heywood on 2/7/2012 at 11:31
Tried it Sunday. I've always liked doing "squat thrusts" for an aerobic workout in a confined space, and the burpee is a good extension to that (+1). I couldn't manage the handstand push-ups without cheating. I used to do them when I was in my 20s, but my deltoids aren't nearly as strong anymore. One issue I'm still stuck on is that it's difficult to find something to do pull-ups from, and I don't have any good alternatives with a pull down or rowing motion to work the lats and traps.
Quote Posted by Yakoob
Somebody mentioned
booze and I'm curious... I always hear how it will completely destroy your exercise efforts, but at the same time, lots of research says a small amount a day (2-4 units for a guy) is actually benenficial to health. So is it just binge drinking that's bad, then? Or can I enjoy my tea with shot of whiskey in the evening without going all "BUT MY GLUTES!"
In low-moderate quantities, the only downside I'm aware of is that alcohol is a diuretic. But if you're eating a high protein diet with creatine supplement for muscle gain, that can stress your kidneys. And heavy drinking can also stress your kidneys.
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Give (
http://osalrex.110mb.com/index.html) 5BX a try; as I mentioned, it's just 11 mins a day and, while it wont get you in top shape, it will get your heart rate up and, if my case is any indication, give you noticeable energy and morale boost :) Plus, 11 mins!
Dead link for me :(
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AS for eating out... I am trying to get out of a stigmatization rut because, honestly, eating out is only as unhealthy as you make it (and in many cases, can even be healthier than homecooked meals).
If you are concerned about calories, just eat less (many restaurants now show caloric amounts next to dishes). I routenily pack half my plate for a nice lunch the next day :)
If you are concerned about "healthiness" well... go for the better options then. Ya you can get fat and carb ladden fetucine alfredo, or the grilled chicken on sauted veggies. Take-out sandwiches are usually no worse than those you make at home, and you can always ask for whole-wheat bread or no mayo/cheese/dressing on the side.
Also look into non-US cuisines that are NOT US-ran chains. Asian food in particular tends to be pretty healthy, but again I am talking mostly about local shops ran by actual asians, not Panda Express. I just had some Korean BBQ the other day - a whole plate of chicken and pork I just grilled myself? Kimchee and Broccoli-salad sides? This shit is healtheir than half the meals I cook at home :p
I have 5 Thai, 1 Japanese, 1 Chinese, 1 Indonesian, 1 Indian, and 4 Italian cafes within a short walk from my apartment plus a few nicer restaurants, so I tend to eat a lot of Asian and Italian when I'm home. I should cut back on the pasta, pizza, and rice. The bigger problem is that I spend ~1/3 of my time away from home, the majority of that in southern England in places where healthy eating seems more of a challenge at the end of a long day. I know, excuses, excuses...
Thirith on 2/7/2012 at 12:01
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
I'm of Scots/Irish ancestry. I'm fucked. Why bother?
Scots Taffer, in the Fitness thread, with the deep-fried Mars bar.
Yakoob on 2/7/2012 at 20:42
Quote Posted by Bakerman
18-25 years old... chart 5... level C... holy crap! 35 clapping push-ups in one minute? I'm tempted to give this a go.
Errr, I think you are looking at the other end of the program, it starts really tame and each chart ups the difficulty. Initially I was doing only like 5 knee pushups, building to like 15, then it switches to full push up, then a wide push up etc. Same for all the other exercises. So if you start at the bottom (as you should) its so easy you will probably feel you can do more, but give it a few weeks and it will start kicking your butt :)
And I am in the same category as you, my arms have always been my weakest link. I can do all the exercise at 2x the capacity easily, but I can baaarely reach the required push-up counts :/ I cheat by taking like 10-second recovery breaks halfway through and going over the 1 minute limit but hey, whats a guy gunna do right?
