Take care of yourself

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

Anyone have any good hamstring exercises? I'm coming off of two herniated disks in my back in June, with a couple of small reinjuries. My physical therapist gave me some back, abs and stretching excercies, but I was reading that hamstring work is important.

Any ideas?

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

With your back problems, the two best hamstring exercises I know of, stiff-legged deadlifts and lying legs curls, could make matters worse. If you have access to a seated leg curl machine, I'd try that.

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

So it was raining today and the dog didn't want to walk outside so I opted for the gym and found the joys of the ellypitcal (SP) machine. I think it's great. I did an hour that measured 4.3 miles. Anyone else use this as a basis of workout?

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

The eliptical machine is now my aerobic exercise of choice. I find that I'm able to get my heart rate into the training zone and keep it there better on an eliptical machine than any other piece of equipment. I do 30-45 minutes on it, 4-5 days a week.

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

When I belonged to a gym, I loved the elliptical. You can go for a lot longer, get your heartrate up. I used to do an hour or more on it on days off from running. Great stuff, although you'll find that you use other muscles, and the act of keeping your feet in the footholds becomes work in itself.

Now I'm just a jogger again, but I highly recommend the elliptical.

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

I just ate pizza for lunch. Damn this thread! Damn it!

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

Left 100 in the dust, four or five weeks ago. Working on about 120-125, now. ;D

Never did pig out on the steak and potatoes ... I tried, but I just could not finish it. I literally felt like I was going to bust. Had to put half of it in the fridge and finish it the next day.

I'll eat up good at Thanksgiving, and probably at Christmas, but I guess I'm looking at about April for the next time I can chow down, eat steak and pizza and wings and all that... LMAO.

The stationary bike, Soloflex and hand weights are still doing the trick for me. Basically, any exercise program works as long as you DO it. ;D

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

I always use the stairmaster for a good cardio workout. I have bad feet and ankles from hoops, and find that both the treadmill and the elliptical machines hurt too much to be effective. If you don't lean over too much or grab the handrails too hard, the stairmaster is great.

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

OK, gimme some tips/advice based on what i'm doing now...

i work out 3-4 times per week, usually 30-40 minutes of weights, a mix between free and machine. three different weight routines, too. i usually do 30-50 minutes on the elliptical, changing the resistance and slant and all that.

for eating, i did low-carb stuff for a while and got some good results, but didn't want to do it too long. i went back to eating "normal" perse, just tried to be low-calories and low fat. i gained muscle, but not really any weight. i like that eating plan and i know I can sustain it when i go back to it. right now, i want to drop some more weight.

so my new eating plan is this... (this is more where i'd like feedback...)

- breakfast: wheat toast, fruit, O.J. and a nutrigrain bar.
- lunch: salad of baby spinach, grilled chicken and caesar dressing
- dinner: grilled chicken, usually with bbq sauce or some kind of hot sauce.

for snacks, i've been eating peanuts and deli ham.

after the OJ in the morning, all I drink is water, usually about 80 ounces a day by the time i work out and all that.

is that a good plan? i've only really been doing it for a couple weeks....

insight appreciated.

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

Sounds like a solid plan (lose the deli ham, tho, yuck), but you'll only know it's a good plan if it works for you. Just fyi, salad dressings and sauces are loaded with fat and sodium, if that concerns you.

You want a good snack or meal replacement? I am a devoted believer in MetRx...one packet has around 220 calories, 45g protein, and around 2g sugar....very low carb, with loads of vitamins/minerals. You just mix a packet with water (around 16 oz), shake it up, and it's completely filling. The chocolate version tastes like melted pudding.