Take care of yourself

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

This thread has been a motivational tool to get back in shape... and now I have even a bigger motivating factor.

I had a body fat test done with calipers today, and l was horrified. 23.8% body fat! And I'm 6 foot 3, 185 lb. Like I said earlier in this thread... all fat, no muscle.. I realize calipers aren't the best method to measure fat, and for a really accurate test you've got to get it done underwater.

But 23.8 was reason enough for me to push myself even harder now... Ideally, I'd like to maintain about the same weight but get down to maybe 16 or 17%... but that's best case scenario. I'm having another test done four months from now... but in the meantime, I'm taping my results to the refrigerator so I can look at it anytime I feel like eating like the fat bastard that I am. :-\

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

truth or myth: you shouldn't work out when you're sick?

i've heard both arguments, both rather convincing, too. anybody got the truth?

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

Depends on how fast you want to get better, and what's making you sick.

Are we talking about a cold? I'd work out gently, sweat out the poison and break up the congestion. Fevers, no way...your body temp is already out of whack from fighting an infection, you're going to minimize your ability to do so.

I would not lift weights when sick--you're destroying tissue in order to build new tissue, right? Now you have to heal your muscles in addition to healing what's ailing you. What's the point?

If you HAVE to workout, walk on a treadmill, just to sweat out some of the cooties, and drink oceans of water.

But best advice is to do nothing, regain your strength, and get better.

(Note: the preceding was just an informed opinion. Boom would say 'what a wuss, take a couple Advil and get back in the gym.' So who knows.)

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

I'll say this about working out sick...it's not worth it. I workout religiously, twice a day for a few hours at a time but if I feel ill it's a sign to take off a few days.

Look, we're not olympians...at least I don't think we are. I do triathlons, which is kinda intense, but not even that is worth sacrificing my health.

Being sick is a sign that your body needs rest. In my opinion your workout when ill won't be that good, so it's definitely not worth it. Not to mention the fact that it'll likely take longer to get back to full strength. Everyone does what they want, but speaking from experience I say rest a few days. A couple days to a week of not working out won't destroy your health.

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

Clubber,

First, determine if the symptoms of the cold or sickness are above your neck or below. There is a reason for this.

If it's sneezing, scratchy or sore throat, headache, runny nose or things such as those, it's all right to work out. With below neck symptoms (burning lungs, body aches, diarrhea, etc.) it's much better to wait until they clear.

A PhD. from Ball State did a study with 55 or 60 subjects a few years back and found there was real physiological difference between working out while being sick and working out while healthy.

The exercise didn't make the cold worse. Exercise didn't hamper the immune system either.

A common cold isn’t a credible excuse to skip workouts. But, as in all situations, listen to your body. If your body is telling you it's too tired, rest. You'll get a better workout that way.

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

Guess I shouldn't have been so lazy. Here are a couple of links for you. Actually, I was ticked I forgot Dr. Weidner's name.

RE: exercising when you're sick.

http://www.star.niu.edu/perspective/columns/huskie_health/100404.php

http://www.ehow.com/how_6950_exercise-sick.html

http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/Training_When_You_Are_Sick/m_31566/tm.htm

http://www.azcentral.com/health/fitness/articles/1116qaexercise.html

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

Questions...

What are the health benefits of the following snacks:

Microwave Popcorn (Light butter or thereabouts)

Chocolate Milk

And what are the best nuts to buy? Walnuts? Pistachios? Plain ol peanuts?

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

Popcorn -- damn near zero.

Chocolate milk -- are you serious?

Nuts -- seems like almonds and sunflower seeds have the least bad stuff associated with them. I'm not above eating dry-roasted peanuts. Other than that, I stay away.

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

I am serious about chocolate milk...Apparently it's a super source of calcium and it's obviously not as good for you as twenty glasses of water...But it's got some strong vitamin aspects...

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

21 is going to clear this up as soon as she gets back on...

I'm sure there are MUCH better ways to get that calcium and those vitamins. Calcium is overrated.

 

Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

I'll take a shot at clearing it up. Everyone needs to drink milk, in my estimation about 12 ounces a day. There is calcium and full proteins in milk that you can't get it other foods. Chocolate milk? Well, obviously it's loaded with sugar, moreso than regular milk.

I say if you really can't stand drinking regular white milk, then maybe try and mix white milk with chocolate milk. My best advice would be to try half a glass of skim milk with half a glass of 1% chocolate. That way you get some of the better tasting stuff but not overloaded with a full glass o' sugar.

If you really care, over time you can try to increase the skim milk and decrease the chocolate in the glass until you're weened off the good stuff. Still though, chocolate milk has most of the vitamins and nutrients regular does.