Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with excercise

i am fat and happy, and want to be less fat and more happy

radiosilents — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:58:01 -0800

lazy slacker who dislikes people wants to start home fitness routine. the wii and some "move your butt" titles are less money than, say, a nordic track, but... what's the best return on investment in in-home fitness equipment for the money?

i understand that motivation is the primary concern, and i think that not having to sweat in front of other people will resolve my lack of drive.

i'm not terribly overweight or terribly unfit, but i'm not exactly running marathons, either. i'm looking for an entry-level experience that will possibly inspire me to want to pursue further avenues.

a wii + some fitness titles w/ a balance board will run somewhere around the $350 range. the excercise equipment i've been looking at online (treadmills, recumbent bikes, the aforementioned nordic track) seems to start around $700 and go up rapidly from there. i also know that a step, some freeweights, and one of those giant ab balls would give me all the workout i need, too, if i knew how to properly use them all, but i'm also not sure rolling around with a giant ball is quite where i'm at yet (though i admit it looks intriguing).

what do you have in your house? how happy with the results have you been? how much did it cost? how long have you been using it?

i'm also interested in people who have integrated the wii into their fitness routines, and what impact they think it's had on their overall fitness. i've googled quite a bit and seen some of the opinions out there, but i'm always interested in what the hivemind thinks.

i see an awful lot of friends with expensive equipment that they use as a coat rack or "place to stack things". i'd like to avoid that, so i suppose a followup question would be what equipment would you NOT recommend? what failed you, let you down, didn't work as advertised?

Where can I learn to dance just for fun?

WeekendJen — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:12:35 -0800

I'm looking for a dance studio where I can learn modern dance choreography, but not necessarily for a recital. I'm in central NJ. When I was younger I always took "dance class" and enjoyed it. Now I'm older and need to excercise, but gyms are boring to me. Does anyone know of any dance studios in the central NJ / NYC metro area where members can drop in and learn dances with no intention of it culminating in a performance? I like Modern dance (think Mia Michaels on So You Think You Can Dance) and have some experience / moderate flexibility left. I am in my mid-twenties and would prefer to be in class with people around my age. Thanks in advance!

Optimal dog walk: vary route or not?

everichon — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:56:52 -0800

I walk my eight-year-old boxer every day. I vary the route among a set of 4 or 5 possibilities--different directions, incline, etc. I do this a) because I like variety and b) I have been assuming the dog likes variety, too. Is that true? Or does a dog prefer, for some reason, to stick to one familiar route?

How can i attach a laptop to a treamdill?

PlayWithFire — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:49:55 -0800

Does anyone know of a product, or a DIY method to attach a laptop to a treamdill? It has to be portable. I am looking for a way to watch videos on a treadmill at the gym. I think my video player would be a low end laptop, and now is just the problem of attaching it to the treadmill.
If this was at home, it would be just a matter of buidling a tall shelf, but because i'll be taking the laptop to the gym, i need something that will attach to the treadmill.
Surf Shelf seems like a good start, but i think it places the laptop too low, meaning that you would always look down, and mess up the posture while running.

How to get ripped?

four panels — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:20:28 -0800

What are some basic exercises to get ripped in the style of Fight Club Brad Pitt or Tupac, not the steroid style Arnold/body builder type? Assume I am an idiot regarding lats, delts, and physiological terminology, because basically I am :) I do curls and flat-on-the-bench butterflys with 30lb dumbbells, and I run every other day. Should I do the rowing machine? The pull down bar lat machine? Stick to all free weights?

I guess if someone could point me to a basic regimen that I could understand, I will be able to stick with it. Thanks!

Getting in shape for a dance?

abdulf — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:51:46 -0800

I have about a week to get in shape to do a 6 minute choreographed dance. What exercises will help me with endurance? I have been drafted into dancing at a close relative's wedding. I am concerned I will not be able to keep up. I've been told to "get in shape" for the dance number.

I have no dance experience. I am 6ft, 230 pounds, and pretty pudgy. That's not to say I don't exercise. I am active and do olympic style weight lifting, full court basketball, and jogging among other things. What I'm concerned with is the extra weight I carry.

I have not seen the actual dance so I can't practice that. I am supposed to learn it in a day. I've been told it's the kind of dance you'd find in a Bollywood film.

What kind of exercises, besides the actual dance, would increase my agility and stamina to successfully dance at a high tempo for about 6 to 9 minutes?

On a related note, how do you keep your cool when performing in front of fairly large audience (600)? Dancing and performing are way outside my comfort zone.

Couch to 5K for bikes?

one_bean — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:42:15 -0800

Is there a bicycling version of Couch-to-5k / 100 push ups? I'd like to do a century ride. I like goals and metrics set out for me in advance. Please lead me.

