Abs Diet vs. Hacker's Diet: what's the truth? I'm having a hard time figuring out how to lose weight because both claim to be "common sense" approaches (and they make sense upon reading), but they contradict greatly on large aspects. Also, a question about protein powders... [more inside]
posted on Aug 4, 2008 - 33 answers 
I like the mood and health benefits of exercise, but hate the inherent pointlessness of the activity. Short of going into construction work, what are some activities or hobbies that involve physical exertion, but to some other purposeful end? [more inside]
posted on Jul 24, 2008 - 48 answers
Going on vacation to Germany and Italy for 2 weeks. Looking for ways to try to stay fit while traveling. We will be staying with friends in Germany and may have access to a Gym, but will be staying in a house in Italy with no gym access. Any ideas for this? Possibly equipment that I could take that would assist?
posted on Jun 22, 2008 - 8 answers
I'm looking for a morning routine to start my daily writing tasks (i.e. dissertation). The routine needs to be home-based, include a moderate exercise routine, shower and breakfast. The aim is to get me feeling heathly and eager to start a long day of creative concentration. [more inside]
posted on Jun 2, 2008 - 8 answers
How fit/strong/muscular/healthy can I get in 3 months? [more inside]
posted on Jun 1, 2008 - 19 answers
I'm a 35 yr old female, 5'6", 120lbs, in good general shape (walk loads, work out) who has never been able to achieve a single-push up. It's a key move to many of the workouts I want to do, but most strength-building programs assume that even the weakest can do at least one. What should I do? [more inside]
posted on Apr 27, 2008 - 32 answers
Can you get big muscularly by lifting lower weight with high reps?
I have been working out on and off in my life as a way to gain weight. I'm a guy with a fast metabolism, very lean and muscular. In college I was able to put on some decent weight and bulk by eating lots and also lifting very heavy weights for low reps. Usually about 4-8 reps max. This is the conventional wisdom amongst weightlifters. However, I met a guy recently who was reallly bulked up and told me he managed to get that way by actually doing the reverse. He said he would do lower weight and aim for 3 sets of 30 reps and thats what got him that way. He was also very lean when he started. This is completley against what is taught by so many. Does anyone have any feedback on this? Can this work?
posted on Apr 26, 2008 - 14 answers
My body has an irrational prejudice against jogging, though not most other exercise - can anyone explain why? More inside... [more inside]
posted on Apr 22, 2008 - 21 answers
Can you help me learn to like (maybe even love!) exercising? [more inside]
posted on Mar 3, 2008 - 52 answers
So I'm clinically depressed. And right now I likely can't take medication or see a therapist. If things get worked out with medical coverage I might be able to do one or both. But, I'd like to avoid medication if at all possible. What are the things I can do/take (vitamins?) to feel better until ? [more inside]
posted on Feb 20, 2008 - 40 answers
Suggested workout programs to put on some upper-body muscle and add general torso definition, while leaving room for running? [more inside]
posted on Feb 17, 2008 - 17 answers
Why do I seem to be *less* healthy when I exercise?? [more inside]
posted on Feb 9, 2008 - 22 answers
Are crunches and cardio three times a week going to get rid of undesired excess fat? And how soon can I expect results? [more inside]
posted on Jan 22, 2008 - 29 answers
What are some of your favorite and most creative exercises? I am looking for fun and effective things to mix up my routine. Stuff that will make the guy next to me say 'What the f*** is that?' Stuff like 'Wall Balls', 'Jumping Burpees', and 'Double-Unders'. Honestly I just like to mix it up to prevent boredom. I have already seen all the exercises on the CrossFit website. Extra points if it involves props like medicine balls and tires.
