Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with exercise

Wanting to lose the weight slowly, but surely...no rush, just some physical hindrances.

penguingrl — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:26:19 -0800

What are simple and easy to do at home exercise regimens that will help burn off the weight without putting too much stress on a bad ankle? After a few surgeries over the past couple of years, and some medications that did not help, I have gained 60 pounds. I do not eat fast food, I am just very inactive due to severe asthma and having sprained my ankle over a handful of times from sports and activities over the years. There are times when I can't even walk on my ankle when I first get up in the morning, so an early jog is definitely out of the question.

I tried the yoga regimen and while it was fun and I saw quick results in increased energy, I found it boring after a while. I have an elliptical machine, but that hurts my knees after 10 minutes. I have also done the walk around the park for 15-30 minutes a day and while a steady pace did not hurt my ankle, I found that it did not give me much result in terms of weight loss.

I would love any assistance or suggestions on exercise routines. I loved yoga and I found it was a great mental regimen, so additional ideas on videos to get would be helpful. Also, any meal modifications would be greatly appreciated as well. I am what they call a "grazer" when it comes to eating. I rarely sit and eat one giant meal, but I will eat every few hours if not snack on stuff the whole time. Like I mentioned before, I do not eat fast food or fried foods, pastas and breads are my fave (it's the Italian in me).

I have had my blood work done and the Doc said everything was fine, no high cholesterol or blood pressure, just have to get back to my weight. And I am in no rush to lose this weight, no quick diet regimens, please. Something healthy, simple, easy, and one that will help me maintain the weight loss.

Thank you in advance!

Help me find a good exercise book to listen to on my trip.

whoaali — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:00:54 -0800

My exercise routine is not yielding me results. I want a book (preferably one that I can download on audible) that will fill in the many gaps in my excercise/fitness knowledge. For about the past nine months I have been attempting to lose about 15 - 20 pounds and tone up. I'm a 27 year old female. BMI hovers around 25, but basically healthy weight.

I initially did a lot of power yoga (very intense classes which worked me harder than I've ever worked before). They left me starving and sore. After about 4 months of this I had lost no weight and could only see minimal results. I switched to going to the gym and doing primarily cardioand this has been more successful. My appetite is under control and I've lost about 7-9 pounds, but I feel as flabby as ever.

A month and a half ago I sprained my ankle really badly and couldn't exercise at all, however the weight loss continued at the same (possibly faster?) pace as when I was going to the gym. This leads me to believe my current exercise regime is doing nothing for me (I've been losing weight by counting calories) and I want to learn what I'm doing wrong and how I can have a more effective workout. Granted I am not naturally athletic at all, but I still think I could be getting some tangible results from all the hours of exercise I've put in.

I'll be driving about 15 hours over the next week and want to download a book or 2 that will help fill in my exercise knowledge. Here is a rough idea of what I'm hoping to learn.

- How to exercise efficiently.
- Cardio vs Weight Lifting
- Supplements, are they even worth it?
- Eating before and after exercise (and how does this mesh with a low calorie diet approx. 1500 calories a day)
- Is there any point in building muscle if it's covered in fat?
- Weight lifting - reps, weight etc

I'm particularly interested in books that have a practical approach and are aimed at beginners. I'm not looking to become a weight lifter or a world class athlete, I just want to jiggle less!

I'm looking for a good set of free weights for my apartment. Any suggestions?

decrescendo — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:15:21 -0800

I'm looking for a good set of free weights for my apartment. Any suggestions? I'm looking to buy some free weights to use in my apartment. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I've seen PowerBlocks advertised before but I've never seen them in person.

Anyone have any ideas?

Or should I just finally suck it up and go to the gym? I seem to be avoiding that for some reason. I feel like I want to be a little more in shape before I take the gym plunge. Is that stupid?

Help this chubby office rat (and his wife) get motivated and active

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:10:04 -0800

I'm more sedentary than I'd like to be, and I'm putting on weight. Please help me get motivated to work out, and help me encourage my wife to join me. More details inside. My wife and I work week-day jobs with fairly set schedules, getting up before 6am to prepare and head to work. She gets home between 4 and 5pm, I get home around 6pm. She's on her feet for much of her days, and has an hour commute there and back (2 hours total per day). I sit at a desk most of the day, yet still feel done with the world by the end of the day. We both get home, and we're pretty content to sit on the couch, but that's doing neither of us any good.

