The General Exercise Thread

[Halb]

Always trying to learn and swap ideas. Also seem to be taking over some other threads. This can be a thread for the general swapping of ideas over weights, Kettlebells, powerbags and other stuff?

I have some questions on my mind.
Is there a decent aerobic exercise where you don't use your legs? Swimming with only the arms is the most accessible option I can think of.

Also, what are some good exercises for helping with the twist motion in punching, and some good auxiliary exercises that can help with punching etc.

EDITED FOR REFERENCE
http://www.superstrengthbooks.com/books_and_course...

Edited by Halb on Thursday 18th February 11:16

http://rosstraining.com/blog/

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/what-crossfit.html

http://crossfitfx.com/

Edited by Halb on Sunday 4th April 11:19

http://www.the-gi-diet.org/

http://uk.mbt.com/default.aspx

http://www.ahs.uwaterloo.ca/~mcgill/fitnessleaders...

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/what-crossfit.html

http://crossfitfx.com/

Edited by Halb on Sunday 4th April 11:48

editr bear
http://stronglifts.com/cardio-fat-loss-hiit-vs-lon...

Edited by Halb on Saturday 10th July 16:45

[ShadownINja]

Why not just shadow box? Do that with different combos for 5 minutes and you should be puffing away.

Or learn some basic karate katas so that you are punching in different ways and directions.

Edited by ShadownINja on Thursday 3rd December 13:53

[Halb]

ShadownINja said:

Why not just shadow box? Do that with different combos for 5 minutes and you should be puffing away.

Or learn some basic karate katas so that you are punching in different ways and directions.

Edited by ShadownINja on Thursday 3rd December 13:53

I shadowbox occasionally, as well as drills on the bag. I was thinking aboot extra resistance on the obliques and shoulders. Do you ever use cables or bands or stuff like that?

[ShadownINja]

Depends on what you want to achieve. Do you want to solidly push the opponent away or punch him hard so it hurts? I am not sure building up punching muscles is the best way of doing things... it could have the opposite effect. Hopefully, Martial Arts Man will be along shortly to give his opinion.

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/anatomyandphysi...

[Animal]

You mean something like this: http://www.technogym.com/gb/viewdoc.asp?co_id=2732...?

or exercises with little/no equipment?

Fast pushups/plyo pushups? How about hard medicine ball throws against a wall?

[Halb]

SN, I think to hit as hard as poss, rather than push power.

Ta Animal. I am using my legs a lot (squatx3, plus running plus circuits) and I am looking out for exercises that can give my lower body a rest but keep up the work.

[G_T]

Rowing?

[HereBeMonsters]

Is there anything upper body/stomach that also does cardio? I've got a decent exercise bike at home, but can't help feeling strong legs are a bit pointless since my entire life consists of being at home on PH, driving to the office, logging onto PH, driving home...

Basically I need to get generally fitter, and lose some of this beer belly.

(5'8" and 14 stone.. But I still fit into 34" waist jeans...)

[G_T]

HereBeMonsters said:

Is there anything upper body/stomach that also does cardio? I've got a decent exercise bike at home, but can't help feeling strong legs are a bit pointless since my entire life consists of being at home on PH, driving to the office, logging onto PH, driving home...

Basically I need to get generally fitter, and lose some of this beer belly.

(5'8" and 14 stone.. But I still fit into 34" waist jeans...)

No offence mate buy that's 0.5 BMI away from obese. fk upper body and go for some cardio.

[HereBeMonsters]

G_T said:

HereBeMonsters said:

Is there anything upper body/stomach that also does cardio? I've got a decent exercise bike at home, but can't help feeling strong legs are a bit pointless since my entire life consists of being at home on PH, driving to the office, logging onto PH, driving home...

Basically I need to get generally fitter, and lose some of this beer belly.

(5'8" and 14 stone.. But I still fit into 34" waist jeans...)