posted on Jan 21, 2008 - 7 answers
Help me improve my pushups. I've been doing martial arts 5 nights a week (M-F) for 9 months now. We do anywhere from 30-150 pushups a night, but I'm incapable of keeping up with the rest of the class and have not really improved much since I started. [more inside]
posted on Jan 18, 2008 - 21 answers
I'm taking SSRIs. I've experienced significant weight gain while on them and am now trying to work it off. How to get started? [more inside]
posted on Jan 15, 2008 - 13 answers
I want to give my husband the gift of a complete physical transformation for Christmas, on a pretty tight budget. Ideas and resources would be much appreciated. [more inside]
posted on Dec 1, 2007 - 20 answers
Is running 3+ miles 4 or more times a week hurting my muscle mass gains? I'm alternating jump rope in 1-2x a week with it for 30 minute sessions. [more inside]
posted on Nov 30, 2007 - 12 answers
I just had a doctor tell me I'm too heavy to run the Couch to 5k program. Is this really true? [more inside]
posted on Sep 18, 2007 - 62 answers
I’ve been reading a bit about qi gong and its applications to healthy living, but am finding it hard to find information that goes beyond anecdotes. I’d like to know if the claims of qi gong (and similar internal practices) have been tested, and if the claimed mechanisms have any common ground with western medicine. [more inside]
posted on Jun 15, 2007 - 6 answers
Any exercise ideas for someone who can't use their legs? (And also can't go in the water.) [more inside]
posted on Jun 10, 2007 - 20 answers
While I'm still super enthusiastic about exercise, both my motivation and fitness level have plateaued. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted on May 29, 2007 - 9 answers
How can I continue to bulk up when my supplement gives me flatulence from hell? [more inside]
posted on Apr 9, 2007 - 17 answers
Why aren't I losing weight? I'm doing everything right (aren't I?). Extensive explanation of weight-loss methods inside, so this is a doozy. [more inside]
posted on Apr 9, 2007 - 38 answers
Help me find a sport that I could be good at. [more inside]
posted on Mar 30, 2007 - 57 answers
Can anyone offer advice for going back to the gym after a back injury and six months of downtime? [more inside]
posted on Mar 11, 2007 - 15 answers
How do I tell my wife she's fat? [more inside]
posted on Jan 4, 2007 - 64 answers
How do I build up the muscle strength required to allow me to keep using my shoulder without surgery, after a dislocation? [more inside]
posted on Jan 4, 2007 - 14 answers
Is walking at your normal walking rate, but increasing the distance you walk, sufficient enough to be considered exercise? Can anyone recommend exercises for people who are very underconditioned and extremely obese, but not in poor cardiac health? And, finally, is there a medical professional who is the equivalent of a gym's personal trainer? (More inside.) [more inside]
posted on Jan 2, 2007 - 38 answers
How do I go from newly skinny to kinda buff? [more inside]
posted on Dec 11, 2006 - 17 answers
When to mix in weight training with a weight loss plan [more inside]
posted on Dec 9, 2006 - 15 answers
I want to be stronger and more physically fit. So I've heard weight training is the way to go. As a complete n00b, where/how do I start? [more inside]
posted on Nov 12, 2006 - 23 answers
How do I feel like I'm still 25 when I turn 50? [more inside]
posted on Oct 14, 2006 - 23 answers
I am in pretty decent shape (nothing amazing, but 5' 7" and 138 pounds which is normal) but find that I can't do much of ANY running without feeling horribly, horribly nauseated within minutes of finishing. I can lift and do pushups, squats, etc., but running is basically out of the question. Sometimes it's so bad I have to stop even though it's rarely more than 10 minutes. Since I'm not unhealthy or overweight, I'm pretty concerned about this. Why does running, in particular, make me feel so awful? Does this happen to anyone else? Should I be trying to push through it?