I'm over 6 feet tall, and my wife is about a foot shorter than I am. I used to be on the lean side, while my wife has always been a bit overweight. I love her as she is, but I'm a bit concerned for her long-term health, and I'd worry less if she were more fit. She's lost some weight from being on her feet most of the day, but I think that she won't lose much more that way.

I've had a desk job ever since I've been out of college, and I've done nothing to keep active on any sort of regular basis, so I'm putting on weight, and I don't like it. At first, it showed as just a little tummy pudge, and she comments that she likes me to have some meat on my bones, but my idea of "meat" is that it should be muscle, not fat.

I love walking, jogging and hiking, and she's fine with a bit of walking, but is concerned about trying to hike and looking fat, sweaty and gross (a concern she's told me, not something I'm implying). Jogging is unpleasant because she's busty, and no sports bras do enough to make jogging comfortable. We have access to a community pool, but I think my wife has some concern for being seen exercising in public.

We've had a gym membership, and we own a Wii Fit. We've talked about getting equipment for home, but we haven't used what we have already, and I'm just worried that anything else we get will go unused. We've gone on walks, but they're usually short, and I don't feel like I've gotten any exercise. My strides are naturally long, so I slow down and let my wife set the pace. Every now and again I'll go jogging by myself, but I feel like I'm excluding my wife, and I feel both judged and like I'm judgmental. (I'm probably over-thinking this, but I figured I'd share the bulk of my thoughts, seeing as I'm anon.)

I understand that if we ate less, we wouldn't gain weight, but I don't believe we're eating excessive amounts. My eating habits haven't changed since college, when I didn't actively seek out exercise, I just walked a few miles every day. My thought (perhaps misguided) is that if I start walking a few miles every day, I could get back to my old weight.

Additional thought-dumping, possibly just a useless tangent: my wife's parents are overweight, and her mother will comment on me being "the skinny one." I've gained 20 to 30 pounds since marriage (and I'm not saying because of marriage, I've gone from being a college kid to a working adult from then to now), but I feel awkward mentioning this, so I don't.

To wrap up: what can I do to get motivated to work out, and how can I help my wife feel comfortable joining me? How can I motivate her to push herself and maybe get a bit sweaty in the process? Thanks, hive-mind!

Heart Rate Monitor

hepta — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:01:47 -0800

What is the best heart rate monitor for my needs? I've seen this AskMe and others but am in slightly different circumstances and have come looking for recommendations.

I'm a somewhat fit 20-year old female and I want to get a heartrate monitor to help me figure out better workouts. For what it's worth, my main workouts are running, biking, and erging (indoor rowing machine) so a heart rate monitor that doesn't interfere with those movements is key (I know I likely won't have trouble with the running/biking aspect but erging is a somewhat different motion than those two). I also do some weights but I don't know the benefits of monitoring heart rate while doing those, but if there are some feel free to enlighten me!

Budget is not a huge deal but I am a student and if at all possible would like to keep it cheaper than more expensive. I don't want a chest strap part, if that can be at all avoided. I am really pretty clueless here - they come on wristbands, I think? Will the lack of chest strap make it less effective? I looked at Amazon but they came up with ~1000 results so I figured AskMe was a better starting place :)

Also, I think I have a handle on what heart rate zones to be working out in for specific endurance/cardio/etc results but if anyone has some great online resources about that, I would be really happy to check them out!

Left biceps hurts on weightlifting noob. Now what?

nomadicink — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:08:08 -0800

Recently started lifting weights a few months ago. Now arm hurts, wtf? In the bid to get in shape, got a trainer, worked with him, did a lot of crossfit stuff, some weightlifting lessons. Have since left "class" and am lifting on my own for about 6 months.

Over the past few weeks I've noticed a dull ache in my left upper arm, in my biceps I think. It's not a fierce or sharp pain, just a dull ache that feels worse if I lift. I tried shifting down to a lower weights, say going from 195 on a seated press to 130 and that helps a lot but the ache is still there.

