Fitness Thread

[O Really]

So Steve Spurrier is featured as being "in great shape." Seriously? As he hobbles along in his sweater vest?
http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... ecocks-sec
wor
So he lifts light 20lb dumbells a lot of times? So he does (with truly awful form) "400 crunches on the ball"? So he shrugs 30 pounds 300 times? Puh-leeze.
I'm not a famous football coach and Heisman winner, but I fart in his general direction at his workout. I don't shrug 30 pounds 300 times - I shrug 300 pounds 30 times. Is there a difference? I don't do 400 crunches on a ball - I do 50 hanging leg lifts. I don't do 15 pound presses, I do sets of 70 pound kettle bell swings. I bench 230, squat 275, and farmer walk 300 - at a weight of 180. Not to say he's not in shape, but why don't I get a feature on Yahoo?

I know, I don't get a feature on Yahoo because I'm not a famous coach or other celebrity. I don't really care. But I thought it would be fun to have a fitness thread. What do you do to stave away the obesity epidemic? How do you exercise - what's fun, and what's misery?

[JTA]

So Steve Spurrier is featured as being "in great shape." Seriously? As he hobbles along in his sweater vest?
http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... ecocks-sec
wor
So he lifts light 20lb dumbells a lot of times? So he does (with truly awful form) "400 crunches on the ball"? So he shrugs 30 pounds 300 times? Puh-leeze.
I'm not a famous football coach and Heisman winner, but I fart in his general direction at his workout. I don't shrug 30 pounds 300 times - I shrug 300 pounds 30 times. Is there a difference? I don't do 400 crunches on a ball - I do 50 hanging leg lifts. I don't do 15 pound presses, I do sets of 70 pound kettle bell swings. I bench 230, squat 275, and farmer walk 300 - at a weight of 180. Not to say he's not in shape, but why don't I get a feature on Yahoo?

I know, I don't get a feature on Yahoo because I'm not a famous coach or other celebrity. I don't really care. But I thought it would be fun to have a fitness thread. What do you do to stave away the obesity epidemic? How do you exercise - what's fun, and what's misery?

I bought one if those pull up bars you put in a doorway. Ive definitely been noticing some results in using it regularly over the past few months. Same with using a resistance band. Other than weight lifting I run on my treadmill three or four days a week and eat right. Dont eat bread at all, dont drink beer during the week. No sodas, no sweets, etc. This seems to have worked for me for a while now.

[O Really]

I never did like a treadmill, nor running in general for that matter. Love to hike, though.

[JTA]

I never did like a treadmill, nor running in general for that matter. Love to hike, though.

Ditto.You can't beat hiking. Treadmill + incline works for those days when its raining or when I get home from work and need to work out.

[O Really]

Have you tried the kettlebells?

[JTA]

Have you tried the kettlebells?

Nah, a friend of mine also suggested them to me though. I might have to pick one up. I like the idea of using free weights vs. gym equipment, so I might have to pick up one. I'm always unsure of what size weight to get though, as silly as that sounds.

[O Really]

Have you tried the kettlebells?

Nah, a friend of mine also suggested them to me though. I might have to pick one up. I like the idea of using free weights vs. gym equipment, so I might have to pick up one. I'm always unsure of what size weight to get though, as silly as that sounds.

Not silly at all. Most males in reasonable condition would start with a 35-pounder. Too light and it does no good. Too heavy and you get hurt. Look at the training vids to get the movement right. You're hinging at the waist, back straight, and the arms just guide the KB. Most of the work is glutes, but it works pretty much all muscle groups. There are more exercises than just swinging, too. After you've gotten some experience, you'd increase the weight gradually. At first, you'll do sets of ten swings and by ten should be ready to set it down. Then, after you can do 15 or more fairly comfortably, consider increasing the weight. Don't just pick up the bigger KB and fling it, however - start with a few reps, maybe 5, until you build up.

There are some who say that a good KB workout and some time spent in farmer's walk is all you need to hit every muscle in your body. Of course, they also say it's boring to both your mind and body to do the same stuff over and over.

[JTA]

Have you tried the kettlebells?

Nah, a friend of mine also suggested them to me though. I might have to pick one up. I like the idea of using free weights vs. gym equipment, so I might have to pick up one. I'm always unsure of what size weight to get though, as silly as that sounds.

Not silly at all. Most males in reasonable condition would start with a 35-pounder. Too light and it does no good. Too heavy and you get hurt. Look at the training vids to get the movement right. You're hinging at the waist, back straight, and the arms just guide the KB. Most of the work is glutes, but it works pretty much all muscle groups. There are more exercises than just swinging, too. After you've gotten some experience, you'd increase the weight gradually. At first, you'll do sets of ten swings and by ten should be ready to set it down. Then, after you can do 15 or more fairly comfortably, consider increasing the weight. Don't just pick up the bigger KB and fling it, however - start with a few reps, maybe 5, until you build up.

There are some who say that a good KB workout and some time spent in farmer's walk is all you need to hit every muscle in your body. Of course, they also say it's boring to both your mind and body to do the same stuff over and over.