posted on Sep 20, 2006 - 15 answers
Russian kettlebell training: great exercise for shedding fat and building muscle, or another fitness fad? [more inside]
posted on Sep 8, 2006 - 7 answers
NYC Filter: Gym recommendations? [more inside]
posted on Sep 7, 2006 - 11 answers
Heart rates and exercise safety [more inside]
posted on Aug 31, 2006 - 14 answers
Turn an elephant into a cat, or a monkey, or a ferret. You get the idea. How do I become better, faster, more dextrous? [more inside]
posted on Jun 9, 2006 - 16 answers
Longtime reader, first time poster. Help resolve an exercise set of questions. I can only workout at night, will my heightened metabolism from the workout be completely negated by sleep? Is there a workout routine that is designed for a woman like me with an oddball schedule, needing to lose alot of my pear shape and staring at type 2 diabetes? [more inside]
posted on Jun 5, 2006 - 11 answers
Does exercise reduce your ability to recover from surgery? [more inside]
posted on May 25, 2006 - 8 answers
Fitnessfilter: I keep putting on (muscle) weight while exercising. I want to stop this. [more inside]
posted on May 24, 2006 - 26 answers
Ever since college I have been working to lose a fairly significant amount of weight (> 75 lbs). I'm looking for suggestions as to how I can make *this* time be the *last* time I ever have to try. [more inside]
posted on Apr 3, 2006 - 27 answers
How do I avoid exercise hangovers? [more inside]
posted on Mar 18, 2006 - 27 answers
Intense Extended Exercise Makes Me Sleepy Why? [more inside]
posted on Feb 21, 2006 - 13 answers
What qualifications should I look for in a personal trainer? What do the ACE certifications actually mean? I'd like to hire a trainer for a few sessions, but I really don't want to hurt myself or hire a nut. Please help me sort through the options! [more inside]
posted on Feb 12, 2006 - 4 answers
I am looking for an extra long exercise DVD. I need one that is at least 1 hour long, but preferably closer to 2 hours. [more inside]
posted on Jan 25, 2006 - 7 answers
Another food/exercise/energy question: how do I arrange my life and diet so I can do two hours of a martial art every night for ten days? [more inside]
posted on Jan 19, 2006 - 7 answers
The "new, state of the art" cardio machines at my gym always tell me my heart rate is unreasonably high (170 beats per minute) even though I'm working at a level where I can still maintain a breathy conversation. Occasionally, the machine will say my heart rate is something totally wacky, like 220. [more inside]
posted on Jan 16, 2006 - 9 answers
Can you kick your own butt? [more inside]
posted on Jan 16, 2006 - 64 answers
I would like to buy an exercise bicycle for a friend who wants to cardio train, but has terrible knees. However, I know nothing of exercise bicycles. [more inside]
posted on Jan 10, 2006 - 8 answers
I've been sick a lot in the last two years. And not just cold sick, I've had pneumonia and bronchitis at least 4 times a year. It seems to be triggered by physical work. [more inside]
posted on Dec 12, 2005 - 18 answers
Exercising at home, in a small apartment? Suggestions/tips? [more inside]
posted on Nov 22, 2005 - 25 answers
Can seriously overweight people do martial arts? [more inside]
posted on Nov 21, 2005 - 22 answers
Help! I've been suffering from a mild form of bulimia for four years and really need to stop. [more inside]
posted on Nov 16, 2005 - 9 answers
Piggyback filter: I need help with two things. First, getting healthy, tasty food on the table for two people in under half hour. Second, finding a personal trainer. [more inside]
posted on Nov 2, 2005 - 25 answers
Why is it that some days when I exercise and get sweaty, the sweat stings my face and eyes very badly while other (most) days the sting is very slight or nonexistent? It doesn't seem to correlate to whether or not I've just shaved (this wouldn't account for the eye sting anyway).
posted on Sep 22, 2005 - 10 answers
How do I become the person I know I should be? [more inside]
posted on Aug 19, 2005 - 36 answers
I usually try to do aerobic exercise for 1.5 hours a day. Is it more beneficial to do 3 30-minute workouts or 2 45-minute workouts?
posted on Jul 28, 2005 - 7 answers
What is the best time to workout? [more inside]
posted on May 4, 2005 - 18 answers
I am recovering from a three month virus/cold/minor hit to my immune system that aggravated both my asthma and Sparky the Mystery Muscle Disorder. I've seen a doc for this. I've just finished a run of antibiotics (Zithromax) a couple weeks ago, and have also just finished a month-long run of prednisone to treat the asthma. Consequently, I haven't exercised, and now I feel like a sloth.
