Health & Fitness, I think this is a first...... Options

[Genocide Junkie]

For those just looking for another work out I used a pyramid of sets when I was active. Starting with 10 reps, 8, 6, and finally 4. Each time with a little heavier weight (if possible) sometimes I would have to use the same weight for two sets in a row. I wasn't a big guy but got pretty strong pretty fast that way. The hard part is just going to the gym and doing it. Mixing up your routine once every few months is the only way to break a plateau IMO. This routine will not make you lean but build muscle so if you are looking to tone probably not right for you. But it's simple and seemed to work really well for me.

[Canadian Viper]

For those just looking for another work out I used a pyramid of sets when I was active. Starting with 10 reps, 8, 6, and finally 4. Each time with a little heavier weight (if possible) sometimes I would have to use the same weight for two sets in a row. I wasn't a big guy but got pretty strong pretty fast that way. The hard part is just going to the gym and doing it. Mixing up your routine once every few months is the only way to break a plateau IMO. This routine will not make you lean but build muscle so if you are looking to tone probably not right for you. But it's simple and seemed to work really well for me.

I use this style for years, it give you both endurance with the high reps low weight and strength with low reps and high weights.



One important thing is to learn to stretch the muscel and warm up before the lifts. With the light weights it is good to help get ready for the heaver lifts. I've had a pulled muscle in my shoulder because my chest was too tight pullijng my shoulders forward and straining the other muscle.

[UNDEAD 1]

yes but any protien shakebar/drink puts a heavy wieght on your kidneys ,infact protien BARS are the worst. i do however do one shake directly after banana smooothies. i get my omegas from eating eggs and the avocados off my tree,so have 17 banana trees as well. read up on L- arginine ive taken it on work days and swear my recovery time is less -11$ . another thing i recently tried which seems to be a lame hype was acai.i did like it but waaay expensive,until i found frozen acai and mixed 1 tspn in with the shakes,wow!



i try to eat an organic diet,coming from the west or north may be weird but in fla ,we have no more land so all imports are commercial.

[Bargod]

I'm an idiot, strike what I just said about possible stress on your kidney's from to much protein.
I was thinking about it wrong.
Crohn's causes problems with Absorbtion not Metabolization,
I guess that means you can look on the bright side.
While a healthy person can stress his kidney's if they take in more protein than their body can metabolize
A person with Crohn's doesn't have that problem as they never even absorbed the excess protein, it gets poo'ed out.

Can I say Poo'ed?
Last thing I want to do is offend anyone.

I always check with my GI before taking anything. I've always tried to look on the bright side of things. One of the most heavily scarred areas is (I'm told) the place that absorbs the bad kind of cholesterol. So, back when I wasn't eating so healthy and eating red meat almost every day my cholesterol was always good. I've since found, though, that I tend to get irritable bowel now if I eat too much red meat and I've got to keep up on the fiber. I also eat a lot of almonds.
I had been taking fish oil supplements, but my eye doctor told me the ones I were taking were pretty useless (generic off the counter at CVS). He gave me the name of a good brand to use and to ask my GI for a proper dosage, but the ones he recommends are of course expensive.

[Hellfighter]

I had to struggle with trying to put on weight forever being formerly an extremely skinny lad. In teens I got into weight lifting/bodybuilding and bulked up -but my eating habits were poor and my weight went up and down like a yo-yo for a coupla decades- at just under 6' my former weight -in late teens- was 135lb... then the various workout phases I went thru averaged me around 160lb- at one time spiking to 195lb! Well in that period I ate junk and tons of it- my metabolism was very high. Then something odd and inexplicable happened.....

