The not too serious get fit thread

[YellowDuck]

I think the new shoe thing is complete bullshit. There is no reason your body should need anymore impact resistance than it was built with, if you have pain you are running incorrectly, ex. stride or footfall problems.

I switched to running barefoot (in Vibrams) about a year ago after a plantar fasciitis battle and have not looked back. It was a slow and difficult start but I can pound out the miles better than ever and feel much better than running in shoes. The extra cushion and support in running shoes perpetuates problems that already exist rather than allow your body to self correct. Also, shoes weaken many of the foot and lower leg muscles because your body isn't required to use them when wearing shoes.

Look at Running Zen or Born to Run, both very popular books.

[Monster Dave]

I think the new shoe thing is complete bullshit. There is no reason your body should need anymore impact resistance than it was built with, if you have pain you are running incorrectly, ex. stride or footfall problems.

I switched to running barefoot (in Vibrams) about a year ago after a plantar fasciitis battle and have not looked back. It was a slow and difficult start but I can pound out the miles better than ever and feel much better than running in shoes. The extra cushion and support in running shoes perpetuates problems that already exist rather than allow your body to self correct. Also, shoes weaken many of the foot and lower leg muscles because your body isn't required to use them when wearing shoes.

Look at Running Zen or Born to Run, both very popular books.

Duc,

I have to respectfully disagree with you on your point about foot support and impact cushioning. While for some, running isn't a problem, there are no aches and pains, and some like you can run barefoot for miles. However, that being said, those people are not the average runner. Shoes are designed to improve a variety of elements that contribute to potential injuries. Though we are bipeds, our bodies are not designed to sustain impact at the joints over long periods of time, which is why so many people have knee injuries or try to avoid them by purchasing the proper equipment to compensate for our bodies natural deficiencies.

A good runner's shoe store should be able to examine the movement of your foot and build a shoe specially for your specific needs, or at the very least get you into a shoe which fits your body movement correctly.

[YellowDuck]

Dave, no wories.

Have you read either of the books I referenced?

[Monster Dave]

Dave, no wories.

Have you read either of the books I referenced?

No, but ironically we were in an REI this past weekend and I spotted one of them on the shelf! 

[Randimus Maximus]

While I am not a runner, nor do I ever aspire to be, I would not discount the benefit of running barefoot or with Vibram Five Fingers.

My neighbor is a Ironman triathlete and switched to barefoot running or running with Vibrams.

He cut over an hour off of his run time. 

As M-Dave mentioned, not all people are built to run that way, but I would guess that more are capable of it as we were born without shoes on our feet.

[DRKWNG]

Actually, from a physiological point of view, we are all built to run that way.  The issue that you are getting at, is that over time, people have designed more and more products that take you further from the natural course of motion that our bodies were "designed" for, hence all the new fangled, cushioned running shoes.  All they really do is allow your natural musculature to atrophy to the point where you need the cushioning in the shoe to run comfortably, thus perpetuating the customer's desire for them.

[somegirl]

I agree shoes probably cause more problems than they help.  I do most of my karate workouts in bare feet, there is definitely a difference in how I move and use my feet than when I use shoes.

no carbs? 

Doesnt energy come from carbs?  whats the right amount of carbs to eat for someone like me?  Doesnt help that i LOVE jasmine rice and pasta does it?

Edit: so Carbs become sugar, sugar spikes insulin and insulin stores fat. What if your on a low fat diet already? Then theres no fat to store right?

Some of it is the type of carbs, not the amount.  Look for ones that are lower on the glycemic index as they will spike your insulin less.  Your body can make fat so being on a low-fat diet is not a guarantee.  Having healthy fats in your diet helps you feel satiated and eat less.

[He Man]

Hey He Man, sorry for my delay in responding! You are correct, carbs give your body energy, however taking in a low amount of carbs won't run you out of fuel. Depending on your metabilism your carb intake to lean down may vary significantly.

To answer your question a bit more accurately, can you describe your typical weight gain and loss cycle: ie do you gain weight easily and loose it quickly? ...gain it quickly and loose it slowly? ....gain it slowly but loose it quickly? etc.... Also, how tall are you and what is your current weight? And lastly, how much aerobic exercise do you get and how much anaerobic exercise to you do (number of days per week and approximate amount of time)?

