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2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Guess I`ll start a new H&F thread for the New Year. Heh heh, I sometimes feel like I`m just posting to myself on these, or maybe like I`m trying to compel participation by a disinterested audience, but anyhow...
This Holiday Season I once again indulged in whatever I wanted/as much as I wanted, and did *even less* exercise, but apparently didn`t gain the usual (modest) amount of bodyfat, did not lose strength/size, nor did my cardio performance suffer. The cold weather doesn`t seem to affect me the way it used to either. I credit a better metabolism due to not being as overtrained as I was previously.
My challenge now might be to avoid the temptations that can lead to (a return to) overtraining... "Eh, need to keep improving! Must need to do something *MORE*"... Wrong wrong wrong, I need to do something *BETTER* instead.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Been battling the funk going around since after Christmas. Started to feel back to normal but back under it this weekend. Made it to the gym a couple times, but not the start I’d wanted.
Been having some issues lately with what seems like an allergic reaction, but the allergist says it’s some weird thing called CIU- things just swell for no apparent reason. They’re doing blood work to rule out other stuff, but it might be thyroid related, which runs in the family. If they identify hypothyroid/Hashimoto it’ll be interesting to see if fixing that helps with fat loss and energy levels and whatnot.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
I ate like a fu**ing pig over the holidays..put on 8 pounds. Time to get my fat ass back into the pool and get my hand out of the sweets.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
jrock645- You`ve certainly had more than your fair share of challenges!
My allergies drive me nuts too, and for some reason they`ve been especially bad the last few weeks. Sure don`t sound anything like what you`re dealing with though.
richy- Heh heh, at least you`re being conscious/aware of it!
Let`s see, 8lbs. in about six weeks, huh? So, what`d ya think... six weeks to get back to baseline? Got a plan worked out?
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Exercise Topic that`s currently intriguing me- Rep speed, especially the negative part of the movements, and how the nature of the resistance factors in.
Not as straightforward as I`d previously thought even if I am splitting hairs, and it`s gonna take me a while to come to some coherent hypotheses, let alone conclusions. (Conclusions about what`s right for *ME* at least, which might not work for anybody else.. even though I do always wonder about such differences.)
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Started on my Ketogenic diet (low carb, high (healthy) fat and low/moderate protein) on 10/2. Since then, I`ve lost 36 lbs overall (211 to 175.) Only recently started exercising with 2x per week 15 min or so of 4 eccentric-focused (the negative part Accumulator referred to) exercises. Kind of easy - once you figure out what you can eat and should avoid. Never hungry. Down to what I weighed shortly after graduating college 30+ years ago. Need new clothes but still haven`t bottomed out.
Highly recommended.
Thanks Accumulator. I am now more accountable as I`ve publicly typed this.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
mjllinane- Yeah, IMO that "I am now more accountable.." can make a difference. Whatever keeps us motivated :D
Interesting that you`re doing the eccentric-focused workouts..I`d be interested to hear how you`re going about it and to hear about how the progress goes over time.
I guess I just knee-jerk against the Ketogenic approach because of the way it gives *ME* mental sluggishness and a serious lack of energy. I`m starting to think that many others just don`t have such problems from it..Hey, whatever works for ya.
And yeah...get the diet that`s right for *you* figured out and you should never feel hungry or deprived.
Oh, and heh heh, I weigh nearly 50 lbs. *more* than when I graduated, but it`s the good kind of weight ;)
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Mjlinane, Good work on losing the weight. Can you give us a sample of your diet ? I have read about it before and remember there is a two or so week period where you feel sluggish, is that true. I would like to lose about 10-20 lbs.
