If you're hurting your back doing sit-ups either reduce the number of ist-ups and focus on keeping your back straight (and getting a harder workout) in fewer repetitions, or else do crunches and leg lifts.
Pushups work out your abs well too. They work on everything above your hips and below your neck. Excellent exercise. If you can't do more than ten at a time, do them with your knees on the floor as the fulcrum instead of your toes. It reduces the weight your lifting about a third, and you can work up to a full push-up. Pull-ups are also excellent exercise. I would work more on the push-ups and pull-ups than on sit-ups since the former two are complete upper-body exercises and give you better balance, burn more calories and strengthen several ranges of muscle equally.
Between squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups and situps, you have a complete body workout, no real need for weights unless you want to get puffy or if you want variety (which is a good idea).
2 pounds of at a week is cutting your calorie intake in half, either though diet alone or with diet and exercise. If you say both, that means cutting 500 calories a day from food (about 1/4 to 1/3 of your normal calorie intake) PLUS doing a moderate-to-heavy workout for an hour every day for the other 500 calories. In short: shoot for 1 lb. of fat a week, it's much more attainable and healthy. Just skip the fries and drink water or unsweetened iced tea (you can add a sugar packet or two yourself) at lunch, and you will lose it.
Between squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups and situps, you have a complete body workout, no real need for weights unless you want to get puffy or if you want variety (which is a good idea).
Actually, weights are useful for someone like me whose strength/weight ratio was so bad going in that I had to work myself up to the point where I could do calisthenics at all!
I think women have an easier time with stomach exercizes because their upper bodies aren't generally as large or as heavy. Certainly, the women at the gym seem to be able to do a lot more of them than the men do.
Quote:
2 pounds of at a week is cutting your calorie intake in half, either though diet alone or with diet and exercise. If you say both, that means cutting 500 calories a day from food (about 1/4 to 1/3 of your normal calorie intake) PLUS doing a moderate-to-heavy workout for an hour every day for the other 500 calories. In short: shoot for 1 lb. of fat a week, it's much more attainable and healthy. Just skip the fries and drink water or unsweetened iced tea (you can add a sugar packet or two yourself) at lunch, and you will lose it.
This is an excellent point, and it's something I've been shooting for myself: I could have lost weight a lot faster than I have, but I'm not trying to diet. That's something you go on, and then get off, and I don't want to get off. I'm trying for exercize and eating habits that I can sustain over the long term, and if that means that it takes a bit longer to get the keg down to a six pack, fine. It also means I get to keep the six pack.
400? Maybe you just have incredibly powerful abs, but chances are if you're doing this many sit-ups, you aren't doing them with very good form. If you're really working your abs right, you'd probably find even a 100 sit-ups a difficult goal to reach.
Mayhaps I do have bad form, but I just do what feels like a good workout. People have told me that I have crazy abs, though - my friends are really into random stomach pokes, and since I'm so ticklish and tend to squeal (much to their delight), my abs are frequently prodded. This summer I'll probably meet with a trainer once or twice to correct my technique.
Anyone got any good exercises to help avoid knacked knees? I run quite a bit and wouldn't like my knees to pack up.
/off for a run round the old town.
Don't run on hard surfaces for starters.
Might I suggest considering safe exercise. Reading this I'm convinced some people here are going to end up crippled in a few years time. For god's sake, be careful with sit-ups. Back or neck starts hurting then stop.
I should probably take a look a fixing my bike as summer approaches. I grounded a pedal on a corner and flipped it, pilling my knees into the tarmac rather fast, so I'm lucky that they work at all.
if your knees are messed up, swim or bike. good workout, no impact.
I'll start swimming when the manboobs go away. I'm doing those pushups every day now. Let's hope it works! I've also now ran a mile four days in a row...each day being progressively easier than the previous. I can't believe that I actually look forward to running at night now when seven years ago in high school I dreaded the mile run every week.
Swimming is one of the best. Low impact, good results.
Absolutely!
I'm 6'3" and weigh just under 165lbs. I'm on a track team, so I get my dose of running in, but I've never felt 'strong' after a running workout, only exhausted and drained.
Swimming is a very different beast. While swimming, you're able to work your muscles effectively without subjecting your body to undue stress. It not only helps build muscle and tone your body but also is a great cardio workout to boot.
I can recall when I've gone from a 2 hour track practice, straight to a short weight lifting session, to a 2 hour swim practice. At my peak last year I was doing that day in, day out for weeks without feeling sore.
i have pretty much fallen in love with myself. two months ago, running a mile was an anhililiting experience, and now i am running 3 miles a day (albeit slowly, at about 26:00 for the 3) and have energy when i am done. the boost to self esteem has been incredible, not to mention the health benefits.
i am happy to be at a point where my workouts are an enjoyable part of my day, not a chore. also, the first 2 weeks of working out were by far the most physically exhausting, to the point where i almost didn't press on.
so, to any thinking of starting a running or workout program, do it! the first two weeks are dreadful (won't lie), but after that, it becomes a great part of your life, and it gets a lot less painful (those early one-mile days were the most painful 8-minute workouts to date)
edit: after some browsing, i found this article about getting started on a running program. it suggests alternating walking/running when you begin...that would probably make the early workouts a whole lot less painful.