No offence mate buy that's 0.5 BMI away from obese. fk upper body and go for some cardio.

Well I've got the cardio sorted on the bike. I can keep my heart rate at around 170 for half an hour at a time, then it drops back down to under 100 within 5 mins. Not great, but getting better. It really is all beer belly. I tried situps, but hurt my back. Wii Fit was crap as well.

[G_T]

HereBeMonsters said:

G_T said:

HereBeMonsters said:

Is there anything upper body/stomach that also does cardio? I've got a decent exercise bike at home, but can't help feeling strong legs are a bit pointless since my entire life consists of being at home on PH, driving to the office, logging onto PH, driving home...

Basically I need to get generally fitter, and lose some of this beer belly.

(5'8" and 14 stone.. But I still fit into 34" waist jeans...)

No offence mate buy that's 0.5 BMI away from obese. fk upper body and go for some cardio.

Well I've got the cardio sorted on the bike. I can keep my heart rate at around 170 for half an hour at a time, then it drops back down to under 100 within 5 mins. Not great, but getting better. It really is all beer belly. I tried situps, but hurt my back. Wii Fit was crap as well.

Totally agree about canning the sit-ups if it hurts. You can't remove fat locally anyway, at best you'd just tone up the area.

I would go for rowing or swimming if I were you in addition to your cycling. I've lost a fair bit of weight and toned up a lot(accord to the OH anyway) from doing just 20 minutes three times a week.

I think cycling is good if you're self conscious but I think running will always be the best. Afterall you don't need anything for it except a pair of trainers and it's very difficult to damage yourself beyond shin splints and knee injuries(which I suspect are massively over-reported to justify a lot of people's bone-idle tendancies!).

Just a thought. Typically I wouldn't comment but I've struggled with my own weight and I know from previous threads that you're one of the thicker skinned of blokes here.

[Cotty]

Halb said:

Is there a decent aerobic exercise where you don't use your legs?

G_T said:

Rowing?

[HereBeMonsters]

Have to say I have avoided jogging as everyone I know who does it has got knee injuries. Plus I weigh about twice as much as them! I did buy that iPod Nike thingy to go in my shoe as an incentive, but never used it.

I totally admit that I am a fat bd. I'm just not willing to cut down on my food intake, especially around this time of year! I'd rather exercise a bit more. I used to play hockey, but last year I was too unfit to be much good. This year I didn't go back. Plan is to get fit enough to join a better local side who also do fitness as well as skills training.

Is swimming really that good for you? Have to admit I have not been for years. The price jump from being a student (£1) to a "normal" adult (£3.60) was just too much to bear. Plus I spent too much time fking about on the slides and the Pirate Ship water cannons instead of doing lengths.
I do have pull bouy somewhere I could use to just get some arm strength built up again, although I don't think my figure would look good in Speedos any more.

Anything else that can be done to get rid of the paunch? I'm not giving up the beer, but could cut back a bit I guess...

[G_T]

HereBeMonsters said:

Have to say I have avoided jogging as everyone I know who does it has got knee injuries. Plus I weigh about twice as much as them! I did buy that iPod Nike thingy to go in my shoe as an incentive, but never used it.

I totally admit that I am a fat bd. I'm just not willing to cut down on my food intake, especially around this time of year! I'd rather exercise a bit more. I used to play hockey, but last year I was too unfit to be much good. This year I didn't go back. Plan is to get fit enough to join a better local side who also do fitness as well as skills training.

Is swimming really that good for you? Have to admit I have not been for years. The price jump from being a student (£1) to a "normal" adult (£3.60) was just too much to bear. Plus I spent too much time fking about on the slides and the Pirate Ship water cannons instead of doing lengths.
I do have pull bouy somewhere I could use to just get some arm strength built up again, although I don't think my figure would look good in Speedos any more.

Anything else that can be done to get rid of the paunch? I'm not giving up the beer, but could cut back a bit I guess...