Accumulator - thanks for starting this thread
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Eccentric: First, why? I have just recovered from a severe bout of sciatica so want the benefits with the least risk of injury and people are much stronger in the eccentric phase (let down) of movement than in the concentric (push away) phase. I also don`t want to spend the time exercising that I did was younger. Always remember, exercise should be tailored to goal - no "one size fits all." I do 4 basic exercises - just differently. 1) Pull up or, more precisely, the let down part. Cheat on the up (if you have to) and take 10 sec on the down movement. 6 reps. If you aren`t wiped out at the end of the 6 reps, you aren`t using enough resistance. One arm (with help), weight vest, whatever. 2) Push up (let down). Same thing, get to the top and slowly lower yourself in 10 sec. 6 reps. Again, if aren`t wiped, add resistance (elevated feet, 1 arm, etc). 3) Shoulder press. I use kettlebells because I have and like them. I clean the bell, push press to the top and then reverse military press down for 10 sec. 6 reps. Then the other arm. Want more weight than you can press with 1 arm but less than you can easily do with both. 4) One legged (pistol) squats. Lift 1 leg, slowly sit on the other for 10 sec. 6 reps. Add or take away resistance (weight, handles) as necessary. Done.
Meals: I am quite boring and generally eat mostly the same things most days - and am perfectly happy with that.
Non-workout day
Breakfast - Bulletproof coffee (coffee, butter and MCT oil and 12 sec in a blender). Looks like a latte and tastes like black coffee. I do a "mocha" variant with 100% unsweetened cacao powder, vanilla extract, maca root and Stevia. Tastes way better than you`d expect.
Lunch - same.
Dinner - I make a soup I really like with bone broth, tons (like 8 cups) of leafy greens and cruciferous veggies, avocado oil, chicken of some sort, lemon juice and lots of spices plus a side of good meat and/or nuts.
Workout days
In addition to the coffee, I will have fish (like lemon pepper grilled cod) and eggs (sunny-side up) for breakfast and lunch plus the same soup minus the sides for dinner. Note for fat loss guys - if you eat a meal, it needs to have more than 30g of protein to kick off the muscle repair system in the body. Not only is building muscle good, it burns more calories than the calories contained in a nutrient-dense source like cod and goes on for 3 hours. So space the meals further apart than that.
No reason to be as boring as me though. Chicken or shrimp alfredo with zucchini/squash noodles, low carb pancakes and breads are really easy to make and taste surprisingly good. I generally only eat at steak houses when I go out (darn! ;) ).
I do get asked a lot about "cheat days." I tell them that, truthfully, I haven`t felt this good in longer than I can remember and have no desire to cheat. Obviously, you could.
Yes, the "Keto flu." Once you get passed it, brain fog you didn`t know you had will part and will have endless energy. Why? Story I heard about the cause of the Keto flu is that the body stores toxins in the fat and, once you start burning it, toxins are back in the body. Good story. Also, ketones are the preferred source of fuel for the brain and those are generated by the liver once the ready source of glucose/sugar from carbs is gone. Finally, the endless energy comes from, now that I metabolize fat efficiently, if my body needs 500 calories for some reason, it can readily get it off of my a$$ or wherever.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pgp
Mjlinane, Good work on losing the weight. Can you give us a sample of your diet ? I have read about it before and remember there is a two or so week period where you feel sluggish, is that true. I would like to lose about 10-20 lbs.
Accumulator - thanks for starting this thread
You really shouldn’t feel sluggish for that long. And when you do, it has nothing to do with a lack of carbs in your diet. It’s the salt being flushed out as your liver dumps glycogen. Eat some salty foods in the early goings of keto and you won’t have much trouble with fatigue.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jrock645
You really shouldn’t feel sluggish for that long. And when you do, it has nothing to do with a lack of carbs in your diet. It’s the salt being flushed out as your liver dumps glycogen. Eat some salty foods in the early goings of keto and you won’t have much trouble with fatigue.
Good point. Carbs do tend to hold water with them so minimizing them can lead to dehydration. Drink more water and add a bit more salt to your meals.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Different people apparently really *are* different, so I`m not flaming anybody when I post about differing results/experiences. Wanted to explicitly post that since this stuff can get all contentious with people thinking they know the Only Truth and I don`t want to come across that way :o
And when I inquire about any studies supporting/disproving things, I genuinely want to know so I can school myself. That said:
I`m curious about the idea that the brain and glycolytic muscle fibers don`t run on glucose. Any studies I can check out on that? People I know IRL have never done well on those diets for more than a few years.