About 7 years ago I became lacto-vegetarian -> no meat, fish, eggs.... but dairy/cheese ok with me.
There are 2 ways a vegetarian can do things; the smart way or the dangerous way;
Smart includes being close to a nutrition expert - the dangerous way= not paying attention to your nutritional requirements.
Of course the first comment people usually make about vegetarianism is 'But you need meat!'
That's entirely not true - the one protein enzyme commonly found in meat and not widely available in a vegetarian's diet can be found amongst easily available veggie sources.
So not wanting to follow the dummy vegetarian methodology I basically immersed myself in what makes up good food eating habits through tons of research. I won't bore you with details but here's what I watch for in my diet;
Basically one has to go through a brief phase of reading food labels/going thru food nutrition charts to familiarize yourself with what's in everyday foods -I don't touch canned foods or pop anymore.
Here's what's foremost on my list;
-less than 2300mg of salt/day
-Keeping ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fats low [ a big health crusher in our society is the excesses of omega 6 fats we consume]. No trans fats.
-Fibre and Oats - either in cereal or whole wheat bread -ALOT
-Grapes, tomatoes, onions, Broccolli, Cauliflower
-Organic yogurt- flavour it yourself with fruits/sugar/honey
-No junk food/white flour/soda
Seems spartan but with knowing how to cook with herbs/spices/honey/low sodium soy sauce and coming up with tasty veggie saucies/'gravies', food can be very tasty and complex for vegetarians.

So in the 7 years of being an INFORMATIVE vegetarian here's what's happened.
-I'd get 2 or 3 major colds a year normally - now I get one day -long sniffles if anything, in a year.
Even the winters up here that used to make me cringe seem alot warmer on my body now too!
-I continued to workout -TONS of protein can be found in non-meat/fish foods ie, pasta/grains/cauliflower/beans -> I needed 200gms of protein /day for a very heavy duty workout routine I followed a coupla years back and easily got it -ate alot though.... In that routine -in one year as a vegetarian I went from 150lbs to 195lbs *my second time hitting that mark but this time as a veggie and not via alot of milk/dairy. I did try 'Whey' protein formulas temporarily, but the results though were not longlasting over time.
-Now the bizarre thing- my lifelong high-metabolism has vanished.... I currently eat a couple of meals a day but my body stays at around 180lbs - before, my body would easily shed 2-3 lbs per week consuming the same amount of food.
-Most important I learned to cook very tasty food now -
Actually we need to start a MOB's favorite home-cooked recipes thread here soon.


This post has been edited by Hellfighter: 03/31/08 4:41pm

[UNDEAD 1]

INTERESTING.

[Bargod]

Actually we need to start a MOB's favorite home-cooked recipes thread here soon.

I was actually thinking the same thing recently. Over the last 6 months or so the wife and I have expanded our cooking skills and recipes and have taken an interest in wine. There is an excess of excellent wines for under $20. My wife and I have enjoyed trying different ones out while occasionally picking ones we already know we like for certain occasions.


One of my favorite side dishes to make right now is a "sauteed" spinach with garlic.
I took the recipe from a fancy-schmancy restaurant. The sauteed is in quotes, because it is cooked on low heat, so not really sauteed.

Anyway, here's the recipe:

Heat 2 tbls olive oil on med-low heat.
When oil is heated through add 3 cloves of thinly sliced garlic.
Let garlic cook in oil for several minutes infusing the oil with it's flavor.
Slowly add a bag of baby spinach, a handfull at a time. Add more as spinach wilts.
When spinach has completely wilted add salt and pepper and dish out.

This rules!

I've also made it with red pepper flakes instead of garlic for a spicier twist.

Spinach and broccoli are about the only green veggies I eat. Luckily they are both loaded with good stuff...

[Hellfighter]

Actually we need to start a MOB's favorite home-cooked recipes thread here soon.

I was actually thinking the same thing recently. Over the last 6 months or so the wife and I have expanded our cooking skills and recipes and have taken an interest in wine. There is an excess of excellent wines for under $20. My wife and I have enjoyed trying different ones out while occasionally picking ones we already know we like for certain occasions.


One of my favorite side dishes to make right now is a "sauteed" spinach with garlic.
I took the recipe from a fancy-schmancy restaurant. The sauteed is in quotes, because it is cooked on low heat, so not really sauteed.