What should I do? Should I totally stop lifting with my left arm? If so, can I still do weights with my right? Do I visit a doctor? Like I said it's not sharp pain at all, mostly unnoticed as I go through a normal day, so it seems odd to visit a doctor. Is there some time frame about long I should lay off?

Mostly, I'm really kinda freaking out over starting to develop nice definition and form and losing that. Is there anything I can do to prevent that, while attending to the pain/ache?

Cross/elliptical trainer buying advice

thelost — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:34:46 -0800

Help me find a Cross/Elliptical trainer for a budget of £250-£300 I am looking to buy my first cross/elliptical trainer for home use. Researching on the web isn't very useful, as there seems to be no useful information on the web (unless someone can point me to it) giving reviews of home gear, so I was wondering if you could give me some advice.

As noted above I have up to £300 at a push to spend. I don't really mind about the size or portability, but anything that makes the machine easier to move would be welcome.

I've been looking at york and reebok machines, but if anyone can recommend other good makes, and/or good places to buy them as I'd prefer to order over the web if the best deal is to be had there.

Gimme 20 more!

brokeaspoke — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:40:17 -0800

Looking for a website to help me, a late thirties male, who wants to get in shape. Not obese by any stretch of the imagination, but not as slim and trim as he and his doctor feels he should be. BMI of about 26. I know the general range I tend to feel best at and in that range I do tend to fall into the healthy BMI range. I’m more concerned with feeling good than with being at the exact right weight to get to the right BMI for my height and age. I want to lose a little weight, trim up, look better, abs of steel, ass to match, etc. A silly pushups contest here in the office has spurred me on to wanting more. We’re halfway through an eight week contest, I’m in third place and I can do more consecutive pushups than I have ever been able to do at any previous stage of my life.

I want a website at which I can track all of my exercise and fitness related numbers. I looked at WeEndure. I like it a lot, but find it limited (can’t track my pushups, weights or even my body weight for that matter.) Livestrong seems too “mainstream” (or is there something I don’t know from looking the site over?) So, what I want is a MetaFitness; Something fun, flexible, challenging, snarky at the right moments, possibly downright rude at times. What are you MeFites using? The ability to easily use it with iPhone or even another smartphone in the future would be a very nice feature.

So, what have you?

YANMD/PT: How to maintain push-up-related fitness while recovering from hand surgery?

mccn — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:00:43 -0800

You are not my doctor or physical therapist. I am getting some minor surgery on my hand in a few weeks. (And I'll repeat the surgery on the other this coming year.) The surgeon stated it would be about 10 days before I could put my full weight on the hand to do things like push-ups (and probably, to get up from a seated position on the floor). I have recently been pretty out of shape, but started doing tae kwon do in September. Since then, I have graduated to being able to do 20 full-style pushups in a row, without a break, or 50-60 kneeling style (I'm a girl). I like having this facility, and it makes me feel better given how much work I still have to do in other areas.

If I purchase some wrist weights so that I'm not straining the hand, what kinds of exercises can I do so that I don't lose the muscle/endurance I've built up and have to start all over again? (For my next belt test, I have to be able to do 55 pushups/minute to pass - which would be about one month post surgery.) I tend to build muscle rather quickly, up to a point - but I also lose it fast.

Form of Wallowing Garbage Scow!

winna — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:49:41 -0800

Yet another swimming exercise and etiquette question. I wanted to start swimming because I was tired of doing an hour a day on the elliptical machine. I have read Total Immersion, read the Masters Swimming site, and all the relevant previous questions.

With that said, I have some questions. The first is I'd like to know what etiquette should I be observing at the pool? I go later at night so I have my own lane, I have my hair in a cap, and I shower before going in. What are things that would be obvious to a swimmer that I wouldn't know? For example, last night was the first time I went. I didn't have a watch, so the only way I knew it was time to leave was when someone who worked there told me the pool was closing. Was that a terrible breach of protocol, or does it not matter that much if I get out when they tell me to?

I have glasses, but I bought goggles. The problem is that I have truly terrible vision, and without my glasses I can't see anything at all. If I don't wear my goggles, can I wear my glasses in the pool, or would that look too goofy until I get an water-resistant watch?

