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Fitness Crazed

nytimes.com

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Re: Fitness Crazed

#111

Post by zacharycohn »

s_husso wrote: post #106
zacharycohn wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Diet != losing weight. The GOMAD (gallon of milk a day) diet is not designed for you to lose weight. It's designed to maximize daily caloric intake, which in turn maximizes speed of recovery. Once you're done with starting strength, you switch to something like IF (intermittent fasting) to cut the excess fat. Then you end up with lots of muscle and no fat. You can either lose fat or gain muscle. It's incredibly diffi…

"difficult to do both at the same time" With right combination you can do it. Targeted Keto/IF combination seems to be quite effective. Sheds fat while maintaining (or gaining) muscle mass and minimizing the impact of the diet to your strength levels. I've dropped +25kg BW while gaining +5kg of muscle mass and gaining/maintaining my big-lifts. I noticed that going from Stronglift 5x5 to Madcow really helped my recove…

Yup. But if you're doing both at the same time, you are not maximizing your gains. You could be increasing strength much faster, then cut much faster afterwards.

Re: Fitness Crazed

#112

Post by jdbernard »

sliverstorm wrote: post #29
ldonley wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another similar workout plan is Stronglifts 5x5[1]. I have never done starting strength but I am a fan of stronglifts and it has a free app that does wonders at the gym for tracking your progress. [1] http://stronglifts.com/

I figure Stronglifts is more accessible because of the rows instead of powercleans (which are hard to do right), and as you as the app is great.

Same here. Rippetoe's book was fantastic for me, especially in helping to to have good form, but the Starting Strength 5x5 was the workout that actually stuck with me. IMO they compliment each other extremely well.

Re: Fitness Crazed

#113

Post by HelloMcFly »

a8da6b0c91d wrote: post #98
HelloMcFly wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Between you believing the deadlift has no athletic benefit, and thinking machines are more effective than free weights, I'm wondering what your background in fitness is. I think the debate about safety is reasonable though.

I didn't say machines are more effective. I said they're safer, and that free weights are not magically more effective than machines. I also didn't say the deadlift has no athletic benefit. I said it is fetishized and its usefulness is blown out of all proportion. It's seductive because a beginner can rapidly increase loads. But mostly it builds mass that is not very useful for real sports and impairs endurance. Alwa…

Your comment said you doubt the increased effectiveness of free weights over machines, which seems hard to doubt. Like I said, I think debating the claim that free weights are safer is totally fair; it seems the real conversation is about which type of safety the other is talking about.

As for the deadlift, I get your point. I do think that you are making it an either-or thing, in that you're either piling on mass with the deadlift or your not getting stronger. Athletes don't do starting strength, they should be using the deadlift as part of a well-rounded training routine rather than trying to set PR after PR. I agree with you that a singular focus on deadlifts/squats for most athletes is detrimental, but that doesn't mean it has no place whatsoever. I'd also bet against the athlete who focused on it in such a way.

Anecdotally though, I've found the deadlift to be very functional for me. And who are you to say that someone moving from 135 to a 350lb deadlift, and then maybe to 500lbs isn't impressive? I'm impressed with anyone that can motivate themselves to some sort of physical goal.

I think it's your derision that I find most off-putting. Deadlifting is hard work that takes time, so kudos to anyone that sticks with and improves themselves in a way that makes them happy. Yeah, almost everyone can do it, but most people don't. Is running a marathon impressive? What about a triathlon? Biking a century? Or are the only things worth being impressed by the things genetics make impossible for the masses?

Re: Fitness Crazed

#114

Post by socrates1998 »

zacharycohn wrote: post #89
socrates1998 wrote: post #40

I agree that you don't need any new fancy techniques and equipment to get in shape. However, doing the same week every week just isn't very fun. Most of the problem with being and staying in shape is the lack of interest in it. The author enjoyed weightlifting because he had never done it before and he saw himself getting stronger, which is very fun the first time you do it. The most important part of a fitness progr…

It is called STARTING strength for a reason. :) In my experience (which is not universal), the workouts aren't boring though. Running on an eliptical for an hour is boring. Getting into the gym, warming up, doing my workout, cooling down, taking a shower, changing my clothes, and walking out of the gym in 45 minutes isn't boring - it's awesome.

I am glad that you found something you enjoy that keeps you in shape.

But, boring is very subjective and I think weightlifting is boring because I did it for so long and I have done all I can do with it.

My point isn't that this particular program is boring or not, I just think interest trumps content in regards to fitness.

So, if you like it, then do it.

Re: Fitness Crazed

#115

Post by makeset »

socrates1998 wrote: post #40

I agree that you don't need any new fancy techniques and equipment to get in shape. However, doing the same week every week just isn't very fun. Most of the problem with being and staying in shape is the lack of interest in it. The author enjoyed weightlifting because he had never done it before and he saw himself getting stronger, which is very fun the first time you do it. The most important part of a fitness progr…

You might not realize this if you have never trained for strength, but strength is very obviously measurable, especially with barbells, and when you get that feedback often enough with a program like this, it quickly becomes addictive.

You know how many reps you got with what weight the last time, you shoot for one more rep or 5 lbs. heavier, and you get it! And you know you didn't have it a week ago. You just got stronger!

So you start chasing your own progress in that "boring" lift, and it becomes far more exhilarating than any wobbleboard kettlebell juggle variation-of-the-day a personal trainer pulled out of her ass.

Re: Fitness Crazed

#116

Post by socrates1998 »

makeset wrote: post #115
socrates1998 wrote: post #40

I agree that you don't need any new fancy techniques and equipment to get in shape. However, doing the same week every week just isn't very fun. Most of the problem with being and staying in shape is the lack of interest in it. The author enjoyed weightlifting because he had never done it before and he saw himself getting stronger, which is very fun the first time you do it. The most important part of a fitness progr…

You might not realize this if you have never trained for strength, but strength is very obviously measurable, especially with barbells, and when you get that feedback often enough with a program like this, it quickly becomes addictive. You know how many reps you got with what weight the last time, you shoot for one more rep or 5 lbs. heavier, and you get it! And you know you didn't have it a week ago. You just got st…

I don't want to sound like I am bragging but, I competed in powerlifting (Clean & Jerk and bench press) in high school and played college football.

I have lifted for strength too much is my point.

I don't want to do it anymore. As I have gotten older, I have found that the most important part of my fitness plan is to do something that is interesting to me.

Interest in an activity is more important than the activity itself.

This goes along with the article, which debunks the new trendy fitness regimes in favor of a classic program.

Re: Fitness Crazed

#117

Post by s_husso »

zacharycohn wrote: post #111
s_husso wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"difficult to do both at the same time" With right combination you can do it. Targeted Keto/IF combination seems to be quite effective. Sheds fat while maintaining (or gaining) muscle mass and minimizing the impact of the diet to your strength levels. I've dropped +25kg BW while gaining +5kg of muscle mass and gaining/maintaining my big-lifts. I noticed that going from Stronglift 5x5 to Madcow really helped my recove…

Yup. But if you're doing both at the same time, you are not maximizing your gains. You could be increasing strength much faster, then cut much faster afterwards.

But I would assume that heavy cut will end up eating your gains too?

Re: Fitness Crazed

#118

Post by hollerith »

marincounty wrote: post #41

I walk/run every night in order to feel better mentally. I wish I didn't need too, but without exercise everyday I don't feel well mentally. It's been the Only medicine that has ever worked on my brain. My body still looks like chit, but I don't care anymore.

Your blood cortisol levels might be too high. Contact info in my profile if you want to hear more.
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