Thanks man. Hell I might go out and pick one up today.

[O Really]

The KB's can also be used in ways similar to dumbbells. Curls, tricep extension, presses - plus look at the Turkish Get-Up.
Here's some that go past the basic swing... http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/f ... ettlebells

[Mr.B]

"So Steve Spurrier is featured as being "in great shape." Seriously? As he hobbles along in his sweater vest?"
I have a couple of those sweater vests; they never helped in any way to keep me in shape.

"I know, I don't get a feature on Yahoo because I'm not a famous coach or other celebrity. I don't really care.
Are you 70 years old?

I'm not, but I keep busy enough to prevent a gut from growing around my waist.

[JTA]

The KB's can also be used in ways similar to dumbbells. Curls, tricep extension, presses - plus look at the Turkish Get-Up.
Here's some that go past the basic swing... http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/f ... ettlebells

50 bucks for a 35 lb kettle bell.

Kettle bell or fishing stuff? Dammit!

Kettle bell is going to have to wait this time. Fishing stuff it is.

[O Really]

The KB's can also be used in ways similar to dumbbells. Curls, tricep extension, presses - plus look at the Turkish Get-Up.
Here's some that go past the basic swing... http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/f ... ettlebells

50 bucks for a 35 lb kettle bell.

Kettle bell or fishing stuff? Dammit!

Kettle bell is going to have to wait this time. Fishing stuff it is.

Understood. I know you like to fish. You might want to try out with your friend's equipment before buying, too. Not everybody likes the KB's.

[JTA]

The KB's can also be used in ways similar to dumbbells. Curls, tricep extension, presses - plus look at the Turkish Get-Up.
Here's some that go past the basic swing... http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/f ... ettlebells

50 bucks for a 35 lb kettle bell.

Kettle bell or fishing stuff? Dammit!

Kettle bell is going to have to wait this time. Fishing stuff it is.

Understood. I know you like to fish. You might want to try out with your friend's equipment before buying, too. Not everybody likes the KB's.

I think I've used one before, seemed like it was alright. I may still get one anyway, I need to step up my game a little. It's hard to get motivated. Sometimes I usually eat a bunch of junk food on Fridays. I call it the Friday Night 40 Large Pizza Challenge [tm]. A time honored tradition passed down from the ancestors of olde.

[O Really]

Ha! - I can relate. But really, I only eat pizza or bagels in NY or NJ. As it turns out, I had both this week. I left home on Tuesday weighing 178; returned home Friday night at 184. Salt/water weight, but still. That's what those Friday night pizzas do. Sure was good, though. Properly folded - no fork.

[O Really]

I may still get one anyway, I need to step up my game a little. It's hard to get motivated. Sometimes I usually eat a bunch of junk food on Fridays. I call it the Friday Night 40 Large Pizza Challenge [tm]. A time honored tradition passed down from the ancestors of olde.

I'd have a hard time getting motivated without some structure and some training partners.
But if you only eat junk on Fridays, it probably doesn't matter. Enjoy. But if the Friday pizza turns into Saturday breakfast, and lunches off the food truck tend to have fries and fat, and breakfast is more Hardee's sausage biscuits, then the step up game gets a little more difficult.

[GoCubsGo]

Ha! - I can relate. But really, I only eat pizza or bagels in NY or NJ. As it turns out, I had both this week. I left home on Tuesday weighing 178; returned home Friday night at 184. Salt/water weight, but still. That's what those Friday night pizzas do. Sure was good, though. Properly folded - no fork.

You deep dissin' Chicago pizza?

[O Really]

Ha! - I can relate. But really, I only eat pizza or bagels in NY or NJ. As it turns out, I had both this week. I left home on Tuesday weighing 178; returned home Friday night at 184. Salt/water weight, but still. That's what those Friday night pizzas do. Sure was good, though. Properly folded - no fork.

You deep dissin' Chicago pizza?

No, but I rarely get to Chicago, whereas I'm in NY fairly often. The only time I'm in Chicago is in the airport on the way home from Wisconsin. However, I'm not that fond of deep dish - cultural thing, I guess. I read somewhere eating it turns you into a Cubs fan and makes you believe in miracles and be eternally disappointed.

But I like most any pizza actually. Even pizza hut stuff. My "eat only in NY/NJ" rule is a version of "portion control," not a reflection of the quality of pizza in other places.

[GoCubsGo]

All that extra cheese is probably impeding the blood supply to our brains (as long as that's the only vital organ affected, Chicagoans will live with it). I'll pass on pizza hut and dominoes for quality of any type, if I'm going to poison myself I want good poison.

What was it that Mel Brooks said; Something about pizza and sex?

[O Really]

I said "pizza hut" would be acceptable if nothing better is around. I didn't mention Dominos, which I consider to be a couple notches down from Genaro's or whatever the bake at home frozen stuff is. If it's not freshly made, tossed in front of you, and served by people who don't speak English as a first language, it's not real.

[O Really]

If you do decide to go with the KB's, here's something to get you started... http://greatist.com/fitness/22-kick-ass ... -exercises