Then there's the odd fact that I was prepared to be exhausted after a few minutes and a single lap, as everyone had told me I would. However I swam laps, only pausing for about twenty seconds at either end, for forty-five minutes without a break. My arms are a little sore this morning, but that's all. I can't swim very well and I'm extremely slow, but I can manage to do a shoddy imitation of a crawl or a backstroke and an awkward breaststroke. I have been going to the gym for years, but I thought the conventional wisdom was that swimming exhausted non-swimmers. Is it possible that I am swimming incorrectly enough that I'm not making enough effort for it to count as exercise?

And finally, I am having enormous trouble figuring out how to swim, and I'm trying to remember how to do it correctly. Other than doing my breaststroke, which I try to manage so as not to disrupt other lanes, am I bothering other swimmers with my ineptitude? Is the pool sort of like the weight room, in that at a certain level of incompetence no one notices or cares? For some reason I'm hypersensitive about looking ridiculous in the water. Is there any reason to think that other swimmers care at all about how badly I swim? I am enormously, hideously fat, so I am already used to a certain level of bizarre side glances when I work out, but something about the near-nudity of swimming makes the thought of people critiquing my swimming and person far worse.

Muscles without reinventing myself

The Winsome Parker Lewis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:50:21 -0800

What's the simplest way to build muscle without becoming an exercise person? Please read my whiny, pigheaded conditions inside. I've known plenty of exercise people. They spend as much time at the gym as at home (or they have a home gym). They're always counting calories and talking about protein shakes and supplements. When they "hang out" with people it invariably involves running, biking, working out, or playing sports. I'm sure these folks have very fulfilling lives and get a lot out of that sort of lifestyle/mindset. I, however, have no desire to be like them. I have other interests that I don't want to replace with always thinking about fitness and doing fitness-y things.

I also have no extra money that I'm willing to spend on fitness-y things like equipment or health food or gym memberships. I hate structured workout routines that involve counting and repeating sets of motions (i.e., "do 10 sets of 10 reps"). I can do something for a certain amount of time but I'd rather not have to keep track of how many X's are left to do before I stop.

How can a stubborn guy like me build some muscle mass? Not looking to bulk up here, just get some definition and maybe strengthen my immune system a bit. Primarily focusing on my arms and abs. I'm a skinny ectomorph who eats whatever he wants and never gains weight. I can do about 10 pushups. I can run full speed for maybe a minute before I'm completely out of breath and sick to my stomach. I don't smoke and rarely drink. Out of shape but mostly healthy. I used to take Aikido lessons and loved them to death but I can't afford to resume that now.

I suppose this sounds like I'm looking for an effective, effortless miracle workout. I realize that, like weight-loss milkshakes, there's no such thing, and I'm willing to work to see some improvement. What I'm really asking for is something I can do that doesn't feel like a workout or require thinking like an exercise person, or acting like one, or restructuring my whole life like one. Is this a pie-in-the-sky request?

Some weightlifting queries

miraimatt — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:42:27 -0800

How often should I lift weights? and when I do, how much weight should I lift to achieve my goals? Right now I try to work out four to five times a week, doing either 45 minutes of cardio and some weightlifting or just 60 minutes of cardio.

Question #1) I've heard before that you should wait two days after lifting weights to allow your body to recuperate and build muscle and such. Does this mean that I should wait before lifting weights using those muscles again, or lifting any weights again? Would it be detrimental/not useful to do some upper body weightlifting one day and some lower body weightlifting the next day?

Question #2) This question is kinda vain, but I'm kinda short, stocky, and as a result of some time spent doing lower body focused activities like running & such, I think my upper body should be larger compared to my lower body. Am I correct in thinking that in order to achieve this, but keep things good fitness-wise, I should be doing a significantly higher number of reps of a significantly lower weight when I do lower body weightlifting exercises?

For what it's worth, I'm about 20lbs away from being within the acceptable BMI range.

Achy breaky hip flexor

Rudy Gerner — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:31:55 -0800

Hey, runners (and anyone else): can you help my achy breaky hip flexor? I am training for a 15k and run about 13 miles per week slowly (~11:20 mile) and increase mileage by 10% per week. I have been running for about a year and a half. I have really good running sneakers that do not need to be replaced. I do my long runs on a trail that is a mix of packed dirt and asphalt. I do shorter runs on the sidewalk.

