summer, but studies, drinking with friends and organizing other activities have bogged me down lately.

[Walsingham]

You really ought to tuck your feet under something. Or you're kind of lifting your legs. I think.

[theslug]

85 push ups in 2 minutes is pretty damn good. Having been beat I question the legitimacy of such an outlandish feat. Thus by the grace and authority of God I am still the winner. You can all shower me with praise or celebrate my vast physical (as well as sexual, ladies ) prowess through any means you wish.

 

And before anyone else asks I don't believe 213374U either becuase he's pretty irrelevant as a poster and just a general shady haberdasher.

[Walsingham]

85 is very respectable.

[Rostere]

I used to do 70 per rep when exercising. My gym record has been quite erratic lately, though.

[Gfted1]

Ug, I dont find anything attractive about overly muscular women (IE: a six pack).

Well, since you don't know how the human physique works, let me give you a run down. You can have the world's most muscular body, but if you're fat, you still won't have a six pack. This girl is very petite, but fit (as in almost no excess fat) so you can see her abs. Not "overly muscular" at all.

 

Is it because you're American that this simple concept eludes you?

 

 

Aw, youre just upset that you blew it with the hottie and now youre stuck with man hands. Does she have hair around her areola too?

[Pidesco]

1. Count how many press-ups you can do in two minutes. You can stop and rest in the middle if you have to, or as many tiems as you like.

2. Count how many sit-ups you can do in two minutes. Ditto conditions. Tuck your feet under something or hae someone hold them down.

3. Run 1.5 miles. Ditto conditions, although you should keep walking if you need to 'rest'.

 

1. 35

2. 109

 

 

Abs of steel, arms of putty.

[Amentep]

Hopefully this doesn't get the thread too far off track, but...

 

I used to enjoy doing situps/pushups as a part of my exercise routine, but after I broke my ankle, I find it impossible to get into proper position for pushups due to a certain immobility of one of my toes also injured in the fall.

 

Does anyone know of some way to modify pushups so as to get their benefit without necessarily putting the same kind of toe mobility requirements on it? Putting all the pressure on one foot isn't the way to go.

 

Given that I'm now at the heaviest I've ever been, I really need to get back into a routine but I'm a bit stumped on this one.

[Gfted1]

Hopefully this doesn't get the thread too far off track, but...

 

I used to enjoy doing situps/pushups as a part of my exercise routine, but after I broke my ankle, I find it impossible to get into proper position for pushups due to a certain immobility of one of my toes also injured in the fall.

 

Does anyone know of some way to modify pushups so as to get their benefit without necessarily putting the same kind of toe mobility requirements on it? Putting all the pressure on one foot isn't the way to go.

 

Given that I'm now at the heaviest I've ever been, I really need to get back into a routine but I'm a bit stumped on this one.

 

 

Maybe do pushups from your knees?

[Amentep]

That's what my brother suggested; not sure what to pros vs cons of the modified pushup is though.

[Walsingham]

That's what my brother suggested; not sure what to pros vs cons of the modified pushup is though.

 

I've seen women doing pushups from the knee. And I don't mean in clubs in Amsterdam. However, I also heard those same women saying the pushups could be really bad for your back.

 

Anyway, on with today. Apologies for the late posting. I actually spent the whole day playing Masters of Orion, which is bad, and I'm being honest so I don't do it again.

 

Walk-jog for 20 minutes, 1 min walk, 3 min run. Same deal as before

 

 

1x press up max

2x5 dorsal raises

2x5 tricep dips

1x situp max

 

And presumably 30-90 secs rest between sets as before

 

~~

 

Phase 2 chaps, you're on:

 

10 minute warm up

 

circuit training, 2x 12 of each of the following:

 

Press ups,

twist sit-ups [elbow to opposite knee],

step-ups with knee to chest,

tricep dips,

walking lunge [ like a fencer's attack lunge],

situps,

one-legged squat [i have no idea],

dorsal raises

[alanschu]

Does anyone know of some way to modify pushups so as to get their benefit without necessarily putting the same kind of toe mobility requirements on it? Putting all the pressure on one foot isn't the way to go.

 

If you have a pair of decent indoor shoes, try using them.

 

When I do pushups with my shoes on, I don't bend my toes at all, and am literally on the front tip of my shoes. With most of the weight on my arms, the stiffness of the shoe is more than enough to prevent my toes from bending.

 

To be honest, I actually find it more comfortable to do pushups that way.

Edited September 28, 2009 by alanschu