I'm also laid off from my job for the next 100 days. Financially, I am OK for the duration, and that includes paying for COBRA, so I don't have to get another job right away. I'm also in Seattle, which has beautiful summers. So, I have this time to try to get back into shape and start exercising again. [more inside]
posted on Apr 20, 2005 - 7 answers
Anyone here get asthma? [more inside]
posted on Mar 14, 2005 - 20 answers
What should a healthy and fit human body be able to do? [+]
posted on Dec 16, 2004 - 42 answers
Joggers, Hikers and Marathon walkers, your attention please! I love to walk, but experience troubles with chafing. For particularly long walks (5 hours and beyond), I used to use a product called Chafe Eez, manufactured by a now apparently defunct company called Second Wind. [more inside]
posted on Dec 13, 2004 - 11 answers
How, specifically, do you work an exercise routine into your busy day? [mi]
posted on Nov 25, 2004 - 26 answers
Foot Trouble: I can't run anymore due to foot pain. Should I visit a podiatrist or orthopedic specialist or what? [symptoms and stuff within]
posted on Nov 22, 2004 - 7 answers
Nutrition/Exercise: Does anyone know of a good skeptics/scientific guide to these topics? This should preforably be a magazine, newsletter or website -- not a book -- because there's new news all the time. [More inside...]
posted on Aug 20, 2004 - 6 answers
Looking to get in shape… absolutely no idea where to start. [mi]
posted on Aug 2, 2004 - 17 answers
Does anyone have experience with boxing? (more inside)
posted on Jul 24, 2004 - 20 answers
Anyone remember the site of a guy who maintained(?is maintaining?) a yearly progress log (with daily profile photos & all) of his workout regimen?
posted on Jul 19, 2004 - 9 answers
Followup question: Recommend some good protein (and other nutritional) supplements to compliment my weight-training. [more inside]
posted on Jun 25, 2004 - 12 answers
A fitness question re: gaining muscle mass. [more inside]
posted on May 18, 2004 - 17 answers
Physical Exertion. I work from home and drink Guinness and so am getting heavier than I'd like to be, so i want to do some exercise. I'm not fat, but will become so. I also have trouble getting to sleep; my doctor says it's because I don't physically exert myself enough to become sleepy.
Can anyone suggest some good exercise? My difficulty is, I have no interest at all in competitive sports (no killer instinct) nor body building to look like Arnie. I have mild asthma and used to smoke; I also have mild Multiple Sclerosis. Is Yoga exertion enough, or is it more meditative? Is there a martial art that would suit me?
posted on Mar 17, 2004 - 34 answers
I started weight training about 9 months ago, with regular cardio. I want to start a strecthing routine because I feel very tight. [m/i]
posted on Feb 8, 2004 - 8 answers
I have bad back problems and want to exercise in such a way that my back will not get stressed. Situps can lead to steroid shots in the back so you can see I'm rather limited. Also, I have no ACL in one knee so high impact is out. While we are at it, solo activities (like swimming) are mind numbingly boring so they are out too. What are some things I can do to hold off the gut?
posted on Jan 6, 2004 - 16 answers
I'm wanting to do some outdoor bike training this winter, in preparation for going over the Rockies next summer. But, of course, riding in the winter isn't pleasant. The biggest problem I've run into is that my lungs start freezing when I get into a hard climb, while the rest of my body is overheating from the extra layers (essential for big downhills). Any tips on clothing choices that get the best of both worlds, or ways to keep my lungs warm?
posted on Dec 19, 2003 - 8 answers
What would be an average increase in muscle mass (lbs or kilos) in a woman going from weak and sedentary to seriously buff and strong over a period of about a year? And for a man?
posted on Dec 15, 2003 - 17 answers
I have always wondered why I tend to feel better after a workout. What kind of chemicals get released during and after physical exertion, and why do they make us feel good?
posted on Dec 13, 2003 - 10 answers