10k Preparation

rossination — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:31:13 -0800

I just signed up for a 10k on October 12th and I'm trying to figure out whether or not I'm going to be ready to do it. I started running about 4 or 5 weeks ago, doing a 2.7 mile loop in about 30-40 minutes (running and lots of walking). Lately I've been doing the Couch to 5k plan, (I'm on Week 4 right now). I'm able to keep up with Ct5k (although today's run kicked my ass), and in the span of about 30 minutes of alternating running and walking, I did probably 2 miles. So, I'm not running very fast, but that's obviously not my primary concern.

What is going to be my best plan for getting ready for the 10k in October? I'm planning on finishing out the Ct5k in the next 4 weeks, and then in the remaining 3 doing some longer runs. But I'm worried that piling on the extra mileage at the end is not going to get me ready in enough time.

Other details: I'm 21, male, and about 20 pounds overweight. I stretch before I run and have good-fitting shoes, but I want to make sure to be kind to my knees in all of this. As I said above, I'm not really concerned with doing the 10k at any particular speed; I just want to get through it and have a good time.

Fatty, fatty, 2x4...

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:45:02 -0800

What diet is right for me, and how do I stick to it? I'm a fatty. Fat fat fatty. In the past I've had trouble sticking to diets, or finding good ones. I was on low carb for a while, but that didn't go well with my stomach (and everyone else doing it in my house prefers their meat deep-fried. Gross.). I'm willing to combine a diet with excercise (running on the treadmill, hours upon hours of DDR), but I'd like it to stick to some basic guidelines.

I want a diet that is not crazy and will not require some sort of hard-to-find expensive supplements. The less, the better. I'm open to pay-per-meal planned meal programs, if you have any personal experience with them working. I would prefer they not be based solely on one food group (like atkins is).

A little about me:
I am an 18 year old female.
I am big boned to begin with- I will never be skinny skinny skinny, so that is not what I am aiming for, but a healthy weight.
My current weigh is ~375 lbs.
My height is 5'6.5"

Oh, askmefi, help me please! Personal anecdotes and experiences enecouraged. I'm so sick of being a fat slob, and this time I really want to stick with it.

"I love drinking those!"

rossination — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:00:30 -0800

Help me get ready for a Pilates class! I'm pretty out of shape -- extra fat, not enough muscle -- and I have been encouraged by my SO to take a Pilates class with her. Great! But everyone who I've told this to has said, with a degree of don't-say-I-didn't-warn-you, "you know it's really hard".

So my question is: what can I do now, before the class starts in 3 or 4 weeks, to get myself ready for what will possibly be a pretty strenuous twice-weekly activity? The class is a basic/beginner's class, FWIW.

Additionally, what equipment will I likely need? Is there stuff that would be worth picking up now?

Finally, any info related to Pilates, exercise, or getting an underworked butt in gear would be appreciated.

If she wants to dance and drink all night...

Glitter Ninja — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:11:49 -0800

How can I turn DDR: The Hottest Party (for Wii) into the main activity in a get-your-fat-butt-off-the-couch and move around routine? I'm recieving a Wii for xmas, and went over to play DDR on it at a friend's last night- I'm hooked like crazy. However, I know the calorie burn count is kind of low, and I'm looking for ways to make the workout a bit harder while I dance. I know DDR won't be the sole activity in any excercise routine (at least not an effective one) but it's as good a place to start as any. Please, hive mind- tips or tricks for making a DDR workout a little more effective!

Increase my self-discipline? How?

DrGirlfriend — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:07:12 -0800

Bolstering self-discipline: I'm stuck in a cycle of knowing that I need to make exercise a regular part of my life. At this point I can only go to the gym right after work during the week. I can also sneak in exercise on weekends. The problem? I cannot seem to maintain any kind of routine for more than 2 or 3 weeks. I started off a few months ago being very gung-ho about going to the gym after work. I really enjoyed the exercise. Then I had a period where I couldn't go, and that brought me back to square one. At the end of the day I feel tired, I feel unmotivated, wah wah wah. Have you ever cracked the whip on yourself and made it work for you? How did you do it?

How accurate is the calorie counter in DDR games?

aznhalf — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:24:32 -0800

How accurate is the calorie counter in DDR games? So after months of saying I'm going to get healthy I've finally got around to it. I'm down to 1400 calories a day and have lost almost 20 pounds.

I decided to compliment my diet with some activity. At first I started to give running a try but I just couldn't motivate myself to go out everyday. So I decided to go with something I know that I would be willing to do everyday, DDR(Dance Dance Revolution).

DDR comes with a calorie counter which estimates how many calories you burn. You enter your weight for it to get a more accurate estimation. The more you weigh the higher the calories burned.