Can someone suggest the best pair of runners for someone with crap knees. I've started running again but ol' knees are just about shot. Something about deteriorating cartilage or something. I know (from reading this thread) that I shouldn't run but I rather enjoy it. And I figure that even being nigh on sedentary I'll end being a gimpasorous in my stately years I may as well enjoy the youth while I've got it.
Can someone suggest the best pair of runners for someone with crap knees. I've started running again but ol' knees are just about shot. Something about deteriorating cartilage or something. I know (from reading this thread) that I shouldn't run but I rather enjoy it. And I figure that even being nigh on sedentary I'll end being a gimpasorous in my stately years I may as well enjoy the youth while I've got it.
i'm not sure about the sneakers, but i can say that running on a treadmill is generally better for your knees than running on asphalt/concerte. also good would be to find a squishy track (the kind made from recycled rubber or whatever...most all new tracks are)...those are much better on the knees
i'm not sure about the sneakers, but i can say that running on a treadmill is generally better for your knees than running on asphalt/concerte. also good would be to find a squishy track (the kind made from recycled rubber or whatever...most all new tracks are)...those are much better on the knees
What about cross-country? Same dealy as mooshy rubber tracks? Concrete kills me, I'll usually walk to the park then start running.
I'm up to benching 150 for 25 reps (10, 5, 5, 5) and my mile time is under 9 minutes now. I've only lost 5ish pounds this month because I haven't been able to stick to my routine as much with final exams and term papers over the last couple weeks. I'm getting back into the flow of things now. Oh, I also discovered the joys of tofu. Mmmm tofu.
Can someone suggest the best pair of runners for someone with crap knees. I've started running again but ol' knees are just about shot. Something about deteriorating cartilage or something. I know (from reading this thread) that I shouldn't run but I rather enjoy it. And I figure that even being nigh on sedentary I'll end being a gimpasorous in my stately years I may as well enjoy the youth while I've got it.
Can someone suggest the best pair of runners for someone with crap knees. I've started running again but ol' knees are just about shot. Something about deteriorating cartilage or something. I know (from reading this thread) that I shouldn't run but I rather enjoy it. And I figure that even being nigh on sedentary I'll end being a gimpasorous in my stately years I may as well enjoy the youth while I've got it.
You might think about trying a Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplement. Really helps with cartilage in your joints.
Comments
Pushups work out your abs well too. They work on everything above your hips and below your neck. Excellent exercise. If you can't do more than ten at a time, do them with your knees on the floor as the fulcrum instead of your toes. It reduces the weight your lifting about a third, and you can work up to a full push-up. Pull-ups are also excellent exercise. I would work more on the push-ups and pull-ups than on sit-ups since the former two are complete upper-body exercises and give you better balance, burn more calories and strengthen several ranges of muscle equally.
Between squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups and situps, you have a complete body workout, no real need for weights unless you want to get puffy or if you want variety (which is a good idea).
2 pounds of at a week is cutting your calorie intake in half, either though diet alone or with diet and exercise. If you say both, that means cutting 500 calories a day from food (about 1/4 to 1/3 of your normal calorie intake) PLUS doing a moderate-to-heavy workout for an hour every day for the other 500 calories. In short: shoot for 1 lb. of fat a week, it's much more attainable and healthy. Just skip the fries and drink water or unsweetened iced tea (you can add a sugar packet or two yourself) at lunch, and you will lose it.
Originally posted by BuonRotto
Between squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups and situps, you have a complete body workout, no real need for weights unless you want to get puffy or if you want variety (which is a good idea).
Actually, weights are useful for someone like me whose strength/weight ratio was so bad going in that I had to work myself up to the point where I could do calisthenics at all!
I think women have an easier time with stomach exercizes because their upper bodies aren't generally as large or as heavy. Certainly, the women at the gym seem to be able to do a lot more of them than the men do.
2 pounds of at a week is cutting your calorie intake in half, either though diet alone or with diet and exercise. If you say both, that means cutting 500 calories a day from food (about 1/4 to 1/3 of your normal calorie intake) PLUS doing a moderate-to-heavy workout for an hour every day for the other 500 calories. In short: shoot for 1 lb. of fat a week, it's much more attainable and healthy. Just skip the fries and drink water or unsweetened iced tea (you can add a sugar packet or two yourself) at lunch, and you will lose it.
This is an excellent point, and it's something I've been shooting for myself: I could have lost weight a lot faster than I have, but I'm not trying to diet. That's something you go on, and then get off, and I don't want to get off. I'm trying for exercize and eating habits that I can sustain over the long term, and if that means that it takes a bit longer to get the keg down to a six pack, fine. It also means I get to keep the six pack.
