Fitness Catch-All

Top_Shelf wrote:

$340 for 215lbs is a crazy good deal in Covid Times. Nicely done.

Indeed. That sounds like a great setup staygold!

Hey gang, I'm looking for a mess-free chalk to use for kettlebell workouts. My office space is also my workout space, so I don't want to be liberally spreading chalk dust around for my PC fans to ingest.

I used to have a chalk-ball, and that was a pretty good solution, but it's years old and needs replacing.

Anyone got an improvement on that to recommend?

EDIT - I've never tried a liquid chalk, but maybe that's my answer?

If you're doing kettlebells, why not a glove?

Top_Shelf wrote:

If you're doing kettlebells, why not a glove?

Same reason not to use gloves with a barbell - weakens your grip. That's the opposite effect I'm after, and is MORE likely to launch a kettlebell across the room.

Not to mention, that if they DID make it easier to grip, that would be training your grip LESS, which defeats the object of training in the first place.

Not exactly an answer to your question but - I use powder coated kettlebells. They are just rough enough to help with grip without causing dermal trauma. Never felt the need to use gloves or chalk.

Heretk wrote:

Not exactly an answer to your question but - I use powder coated kettlebells. They are just rough enough to help with grip without causing dermal trauma. Never felt the need to use gloves or chalk.

My KBs are powder coated, but I have unusually sweaty hands. And have stepped up to a bigger KB too - it's swings with that one (and one handed swings with the next one down) where I really feel the need to chalk to stay safe at the end of a set.

I think liquid chalk might be what you’re looking for.

Jonman wrote:

My KBs are powder coated, but I have unusually sweaty hands. And have stepped up to a bigger KB too - it's swings with that one (and one handed swings with the next one down) where I really feel the need to chalk to stay safe at the end of a set.

Clearly the answer is that you need to dip your hands up to the wrists in industrial strength adhesive, and then dip them in a bucket of mid-grit sand. You could also dip your arms up to the elbows if you want to ensure your planks are super stable, and the bottoms of your feet for a surprise advantage during the next village egg-and-spoon race.

Coldstream wrote:
Jonman wrote:

My KBs are powder coated, but I have unusually sweaty hands. And have stepped up to a bigger KB too - it's swings with that one (and one handed swings with the next one down) where I really feel the need to chalk to stay safe at the end of a set.

Clearly the answer is that you need to dip your hands up to the wrists in industrial strength adhesive, and then dip them in a bucket of mid-grit sand. You could also dip your arms up to the elbows if you want to ensure your planks are super stable, and the bottoms of your feet for a surprise advantage during the next village egg-and-spoon race.

Fyi if anyone is looking for a solid workout app Freeletics is pretty great. I still recommend fitness blender on youtube too. Trying to keep my progress going.

Looking back to the start of 2021, I'm now consistently jogging 5ks for my thrice weekly exercise. Getting there required being a lot less competitive with my younger self and setting realistic goals for a 55 year old. Now it's a matter of balancing a meaningful level of exercise and not over-exercising. With a one in three likelihood of developing psoriatic arthritis, I'm occasionally concerned about developing crippling knee pain, but so far jogging is the exercise I find least boring and the only one I have found I can make a part of a regular schedule.

Alright, checking back into this thread.

I haven't worked out seriously in about a year. COVID was the first problem, but then I was diagnosed with Grave's disease (overactive thyroid). I didn't realise anything was wrong at first, but it became clear that I wasn't myself when I couldn't even manage my usual walks, and I'd never stop sweating! The doctors were a little worried about my heart, because it was constantly well above normal resting rates.

I'm finally medicated and feeling back to my normal self. I still have to watch my heartrate, and I've lost almost all of my strength. Between being sedentary for so long, and my metabolism burning up everything else, I feel like I'm back to square one. I'm weak, but going slowly and letting muscle memory do the rest.

-----------------
Anyway, for the thrilling part of my tale,

Because I have horrid knees and can't squat, I decided to try sled pushing. It's great! Huge workout, I can bend my knees in a way that lets me push hard with no pain. Excellent.

Did a few laps, didn't think too much of my heart of lack of fitness. Started to find it hard to breathe, heart rate was higher than it's been in months. I got really worried and my body wanted to puke! I'm in a new gym and barely know the layout so I run into the change rooms - looks different, panic, it's the women's change rooms. I'm SO lucky nobody was undressed. I ran out and goddamn sprinted to the correct bathroom trying to hide my face.

Not the best introduction to my new gym, but outside of that I LOVE it there. So many racks, nice functional area, big space. Just need to remember which bathroom is which

First outdoor run of the pandemic, all and all I felt pretty good about it. Indoor training has been 5k on the treadmill with an incline, this morning I did 3.5 miles, walked for a short bit and finished up the last couple of miles at an acceptable pace.

I have been off the gym wagon since the last lockdown in Greece. As much as I can "love" gym, I am really liking the set up now. I started back two weeks ago, which was two weeks after my first Moderna shot.

I schedule an appointment. I have a trainer who I share at most with 2 other people (and half of the time, the other person is my wife, so...bonus). I really don't know if I could bring myself to do the gym without the trainer there. I have some lower back issues, and the main trainer I am with seems to magically know just what I can and cannot do, just how much I can push, and slowly, how to strengthen my lower back and core so that I have less problems.

And it's not any more expensive than a "regular" gym.

TLDR; a trainer beside you is so awesome.

Today is the first day back at the gym since COVID. New gym, though. As always, I'm kinda freaked out to be working out in public, but it's needed. I gained all my weight back and then some during my work from home status.

bestseoexpertin wrote:

Anyone have a good nutrition resource?