Two problems plague me--my right knee and my right hip flexor. My knee problems are on and off--I seem to have learned through research and physical therapy what kinds of things I can do to avoid knee pain (stretching, etc.) and I also am pretty sure it's a psychosomatic type of injury (whole 'nother story). However, my right hip flexor almost always hurts after a run of more than 40 minutes or so. Then, it stays achy for a couple days. Every now and again it "pops" and feels a little better temporarily. Currently I stretch before and after I run, mindful that stretching cold muscles is a no-no. I do some basic butterfly type stuff for my hip flexor. I want to keep running for years because I love it and other than when I first started running, this has not been a problem for me.

My question is: What can I do pre, during or post run and on rest and cross-training days to help this? Are their exercises I should do? Specific stretches? Something to wear? Ideas for running form/gait? Tonics or elixirs to apply topically or consume? Seriously: whatever your thoughts are, I am open to it. I am a big believer in the mind-body connection, nutrition, good energy, strong vibes, and other crunchy stuff like that. Also, I am open to suggestions on what not to do and what to avoid.

I realize that opinions on exercise habits such as stretching are fairly controversial and that some studies show, for example, you should not stretch too much and others that you can never stretch enough. I realize that some people think that running barefoot is the only way to avoid injury and others swear by their trusty Nikes to keep them strong and healthy. I know that there are no definitive answers, just ideas of what might work for me because it's worked for you or your friend in the past. I know, MMMV.

Thank you in advance.

Related bonus: I want to do something with no/limited impact for crosstraining and because I have no access to a pool, riding the bike at the gym seemed great. However, it seems like that would only inflame my hip flexor problem (unless I use a recumbent, maybe). Does this sound right? If so, any other crosstraining exercises that will keep me aerobically active but not in pain?

Notes: Unfortunately, physical therapy isn't an option. I am an Alexander Technique student when I can afford it. I've tried yoga but not recently.

Are kettlebells really a viable fitness regimen?

piedmont — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:47:21 -0800

Will a kettlebell regimen take me from 'skinny fat' to relatively in shape? I'm currently what's considered a healthy weight for my height, but there's hardly any muscle mass there. There was at one point, but two years of sitting on my duff at an office job have proved significantly less active than the construction and serving jobs I held prior to this. I've been running 12-15 miles a week, which has helped, though not much.
I'm not looking to get 'ripped' or anything, I just want to be able to do things like help friends move without embarrassing myself.

Looking at previous questions indicates that a kettlebell workout program might remedy this.
Would this be a somewhat quiet workout? I'm in an upstairs apartment, and work evenings, this is a must.
What weight should I start with? The websites I've found give conflicting info.
Where can I get setup on the cheap? Target wants $50 for a 20lb weight. This seems steep, though I could be wrong.

Creative Exercise at Work?

phrakture — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:08:27 -0800

Help me figure out unique ways to get some activity during a work day to keep me healthy and occupied as I quit smoking I work in a basic cubicle farm. I feel very energetic during the day, but not so much when I get home. What I'd like to do is find ways to vent this energy while here, so that I get just a wee bit of exercise during a typical day.

Additionally, I have just begun quitting smoking, and it's hard to get rid of the habit of getting up and heading downstairs for a smoke every hour or so.

So, what can I do while at work? I'm on the 18th floor, but cannot take the stairs up (stupid one-way security doors), only down. I can take a walk around the block, but it's getting cold. I could do bodyweight squats and pushups in my cube, but then I look silly to all the people around me.

What creative ideas do you guys have?

Something to watch while exercising?

Admira — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:59:22 -0800

Looking for good video blogs to watch while riding my exercise bike ... especially any indie game review video blogs! My flatmate has a great exercise bike that is positioned such that I can't get comfortable playing my PSP while I'm on it. The CD rack right next to the bike makes a great laptop stand, so I was watching Australian MasterChef episodes on it while sweating away. I'm not really interested in the Celebrity version of the show, so I was hoping for a weekly video blog/review or something similar.

I remember seeing a great indie review video blog that I bookmarked, right before my laptop failed. But I'll take any recommendations, food, music, tv shows etc.

Thanks!

PS not sure if video "blog" is the right term...

PPS If you make a bideo blog or whatever, feel free to share, don't be shy!

