Dieting again.

[MrHat]

Congrats bud.  If I was around we could exercise together! *insert joke about being round*

I wouldn't fully trust those built ins on the cardio machines.  From what I can gather from everywhere, they lie.

[Johny Cee]

Yeah, I'm using dumbbells (15 lbs) on each arm.  I have *really* skinny arms.  I'll do 3 sets of 10 curls really quick before I run out of time between the variety of push-ups I'm doing (Regular, Wide, Closed).  But like I said, trying to ease into it.  I can probably do more on the curls but I don't want to overdo it.

With dumbbells,  and any free weight, form is very important.  Take your time, make sure you have full extension, don't jerk or bounce the weight.  You want to isolate the muscle group you're working on.  I've never been a fan of machines (Nautilus or whatever) because it's so easy to cheat on form and balance.

Even when I was benching 250,  I never really did more than 30 lb. dumbells because that was the weight I could do alot of slow, good form reps. 

The other problem with bad form,  if you stay with your regimen, is you really do lose alot flexibility/extension if you're not minding your form.

[LK]

You mean keep the stomach sucked in, slow, controlled motions, don't lock your elbows and stuff like that? That's probably the most difficult part since discipline has never been my strong suit.  I started doing push-ups for the first time to gauge my strength but I think I was screwing around with a bad form.  So now that I've been focusing on trying to do them right instead of trying to do them, it's been harder.

[stray]

What he said...

For example, as far as curls go, you're said that you're doing them quick... But you should only pull up quick. Then when you bring it down, ease out slowly. Same goes for just about anything else. Rule of thumb is to exercise more control over the negative movement of an exercise.

Or maybe that pertains to technique, not form. Form-wise, just stay erect, contract your back a bit.  

On the other hand, there are cheat curls -- where you're supposed to bend... But I won't get into that.

[Johny Cee]

You mean keep the stomach sucked in, slow, controlled motions, don't lock your elbows and stuff like that? That's probably the most difficult part since discipline has never been my strong suit.  I started doing push-ups for the first time to gauge my strength but I think I was screwing around with a bad form.  So now that I've been focusing on trying to do them right instead of trying to do them, it's been harder.

Back straight, elbows/upper arms pulled into your sides.  Make sure that you're lifting up with your arms.  Don't cheat by lifting with your back (slump and then pull your back up) or by kicking your elbows out and helping with your shoulders.

It helps to stand against a wall,  and concentrate on trying to keep everything steady and in the same place. 

[Murgos]

I think that the thing to remember is that with proper form you may not be able to do as many/as much weight but you will get better & faster results and most importantly won't injure yourself.

Any decent 15 dollar weight training book will give you hundreds of exercises and guidance on proper form and technique for doing them.  Remember if it hurts while you are performing the exercise, you are doing it wrong.  Slow down, use less weight and try and figure out what motion is causing the pain and adjust yourself accordingly.  Or, just go to a different exercise altogether.

[Signe]

It sounds like you all are going to look as if you were in prison.  Big arms, big chest, fat tummy and arse.   It sounds unpleasant.

[slog]

You mean keep the stomach sucked in, slow, controlled motions, don't lock your elbows and stuff like that? That's probably the most difficult part since discipline has never been my strong suit.  I started doing push-ups for the first time to gauge my strength but I think I was screwing around with a bad form.  So now that I've been focusing on trying to do them right instead of trying to do them, it's been harder.

When I do curls, I do them while sitting on an Exercise Ball.  It forces you to stay balanced and keep good form. 

[Nebu]

When I do curls, I do them while sitting on an Exercise Ball.  It forces you to stay balanced and keep good form. 

Exercise balls are an excellent tool for developing form and building core strength while working other parts of the body. 

I love going to the gym and watching the college kids swing their entire body to curl an extra 5 lbs.  I don't think they understand the point of weight training beyond a way to look at the girls on the eliptical machines.  On that note, how the hell do people read while riding exercise bikes, stair-steppers, etc.?  I always thought that if you could read a magazine, there's no way in hell your doing your cardiovascular system much good.   

[stray]

On that note, how the hell do people read while riding exercise bikes, stair-steppers, etc.?

We are advanced human beings. 

[bhodi]

On that note, how the hell do people read while riding exercise bikes, stair-steppers, etc.?  I always thought that if you could read a magazine, there's no way in hell your doing your cardiovascular system much good.   

When doing cardio, you aren't supposed to be pushing so hard that you are straining to take the next step, like you are when doing weight training. A steady rhythm for a period of time is just as useful as long as you're at your target heart rate. That target is generally low enough that you can pay attention to other stuff, reading, listening to audiobooks (my favorite!) or watching TV.

Now, when you're starting out you can't do it, but after you've had some conditioning, it's not too hard.

[Murgos]

When I do curls, I do them while sitting on an Exercise Ball.  It forces you to stay balanced and keep good form. 

I was watching some surfing documentary and they were interviewing Laird Hamilton and they filmed some of his work out routine.  The man was standing on an exercise ball while curling what looked like 50 lb dumbbells with perfect form.   

B A L A N C E - balance </Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez>

[Nebu]

When doing cardio, you aren't supposed to be pushing so hard that you are straining to take the next step, like you are when doing weight training. A steady rhythm for a period of time is just as useful as long as you're at your target heart rate. That target is generally low enough that you can pay attention to other stuff, reading, listening to audiobooks (my favorite!) or watching TV.

Now, when you're starting out you can't do it, but after you've had some conditioning, it's not too hard.

