Mgoblogger Fitness Survey - What Are You Doing to Stay Fit?

Submitted by xtramelanin on

Mates,

Despite the fact that it's pretty close to zero degrees with the wind chill, and on top of snow last night we're expecting another 1/2 foot today and tomorrow, spring is here.   And if spring is here, beach season is just around the corner.   Yesterday a few of the Mgoblogger-razzi made comments that they were just getting back into some form of regular fitness routine.  I also remember some prior posts where some of our brother/sister bloggers were pretty hard-core about their training.  

So today's question is this:  What are you doing (or about to start in the foreseeable future) to get and/or stay in shape?   Cardio work?  If so, what type(s) and how often?  Weights?  Same sub-questions.  Mix and match, maybe.   Might be good if you have any specific diet tips to share. 

Two things this thread is NOT:  a listing of how many lbs you can lift, 4 minute miles you run, etc.   Also, this is not a mental fitness request - there aren't enough terrabites, servers and clouds to store the collective neurosis that is particular to Michigan fans....

Have a great weekend,

XM

EDIT: A number of you have shared some anxiety issues in the context of exercise and I want to compliment all of the responses thereto - very thoughtful all the way around.  

Steve Breaston…

April 9th, 2016 at 8:38 AM ^

The first thing that should be discussed, and the only thing that matters, is your diet. I could wax poetic about the changes necessary to lose weight and maintain a healthy shape, but there are thousands of books and articles on the subject. The wife and I use Advocare to maintain our diets and love it.

That said, I believe constant muscle confusion is the way to gains. I do a mix of varying yoga classes (which I love for the physical and mental edge) in both regular and Bikram settings, heavy cycling and interval weight training. If you can mix those in 4 days a week and change your diet (try giving up sugar and beer), you will see the weight fall off.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Goggles Paisano

April 9th, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^

It's 80% nutrition 20% working out.  What goes in your body is where the magic happens.  It is 12:40 pm and I logged in to read the blog while I eat my 3rd meal of the day.  I'm reading this eating 5oz of ground turkey, 1/2 cup brown rice, asparagus, and a handful of almonds.  I use a jalapeno mustard on the turkey.  

I work out 4x per week hitting every body part once and abs 3x.  Do 20 min of cardio 2x week. I transformed my body 2 years ago when I got the nutrtion part right from a very knowledgeable trainer.  

When you see people in the gym week after week, year after year and they always look the same, it is solely due to their diet.  

MMB 82

April 9th, 2016 at 3:06 PM ^

is definitely a factor. My thing is to eliminate sugars from my diet, I am more along the lines of neo-paleo-atkins without going crazy (or eating too much bacon. But ya gotta have some bacon!). I work out 6 days/week, and have been doing so for decades. I cycle 3x/week (30-50 miles each session, with hills), take two "boot camp" classes/week, and do the step mill for 45-60 min (interval training program) each week. I'll also change things up, just to break the routine. 

Fitness and nutrition need to be a total lifestyle commitment- you can't really have an "off season" and you can't "go on a diet." You can't eat an ice cream sundae and say, "I'll start my diet tomorrow!"

SpinachAssassin

April 9th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^

Fitness is great, yet nutrition is where all the gainz come. If you want to bulk, take in more than you burn in protein, carbs, and a bit of fat. If you want to get lean, take in less than you burn, cut the carbs. Spread meals out, don't eat near bed, get a good night's sleep every night.

If you can be disciplined with a routine, and be patient enough to wait for the magic to happen (and it will happen), you'll see serious progress. You don't need to be Arnold or similar benching 400 to get shredded.

Mgoscottie

April 9th, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^

the less I believe this.  I'll believe that it is easier to eat fewer calories while eating vegetables.  But is there any evidence that eating different foods is healthier in any way beyond a calorie count?  Nutritional science is overwhelmed with pseudoscience and it's so challenging to find anything convincing.  In the meantime it seems to me that amount of food is the only thing that matters, but I would gladly read otherwise.

MGoBrewMom

April 9th, 2016 at 10:24 AM ^

Most trainers are very good and diligent about form. But different gyms employ a myriad of trainers, and I have run across a couple muscle heads who fit the over-the-top stereotype. But only a couple. They are the outliers.

I love CrossFit.

WolvinLA2

April 9th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^

I said the same thing. And although I think it's the programming more than the trainers themselves, I quit CrossFit 2 years ago because I had fucked up my knees, back and shoulder. I was 30, no reason for that many injuries other than it was way too hard on my body. I'm not saying it's bad, but it's hard to argue that injuries aren't more prevalent.

Now I just run. I try to run 10-15 miles a week, mix in some abs and push ups (or other body weight work outs) at home either after my runs or on my rest days.

Rather be on BA

April 9th, 2016 at 9:23 PM ^

It's the programming. You can take the absolute best fitness coach in the world and they still wouldn't be able to manage a safe workout environment in a crossfit gym. Crossfit takes exercises that were meant to be done for quality, power and strength in a well rested state, and mixed them with highly fatiguing circuit training principles. That is mixing fire and gasoline... Crossfit does a lot right especially with regards to building community in their gyms, motivating clients with palpable goals, and teaching good form and mobility. The problem is that even with the best form and mobility in the world, you are eventually going to get hurt when you are doing 40" box jumps after 100 reps of deadlifts, cleans, and overhead presses.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

WolvinLA2

April 9th, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^

Yeah, that's not CrossFit.  There are plenty of ways to injure yourself doing crossfit, but that's not one of them.  

The problem I had with CrossFit is during the WOD you get tired, and your form goes out the window.  Even when the weights aren't that heavy, lifting weights for time while fatigued is not a recipe for success.  

sum1valiant

April 9th, 2016 at 8:43 AM ^

My wife got me into the Insanity DVD's, and I really like them. 30 minutes to an hour of super intense cardio/plyo that I can get in after the kids go to bed. I was always a runner, not much into the gym, and assumed those DVD workouts were basically infomercial trash. Turns out I love them (or at least this series).

MGoViso

April 9th, 2016 at 11:51 AM ^

As a young'un, I like to walk vigorously with a weighted vest. Still much better than jogging on the joints, and I can actually work up a sweat wearing 60 extra pounds.

My top advice for anyone buying a weighted vest is to shell out for one with excellent straps. Uncomfortability on the shoulders or an inability to get the vest secured to your torso makes it impossible to use. Mine straps firmly to my chest such that not all the weight sits on my shoulders, and I can even run sprints or play pick-up basketball wearing it without it bouncing around.