Fitness Catch-All

Welp, I cancelled my World Gym membership and am going with Good Life Fitness. The World Gym I was attending was inside an ancient mall and did not have 24-hour service. Good Life does.

We just started the YMCA a month ago. I wasn't paying for a gym membership but changing places can be fun. The new gym may have other programs that the old didn't that you can do. My work doesn't have any programs and the Y has several classes that we can do. I started taking a spin class and it's a lot of fun. Anyway, something else to look into.

EvilHomer3k wrote:

We just started the YMCA a month ago. I wasn't paying for a gym membership but changing places can be fun. The new gym may have other programs that the old didn't that you can do. My work doesn't have any programs and the Y has several classes that we can do. I started taking a spin class and it's a lot of fun. Anyway, something else to look into.

Hmm. Really, I only care about the 24-hour service, thanks to my crazy work schedule, and the fact is has three squat racks. Oh and showers. And treadmills that can incline to maximum.

Started the year with a modest goal of jogging 200 miles. I'm now at 372 miles and a revised goal of 400 total. Cold drove me inside this weekend however and I forgot how damned boring the treadmill is. Posting here just to have something to keep me honest and motivate to get those last 30 miles done.

So I finally upgraded my Vivoactive to the VA3 and I love it so far with the exception of it not having onboard music storage.

I know the heart rate on the wrist straps is supposed to be very iffy, so I'm not putting much faith in it, but the the results for today are:

lowest point is: 38 BPM
Average resting: 48 BPM
High: 107

I haven't done my workout yet today so I think the high makes sense but the resting seems rather low. So I'm wondering if the band is completely out of whack or if others get readings like that from their sports monitoring devices?

EvilDead wrote:

So I finally upgraded my Vivoactive to the VA3 and I love it so far with the exception of it not having onboard music storage.

I know the heart rate on the wrist straps is supposed to be very iffy, so I'm not putting much faith in it, but the the results for today are:

lowest point is: 38 BPM
Average resting: 48 BPM
High: 107

I haven't done my workout yet today so I think the high makes sense but the resting seems rather low. So I'm wondering if the band is completely out of whack or if others get readings like that from their sports monitoring devices?

I used to have a resting heart rate in the mid-50s when I was doing 10-12 hours of cardio training a week for triathlons. And that was low enough that my cardiologist remarked on it.

Jonman wrote:
EvilDead wrote:

So I finally upgraded my Vivoactive to the VA3 and I love it so far with the exception of it not having onboard music storage.

I know the heart rate on the wrist straps is supposed to be very iffy, so I'm not putting much faith in it, but the the results for today are:

lowest point is: 38 BPM
Average resting: 48 BPM
High: 107

I haven't done my workout yet today so I think the high makes sense but the resting seems rather low. So I'm wondering if the band is completely out of whack or if others get readings like that from their sports monitoring devices?

I used to have a resting heart rate in the mid-50s when I was doing 10-12 hours of cardio training a week for triathlons. And that was low enough that my cardiologist remarked on it.

That's a lot of cardio! I probably do a third of that. I've been running an average of 12 miles per week for a few years now (mix of 5 & 10ks) and do strength every other day.

EvilDead wrote:

So I finally upgraded my Vivoactive to the VA3 and I love it so far with the exception of it not having onboard music storage.

I know the heart rate on the wrist straps is supposed to be very iffy, so I'm not putting much faith in it, but the the results for today are:

lowest point is: 38 BPM
Average resting: 48 BPM
High: 107

I haven't done my workout yet today so I think the high makes sense but the resting seems rather low. So I'm wondering if the band is completely out of whack or if others get readings like that from their sports monitoring devices?

Not a doctor but those numbers seem way too low. Unless you have been infected with the T-virus.

EvilDead wrote:

lowest point is: 38 BPM
Average resting: 48 BPM
High: 107

I haven't done my workout yet today so I think the high makes sense but the resting seems rather low. So I'm wondering if the band is completely out of whack or if others get readings like that from their sports monitoring devices?

There are certain heart conditions that cause abnormally low heart-rates, but it's not uncommon to see very low numbers in individuals who are already genetically predisposed to have a lower resting rate and then supplement that with significant cardiovascular training. I see this a lot with my fighter pilots, many of whom are young guys in superb athletic condition. 38bpm is certainly going to get my attention, but the most important questions are these:

* Does the patient have any symptoms at rest (e.g. dizziness, weakness, breathlessness, etc.)?

