mattw wrote:Who fucking cares what the "indie rock" community thinks, that's what I say!

You ingrate! After all the "indie rock" community has done for you!

On the serious tip: For those who do weight stuff, what specifically do you do and what are the benefits? I do cardio only, about 30-40 minutes every day that I have time, and I've heard that it's good to also do some weights. I don't care about getting stronger or looking better, but if it helps me be healthier or lose a few, I'll try it. Any advice?

Hell yeah, I work out. Here's me:


Actually, I've recently started going to the gym. In the winter it's too dark to run after work, so I broke down and joined a gym. I despise the whole "Gym Atmosphere" with the meatheads and whatnot. Yet, I've taken a shine to the circuit training room. They play a recording that tells you when to switch machines. You get through it in 20 minutes. I honestly don't think I'd have the discipline to keep that up without the stupid recording. Then I usually run on the treadmill or elliptical thing for 30 minutes. The machines at my gym have nifty little television or "TV" screens so you can watch the Daily Show or whatever while you're doing your thing. So, the gym is working out well for me. Until my Gazelle gets here, that is.

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i do bikram yoga, which is a set series in a heated room (about 100 F). it's not for everyone, but i believe there is some kind of yoga for everyone, pretty much.

yoga in general is a transformational experience, if one does it regularly. i don't need as much sleep, i eat whatever i want, my cholesterol dropped, i look/feel better and get sick very rarely, etc. i haven't been going enough, however, and i find i need the class interaction to do everything strictly right.

one common misperception about yoga is that it is pretty much just stretching. bikram in particular is heavy aerobic exercise and is great for stretching/toning the entire body. the guy who invented it (bikram) is more than a little grandiose and actually seems like sort of a dick, but don't let that put you off.

Linus Van Pelt wrote:On the serious tip: For those who do weight stuff, what specifically do you do and what are the benefits? I do cardio only, about 30-40 minutes every day that I have time, and I've heard that it's good to also do some weights. I don't care about getting stronger or looking better, but if it helps me be healthier or lose a few, I'll try it. Any advice?

linus, when i lifted weights , i rode a stationary bike for half an hour before lifting. then i did either upper or lower body on a given day.

you can do circuit training, which is designed to provide an all-over (incl. aerobic) workout. it will not build muscle as much as an alternating program, but that's not what you are after.

i'm sure you can get a decent program off the web, whatever you want to do. weight training can be a good aerobic workout if you push yourself, and it feels great.

unless you overdo it, in which case it can feel terrible. it's a lot easier to hurt yourself weight training that doing most other kinds of exercise. it's also not as conducive to weight loss as dedicated aerobic training.

Linus Van Pelt wrote:On the serious tip: For those who do weight stuff, what specifically do you do and what are the benefits? I do cardio only, about 30-40 minutes every day that I have time, and I've heard that it's good to also do some weights. I don't care about getting stronger or looking better, but if it helps me be healthier or lose a few, I'll try it. Any advice?

The more lean muscle mass you have, the more efficiently your body burns calories & fat. So a person with a high percentage of lean muscle burns more calories, whether they're just sitting in a chair staring at the wall drooling or exercising, than someone who has a higher percentage of bodyfat. That's part of the reason it becomes difficult to lose the weight once you put it on.

Also, you'll be less prone to injuries or pains from things like back or joint problems. I couldn't articulately explain to you the medical/physiological reasons for this, but i've had it explained to me by doctors & fitness professionals many times. There's probably tons of info out there on the web if you feel like doing a little research.

You could hit the major muscle groups by only adding 15 or 20 extra minutes to your workout. Have a lower body workout & an upper body workout and alternate them each time you exercise. Just do some squats, bicep curls, bench presses...any of the common exercises you've seen folks do at the gym. Just make sure your form is good. Use a weight that will allow you to do 3 sets of 8-10 moderately paced repitions. If you use too heavy of a weight and try to go too fast you'll accomplish nothing but eventually injuring yourself.

Keep rockin that gazelle tony little.

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This brings back great memories. One of my best friends is a yoga instructor (vinyasa). We used to date the first couple years we knew each other and I would attend her class at least 3 times a week. I can't remember ever feeling healthier. Yoga is great. Since I've moved to Chicago I've never had the money for classes.

A dry woe very tallahoosa judy sure lou. Ye roi uk.

tr: I spend 3 hours every day masturbating in my sordid little grief hole.

tmidgett wrote:one common misperception about yoga is that it is pretty much just stretching.

That's pretty much what it is.

It's still good to do.

I snowboard in the winter and run fairly long distances during the other 3 seasons. I usually plump up a bit by March.

about a year ago i realized i was skinny fat. y'know a skinny guy with flab and a gut. so i made a bet with my friends that I could get back in great shape in 2 months. the deal was I had to look like this guy in an equinox gym ad. six pack abs, defined biceps, triceps, shoulders and chest. if i won, i got an all expense paid trip to vegas. if i lost, i would have had to take the six of them out to gibsons for steaks. it was a great motivator. I joined a gym (funny enough - equinox), got in great shape, and actually won the bet. I continue to work out at least every other day and i feel great. always 15-30 of cardio + weight training. I rotate chest and tricepts, back and bicepts, then shoulders and legs, and I usually take an ab class once or twice a week.

I have a dour, jerky, lousy, 3rd-rate ole soul. Away, you!