Similarly, I`ve never seen any studies showing that more than ~25g protein can be used at one feeding. (Yes indeed, getting my protein requirements in such little doses is PIA, but that`s what works for me.)
Not that I`m gonna change my utterly dialed-in diet, just genuinely curious about the above.
I can`t gain size on low-rep sets and not going that heavy is perhaps my only concession to age other than the short/infrequent workouts and the EXTENDED recovery time.
I`m now doing 10-20 reps for everything other than abs and obliques (even calves and tibialis anteriors , I never did well with high-rep sets for either of those). One set per exercise, 1-8 exercises per body part.
Each bodypart still gets hit once every 10-21 (not a typo) days, other than abs/obliques which get done about every 5-7 days as I`m intentionally overtraining them in an (apparently successful) attempt to get *those* TypeII fibers to mimic Type I.
Chins/pull-ups (nobody seems to agree about which is which, I do mine with either a pronated or neutral grip) - I do mine with added weight from both plates on a dipping belt and elastic bands hooked to same (the bands were maybe my best idea in decades, other than decreasing the frequency/duration of my workouts).
Goal of my Resistance workouts is to potentiate the maximization of the size and number of my Type II muscle fibers. Goal of my cardio is to preserve overall health via the same.
Speaking of cardio, I`m still doing great on my *very* brief, max-effort sessions on the StairMaster and AirDyne. Longest is 18min., shortest is 11 min., and that 11 sometimes leaves me literally off the AirDyne and lying on the floor, hardest thing I ever do.
I don`t count the brisk cross-country do dog hikes as cardio; unless my heartrate gets up to at least 90% of my (actual) max, it`s merely "activity".
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
mjlinane- You`ve given me so much to think about and discuss! I`m really glad you`ve found ways to work around the sciatica.
Hope you don`t mind more discussion of stuff you touched on in your last post:
Heh heh, oh man...my hat`s off to you...doing Pistols with a 10sec. pause at the bottom! Do you hold a weight/kettlebell/etc. for added balance/resistance? I find Pistols *easier* with the weight as it makes the balancing so much easier. Sigh...my knees *always* started bugging me when I stuck with Pistols, so I basically don`t do them any more except to demonstrate `em to people. (The "experts" had predicted knee replacements for me by now, but zero issues as long as I don`t do the wrong stuff.)
The "slow negative/eccentric" is what I`ve done for ages, but some recent reading has made me question it *IN SOME CASES*. I`ll always do it with freeweights, if only for safety, but a study using experienced trainees seem to imply that *quicker* negatives (preferable with increased resistance, good luck without a training partner) are better for people who`ve been at this for a long time.
When the resistance is *elastic* (exercise bands, Soloflex, etc.) I suspect that doing the negatives quicker than I normally would might:
-result in less soreness, but, counter-intuitively...
-result in strength/hypertrophy gains
Sounds wacky huh?!? We`ll see what I think after some more experimentation, but I almost have to *force* myself to not do `em slow.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Recent study at Tufts seems to cast doubts on all the Conventional Wisdom related to the Glycemic Index/Load... Hmmm.....but again, I`m not gonna fix what isn`t broken.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Brain and muscles DO run on glucose. However the brain`s preferred fuel is ketones. Many studies are linking brain glucose levels with Alzheimer`s - from what I`ve heard. Way too lazy to actually read medical studies. Jonathan Bailor and his SANE solutions plus many other biohackers (Asprey, Ferriss) are pretty consistent about it. They claim to have read (and cite) such studies.
I am OK on pistols without a counterbalance for the moment but am not getting enough resistance so will be adding a kettlebell soon.
I exercise at home so am limited to dumbbells and kettlebells. Will be adding a far-infrared sauna on the 26th, though. Very excited!!