Ya the site seems to have been funking out lately, but just google and you'll find plenty of PDFs of the program (and modern, updated versions). (
http://gregsadetsky.com/_files/5bx-plan.pdf) Here's one. you may want to try to look yourself, I hear there are newer and updated version that are supposed to be a bit more safe (and lemme know if you find it, I havent found one but I didnt look too hard either).
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One issue I'm still stuck on is that it's difficult to find something to do pull-ups from,
Aye, same issue I have when I try to do at-home exercise. I've been using my broom propped on two books to hold on to for push ups so I dont strain my wrists too much, but I cant think of any two higher things to prop it on for lying pull ups. Chairs have... not worked out too well in the past :p
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I have 5 Thai, 1 Japanese, 1 Chinese, 1 Indonesian, 1 Indian, and 4 Italian cafes within a short walk from my apartment plus a few nicer restaurants, so I tend to eat a lot of Asian and Italian when I'm home. I should cut back on the pasta, pizza, and rice. The bigger problem is that I spend ~1/3 of my time away from home, the majority of that in southern England in places where healthy eating seems more of a challenge at the end of a long day. I know, excuses, excuses...
Aye, I can see your dilemma. Do you like biking? You can always get a cheapo bike and extend your reachable distance, if there's better alternatives - this way you get both food AND exercise on your lunch break :D Alternatively, if you have time and resources (not so much when traveling) you can make your own lunches / sandwiches. Even doing it only 1/3 or half the time might be beneficial to your health.
Oh and switch to brown rice, and you dont need to worry about having too much of it, afaik its an excellent source of carbs, which you do need in your diet.
And after living in North Ireland and traveling around, I can fully understand the extra difficulty. The United Kingdom really does not have a very good cuisine (sorry chaps!), and does not have a concept of healthy food. It basically boils down to "lets take x, y and z and FRY IT!" :P
Muzman on 3/7/2012 at 05:49
It's interesting there's a lot of exercises in these intense routines that were cut from official and education programs (here) years ago because people regularly fuck up their backs doing them (burpees, clapping pushups etc)
I wonder if they've had a bit of a rethink.
Fafhrd on 3/7/2012 at 06:32
I don't think so. Any high-impact exercise is going to wreak havoc on your skeleton (your spine especially), but the point of these workouts is to 'get results fast,' not 'ensure you don't have crippling arthritis in your old age.'
Endoskeletons are meant for living in water. Evolution just figured a way to make them work with a failure rate low enough to keep animals that have them from going extinct.
Muzman on 3/7/2012 at 08:16
Yeah s'pose. Still skeletal stress is having a bit of a comeback, particularly load bearing exercise, as a way of preventing osteo arthritis in old age, or so I hear.
I guess the main reason these sorts of things were cut in the first place is that they're easy to over do or do wrong, so they just removed them altogether. Many might be ok if you know what you're doing. Their appearance in these individual DIY, "get fit fast" programs might mean people want to get a bit of guidance.
faetal on 3/7/2012 at 09:22
Quote Posted by Yakoob
And after living in North Ireland and traveling around, I can fully understand the extra difficulty. The United Kingdom really does not have a very good cuisine (sorry chaps!), and does not have a concept of healthy food. It basically boils down to "lets take x, y and z and FRY IT!" :P
It's true that our affordable restaurant cuisine tends to be on the fatty side, this is why I cook my own food. It's an indispensable life skill.
Thirith on 3/7/2012 at 10:11
Quote Posted by faetal
It's true that our affordable restaurant cuisine tends to be on the fatty side, this is why I cook my own food. It's an indispensable life skill.
Plus, potential romantic interests tend to react well to having a nice dinner prepared for them. :D
faetal on 3/7/2012 at 10:24
That I can vouch for :)
Also, bizarrely, after being in a lab all day running experiments, my preferred method of relaxing when I get home is to cook, despite it being more or less identical to running experiments.
Neb on 3/7/2012 at 10:59
I'd liken my cooking to a clinical trial. I even make the participants sign a waiver.