Anyway, here's the recipe:

Heat 2 tbls olive oil on med-low heat.
When oil is heated through add 3 cloves of thinly sliced garlic.
Let garlic cook in oil for several minutes infusing the oil with it's flavor.
Slowly add a bag of baby spinach, a handfull at a time. Add more as spinach wilts.
When spinach has completely wilted add salt and pepper and dish out.

This rules!

I've also made it with red pepper flakes instead of garlic for a spicier twist.

Spinach and broccoli are about the only green veggies I eat. Luckily they are both loaded with good stuff...

BG, I'd recommend you start a NEW thread for this topic.... I'm betting it'll be one of the longest threads in the forum- next to that flashgirl one of old....... Once u get it going I'll post my own creations too- including a spinach one.


This post has been edited by Hellfighter: 03/31/08 4:56pm

[UNDEAD 1]

ok ,so i tried this work out this morning and i have to say ,im impressed.i did exactly like it said and took it easy the first session/week and warmed up on the treadmill 5 minutes. i did work out A but did one set of each (except barbell row) with no wieght,thinking of form,then only went to 10 pounds total for each exercise.i was done in exactly 30 minutes and im sitting here noticing every part of my body HAS been worked,even the forearms.

i can however say that the looks i got were more on what the fuck is this guy doing?? my core or mid section is tight.very impressed .

[HammaTime]

Anyway, here's the recipe:

Heat 2 tbls olive oil on med-low heat.
When oil is heated through add 3 cloves of thinly sliced garlic.
Let garlic cook in oil for several minutes infusing the oil with it's flavor.
Slowly add a bag of baby spinach, a handfull at a time. Add more as spinach wilts.
When spinach has completely wilted add salt and pepper and dish out.

yummm!! That sounds good. Reminds me of a dish that the Macaroni Grill used to serve. One of my favorites. Thanks for sharing.



You guys have now made me hungry, but at the same time I feel I need to get back on my Bowflex!

[Robert]

This is about 60 days in from the 1st post.
I was curious to know if anyone tried the 5x5 program.
If so, what are your thoughts, results?

For anyone interested here is a informative FAQ on
"Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength"
Considered by many to be the holy bible of lifting.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=998224

[tim]

honest thought here, if you get off ur ass and do things... you will be more fit.
walk to the corner store, not drive
screw more, it burn calories
stop drinking so much beer
just move more and you will be ok.
ever notice the way people looked back in the 20's - 50's? we were not aided so much by technology.
as for lifting its all great, strength rawr!
walking works just as well
I lift, just basics... bench, pulls, etc... but i dont do enough walking. gotta start that. (and quit smoking!)

[UNDEAD 1]

actually robert ,ive followed his work out to a tee,infact the stretches he suggest are right on the money. the guy really knows what hes talking about,he calls when youll stall and what excer youll be on. to be honest i was 225 (normally 190) i dropped two waist sizes since but actually gained 7 lbs. im having friends asking me if im taking steroids .work out b is the most challenging imo because of the press and pull ups.



how about you?

[Bargod]

Uh...
I never quite got around to starting...
Then I lost my job..
I quit going to the gym...
Luckily I didn't gain any waist sizes, cuz my new job required black pants that I had from when I was "fit".
I'm happy again and have a new job.
I need to work out again.
Maybe nows a good time to start the new program.
I saw a guy from my gym that I don't like at the liqour store tonite... I didn't recognize him until I drove away... then I felt guilty that I didn't recognize him because I hadn't been to the gym in like 6 weeks...


sigh...

[Hellfighter]

I'm more out of the regular 'pumping up' routines I used to commonly indulge in once a year - I'm now more partial to regular shorter/yet still intense workout sessions more regularly and at home too -great for overall energy. I'm creating some non-weights-use muscle builder exercises;
Try this one-
Stand back against a wall walk out with your legs 2 steps so that you're leaning back onto the wall.... then do one routine per leg of bringing up to your chest then down to the floor lightly-repeat without pause until you're burning- then do the next leg- do 3 sets of that..... you can feel the Incredible Hulk top thighs bulging.