A Gym plan for a chubby dude with not-enough time (yet).

snap_dragon — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:41:32 -0800

For a few months, I have a total of 30 minutes at the gym in the morning (not counting shower) at three times a week. (It's a long story.) I know this is not much at all. I am a 25 lbs overweight guy and would like to get a bit leaner. I don't expect quick results. I have asthma but control it with inhaler so I can "trot" a bit on the treadmill so far. I can't (yet) flat out run for long periods without asthma/poor shape affecting me. I am very familiar with the gym and various weightlifting exercises. I am not sure how to make the best of my time, though. At all. Within a month I would like to bump it up to 45/1hr in the gym and 4 times a week. (and then later, 5 days a week.) But for now, do you have any solid advice that works for you? I am eating much healthier now and smaller portions but I think the sedentary job change has got to me the most. So, in summary, leaner and more energy is my goal. (I will put on hold my goal to look like Brad Pitt from Fight Club but hey, everybody can dream a little...)

Ah hurt mah knee. Please hope.

the littlest brussels sprout — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:52:39 -0800

Yesterday I started having sudden sharp pain and stiffness in my left knee, above and around the kneecap. I suspect I injured it doing squats and lunges (with bad form) the night before. Could it get better on its own, if I rest for a few days? Or should I see a doctor (and what kind)? Details:
- It only hurts when I bend it, e.g., if I am sitting in a chair or walking down stairs. It does not hurt when I walk, or go up stairs.
- I had exercised around 5 pm, but my knee seemed normal until around 10 am the next day.
- I'm in my mid-twenties and otherwise healthy.
- I'm a dedicated exerciser. I have worked out 30 - 60 mins on most days for the past decade. Normally I do not do lunges or squats because of tight quads, but I have been incorporating them into my routine over the past month or so. I don't think I know how to do them properly; no matter how I try, it always feels wrong.
- Right now I am wearing an ace bandage, icing it frequently, and trying to keep it elevated as much as possible. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation -- right?)

My big question is:

1) What's the likelihood this will clear up on its own if I baby it for a few days or a week? How long can I wait before seeing a doctor, and what kind?

My auxiliary question is:

2) Since it doesn't hurt when I walk, is it okay to walk as my primary exercise routine while healing? Or will that prevent healing, and why?

I know you are not my doctor. And I have browsed previous AskMes, but feel a little overwhelmed. Please hope me.

Getting My Life On Track: Health and Fitness Edition

julie_of_the_jungle — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:49:49 -0800

Getting My Life On Track: Health and Fitness Edition! Can you recommend a weight loss (diet and exercise) plan for a 5'5" 175lbs female? So, after gaining about 40 lbs due to anxiety issues I got some help (yay help!) and now I'm well on my way to being mentally healthy, (yay mentally healthy!) but I need some help on the physical side. I know I need to exercise and eat healthy, but I don't know where to start. My insurance pays for the mental help but not a nutritionist, so that's out. So, do you have any tips? What does your workout look like? How do you keep from getting bored? Any diet/exercise advice would be appreciated.

(Hopefully) Relevant Details:
-Have access to KU Fitness Center (machines etc.)
-Walk about 30 min./day already (between classes)
-Own an mp3 player (downloadable workouts?)
-Have about 2hrs/day M-F to workout
-Take a multivitamin

Help me strengthen my trapezius....

dfriedman — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:01:29 -0800

Weightlifting/strength training filter: what exercises do you recommend to strengthen/build up the trapezius muscle? Right now my workout regimen consists of pullups, chinups, bench press, squats, calf extensions, pushups, and the rowing machine for cardio.

I pulled my trapezius muscle two or three weeks ago and it has more or less healed. Now I'd like to work on strengthening it.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Help me get up the mountain!

youcancallmeal — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:39:14 -0800

What sort of training should I do over the winter in preparation for some intense day hiking? So, I have this goal of climbing a mountain next spring / summer. (Camel's Hump in VT will be first.) There's no real rock climbing, it's mostly just a 5 mile hike up a big hill. We also won't be carrying anything heavier than Camelbacks and hiking poles. I need to know what I should be doing at the gym to make this happen. Treadmill? Elliptical? Walking / jogging on the indoor track? Swimming? Weights?

