Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with workouts

Dumbbells vs Barbells

Vorteks — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:18:05 -0800

Is there any reason that barbells would be indispensable from a serious stength-training program? Or are dumbbells just fine? I've been wanting to get serious about building strength for a while now, and after reading a question about workout routines yesterday, I've pretty much decided to try the StrongLifts 5x5 routine. One question though: it seems a lot of these programs pretty much assume that when you're doing squats/deadlifts/bench press/etc that you'll be using a barbell. I don't have barbells, but I *do* have dumbbells. I've always thought that dumbbells would be better. Especially since I'll be lifting while alone in my apartment, if I run out of strength while doing bench presses or something, it seems like I'd be less likely to kill myself using dumbbells than barbells. But at the same time, if barbells are necessary to get the full effect of the exercises, I don't want to be shooting myself in the foot. Does it make a big difference? Why would one use barbells over dumbbells, or vice versa?

Thanks Mefites.

Help diagnose/cure my yogic back pain.

Manhasset — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:23:41 -0800

Sharp back (coccyx) pain when doing yoga or working out but no other time. When I go from Plank to Downward Dog in Yoga (or hold DD for any amount of time) I feel very sharp pain in my lower back/spine/coccyx. It's brutally painful and feels more skeletal than muscular--I'm now terrified of the position and no longer do it.

I visited my doctor but it didn't happen while there.

It seems to mostly happen the further I am into a workout.

Anyone know why this is or what I can do about it? Some instructors have suggested it's a weak core but I can do about 60 pushups and over 100 situps so I find that suspicious. Plus it's not a weakness feeling but a sharp-knife-in-my-back pain, which also doesn't make me think "weakness".

maximizing late-night workouts

dobbs — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:09:00 -0800

Maximizing the benefits of my late-night bike rides....? I like to go out for a vigorous (to me) bike ride late at night (around 1am). I can do about 30km in 55 minutes or so. However, I'm at a loss as to how to ensure that I'm reaping the most benefit from my effort. I suppose this is a two part question, the first being about the workout itself and the second being about eating/drinking in relation to it.

In the past, I'd always heard to work out on an empty stomach and eat or drink something after (protein shake, whatever). However, I'm also told not to do this prior to going to bed. So, what's the solution in this case? (Note that my #1 goal is weight loss.)

Should I just drink lots of water when I return and then go to bed? Or should I eat a peanut/banana sandwich or... ? I also find coconut water extremely refreshing. It seems to hydrate me better than plain water but again, how is it for a pre-bedtime drink? Bad idea?

Second, for the workout itself: I generally just hop on the bike and go as fast as I can. My time/speeds are definitely improving (when I started I was in the low 20s for km/hr average speed, now I'm in the low 30s), but should I just ride whole hog as I've been doing or is it best to use a tiered system like something in Body for Life. That is, sprint for a couple minutes, medium pace for a couple minutes, sprint, coast, etc? Should I be using the last leg of my workout as a cool down?

Also, when I return, I'm usually high on adrenaline and not ready for sleep for about an hour (though when I am ready, I really crash, which is unusual for me). Should I do light weights in that time? Again, confused about the cool down part of the workout, which at the moment I'm not really doing at all.

I realize there are both questions about diet and workouts in past askme questions but the food/drink at night time part is the thing that's really the crux of the Q. I'm not really super hungry when I return (I usually eat about 8pm), but if a sandwich or couple eggs would actually beneficial, I'd do it. (Note that I'm veg.)

Lastly, I'm not really willing to change the time of my workouts. I like doing it at that hour because there is no traffic, the lights are green, and the temperature is good. It really helps clear my head of the day's crap as well.

Thanks!

How to work with a heavy bag?

Manhasset — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:34:28 -0800

Newbie--never thrown a punch before--wants to work out with a heavy bag... So, someone just donated the following to me:

Century Vinyl Water Core 70 lbs Bag
Boes Leather Bag Gloves
TKO Wrist Wraps
300lbs Heavy Bag Spring Coil

But I've never thrown a punch before or done any boxing drills. I've read past Ask Qs regarding heavy bags but they don't really mention the basics of throwing a punch.

I don't live anywhere where I can take any lessons. How would you recommend starting? Are there web sites with good videos for newbies so that we don't break our wrists?

My goal is to build muscle/lose some weight, increase stamina/endurance.

Thanks!

I hate doing the laundry...help me minimize the number of articles of clothing I have to wash, please!

icollectpurses — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:11:39 -0800

Is there a way to effectively, efficiently, and economically wash your laundry that keeps piling up at the end of the week from daily workouts? I recently started working out and have been doing it everyday. At the end of the day, I have 4 articles of clothing in the laundry basket(shirt, sports bra, underwear, pants) which adds up at the end of the week when I do my laundry. I was hoping to find out what most of you do especially when you have to pay to do laundry? I am moving to a place where I will have to pay to do laundry and to dry it...I could air dry stuff but for under garments, I would like to be able to dry it rather than have sports bras and panties hanging around.

I guess I could workout every other day for a longer period, but I would appreciate any suggestions/previous experiences, etc.

I can only afford to workout half an hour a day or so, so I am not sweating that much but enough that I wouldn't be able to wear it again the next day.

If you have any secrets, I'd appreciate it.

best form of working out?

Postroad — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 03:53:35 -0800

I have been told recently that a short (say 20 minutes) series of sprints, hard workouts, is more efficient and better all around for fitness than slow long distance walking or running (jogging)...true or not?

Tell me everything about going to the gym

zeoslap — Tue, 01 Jun 2004 06:34:53 -0800

Okay here's a question. The other day I stepped on the bathroom scales and the number displayed was a tad on the high side, by about 15-20lbs, so my first thought was 'Yeesh, I should join a gym'. However on further reflection, having never set foot in a gym since my traumatizing school days joining one seems like quite a scary prospect. So my question is.. What's the deal with gyms? What's the ettiquette, what do you need, will all these fit gym types be chuckling at my pathetic flabby assed efforts, are the showers still those bloody communal type affairs I shudder to remember back in school?