Health & Exercise Thread! 2.0

[Ixion]

@spyrde

I'm sure i can't be the only one!

@x6teen

Well you see I'm African! I'm from Egypt :P i got African blood running through my veins!!

for me it's only the diet and how hard i can keep on going that makes me stronger and bigger in a matter of a month or less.

I'd be interested to see how your gains would differ though if you did a strength or hypertrophy routine.

[SchaffinOSX]

I'm going to try to start going to the gym more often. I'd love to wake up early in the morning before school and go... Isn't it best to work out in the morning?

[Inzane2050]

Bad habit of mine. I like to workout at 2AMish before I go to bed.

[Ixion]

I'm going to try to start going to the gym more often. I'd love to wake up early in the morning before school and go... Isn't it best to work out in the morning?

Just workout whenever you have the most energy. That's what is most important.

[spyrde]

Yeah it don't really matter. With cardio though I would suggest doing it in the morning.

[x6Teen]

I like having mid-night runs but that just me because i love being outside at night.

[SchaffinOSX]

Sounds good guys. I have another unrelated question...

It seems that I bloat rather easily, and it causes a lot of discomfort and (to me) is pretty noticeable. I did some reading online and found plenty of things I can do to curb it, but what do you guys think would help?

[Inzane2050]

Bloating shouldn't be something you should really concern yourself with. It happens regardless of physique. Just focus on improving your core strength. And never listen to anyone who advertises drink less water, and do not focus on a strict diet either, but eat healthy. Improve your strength and the rest will work itself out.

[SchaffinOSX]

Bloating shouldn't be something you should really concern yourself with. It happens regardless of physique. Just focus on improving your core strength. And never listen to anyone who advertises drink less water, and do not focus on a strict diet either, but eat healthy. Improve your strength and the rest will work itself out.

Bloating is something that happens to everyone, sure, but there are cases when people bloat easily because of certain factors. Bloating isn't just something to ignore, in my opinion.

[Sylar]

This should be everyones workout song

[KillingSpree0]

You guys got any tips for calf workouts?

[[DT]]

Sounds good guys. I have another unrelated question...

It seems that I bloat rather easily, and it causes a lot of discomfort and (to me) is pretty noticeable. I did some reading online and found plenty of things I can do to curb it, but what do you guys think would help?

Stay _very_ hydrated, don’t sweat it (no pun intended...)

You guys got any tips for calf workouts?

There’s usually a couple of machines that will isolate your calfs (if you belong to a gym/Y/etc), or plenty of leg related compounds that will hit the calfs, or isolate with one of the calf raise variants (edge, press, etc., with out without weight). Even elliptical machines on high rise/resistance hit up your calfs pretty decently!

Good for you thinking about legs/calfs, they’re usually skipped/forgotten.

[Sub-stance1]

You guys got any tips for calf workouts?

Developing the calf muscles are the most difficult ones for most people. First off, you need to have a lot of variety when developing them. Also, when doing your raises, make sure you go as high as possible to really stretch the muscle. Make sure you stretch them between sets too. It helps with the blood flow needed to make them more defined. Your goal is to get what is called a lactic acid burn. Believe me, you will know when you achieve it. I suggest that you train them up to 4 times a week. They are unlike any other muscle on the body and they recover from workouts quicker than any other muscle on the body. You beat the hell out of them on Monday and by Wednesday they will have fully recovered.


The one thing to keep in mind about them is that its development depends on genetic factors. A person with 17 inch calves most likely wont be able to develop 23 or 24 inch calves, but "you can make them grow" and add really nice definition to them. I applaud your interest because usually people are so concerned about their upper body that they neglect the calves . What good does it do having a muscular upper body and a set of pencil calves to go with them right? A 175-180 lb pound person with great overall symmetry beats a 220 lb one without it any day. Good luck with your workouts.

[[DT]]

Good for you thinking about legs/calfs, they’re usually skipped/forgotten.

I applaud your interest because usually people are so concerned about their upper body that they neglect the calves . What good does it do having a muscular upper body and a set of pencil calves to go with them right? A 175-180 lb pound person with great overall symmetry beats a 220 lb one without it any day. Good luck with your workouts.

[Inzane2050]

Bloating is something that happens to everyone, sure, but there are cases when people bloat easily because of certain factors. Bloating isn't just something to ignore, in my opinion.

If that's the case, then I'd say you should just focus on improving your strength; particularly your arms, chest, legs, and back muscles. That should help reduce your belly.