25 v. 30 - 25g may be the minimum but 30g guarantees you get 25g ;). If you come up a gram or 2 short, you still get the muscle neogenesis process kicked off.
If I do cardio, it is walk/run cycles or a HIIT variant.
That is why I had the note about goals - I am not trying to build muscle so infrequent works better. For me, anyway.
Not trying to convert anyone. Just what I`m doing and why.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
mjlinane- IMO you and I are pretty much on the same page, just maybe...uhm...different books :D
Heh heh, I simply love reading medical journal articles. But then OTOH, I will not, cannot, spend one moment watching Detailing videos! Go figure, huh? I started reading the studies (and not just the summaries, which I`ve learned are, uhm...unreliable) when I found that the interpretations of others were, uhm...striving to be inoffensive here...different how *I* would interpret them.
Anyhoo...
I too do all my training at home. Luckily, I`ve, uhm...accumulated...a pretty extensive gym. That StairMaster PT4000 was a wedding present from way back in `89 and it`s still going strong. The AirDyne is something that I utterly HATE doing, but it`s effective, and those are dirt-cheap used (because anybody with any sense will hate it :D ).
What do you do for your HIIT cardio? My warm ups are almost always 5 min on the StairMaster (Blast Off Program, level 7), and my Work Sessions are all 2:1 intervals, with the Work portion done at maximum intensity..well, as close as I can come since the StairMaster doesn`t go all that fast (so the first few intervals just aren`t that demanding).
Hope you love the sauna! It it gonna be a huge hassle construction-wise?
Oh, and I don`t really want to build more muscle either, last time I made a good change I outgrew a fortune in clothing (but did end up right where I want to be). Eh, I`d think I must`ve hit my genetic potential ages ago, I mean...there`s only so much we can do or we`d be lifting skyscrapers. I just use that as my goal since apparently most guys my age are *losing* muscle or otherwise finding their performance diminished, and I absolutely don`t want that.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Here`s something I`m still trying to figure out- Hamstrings and Delts are strongest in the stretched position (as opposed to everything else which`re strongest when contracted). How to accommodate that particular Strength Curve/Lengthening Factor?!?
The best I`ve come up with is to do those muscles with "1 and 1/4`s". I.e., I lift it up about 1/4 of the way, pause, lower slowly, and then do a full rep (that all equals "one rep"). Far from perfect, but better results than just doing straight reps.
Can`t help but think that there might be a better way...but how?!?
OK, enough posting...I suspect I`m just putting off today`s Leg Day ;) Time to lift: two different types of Squats, one set Good Mornings, one set Leg Curls, one each of Standing and Seated Calf Raises, a set for the Tibialis Anteriors with the Dynamic Axial Resistance Device ("DARD"), then a set for abs...shudder...don`t have to like it, just have to do it.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
My HIIT varies - depending on mood. Generally kettlebell swings (30s on, 30s off) until I hate life. (I like kettlebells.) Sometimes bodyweight stuff (commando planks, burpees, etc.). Gave away my exercise bike but did the Tabata in the day.
Sauna is a pre-fab kit so should be place, quarter turn latches and plug in. I hope.
Unreliable is being exceptionally kind. Even most studies really need to be scrutinized carefully. Many are designed to get a specific answer. (I worked in medical device industry for a decade. But WE never did that. ;) ) N=1 is really the only way to be sure.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Lol I was waiting for this!
So 2017 was a horrible year for getting on track for me. I started my 2018 goals 1 week before Christmas this year with my low carb/ ketogenic diet as I had enough of not fitting into my clothes and just feel all around horrible. To be honest I follow a simplified approach and keep my carb intake below 30grams per day and maintain a good level of healthy fats and lean protein. Carb sources are dark leafy greens like Kale, Spinach, Chard. I also use shirataki noodles, and make my own zuchini pasta etc which is a great alternative.
