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Take care of yourself

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by Johnny_Dangerously, Sep 11, 2003.

Page 99 of 463
  1. Smallpotatoes

    Smallpotatoes Well-Known Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    Ragu,
    I'm not sure what most people used for a setting. I really didn't interact with too many people. I used the lowest possible one.
    I'm not a rower and I only really began training after I signed up for it seven weeks ago. I did it because I found my training was getting kind of aimless and I wanted to light a fire under myself.
    That didn't work as well as I hoped it would because when I saw the past years' results and compared them to the times I was doing in training, I got a little frustrated and my training suffered. If I had to do it over again, I never would have looked at those results and just gone in not knowing what's good or bad and trained my butt off.
    What I was happiest about was that I was able to keep a good even pace throughout the whole 2,000 meters and I didn't tail off at the end. I was dead tired at the end, but if you're not, you're not doing it right.
    It was a learning experience with some good things and some bad things. I'm glad I did it and look forward to seeing how much I can improve next year. I wish there were other lower-key events in the area. Debuting in a "world championship" is kind of overwhelming.
    My only prior experience with rowing was occasionally using the rower at the gym and writing an occasional feature story about a rower.
    By the way, maybe it's just my taste in women, but I've never met an ugly female rower.
     
    Smallpotatoes, Feb 26, 2007
    #1177
  2. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    Small, That's pretty brave of you. I applaud it. I'm not evolved enough to use the erg as a total-training tool, in which I vary my workouts. I tend to want to do everything in the "how far, how fast can I go" mode. But people vary their workouts on those things to work on short-burst, endurance, etc. and even vary how they pull to work different arm muscles. It may be the best total exercise there is. The cardio aspect is close to running hard. And you work so many major muscle groups at the same time.

    I hope you keep it up and see results. Experiment with the flywheel. If you are rowing on 1, you are probably not rowing efficiently. Most people think it's like a typical exercise machine, in which the higher setting means you are working harder or in better shape. But that isn't how the erg works. Putting the thing on 10 and rowing is analogous to biking on the highest gear the whole time. You're going to burn out and not bike very far. It's inefficient. Same thing with setting the thing to 1. It's like biking on the easiest gear the whole time. You expend a lot of energy and you don't go as far as you can with a slightly higher gear. For most people, the optimal place is between 2 and 5, and it would vary a little by distance you are going. My bet is that if you had looked around at the CRASH-B, most of the competitors were on a 2 or 3. Definitely experiment. I can almost guarantee that wherever you are now, if you go up to 2 or 3 on the resistance, your 2,000 meter time is going to improve without you expending more energy. You'll be doing it more efficiently.
     
    The Big Ragu, Feb 27, 2007
    #1178
  3. Idaho

    Idaho Active Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    I admire you rowing guys. I hit the rowing machine at the gym once a week or so after spinning. Nice upper body boost, IMO. But I'm usually too tired or don't have enough time available to do it regularly or for very long.

    I am, however, happy with my recovery from the Zion century. The next morning my quads and hamstrings were very sore and stiff. But by Monday, I was back to normal and had a good low-key ride in the gym that day.

    And, thankfully, I've dropped back down to 196 lbs.
     
    Idaho, Feb 27, 2007
    #1179
  4. rico_the_redneck

    rico_the_redneck Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    OK, I admit I didn't really read much of the Live Strong thread. I wasn't much on living strong then. But I'll be 35 in a few months and I really want to get on board with trying to make it to 90 and all that stuff.

    I'm taking fish oil supplements (Whole Foods brand) because they supposedly help with heart health and depression. What is a good multivitamin to take? There's a million different kinds out there.

    Other than eating more fruit, veggies and fish and less Chick-fil-A® ... do you guys recommend joining the gym or is it a waste of dough? I've got a stationary bike and a 10-pound dumbbell and my neighborhood has sidewalks!
     
    rico_the_redneck, Mar 7, 2007
    #1180
  5. grrlhack

    grrlhack Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    I take the One A Day multivitamin for women, so that might not help, but I believe they also have one for men. As for a gym, it's only worth it if you are dedicated and go. I pay $39 per month for a Gold's Gym membership (and my office reimburses me half if I go at least 20 times every three months, so you might check with you HR about that). I go almost religiously -- six or seven times a week. If you're not going to go, don't waste your cash. See what you've got the willpower to do at home.
     
    grrlhack, Mar 7, 2007
    #1181
  6. Flying Headbutt

    Flying Headbutt Moderator Staff Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    I think any multi-vitamin will do. Vitamins are vitamins, though some do target active lifestyles so if you're serious about it, buy one of those. I get mine at the Vitamin Shoppe, where I get my protein powder.

    If anything, signing up for a gym will make you want to get something for your money.

    Lifting weights do more to burn fat and calories than cardio does. Do that first. Do it if you only have time for one or the other. Just do it.

    That said, don't skimp on the cardio if you have time. Listen to music. I sometimes read a magazine on the elliptical. Whatever makes the time go by and helps burn calories.

    Don't be intimidated by other meatheads in the gym. Just do your thing and find inner motivation.

    Add a protein shake after your workout to help muscle recovery. More turkey and less Chick-Fil-A. Fruits and veggies instead of cupcakes.


    And hey, I know this can be a lot, and even I have a hard time abiding by it all. I'm a picky eater, not a big fan of many fruits and veggies, and so I sometimes struggle with eating healthy when something greasy sounds so much better. It's okay to go that route sometimes, but the more you change your habits for the better the better you will be. I also sometimes hate doing the cardio thing too, but I've also found that sometimes once I force myself on the machine, away I go.
     
    Flying Headbutt, Mar 7, 2007
    #1182
  7. Riddick

    Riddick Active Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    I know this is going to sound stupid, but I've been working out a lot lately. And I have a goal.
    But I was wondering, is there a such thing as a sports reporter with six-pack abs? I'm trying, but I just don't see it happening.
     
    Riddick, Mar 7, 2007
    #1183
  8. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    Don't laugh... I wear a "Live Strong" bracelet. It's to the point where wearing one of them is like wearing a Member's Only jacket, but the thing doesn't leave my wrist. It's kind of silly, but when I am struggling with stuff or I even consider doing something unhealthy--which isn't my biggest issue--I just look at the thing and it sets me straight. The times it works best are when I am pushing myself to do something physical. If I mentally start to fade and feel like giving up, I look at the bracelet and it helps me find some resolve.

    I'm so sad that... the things occasionally break--I've snapped three of them in half (which seems like a bad omen, but...). So I bought 20 of them and keep them in a drawer.
     
    The Big Ragu, Mar 7, 2007
    #1184
  9. Hammer Pants

    Hammer Pants Active Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    When looking at the meatheads in the gym, just remember that most of those steroid-filled freaks have two-inch penises and backne. Helps me.
     
    Hammer Pants, Mar 7, 2007
    #1185
  10. Angola!

    Angola! Guest

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    Ragu, you don't appear to be wearing one in that photo, so does that mean you really do use HGH?

    On topic, what kind of fruit do you all eat? Bananas and apples? Periodically I want to start eating healthier, but what does that really mean? What fruits and vegetables are actually good for you and how do you prepare them? And do you all cook your own food or what?
     
    Angola!, Mar 7, 2007
    #1186
  11. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    Who says that's me in that photo?
     
    The Big Ragu, Mar 7, 2007
    #1187
  12. Angola!

    Angola! Guest

    Re: Take care of yourself (LiveSTRONG)

    Good point. I always just assumed based on your descriptions of yourself that that was you.
     
    Angola!, Mar 7, 2007
    #1188
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