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Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie (2011)

archive.mensjournal.com

81–90 of 343 posts

Re: Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie (2011)

#81

For the last 5 years, I've gone to the gym once or twice a week (usually just once). I do powerclean or snatch -> squats or deadlift -> bench and then I leave in around 45 minutes. When I explain my routine to friends and coworkers, they dismiss my results, believing they are due to genetics. Thanks for posting the article. I definitely recommend reading Starting Strength if you haven't had any formal weight training…

People are shocked that it's not about time.

Re: Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie (2011)

#82

At Betable, four of us do CrossFit. It's not sadistic as the title says, though I'm sure that can depend on the gym. The one in SOMA is pretty supportive and accommodating, probably because they deal with a lot of startup engineers :) Anyway, was struck me about CrossFit and really any group exercise routine is how much more it makes you tax your own body. When you're at the gym, you don't push yourself. You run comf…

"...how much more it makes you tax your own body. When you're at the gym, you don't push yourself." Says who? This seems like a false premise to me.

I think he meant that, if you're not careful, you'll lapse into going through the motions without pushing yourself. In other words, you need to push yourself. And he says being in a group will help you actually push yourself.

Re: Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie (2011)

#83

At Betable, four of us do CrossFit. It's not sadistic as the title says, though I'm sure that can depend on the gym. The one in SOMA is pretty supportive and accommodating, probably because they deal with a lot of startup engineers :) Anyway, was struck me about CrossFit and really any group exercise routine is how much more it makes you tax your own body. When you're at the gym, you don't push yourself. You run comf…

Which CrossFit gym in SOMA are you referring to? (Mine is awesome, too. Just wondering if it's the same one.)

Re: Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie (2011)

#85

At Betable, four of us do CrossFit. It's not sadistic as the title says, though I'm sure that can depend on the gym. The one in SOMA is pretty supportive and accommodating, probably because they deal with a lot of startup engineers :) Anyway, was struck me about CrossFit and really any group exercise routine is how much more it makes you tax your own body. When you're at the gym, you don't push yourself. You run comf…

I was a crossfitter for about 2 years at the South Bay Crossfit gym (Jason Khalipa's).

My big takeaway from that was that olympic lifting is much more fun and rewarding than CF for me. (Note to HN pedants: for me.) The only problem is that it's hard to find a big box with a barbell, let alone two or three.

This article has fired me up again.

Re: Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie (2011)

#87
Well thanks for confirming the impression I got from my one and only ever experience at a gym: Not only is it boring but its also a huge waste of time. I remember it took me 2 hours until I felt like I had done something - and the best machine seemed to be the chin-up bar. I dont need a gym for that?!

I think for general body health, any exercise is better than none but some are more effective than others. Top to bottom: - Yoga ( ermm... The serious kind. Lots of bs out there) - Strength exercises like in the article - Competitive sports. (I used to fight Tae Kwon Do tournaments) - Casual sports - Biking to work - The Gym

I know some Yogis and they're overall the healthiest, best-shape people I know. Little wonder as Yoga was developed over thousands of years and specifically to heal the body. Maximizing the - amazing - self healing powers of your body. Those basic strength exercises are IMO just the western version of it, a slightly less advanced form. And it'll work better for some, no doubt.

Re: Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie (2011)

#88

If you are interested in free weights, Starting Strength is the best book out there. In free weights you have to be extremely careful about your form otherwise you could seriously injure yourself. This book goes deep in the human anatomy and mechanics to teach you how to approach free weights. http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-3rd-Mark-Rippetoe/dp...

And SS is mentioned (along with Practical Programming) in the essential fitness library graphic from the article: http://archive.mensjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/picture-72...

Re: Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie (2011)

#89
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the crux of it. The first page was so much intro filler that I gave up. Free weights as better than machines was fairly well known at least as far back as the early 90s. "Machines don't work your stabiliser muscles" was the phrase I generally heard.

I find machines are also more permissive of terrible form.

Well I knew that machines are extremely ineffective. I also knew they have them there for their impressive looks. What I did not realize is the second reason gyms like machines: Liability.

Re: Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie (2011)

#90
post #33

I love the way this article dispels misconceptions and ends with practical solutions. Does anyone know of an article that does the same for becoming a great developer rather than continuing to wade in the novice waters of programming?

Read the pragmatic programmer. For starters.
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