Breakfast - Bulletproof coffee, 1tbsp ghee, 1tbsp Brain Oil (MCT Oils)
Snack - 2-3 eggs scrambled, Avocado, salt and pepper, coconut oil
Lunch - Lean Protein, Avocado, Spinach and Kale salad, home made ranch dressing or whatever I meal prep really which is Keto/ low carb, coconut oil etc.
Snack - Avocado with Sea Salt/ Pepper
Dinner - Bone Broth with 1tbsp ghee, 1 tbsp MCTs
I follow Primal Health Edge on Youtube. I feel he has the most simplistic and holistic approach to eating well and following a ketogenic/low carb diet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zmWIy_9qn0
My workout schedule is finally solidified and I have been on it the past 3 weeks consistently:
Mon, Tues, Thurs - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Wed, Fri, Sun - Stronglifts 5x5
Saturdays - Reserved for cars/ time with family or working on lifting form with low weights/ bar
I installed a folding squat rack from Rogue Fitness in my garage and I love it. It takes up literally no space and I can still easily get both cars in when its folded away into the wall. This way I put my daughter to bed around 7pm and then go out and do my workout and I am usually done by 8pm to 8:15pm.
https://www.autopia.org/forums/attac...id=34177&stc=1
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mjlinane
My HIIT varies - depending on mood. Generally kettlebell swings (30s on, 30s off) until I hate life. (I like kettlebells.) Sometimes bodyweight stuff (commando planks, burpees, etc.). Gave away my exercise bike but did the Tabata in the day.
Sauna is a pre-fab kit so should be place, quarter turn latches and plug in. I hope.
Unreliable is being exceptionally kind. Even most studies really need to be scrutinized carefully. Many are designed to get a specific answer. (I worked in medical device industry for a decade. But WE never did that. ;) ) N=1 is really the only way to be sure.
Im still not real clear on what benefit there is to the sauna. I do it at the gym a couple times a week cause it feels good. Is there something to it beyond that?
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jrock645
Im still not real clear on what benefit there is to the sauna. I do it at the gym a couple times a week cause it feels good. Is there something to it beyond that?
The main benefit to saunas are related to the detox process - getting the heavy metals out of your body. Less but still important are improved sleep quality (probably second only to diet in terms of improving health), weight loss, inflammation & pain reduction, killing of parasites (and, by some reports, cancer cells), reducing Alzheimer`s risk, etc. Note - as I`ve typed above, I don`t actually read medical studies so take with a large grain of salt. Am willing to be the guinea pig (N=1) though.
I have a EMF-less far infrared unit on the way. I will likely be constructing a near infrared one also because it has different effects and will only cost me <$100 (250W heat lamps from Lowe`s, clamp lights from Amazon, a small room and a space heater which I already have). Steam saunas are said to be less effective (notably by manufacturers of infrared saunas) because they are hot enough that you can`t stay in as long. Whether the length of time meets the MED (Minimum Effective Dose - the point where no further benefits are realized) is never mentioned.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
After whining about not looking forward to yesterday`s Leg Day I did a few things differently (from planned) and OK, all good. I`ve learned that whenever I experience a genuine aversion to [whatever] it`s probably good to pay attention.
mjlinane- Heh heh, I liked that "KB swings until I hate life" :D My wife loves her kettlebell, that`s for sure (weird adjustable one...hey, whatever she likes..).
I actually kinda like(d) Burpees! But the push-up part of `em kills my one/vulnerable shoulder and without that part of it they`re not demanding enough.
Quote:
Unreliable is being exceptionally kind...
Heh heh, given how "Exercise, Diet, Health, and Fitness" threads can be on the internet I want to bend over backwards to not be an [Omniscient Jerk].
And yeah..Studies often, uhm...fulfill an agenda other than "determining the facts" ;)
RaydiantDetail- Hey, I like that folding squat rack! I`d expected something that`d be a huge PIA to actually use, but that looks great. I like that black oxide bar too, I`ve come to really *dislike* chromed ones as it eventually flakes off and chrome chips can be the devil.
jrock645- How`s this stuff going for *you* these days?