* Does the heart-rate respond appropriately to exertion (i.e. does the heart rate increase properly when the person exercises).

If there are no resting symptoms and the heart-rate responds appropriately to exercise (generally, flutter-kicks while hooked up to an ECG machine are sufficient to prove appropriate response, along with a nice look at baseline and increased-rate conduction), then I don't have any concerns.

A wise senior physician once told me "Always treat your patient, not the numbers."

When I was running and in better shape, my pulse was right around 40 bpm first thing in the morning. Not anymore though!

My resting heart rate is regularly in the upper 30's throughout the day.. on my highest days my average might touch 40 according to various heart rate monitors I've worn over the years. Been this way for as long as I can remember.

Other than nurses looking at me a little oddly when taking my pulse, and the occasional bout of (sometimes pretty severe) dizziness when I jump up from lying on a couch and start walking across the room to quickly, It doesn't seem to be much of an issue. It even has a fancy formal name.

Bradycardia

Ok, thanks all. I don't feel tired or dizzy and exercise regularly so i'm not too concerned but am going to monitor it a little more. Surprisingly I work for an ultrasound hardware company and the thought didn't cross my mind to see if one of the techs could give me an EKG.

Heretk wrote:

Not a doctor but those numbers seem way too low. Unless you have been infected with the T-virus.

My cats sometimes act like creatures from RE so I know where I would have got it from! (One of them even has 6 extra toes)

Is there any science based studies on fasting and eating at certain times of the day? (co-worker was talking about it recently)

karmajay wrote:

Is there any science based studies on fasting and eating at certain times of the day? (co-worker was talking about it recently)

Yes, there are.

Is there an obvious consensus based on them?

No, there is not.

Or at least, that's the case for fasting. The second part of your question, if taken on it's own - whether there's an impact based on when you eat during the day, the consensus is that it don't matter.

Intermittent fasting can be a way for some people to control overeating and snacking. That is where it's value lies.

Scientific studies indicate that fasting for 6 to 8 hours will reliably empty your stomach and increase the pH (reduce the acidity) of whatever fluids remain in it. It is also necessary to get reliable results for certain blood tests. There are some indications and some validity to the hypothesis that going through an 8 hour fasting period is better done when asleep, usually at night, and is an astoundingly bad idea when engaging in any prolonged and seriously challenging physical activity.

Hey folks! Just wondering if anyone can give me tips on putting on muscle. I'm a reasonably fit 6ft male but have started developing a pot belly. My question is: do I do cardio first to get rid of my excess fat, then start weights, or just go straight into weights? Don't worry about the diet, I've got that covered. Thanks!

If you want muscle, start weight training, but the diet is key. Eat at a calorie deficit, and you'll lose the pot belly but won't gain much muscle. Eat at a surplus, and you'll gain muscle but retain the potbelly. Starting weight training now will give you a good foundation regardless of which path you want to take.

g_Rm wrote:

Hey folks! Just wondering if anyone can give me tips on putting on muscle. I'm a reasonably fit 6ft male but have started developing a pot belly. My question is: do I do cardio first to get rid of my excess fat, then start weights, or just go straight into weights? Don't worry about the diet, I've got that covered. Thanks!

Hard to say for sure without more specifics, but assuming you're no really "overweight" and do in fact just have a bit of a belly, your best bet is probably going to be to bulk up and then cut down once you have added a decent amount of muscle to your frame. So you'll want to get on a good basic beginner lifting program and (as mentioned) start paying attention to your diet to be sure you're getting enough protein and eating the overall right amount of calories.

Here's a decent article on beginner routine. You might also want to look into some of the more popular beginner programs such as Stronglifts.
https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/best-beginner-weight-training-guide-with-easy-to-follow-workout.html

Just start weight training. Your diet matters but you said you have that covered (though I would suggest looking at your protein intake). You'll begin putting on muscle within a few weeks. I highly recommend the stronglifts regimen if you have access to free weights. It's easy to follow, doesn't take hours per day, and it works well (especially for beginners).