After about an hour and a half it says I've burned 1000 calories. Now I'm pretty much an idiot when it comes to excercise but that number seems too high. I've been told that you burn about 150 calories running a mile. I feel that after running a mile I feel a lot more exhausted than I do when playing DDR. Granted it takes only ten minutes to run a mile, 1000 calories still seems like a lot. I don't think I could even come close to running the 6-7 miles it would take to burn 1000 calories. I feel like 500 calories seems like a more reasonable number.

Is there a better way to gauge calories burned while excercising? Does 1000 calories even seem remotely close?

If it helps I weigh 240lb and play mostly 7-8 foot songs in DDR.

Under pressure

four panels — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:48:12 -0800

I think I have the flu. Should I stay in bed or run 5K?

Why do I sometimes taste blood when I exercise strenuously?

cramer — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 07:24:02 -0800

Why do I sometimes taste blood when strenuously exercising? Last night, after a long hiatus, I played a few hours of basketball at the gym. After a few trips sprinting up and down the court, I tasted blood. This has happened before, I can recall it when playing football when it's chilly.

What's going on? I take this as a sign that I'm out of shape and was pushing too hard, but what's really happening? Blood leaking from my sinuses? Are pulmonary capillaries breaking?

Help me lose my double chin.

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 08:59:37 -0800

Are there any excercises you can do to lose fat on your face? While increasing my calorie intake each day and working out pretty intensely, I managed to gain about ten pounds while keeping my body fat percentage relatively the same. However, though I was able to work out most of my body and put on a significant ammount of muscle, my face was one place that I was unable to avoid gaining alot of fat. I'd like to see my jawline again, does anyone know anyways to cut fat from your face?

How can I continue to drink beer and yet stay thin?

photoslob — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:07:51 -0800

How can I continue to drink beer and yet stay thin? I'm a guy in my mid-thirties who loves beer. I'd drink a few every other day or so if I could but I've noticed that when I do the spare tire around my waste grows. If I lay off for a week it shrinks. Now, I'm not a fat guy and I'm actually fairly thin but that makes the spare tire that much more noticeable. I work out at the gym 2-4 days a week and regularly do cardio and crunches. I'm a healthy guy overall. Have I just hit the age where beer and my body don't mix anymore?

I need a drill sargeant to make me get fit.

chudmonkey — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 13:03:15 -0800

How can I develop a healthier lifestyle despite my significant lack of initiative? The bottom line is that I want to act & feel healthier.

My diet is about 1/2 fast food, and 1/2 meals prepared at home. I don't have a very sophisticated palette, and don't eat with much variety - no spicy foods, not a lot of ethnic foods, way too few veggies - just a lot of burgers, sandwiches, pasta and junk food. About 6-7 months ago I dropped a Coca-Cola habit; I went from about 2 litres per day to none, and now I drink at least the same volume of water each day.

I don't excercise. I walk more than most people I know, because I don't have a car and frankly enjoy walking, but I never just walk for a walk's sake.

I have psoriatic arthritis, so in addition to splotches of dry/dead skin, my 26-yr old bones and joints are starting to get stiff and achy. I'm prescribed a cream for my skin spots, and it works when applied, but I don't use it as regularly as I should because it's messy, I'm more than a little lazy, and the thought of controlling my psoriasis with a lifetime of daily cream applications makes me feel hopeless.

So here's where I'm at: I know that I need a better diet and an excercise plan in order to lose weight. The problem is that I am not a self-motivated person. I only do my job because I'd be fired if I didn't. I only do my household chores because doing so makes my roommates' lives easier. I'm not trying to over-state anything, but I'm convinced that if I were left to my own devices with no obligations to others, I'd be 500 lbs, surrounded by dirty clothes and pizza boxes, planted in front of the TV and dead within a few months.

Intellectually, I understand that I have a social obligation to my loved ones to stay healthy and stay around, but that just isn't a motivation for me, for better or worse.

I do respond well to direction, though. For the most part, I enjoy being told what to do, and the feeling that what I'm accomplishing is important to someone other than myself. To that end, I'm wondering what diet/excercise options exist that will take choice and freedom away from me, and instead tell me exactly what to do, when and for how long. Something that I have to pay for in advance would likely help keep me motivated.

Optimally, I'd like to have all my meals planned by someone else, whether or not I have to prepare them myself, as well as an excercise regimen that's pre-defined, but it would have to make allowances for my varying daily work schedule. I'd really prefer to stay out of a gym, because my skin condition makes me self-conscious.

I've seen TV ads for a "Doctor-assisted weight loss" clinic in my town, and I wonder if this is something like what I'm looking for.

Otherwise, I'm just looking for suggestions and testimonials related to extremely lazy/un-motivated people getting fit. It's not that I don't want to work at this; investing time and effort is obivously what it will take - it's just that I don't believe I can both plan it AND do it.