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Diets- I`m constantly struck by how much...everything....many put into their diets! No, no, not criticizing at all! Just suspect that I`d never stay with something that involved. Well, OK..but it sounds involved to me.
I guess I just, well...mostly avoid [crappy] stuff and generally eat the right amount of decent stuff while drinking lots of water and megadosing Fish Oil (there he goes again with the Fish Oil!).
"Mostly avoid" = Denny`s Bfast on Friday, Hamburgers (plain) with chips and a soda on Saturday; Arby`s (not just two or three of `em) with chips and a soda on Sunday. No, I don`t greet Monday morning with discernible consequences from eating that [crap], lucky me :D
Fortunately, I just don`t like the common unhealthy fare, can barely even be in the same room with a lot of the most common stuff people eat (e.g., pizza). UNfortunately, I can`t force down stuff like kale, avocados, and a [boat] load of other stuff I oughta be eating.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
mjlinane- What I know about saunas = "they`re not cold".
How hot does that thing get? To do some of the stuff you listed it must be pretty toasty!
Can you read books in one or would that, uhm...be a bad idea? I`d be kinda hard-pressed to just sit there unless I took up meditation or somesuch. The inner voice would be shouting "I have things to do!"
Hope the install goes as well as it seemingly oughta!
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Far infrared gets into the 130-140F range but the main sweat inducing mechanism is through the infrared itself. Should get 40-60 min without (huge) distress. It penetrates deep into the body and is (theoretically) more effective at driving out the toxins than normal sweating. Can read, watch videos on your phone, whatever. Mine has a built-in stereo system with speakers.
Near infrared is (generally) less controlled and a bit lower in temp. You are using heat lamps (yes, like for burgers at McD) for crying out loud. Story goes the body has mechanisms that respond well to those wavelengths. Like I typed, for <$100, I`ll do the N=1.
Steam saunas are typically in the 180-190F range. Work with steam, after all. 10-20 min can be tough for the faint-hearted. (Ha! I crack myself up some times. ;) )
Theoretically, following a workout with any of these is extremely beneficial - more so than an ice bath.
Now cold/cryo- stress, that is a whole other thing I am exploring....
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
You guys ever see those movies where they take the brain/consciousness/etc of an older gentleman, then put it in some younger man`s body? There`s a few movies like that out there.
Anyway. As I`m reading the OP, I start thinking about those movies. And I start thinking, with me and Accumulator, it would be the very first time you take the "mind" of the young man, and put it in the older man`s body!
Alright, Accumulator....let`s see what I can do this year.
Body fat: High (no numbers here, sorry)
Weight: whoa. 182 this morning.
I did start the new year at 184.5
Goals? None yet.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
mjlinane- Thanks for schooling me, very informative.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mjlinane
..Can read, watch videos on your phone, whatever...
Heh heh..[INSERT quip about having a phone that does stuff like that ;) ]
Quote:
Theoretically, following a workout with any of these is extremely beneficial - more so than an ice bath.
That`s another thing I`ll never be doing...ice baths. I gather that some people find such measures beneficial though, so OK whatever works for ya...
Quote:
Now cold/cryo- stress, that is a whole other thing I am exploring....
Same "whatever works.." there.
Not at all being critical, just constantly surprised at the lengths people go to. Maybe because the, uhm...less in-shape...people I know IRL think that *I* am off-the-scale and IMO I hardly do any real hassling around with diet/exercise.
Actually, IMO I hardly spend any time at all exercising, and most of the "time in the weight room" is spent messing with the equipment and resting between sets. Meals? Over and done in a matter of minutes.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
JustJesus- Heh heh, the older I get the "more in-shape" I seem to be, at least in the eyes of others :D
At least you`re down 2lbs so far. You and [she whose name I can`t pronounce] would have a challenge making the "healthy eating" thing your new normal though, huh?