[KillingSpree0]

.

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Thanks guys. I don't go to any gyms infact I havent since Ive been in high school. I just head out to an empty park close to me and just do jogs,sprints,lunges,ect. You guys know exercises that will target the calves without equipment besides the heels off curb one?

[C-Carcharias]

Thanks guys. I don't go to any gyms infact I havent since Ive been in high school. I just head out to an empty park close to me and just do jogs,sprints,lunges,ect. You guys know exercises that will target the calves without equipment besides the heels off curb one?

If you can, try "seated calf raises" - basically sit down on a chair, place something heavy across your thighs/knees, lift heels off the ground. When your heels are off the ground, hold this position for 10 seconds, contracting your calves and then slowly lower your heels back down.

[SchaffinOSX]

Thanks for the help guys. Seems simple enough.

[The Black Wolf]

I am confused about resistance training or weight lifting.

My arms aren't fat, so I don't understand why I should lift weights. I'm not against it, I'm just confused. I do know if I work the areas that are fat, like my stomach, my thighs, and chest, then I'll lose more weight along with my cardio, which is walking. Are there any weight lifting exercises that focus on the stomach, thighs, or chest? What exactly does resistance training do, other than make you stronger and bigger, which is not what I am after?

[Ixion]

What exactly does resistance training do, other than make you stronger and bigger, which is not what I am after?

This is what it does....
























Pretty face and big boobs not included.

[Sub-stance1]

I am confused about resistance training or weight lifting.

My arms aren't fat, so I don't understand why I should lift weights. I'm not against it, I'm just confused. I do know if I work the areas that are fat, like my stomach, my thighs, and chest, then I'll lose more weight along with my cardio, which is walking. Are there any weight lifting exercises that focus on the stomach, thighs, or chest? What exactly does resistance training do, other than make you stronger and bigger, which is not what I am after?

Basically, resistance training overloads the muscles to make them stronger but not necessarily bigger. Its also great for toning too. You should try using resistance bands if you don't like weight lifting, or an elliptical. Both are great for toning the whole body.

[Inzane2050]

I am confused about resistance training or weight lifting.

My arms aren't fat, so I don't understand why I should lift weights. I'm not against it, I'm just confused. I do know if I work the areas that are fat, like my stomach, my thighs, and chest, then I'll lose more weight along with my cardio, which is walking. Are there any weight lifting exercises that focus on the stomach, thighs, or chest? What exactly does resistance training do, other than make you stronger and bigger, which is not what I am after?

You don't choose where the fat goes or where you burn the fat. It does not matter which part of the body you work out, you will burn the fat all the same.

In other words, working out your arms will burn that same fat in your belly just as would doing crunches. You don't have a say in which fat gets burned simply bcuz you work out a different part of the body.
Increase muscle mass will naturally burn fat for you anyways so it is good to work out the entire body.

Edit: Interesting fact, you can actually get your body to distribute the belly fat to other parts of the body by working out things like your arms. If your arms are always working hard, your body will adapt and start taking from the belly fat and keeping big fat reserves in your arms (this is a good thing, btw) so that energy is easier to access versus tediously transporting fat thru the blood stream all of the way from your belly to your arms.

[MentallyCritical]

This is what it does....

Pretty face and big boobs not included.

this makes me want to fap rather than do resistance training. >:\

[Sub-stance1]

You don't choose where the fat goes or where you burn the fat. It does not matter which part of the body you work out, you will burn the fat all the same.

In other words, working out your arms will burn that same fat in your belly just as would doing crunches. You don't have a say in which fat gets burned simply bcuz you work out a different part of the body.
Increase muscle mass will naturally burn fat for you anyways so it is good to work out the entire body

That's actually not true. If i'm not mistaken, black wolf is a female and females don't store fat the same as males so therefore they don't burn fat the same. Men have higher levels of testosterone which makes fat burning easier. Most women tend to store their fat in their hips, thighs and buttocks, while men tend to gain more fat in their torso. Working out your arms won't necessarily burn any belly fat. To burn belly fat you have to involve your core. Things like walking, running and using kettle bells tend to burn belly fat. Doing curls wont do anything for your belly but a good diet and core workout will work wonders.

[Ixion]

this makes me want to fap rather than do resistance training. >:\

Female fitness models really make me want to lift, since I'm both attracted to them and impressed by them. Not to mention that first girl can probably squat more than me! Look at dem legs and glutes.