Originally posted by shetline
400? Maybe you just have incredibly powerful abs, but chances are if you're doing this many sit-ups, you aren't doing them with very good form. If you're really working your abs right, you'd probably find even a 100 sit-ups a difficult goal to reach.
Mayhaps I do have bad form, but I just do what feels like a good workout. People have told me that I have crazy abs, though - my friends are really into random stomach pokes, and since I'm so ticklish and tend to squeal (much to their delight), my abs are frequently prodded.
Push-up position, but rather than doing push-ups, just hold yourself in that position.
Try and do it for a couple minutes.
/off for a run round the old town.
Originally posted by Stoo
Anyone got any good exercises to help avoid knacked knees? I run quite a bit and wouldn't like my knees to pack up.
/off for a run round the old town.
Don't run on hard surfaces for starters.
Might I suggest considering safe exercise. Reading this I'm convinced some people here are going to end up crippled in a few years time. For god's sake, be careful with sit-ups. Back or neck starts hurting then stop.
Originally posted by alcimedes
if your knees are messed up, swim or bike. good workout, no impact.
I'll start swimming when the manboobs go away. I'm doing those pushups every day now. Let's hope it works! I've also now ran a mile four days in a row...each day being progressively easier than the previous. I can't believe that I actually look forward to running at night now when seven years ago in high school I dreaded the mile run every week.
Originally posted by bunge
Swimming is one of the best. Low impact, good results.
Absolutely!
I'm 6'3" and weigh just under 165lbs. I'm on a track team, so I get my dose of running in, but I've never felt 'strong' after a running workout, only exhausted and drained.
Swimming is a very different beast. While swimming, you're able to work your muscles effectively without subjecting your body to undue stress. It not only helps build muscle and tone your body but also is a great cardio workout to boot.
I can recall when I've gone from a 2 hour track practice, straight to a short weight lifting session, to a 2 hour swim practice. At my peak last year I was doing that day in, day out for weeks without feeling sore.
I lifted weights in the morning
played soccer for 2 hours in the afternoon
I'm exhausted but I feel great!
i have pretty much fallen in love with myself. two months ago, running a mile was an anhililiting experience, and now i am running 3 miles a day (albeit slowly, at about 26:00 for the 3) and have energy when i am done. the boost to self esteem has been incredible, not to mention the health benefits.
i am happy to be at a point where my workouts are an enjoyable part of my day, not a chore. also, the first 2 weeks of working out were by far the most physically exhausting, to the point where i almost didn't press on.
so, to any thinking of starting a running or workout program, do it! the first two weeks are dreadful (won't lie), but after that, it becomes a great part of your life, and it gets a lot less painful (those early one-mile days were the most painful 8-minute workouts to date)
edit: after some browsing, i found this article about getting started on a running program. it suggests alternating walking/running when you begin...that would probably make the early workouts a whole lot less painful.
Originally posted by InactionMan
Can someone suggest the best pair of runners for someone with crap knees. I've started running again but ol' knees are just about shot. Something about deteriorating cartilage or something. I know (from reading this thread) that I shouldn't run but I rather enjoy it. And I figure that even being nigh on sedentary I'll end being a gimpasorous in my stately years I may as well enjoy the youth while I've got it.
i'm not sure about the sneakers, but i can say that running on a treadmill is generally better for your knees than running on asphalt/concerte. also good would be to find a squishy track (the kind made from recycled rubber or whatever...most all new tracks are)...those are much better on the knees
Originally posted by progmac
i'm not sure about the sneakers, but i can say that running on a treadmill is generally better for your knees than running on asphalt/concerte. also good would be to find a squishy track (the kind made from recycled rubber or whatever...most all new tracks are)...those are much better on the knees
What about cross-country? Same dealy as mooshy rubber tracks? Concrete kills me, I'll usually walk to the park then start running.
Originally posted by stevegongrui
Well, I'm in a sort of opposite situation.
I'm desperately trying to gain weight...
-[snip]-
Any suggestions?
Go here: http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/nutrition/index.htm and read 'Massive Eating Part I' & 'Massive Eating Part II.'
Originally posted by InactionMan
Can someone suggest the best pair of runners for someone with crap knees. I've started running again but ol' knees are just about shot. Something about deteriorating cartilage or something. I know (from reading this thread) that I shouldn't run but I rather enjoy it. And I figure that even being nigh on sedentary I'll end being a gimpasorous in my stately years I may as well enjoy the youth while I've got it.
Swim.
Originally posted by InactionMan
Can someone suggest the best pair of runners for someone with crap knees. I've started running again but ol' knees are just about shot. Something about deteriorating cartilage or something. I know (from reading this thread) that I shouldn't run but I rather enjoy it. And I figure that even being nigh on sedentary I'll end being a gimpasorous in my stately years I may as well enjoy the youth while I've got it.
You might think about trying a Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplement. Really helps with cartilage in your joints.