I think the key is to make small changes and stick to them. For example some of my changes; I stopped finishing off the GF's dinner, I switched from guinness to whiskey and from lager to red wine (behind closed doors of course!), I reduced my red meat intake, no more than one junk food intake a week, diet Irn Bru at least 50% of the time. I also learned to cook some more healthy meals that are actually nice to eat like stir frys and soup. I stopped smoking as many cigars to make my exercising more pleasant.

It all adds up and it's far healthier than the punishingly strict regimes that a lot of blokes do that just result in you yo-yoing your weight which is fk all use to anybody. That is unless you want to just be another ponce in the gym who spends the whole time looking at himself in the mirror and measuring his biceps.

I think I'm correct in saying that swimming is one of the best exercises their is in terms of calories burned per hour/cardio/muscular and it doesn't put a lot of stress on your joints. Anecdotally I remember a documentary some years ago that compared elite athletes in a number of sports and swimmers were almost universally the fittest.

It's worth remembering that it might cost you £3.60 a session but even with a Gym membership most visits work out at £4.00+. You can even can the speedos and get yourself a pair trunks. If you can stick at it you'll improve your confidence in both your fitness and appearance and reduce your body weight then, if money is still a concern, you could try running. Afterall it costs fk all!

Just a suggestion. But the trick is discipline. Any fool can lose 4 stone and then put it one again in 6 months.

[Cotty]

HereBeMonsters said:

Plus I spent too much time fking about on the slides and the Pirate Ship water cannons instead of doing lengths.

[HereBeMonsters]

OK, so once this case of Speckled Hen is gone, I'll give up the ale. Or confine it to weekends. Although there are some Spitfires and Bishop's Fingers in the fridge as well. And some Guinness.

Is whisky actually lower in calories than beer? I heard a double was roughly equivalent to a pint of ale?
I guess I could go the whole vodka and slimline tonic route (the lemon in it counts as one of your five a day), but it can get a bit tedious after a while.
I have already given up fat Coke, and only have porridge for breakfast (with liberal helpings of honey) instead of the bacon or sausage sandwich.

What we should do (me and the wife) is join the gym of her old Uni. It's about 2 miles away, so a nice jog to warmup on the way there, have a swim, play a game of squash or on a rowing machine, then jog home to warm down. Only £180 for a year's membership as she is an Alumnus. Still, joining a gym doesn't necessarily mean losing weight!

[ShadownINja]

Just pedal on the exercise bike for 20km a day. And eat less (and drink less alcoholic drinks). You WILL lose weight.

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 4th December 20:50

[ShadownINja]

Halb said:

SN, I think to hit as hard as poss, rather than push power.

Learn how to punch, then... try this:

http://www.5min.com/Video/Learn-how-to-Throw-Punch...
http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_4424840_punch-harder.htm...

</too lazy to type out instructions so googled >

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 4th December 21:00

[HereBeMonsters]

ShadownINja said:

Just pedal on the exercise bike for 20km a day. And eat less (and drink less alcoholic drinks). You WILL lose weight.

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 4th December 20:50

20 k? fk off!

Currently do 10k 3 times a week, takes me half an hour a go.

Are you trying to kill me? You do know I haven't bethrothed my watch collection to you in the event of my death?

[ShadownINja]

HereBeMonsters said:

ShadownINja said:

Just pedal on the exercise bike for 20km a day. And eat less (and drink less alcoholic drinks). You WILL lose weight.

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 4th December 20:50

20 k? fk off!

Currently do 10k 3 times a week, takes me half an hour a go.

Are you trying to kill me? You do know I haven't bethrothed my watch collection to you in the event of my death?

well, do 20k 3 times a week. That'll be an hour a go.

When I was in a mega-fit stage I was doing ~120k on an exercise bike a week. Decided it was a bit excessive since I wasn't doing it to achieve any particular goal except getting "fit".