Goals- How about "be in better shape a year from now". Some prefer specifics, I kinda lean towards the general at least as an overall perspective. "Quit ingesting [crap] regularly" might be another one. I`m simply amazed at the stuff people eat and drink all the time..."Do some form of physical activity at least every other day" comes to mind too.
Just don`t set the bar so high that it`s easy to fail.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Accumulator
That`s another thing I`ll never be doing...ice baths. I gather that some people find such measures beneficial though, so OK whatever works for ya...
The cold stress story goes something like this: cold encourages development of mitochondria-rich BAT (Brown Adipose Tissue) fat as compared to the "normal", mitochondria-poor WAT (White Adipose Tissue) fat. Mitochondria are the energy centers of the cells and having more of them is good for you all the way around. So, as we must have fat for our body to function (structurally if nothing else), BAT is the way to go. Once you`ve had BAT... well, you know the rest. ;)
I am doing the cold shower thing on non-workout days - the cheapest way to try it. NOT FUN. Repeat - NOT FUN AT ALL. It is tough being an N=1 though and will persevere until I decide if is helpful to me. Or not. Kinda` hopin` for the latter.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JustJesus
.. I start thinking, with me and Accumulator, it would be the very first time you take the "mind" of the young man, and put it in the older man`s body!
OK, can`t resist...you set this up!...Heh heh ..(thinking "Trading Places"/etc.) as long as I don`t have to do the same ;)
But OK, Let`s see...put me in your body...I figure I`d need about two years to be in optimal condition. Pretty close to "fulfill genetic potential" within that timeframe, without huge lifestyle interruption (that "spend your whole life being in-shape" stuff is [crap] IMO, gotta have a real life or it`ll be unsustainable).
Quote:
Alright, Accumulator....let`s see what I can do this year.
So, GAME ON! But let`s make it TWO years, not "this year". Be able to see your abs, every day, at that point. Even just a six-pack.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Accumulator
After whining about not looking forward to yesterday`s Leg Day I did a few things differently (from planned) and OK, all good. I`ve learned that whenever I experience a genuine aversion to [whatever] it`s probably good to pay attention.
mjlinane- Heh heh, I liked that "KB swings until I hate life" :D My wife loves her kettlebell, that`s for sure (weird adjustable one...hey, whatever she likes..).
I actually kinda like(d) Burpees! But the push-up part of `em kills my one/vulnerable shoulder and without that part of it they`re not demanding enough.
Heh heh, given how "Exercise, Diet, Health, and Fitness" threads can be on the internet I want to bend over backwards to not be an [Omniscient Jerk].
And yeah..Studies often, uhm...fulfill an agenda other than "determining the facts" ;)
RaydiantDetail- Hey, I like that folding squat rack! I`d expected something that`d be a huge PIA to actually use, but that looks great. I like that black oxide bar too, I`ve come to really *dislike* chromed ones as it eventually flakes off and chrome chips can be the devil.
jrock645- How`s this stuff going for *you* these days?
It was a PITA to install myself thats for damn sure. Took me about 4 hours total and I had to do some McGuvering but it was worth it. It honestly only takes 1 min to set up and 1 min to fold away but I pretty much leave it out unless I have a car I am working on. Agreed on the chrome bars, exactly why I got the Black oxide bar for that specific reason. Also Rogue just makes killer products. Everything is just quality.
In terms of diet, I find the approach I have taken so far to be pretty simple to be honest and its more of a lifestyle change lol. Eat less than 30g of carbs, eat healthy fats, and eat lean proteins like fish, chicken and beef. The fish being wild, and the latter being grass fed. That to me makes a big difference is really the quality of what you intake vs. just the quantity. I also find it to be a simple "diet" to follow when eating out.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
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Originally Posted by
Accumulator
jrock645- How`s this stuff going for *you* these days?
Hard to tell since I’ve been battling the funk. Eating relatively clean but been inactive.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Pulled the trigger on the clamp lights for my DIY near infrared sauna this morning (being delivered today!! - liking the Prime trial) and will make the trip for the heat lamp bulbs tomorrow. In reading about red light therapy, seems I can kill two birds with one stone.