If you don't have access to a gym look at bodyweight training sites. I recommend the book You are your own gym by Mark Lauren. I also recommend getting a TRX and a kettlebell. With a single kettlebell you can do a ton of weight training. A TRX (or something like the Woss Attack) is small, easy to set up, and offers lots of different exercises that you can do anywhere you have a door or tree limb.

Grubber788 wrote:

If you want muscle, start weight training, but the diet is key. Eat at a calorie deficit, and you'll lose the pot belly but won't gain much muscle. Eat at a surplus, and you'll gain muscle but retain the potbelly. Starting weight training now will give you a good foundation regardless of which path you want to take.

cls33 wrote:
g_Rm wrote:

Hey folks! Just wondering if anyone can give me tips on putting on muscle. I'm a reasonably fit 6ft male but have started developing a pot belly. My question is: do I do cardio first to get rid of my excess fat, then start weights, or just go straight into weights? Don't worry about the diet, I've got that covered. Thanks!

Hard to say for sure without more specifics, but assuming you're no really "overweight" and do in fact just have a bit of a belly, your best bet is probably going to be to bulk up and then cut down once you have added a decent amount of muscle to your frame. So you'll want to get on a good basic beginner lifting program and (as mentioned) start paying attention to your diet to be sure you're getting enough protein and eating the overall right amount of calories.

Here's a decent article on beginner routine. You might also want to look into some of the more popular beginner programs such as Stronglifts.
https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/best-beginner-weight-training-guide-with-easy-to-follow-workout.html

EvilHomer3k wrote:

Just start weight training. Your diet matters but you said you have that covered (though I would suggest looking at your protein intake). You'll begin putting on muscle within a few weeks. I highly recommend the stronglifts regimen if you have access to free weights. It's easy to follow, doesn't take hours per day, and it works well (especially for beginners).

If you don't have access to a gym look at bodyweight training sites. I recommend the book You are your own gym by Mark Lauren. I also recommend getting a TRX and a kettlebell. With a single kettlebell you can do a ton of weight training. A TRX (or something like the Woss Attack) is small, easy to set up, and offers lots of different exercises that you can do anywhere you have a door or tree limb.

I'll be working out from home with free weights and a TRX so all this info is great. Thanks!

Starting Strength. Believe.

I strongly recommend against falling into the "bulking" / "cutting" cycle. Eat intelligently and according to your goals so you'll have no reason to cycle.

Grab a couple kettlebells, a pull up bar and multiple stretch cords. Should be able to cover a full body workout with those.

mindset.threat wrote:

I strongly recommend against falling into the "bulking" / "cutting" cycle. Eat intelligently and according to your goals so you'll have no reason to cycle.

Grab a couple kettlebells, a pull up bar and multiple stretch cords. Should be able to cover a full body workout with those.

What they said. Be smart, go at an appropriate pace. Just finished a great 8 week whole body daily workout program through Fitness Blender. HIIT, Strength, Cardio, Yoga work the whole body. I am like you always been fit and my lifestyle caught up with me. Gained a belly from being less active and now fixing that. Starting round 2 of the program now, happy with the overall results and glad to be past the holiday feast, I was quite sick of them by the end.

2 days into whole30. This is gonna be tough.

Ditched the gym membership for a home gym stocked with kettlebells and full set of DDP yoga videos. About a month into it and definitely see an improvement in my conditioning.

Doing simple and sinister as the kettlebell program. Minor elbow pain has set in but hopefully that will improve as grip strength goes up. Also started daily mobility work on forearms which has helped.

SallyNasty wrote:

2 days into whole30. This is gonna be tough.

Elimination diets are dumb my man.

boogle wrote:
SallyNasty wrote:

2 days into whole30. This is gonna be tough.

Elimination diets are dumb my man.

Agree but marriage is fun and my wife is very keen on this so I will give it a go because a). A happy wife is a happy life and 2). I could do with drying out after holiday frivolities.

SallyNasty wrote:
boogle wrote:
SallyNasty wrote:

2 days into whole30. This is gonna be tough.

Elimination diets are dumb my man.

Agree but marriage is fun and my wife is very keen on this so I will give it a go because a). A happy wife is a happy life and 2). I could do with drying out after holiday frivolities.

Just googled it. Wow. I would tap out almost immediately. Good luck!