I run almost daily and have been a competitive distance runner in the past.  I can't imagine reading while training on a stationary bicycle at 180 bpm, especially after 20 mins or so during hill intervals.  I guess it's a difference in workout goals.  If people are only interested in riding the bike as maintenence, then I suppose that's doable.  I've never trained for maintenence in my life and assume that's why it's so foreign to me. 

[Arnold]

Most of it.

Push-up aren't going to build big biceps anyway.  They are more chest and tri.  Push-ups are very easy to plateau on as well, you can easily get to a point where several hundreds of push-ups don't really do anything for you.  Don't get me wrong, they are a great exercise, you just need to do other things as well.

I'm starting to get into bodyweight stuff after being just into weights before.  There are lots of ways to make the pushup more difficult - clapping pushups, Hindu pushups, one armed pushups, leg-elevated one arm pushups, one arm/one leg pushups, handstand pushups, handstand clapping-pushups...

Check out beastskills.com, that dude IS a beast.  The video of the handstand clapping pushups is crazy.

[voodoolily]

Why does a diet thread always degenerate into a Pump You UP thread?

[Lantyssa]

Fear of being perceived as girly men.

Which is funny since it's a diet thread.

[MrHat]

  is a definite diet.

I haven't been able to keep anything solid down in 2 days.

[Lantyssa]

 

[Samwise]

Conveniently, the all-liquid diet tends to go well with  .  Not that it stays down any better, of course (if you're doing it right).

[Teleku]

Why does a diet thread always degenerate into a Pump You UP thread?

I think because everybody who has health advice knowns that the most effective way to loose weight is to combo dieting with exercise, not just one or the other.  Which then leads into the many questions on what sorts of exercises to do and how to do them correctly...

[dannyBstyle]

i fucking hate fat people

[Arnold]

Why does a diet thread always degenerate into a Pump You UP thread?

Most people who are "dieting" just want to look good naked.

[stray]

Why does a diet thread always degenerate into a Pump You UP thread?

I think because everybody who has health advice knowns that the most effective way to loose weight is to combo dieting with exercise, not just one or the other.  Which then leads into the many questions on what sorts of exercises to do and how to do them correctly...

This. You will lose the good along with the bad by just dieting.

For women, I don't think this matters much though. I prefer an athletic woman, but it's all good. For guys, losing fat and having no muscle tissue to speak of is almost as bad as being overweight. Looks-wise. Health-wise, you're in a better boat, but not by much.

[Jeff Kelly]

Why does a diet thread always degenerate into a Pump You UP thread?

If you just eat less your body not only loses fat but also muscle mass. Also dieting without exercise tells your body to go into energy saving mode. Less muscles means less overall energy consumption making you more likely to gain weight when you stop dieting even more so because in energy saving mode your body will accumulate more fat reserves to use for times without food.

This is one of the main causes of the yo-yo effect.

So in order to lose weight effectively you should:

- excercise regularly to increase energy consumption and to retain muscle mass

- never be hungry. You lose more weight if you eat regularly because then your body won't hold on to your fat reserves. So instead of 3 big meals eat 4 - 6 small ones. You can always eat fresh fruit or vegetables or low-fat curd or low-fat yoghurt if you are hungry.

- Don't lose too much weight at once. More than 1 Kilogram per week is unhealthy.

[Selby]

I can't imagine reading while training on a stationary bicycle at 180 bpm, especially after 20 mins or so during hill intervals.

I usually grind levels away in some game.  I can't read and actually retain most of it while doing the nasty 30m part of my ride, but I can do the grind ;-)

[Signe]

i fucking hate fat people

You probably don't belong here then.  There are tons of fat fucks on this site who could wither your nuts just by thinking it.  Run while you still have half a brain, sunshine.  Well, I looked at your website, it's probably too late to save either half of your brain.

[MrHat]

i fucking hate fat people

You probably don't belong here then.  There are tons of fat fucks on this site who could wither your nuts just by thinking it.  Run while you still have half a brain, sunshine.  Well, I looked at your website, it's probably too late to save either half of your brain.

Wow.  Signe is my hero this week.

[schild]

i fucking hate fat people

You probably don't belong here then.  There are tons of fat fucks on this site who could wither your nuts just by thinking it.  Run while you still have half a brain, sunshine.  Well, I looked at your website, it's probably too late to save either half of your brain.

Danny doesn't know how to use green text.

[Lantyssa]

There are tons of fat fucks on this site who could wither your nuts just by thinking it.  Run while you still have half a brain, sunshine.

Look, it worked!

This made me want to listen to Katrina and the Waves.

[Signe]

There are tons of fat fucks on this site who could wither your nuts just by thinking it.  Run while you still have half a brain, sunshine.

Look, it worked!

This made me want to listen to Katrina and the Waves.

Tell me it ain't so!   

[Lantyssa]

I like Walking on Sunshine.  Why does everyone mock me for it?

[Signe]

It's okay, Lantyssa.  It could be the best song ever and I would probably dis it because it was a Eurovision Song Contest winner.  Regardless, I love it when people admit to liking something that everyone else will mock them for... you and Walking on Sunshine, me and Big Brother, Schildy and Affliction clothing... more people should do it!  We have CHARACTER! 

[Reg]

And yet I received nothing but abuse for liking Flash Gordon!

[Der Helm]

Schildy and Affliction clothing...

I have been wondering about that. It has nothing to do with WoW  warlocks, does it ?

[Signe]

Don't worry, Reg.  It builds character when you are made to suffer for the naff things you love.  Unless it's like sheep you're loving or sommat.

You'll have to ask Schildy about haute couture for young men, Der Helm.  I still like black jeans and safety pins.