Let the experiment begin!!
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
Oh, and I look even goofier than normal wearing my deep amber/extreme blue-blocking glasses at work (indoors) and at home. As no one has asked me about it, I`m guessing unusual behavior from me is not terribly surprising to those who know me. ;)
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
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Originally Posted by
mjlinane
.. I`m guessing unusual behavior from me is not terribly surprising to those who know me. ;)
Heh heh, I could`ve posted that!
My wife wears those from time to time...and my Vuarnet shades s from the `80s blocked blue light pretty well, kinda freaky until I acclimated to it.
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Originally Posted by Raydiantdetail
It was a PITA to install myself thats for damn sure...
I believe that!
Good on ya for going with wild fish/grass-fed beef...gotta admit we don`t. We genuinely like the taste of farm raised salmon better. Yeah, I know how awful it is :o But I`ll be pretty surprised if my choice of salmon is what does me in.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
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Originally Posted by
jrock645
.. I’ve been battling the funk. Eating relatively clean but been inactive.
Eh, memory lapse,sorry...what funk?
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
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Originally Posted by
Accumulator
Eh, memory lapse,sorry...what funk?
Cold and flu keeps gettin passed around. Getting over my 2nd bout since christmas.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
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Originally Posted by
jrock645
Cold and flu keeps gettin passed around. Getting over my 2nd bout since christmas.
Feel better man! That stuff has been going around my work as well. I try to stay away from those folks I notice who are under the weather but wish they would just stay away from work. We all have the ability to work remotely here. It`s silly to act tough and come in when all you are doing is spreading it around.
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Re: 2018 Health and Fitness Thread
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Originally Posted by
Accumulator
At least you`re down 2lbs so far. You and [she whose name I can`t pronounce] would have a challenge making the "healthy eating" thing your new normal though, huh?
Goals- How about "be in better shape a year from now". Some prefer specifics, I kinda lean towards the general at least as an overall perspective. "Quit ingesting [crap] regularly" might be another one. I`m simply amazed at the stuff people eat and drink all the time..."Do some form of physical activity at least every other day" comes to mind too.
Make it 3 lbs, as of this morning. As for "healthy eating," myself, nah. I`ve been eating mostly salads for lunch for about two years now. Since the switch, I went down about 15 lbs and have maintained that level for well over a year. [She whose name we can`t pronounce] is a different story. She`s a stress eater. Doesn`t help that at her job, her co-workers are always bringing junk food and leave stuff on her desk. We`ve been doing Blue Apron (and recently added Hello Fresh to the mix) for some time now. It`s also helped us eat better. The portions are better. Much more veggies that we take in. My mother would never have thought I would eat things like kale, mushrooms, onions, etc. YUK, but it`s not so bad with the recipes provided.
Goals: Those are so easy even I can do them!!
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Originally Posted by
Accumulator
OK, can`t resist...you set this up!...Heh heh ..(thinking "Trading Places"/etc.) as long as I don`t have to do the same ;)
But OK, Let`s see...put me in your body...I figure I`d need about two years to be in optimal condition. Pretty close to "fulfill genetic potential" within that timeframe, without huge lifestyle interruption (that "spend your whole life being in-shape" stuff is [crap] IMO, gotta have a real life or it`ll be unsustainable).
So, GAME ON! But let`s make it TWO years, not "this year". Be able to see your abs, every day, at that point. Even just a six-pack.
haha... YOU don`t have to do the same. No need to reverse what you`ve done thus far.
hmmm. Two years? That seems far more feasible than the headline I saw the other day, "Flat abs in just 24 days!" - 2 years, though seemingly a short time frame, does seem more realistic, though.
OK, then, Accumulator. GAME ON! Let`s see where we end up in two years :) And a six-pack will be even more than what I had in mind (a four-pack).
i`ll check in every now and then.