Portable gym?

ttrendel — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:17:24 -0800

My job requires me to travel roughly 1 week out of 4. While I enjoy this, it seriously interferes with my workout schedule. What exercises can I do with equipment that will fit in a large suitcase and won't disturb the neighbors?

pre-run eating

brautigan — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 01:42:13 -0800

Should I eat breakfast before or after my morning run? This year I'm going to try and run 20 - 30 minutes in the morning before work. Should I do this on an empty stomach or can I eat my bowl of muesli first? I don't have a lot of time between getting out of bed and having to head to work so "eat and wait an hour" wouldn't be an option for me.

Excercise playlist suggestions?

Finder — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 17:37:30 -0800

I'd like to put together a rocking playlist for exercising. Suggestions, please. Up-tempo, lively stuff, along the lines of I Fought the Law and Panic in Detroit , just to mention two that I've already chosen. Genre doesn't matter, although I don't see myself sweating to the oldies... (Or disco, for that matter.)
It's for running on a treadmill, mostly.

How do I learn fencing?

corpse — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 11:12:36 -0800

So after reading The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon, I've become interested in learning fencing. Where do I begin with this? What should I read up on? Are there beginner classes that I can take? Specifically in the Chicago area. Any mefi fencers out there? I'm in relatively good physical shape and the only other sport I play competively is tennis, how long would it take me to pick up the basics of the sport?

Pedometer advice wanted

everichon — Fri, 13 May 2005 07:46:45 -0800

a) Anyone have a particular make/model of pedometer they like? b) Are they very reliable? I don't mean survey-grade reliable, but even for rough distance estimation? c) Calibration tips?

does stretching work?

randomstriker — Wed, 11 May 2005 00:25:43 -0800

Does stretching work? Does it increase flexibility in adults or just maintain it? I am a pretty serious cyclist, but my lack of flexibility causes me a lot of aggro. My left hamstring and right IT band are pretty tight, so I get a lot of repetitive stress pain.

Now the standard remedy I hear from everyone (doctors, physiotherapists, personal trainers, etc) is that I should do stretching. I admit that I haven't been following their advice properly, as I am not someone who is disciplined enough to do it like clockwork. But I would like to know whether or not stretching actually works.

If you're about 30 (like me), can you actually increase your flexibility? From the literature I've come across, there seem to be two schools of thought:

a) once you're out of adolescence, you can only maintain your existing range of motion, you cannot increase it
b) you can increase your range of motion at any age with regular and proper stretching, no matter how old you are

Which is the better supported opinion? Your personal experiences would be appreciated, and links to studies in reputable, peer-reviewed publications would be even better.

How much excercise can you get from manual labor

RustyBrooks — Tue, 03 May 2005 10:47:25 -0800

Unti fairly recently I excercised fairly frequently. Due to having less and less free time, and more and more opportunities to do manual labor, I'm wondering how to estimate the amount of excercise I'm getting from various kinds of Hard Work. I used to aim for 3 workouts a week, and usually managed to average 2. I used free weights and an elliptical machine. That space is being converted into it's original purpose some time soon (a baby's room) and besides, I find my time after work being more and more consumed with things that Must Be Done.

However, my weekend free time has turned in manual labor for the most part. At the moment, I'm doing a lot of landscaping, and it's pretty hard work. Digging trenches, hauling around dirt, rocks, etc. Lots of lifting, trudging, swinging, what not. Another activity that I do often is that I work for Habitat for Humanity a couple weekends a month, building house frames.

I'm curious about how beneficial this all is. Seems like an 8 hour day of manual labor ought to burn a lot of calories and some of this should probably increase my strength and endurance. How many calories would I expect to burn in an 8 hour day of landscaping? Pretty hard to estimate the other kinds of manual labor I do, since it's extremely variable. Sometimes I stand in one place and hammer all day, sometimes I carry sheets of plywood by myself from one side of a warehouse to another, etc.

I'm also wondering about corresponding risks. I already had an incident about 6 months ago where I pulled the ligaments on my sternum pretty good and couldn't lift anything for months. I was surprised by this: I didn't expect to be able to lift more than my body could handle. I just sort of figured that if it was "too heavy" I wouldn't be able to lift it.

As a closing note, one of the reasons I've always worked out is that when it came time to do things that required strength or endurance, I wanted to be able to do them without struggling. I've also noted, though, that when I merely do what is possible to me, doing that doesn't get easier. Doing something *harder* than what I can already do does make what I can already do easier. So, if I want to easily be able to lift 100 pounds, I need to be "practicing" with 130 pounds. I'm wondering, therefore, if doing manual labor will only keep me where I am, not not serve much to increase my strength. Although, I have yet to see what the effects are of lifting moderate weight over very long periods of time are compared to lifting larger amounts over short periods.

Oh, and, man, I pushed a car a couple blocks the other day. They should have car-pushing-machines at gyms. By which I mean a big empty space with a car in neutral that you can push back and forth. After I was done pushing this car I felt like my legs were gonna fall off.