With that information, I can probably get in the ball park for you to have some figures to start with for your program.

I dont know how my weight gain is since ive been at hovering between 155-160 for almost 2 years now. Thats my happy weight and i can pretty much each wahtever i want. It took about 2-3 weeks to lose 5lbs, but it was a struggle to lose the next 10 (almsot 2 months). Im 5'6" 144 in the morning. I  try to run once a week but i havent done any of that since school started (last week of aug) but my work out pretty much revolves around muay thai, which is 3-4 hours a week right now. And working out at home which is all resistance band and cals. I dont know what kind of workout you would call it, but theres no breaks and i only do it for about 30 mins cause im too poop to move by then.

I am just always feeling hungry without a nice big bowl of rice with some juicy meat. Im usually hovering around, "i could eat right now" and then ill have a light meal. But if i try to eat salads or foods that dont stuff me up or have some significant aka, it doenst weigh at minimum 1lb, i downgrade to starving. Everything I eat has to be home cooked because ive been going BROKE trying to eat out. I just end up spending tons of money on thigns that just dont fill me up.

[akmnstr]

I think the new shoe thing is complete bullshit. There is no reason your body should need anymore impact resistance than it was built with, if you have pain you are running incorrectly, ex. stride or footfall problems.

I switched to running barefoot (in Vibrams) about a year ago after a plantar fasciitis battle and have not looked back. It was a slow and difficult start but I can pound out the miles better than ever and feel much better than running in shoes. The extra cushion and support in running shoes perpetuates problems that already exist rather than allow your body to self correct. Also, shoes weaken many of the foot and lower leg muscles because your body isn't required to use them when wearing shoes.

Look at Running Zen or Born to Run, both very popular books.

Some of you may know that in 1960 Abebe Bikila, won the olympic marathon running barefoot.  Also, I was on my high school cross country team and 2 of our best runners ran barefoot.  When it was wet and muddy they were particularly fast.  We never lost a dual meet.  But I am not a superhuman like the great Abebe, nor even like my high school team mates.  I'll continue to wear shoes. 

[cokey]

Your weight is at a good spot.. you could bulk up your abs a bit for them to show..  to have so little body fat tht your abs are riped out takes a lot.. it goes away faster too..  more muscle means more fat burn doing the same task..  so if you just have a little stomach fat, you can make them show..  what are you doing for ab work outs?

[YellowDuck]

Actually, from a physiological point of view, we are all built to run that way.  The issue that you are getting at, is that over time, people have designed more and more products that take you further from the natural course of motion that our bodies were "designed" for, hence all the new fangled, cushioned running shoes.  All they really do is allow your natural musculature to atrophy to the point where you need the cushioning in the shoe to run comfortably, thus perpetuating the customer's desire for them.

Exactly. The only reason people think they have to run in shoes is because they have conditioned themselves that way. We have the physiology to run very long distances for a very long time, we just stopped having to do it long ago.

[He Man]

Your weight is at a good spot.. you could bulk up your abs a bit for them to show..  to have so little body fat tht your abs are riped out takes a lot.. it goes away faster too..  more muscle means more fat burn doing the same task..  so if you just have a little stomach fat, you can make them show..  what are you doing for ab work outs?

A little bit of everything.... Ill probably rip through 600+ reps of ab workouts every other day. Ill do the P90X Ab ripper X, then ill also do my Muay Thai ab training.... after today, I realized my kicks have absolutely no power, so i REALLY want to get my obliques worked out. Not to look good, but to delivery some seriously powerful kick since im short.

[cokey]

I haven't done p90x yet, does its ab workout include weights? You can try using weights.. you can also do side bends with weights..

[He Man]

nah, its just not designed to be used with weights.

i dont have the time to do the whole p90 regiment or  the space really.


Whats a good workout to get power from your abs when your doing torque motions? Aka, what would a baseball player do to get a killer swing?

[djrashonal]

Wood chops

Fitness - Boot Camp Workout 2: Wood Chops Exercise

and integrate a twisting rotation