Complicating factors are:
I live at around sea level and when I tried this hike about a month ago, the elevation made it hard to breathe.
I have arthritis in my hands and knees. (I'm only 28, so I think this can just be countered with a knee brace or something.) Are there knee-strengthening exercises that I can be doing?
I have weird balance issues which make it hard coming down the mountain. Are there exercises I can do to work on this?

I know, YANMD. But I don't have health insurance and feel like this is something that I should be able to tackle on my own.

Help me find useful yoga and/or pilates DVDs.

rosethorn — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:23:37 -0800

Can you tell me about your experiences with pilates or yoga in regards to lower back pain? DVD or CD recommendations especially helpful. I have chronic lower back pain that I'm hoping can be diminished by starting to regularly practice yoga or pilates. Mostly, I'm hoping somebody can point me towards a DVD or CD that I can practice with. I took classes in college that introduced me to both pilates and yoga at a beginner's level, so I'm fairly comfortable with most of the terminology, but I would still consider myself to be no more than a beginner.

I'm also looking for experiences people have that would help me to decide which would be the best for me. What do you like about yoga? What do you like about pilates? Do you have back pain and one of the two really helped you? Right now, I'm leaning towards pilates, as I remember some of the exercises making my spine feel really good, and also because I perceive it as being easier to practice without an instructor present (I have no idea if this is true. Any responses regarding this are also welcome!). I can't afford to go to classes. No, not even the low cost ones.

I really enjoyed the few moments we would spend at the end of class, being mindful of our bodies. I am interested in any stress relief either exercise can bring, but I would probably be turned off by anything that feels too over the top hokey. I am also turned off by a focus on weight loss. I don't want to slim down or sculpt anything or lose inches in only ten minutes a day, just move and feel good about my body and possibly lessen my back pain. I am not very flexible, so something that gives alternate ways to practice moves that require more flexibility would be welcome.

Spandex is not a right

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:25:51 -0800

Knee surgeries, spinal injuries and systemic arthritis. No heath insurance. This has stopped me from moving around very much. Now I'm Rubenesque. There's been a ton of advice on exercise, but none of it seems to be aimed towards the movement impaired. Yoga has been helpful for regaining some mobility, but isn't helping with weight loss. My diet has been designed by a nutritionist, and I stick to it...about 1200 calories a day, with allowances for desserts sometimes. It's not an "eat less, fatty" situation, so please, let's avoid that conversation.

What I need is direction towards some exercises for people who cannot run, sprint, jog, bounce up and down, lift their arms above their head, or do any of those other things that I used to be able to do. Any (non-pharmaceutical) suggestions for controlling pain from said exercise would be welcome.

I think once I lose about 50 pounds, the pressure will be off my knees and back, and more vigorous exercise will be possible, but how do I lose that 50 pounds without aerobic workouts?

I went to sleep with a flat stomach and woke up with a muffin top

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:31:40 -0800

I am a 35 year old female who has all of a sudden developed a potbelly. What to do? I have no experience with dieting and little with exercise. My weight is at the low end of the normal range for my height and my BMI is 19, but in the last month or two I've developed belly fat where before there was a flat stomach. I am 110% sure I'm not pregnant, and I have never had kids. My eating, sleeping, and exercise habits have not changed lately (I really don't exercise, and my diet is mediocre but not terrible). I am not generally a vain person but I am really self-conscious about this. My pants are getting tight around the waist. I'm worried about what my husband thinks. How do I reverse this trend?

When yr only havin' seconds, I'ma havin' twenty thirds.

orville sash — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:46:08 -0800

Why do I want to eat candy so badly? Over the course of the summer, I starting watching what I ate and exercising a lot. This has paid dividends in the form of losing about 15 pounds, feeling a lot better, looking a lot better, et. al. Ideally, I'd like to lost another 15 pounds, but strangely, I have recently (as in the last month or so) developed an overwhelming urge to eat candy all the time. and I mean ALL THE TIME. Everytime I see a candy bar, I start salivating. Its not that I'm not getting enough sugar, because I eat bananas and stawberries for snacks, but I've broken down a couple of times and gotten some really crappy food.

Why am I coveting all this shitty food?

How do I keep myself from eating it?