Honestly, again YMMV, but I know for myself that I am more likely to eat right with someone to report to. I get a discount to see the nutritionist at the gym in the private school where I work. When I see her once a month, I keep on target much better than trying to do it all on my own.

Plus she has the things she clips on me to measure body fat. And boy that's fun....(it's really not, but back when I was losing fat and gaining muscle, so my weight wasn't changing a lot...it felt SO much better to see the fat % go down while the scale showed jack sh*t.)

Hey, weightlifting people:

I got a summer membership to an actual gym with actual weight machines (and free weights).

Given my level of comfort with free weights is effectively 0, what weight machines should I use with a goal of improving my distance running?

I plan on going 3 or 4 days a week.

mudbunny wrote:

Hey, weightlifting people:

I got a summer membership to an actual gym with actual weight machines (and free weights).

Given my level of comfort with free weights is effectively 0, what weight machines should I use with a goal of improving my distance running?

I plan on going 3 or 4 days a week.

Machines, schmachines. Being unfamiliar with free weights isn't enough of a reason to resort to them. You can handle a pair of light-to-moderate dumbbells, so here you go.

Bulgarian split squats (add DB weight as necessary)
Step ups (add DB weight as necessary).
Box jumps.
Lunges and reverse lunges (add DB weight as necessary)
Wall squats.
Planks and side planks.
One legged deadlifts.
And of course, king of the exercises - SQUATS. Don't want to learn to squat a barbell? No problem, multiple sets of air squats will still kick your ass. You can add weight with DBs held at shoulder level. A weighted vest is also an alternative. All that said, learning to squat a barbell is a very worthwhile investment in your future self.

Particularly when you're training for a sport, you want exercises that mimic the same movements as the sport. So for running, you're looking for exercises that train hip-drive of you pulling the leg forward. Hence step-ups and deadlifts. You're also looking for explosive power in the thighs for when you're pushing off the ground, hence box jumps and squats. And you need a strong core so your upper body can be supporting what your lower body is putting down, hence planks.

Add calf raises, hamstring curls, standing long jump, and russian twists (unweighted and weighted).

Thanks! It turns out the plan I got might give me access to a trainer? If not, a friend who likes to lift and also run gave me the following advice:

*****
for newbies a standard power lifting routine is good for most sports or activities. It usually focuses on two days A and B. High return on time investment.

For me my A day is squat, bench, lat pull down and some accessory exercises for arms. B day was deadlift, shoulder press, rows and more accessory exercises (more arms).

A push, a pull and a lift. All compound with large muscle recruitment. I would lift heavy squats and push out a solid run in the same day. Not for everybody but my knees benefited from the squats greatly.

It would be crucial to learn proper free weight form though otherwise you can do more harm than good.
*****

I think I will throw your exercises (Jonman and EvilHomer3k) together with his and go from there, after getting advice from a trainer on the proper form to use for free weights.

He (my friend) pointed out that while machines are good for lots of weight, that free weights would be better for me as it "engages all the smaller muscles" that will help me with running. It makes sense to me...

Trainers have told me before that machines often limit the range of motion under tension, so even though you can stack up weights & feel great about it, they're of limited utility vs. free weights or barbells.

I just did squats for the first time in a year and a half two days ago. 95lbs total. I can barely stand or sit today. And stairs? Forget about it.

I am with you, Grenn. I had to ask my wife to use one of our massagers to work on my legs, since the entirety of my leg is SORE. It feels like there are weights strapped around my calves, too.

I usually take the stairs in my building, to get to the office, but I used the elevator today. I have walked enough to work out the soreness, but I will hop on an elliptical when I get to the gym today, to help through the process.

Here's some solid info about the concept of training with an eye toward recovery and being able to consistently get in your work:

https://articles.reactivetrainingsys...

Anyone have thoughts or experiences with the Garmin ecosystem and Connect app? I'm planning on upgrading to GPS watch by year end and was wondering if anyone had positive or negative experiences. Any experience with the Coros app would also be appreciated. I'll be choosing between a Garmin 245 and Coros Pace 2.

Kronen wrote:

Anyone have thoughts or experiences with the Garmin ecosystem and Connect app? I'm planning on upgrading to GPS watch by year end and was wondering if anyone had positive or negative experiences. Any experience with the Coros app would also be appreciated. I'll be choosing between a Garmin 245 and Coros Pace 2.

I had used previous Garmin running watches, and they were okay but had problems. I got a Garmin Forerunner 45s, the budget one when it released, as a running watch. I intended to use it running only. I wear it all the time now, and the Garmin connect app is really, really good. That whole ecosystem is really solid. I've been extremely surprised at the lack of headaches. There is a newer line coming out soon with even better battery life, so try and get in on that. Battery life hasn't been a problem at all if you want to get a deal, that said.

I’m firmly in the Garmin ecosystem. I have an Edge 1000 and a Fenix 6s. Friends also use Garmin and we’re all super happy with it and Garmin connect.

My wife has a Garmin Instinct that she loves. The main issue with Garmin is that the charging cable/port can get a bit wonky (and it's proprietary). Hers started having issues after about two years and I bought a new cable. That started having issues so I got her a charging cradle (about $10 on Amazon) and that has worked great.

I have an Apple watch and if I were to switch to Android I'd get a Garmin for sure.

I recently was given a nice stationary bike. I hope to be able to either turn it into a bike desk or at least hop on it during my days of phone calls.

To healthy!

I am not losing any real weight. I am building muscle and my stomach seems to be getting more fit, but I am still around 300 lbs. Le sigh.