*.* 2014 General Fitness Thread *.*

[penguinz]

Welcome to 2014! Now get your ass in top physical condition!

No one else started it so here it is!

**From the 2013 Thread**

If you want to get back into lifting, or need a new lifting routine, START HERE:

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wi...inner_Programs

If you have questions about the SS programs, look here:

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ

Keep in mind that you're a novice lifter for a longer period of time than you think you are. Novice lifting can last anywhere from a few months to a year or two, depending on how hard you hit the weights and where you started.

Once you've reached the point where you don't make regular progress on the SS program, you are ready to move on to the intermediate stage, which can last you for a good number of years. Find it HERE:

http://madcow.hostzi.com/5x5_Program/Linear_5x5.htm

If you're a very advanced lifter (many, many years of CONSISTENT weight training), then there are lot of programs out there, and which one you pick is simply a matter of preference. If you're really that advanced, you should know what works for you and what doesn't by this point.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Aspengc8

a challenge that includes bench press followed by a two mile run? planet fitness challenge?

i cant even remember the last time i tried to run a mile, but id love to see how 'fit' you are pushing a prowler with 180lbs for a few 40yd passes.

someone mentioned before but lifting heavy while watching your food intake, throw in a few wind sprints or hiit sessions, and you will be pretty damn 'fit'

Wouldnt argue that.

There are events that include BP your body weight then run 13.1 miles and how many times you bench your weight gives credit towards your run.

We arent the first to debate this.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Aspengc8

a challenge that includes bench press followed by a two mile run? planet fitness challenge?

i cant even remember the last time i tried to run a mile, but id love to see how 'fit' you are pushing a prowler with 180lbs for a few 40yd passes.

someone mentioned before but lifting heavy while watching your food intake, throw in a few wind sprints or hiit sessions, and you will be pretty damn 'fit'

Hell even if I lost my ass I would enjoy meeting most of you.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by Cannibal

In my opinion, I would more apt to consider a marathon runner or cyclist "fit", than a weightlifter. The weightlifter would obviously be stronger, but they could also be in bad cardiovascular shape. Not taking anything away from the weightlifters here.

What about a marathon runner vs a 400m sprinter? Or a NFL player vs a crossfit competitor?

'fit' has become too much of a generalization, and people forget it has a lot to do with specificity of what your training for. Why would someone like Silock want to run for 3 miles when he trains for soccer, and stop/go acceleration is more important to him? Why would lewdog or myself want to run 3 miles when we powerlift and use low doses of hiit to keep weight down and cardiovascular system in check? Look at Luv, she is losing weight AND getting stronger... running 3 miles? Not so much. Pushing a prowler and sprints? yep.

It all depends on what you are training for, and 'fit' will vary from person to person. Bodybuilders do this all the time with ZERO cardio and nothing but antagonistic pairing supersets with heavy weights.

Steady state jogging/running over longer distances is probably one of the most counter-productive types of cardio you can do if building muscle is your goal. It all boils down to what YOU are training for.. but to throw a generalization out like 'if you cant run blah blah miles under x time, your not fit" is just plain silly.

Originally Posted by Silock

It's not UNtrue; it's just more complicated than that.

The problem is that you can still have a great cardiovascular system from lifting weights, but not be very good at running. There's more to running than simply heart pumping blood. Like anything else, the more you do it, the more efficient at it your body becomes. This is true for both lifting and running. There are neuromuscular adaptations that happen in both activities that lend themselves to becoming good at something. For a lifter, not using muscles to run doesn't mean that they're not fit. It just means that they aren't good at running. Similarly, a runner could have the same amount of muscle mass as a lifter, but not be able to lift nearly as much because they don't lift all the time. Again, neuromuscular adaptations.

+1

[Cannibal]

I guess I think of a person in good cardiovascular shape to be fit. Weightlifters can also be in good cardiovascular condintion, but not through weightlifting alone.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

I'm speaking specifically about this post you made.




100 percent bullshit. I'm holding you accountable for it.

He is actually correct here. The more muscle tissue you have the more oxygen you require.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by Cannibal

I guess I think of a person in good cardiovascular shape to be fit. Weightlifters can also be in good cardiovascular condintion, but not through weightlifting alone.

Weightlifting can't get you into good cardio condition? Cardio condition to do what exactly?

Have you ever done heavy bench press followed by weighted chins for about 20 minutes with only 30s rest between each set? Or dead lifts and push press pairings? Let me know how you feel after that...

(try reading up on antagonistic supersets or metabolic barbell complexes)

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

He is actually correct here. The more muscle tissue you have the more oxygen you require.

He's acting like building muscle is going to render him helpless or something though. He's a tard.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

He's acting like building muscle is going to render him helpless or something though. He's a tard.

I'm not a fan of his way of thinking but on that one point the blind squirrel found a nut. Joe Rogan taught him well.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I'm not a fan of his way of thinking but on that one point the blind squirrel found a nut. Joe Rogan taught him well.

No. He's wrong. He'd benefit from a little dumbbell action. But he's all ****ed up in the head thinking it's going to do him harm or strain his precious cardiovascular system.

He reminds me of luv before I knocked sense into her.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

No. He's wrong. He'd benefit from a little dumbbell action. But he's all ****ed up in the head thinking it's going to do him harm or strain his precious cardiovascular system.

He reminds me of luv before I knocked sense into her.

Dumbbells could hurt that drinking hand though man.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

No. He's wrong. He'd benefit from a little dumbbell action. But he's all ****ed up in the head thinking it's going to do him harm or strain his precious cardiovascular system.

He reminds me of luv before I knocked sense into her.

It's not going to do him harm unless he is doing some type of grueling activity like boxing or mma but he is on the right track in general. I didn't catch he was relating it specially to him self. Obviously fighters mostly don't resemble bodybuilders and the ones that are known to have poor cardio in terms of pro fighting. Scotty will most likely be uneffected I'm guessing.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Scotty will most likely be uneffected I'm guessing.

Well, he'll certainly be unaffected by muscle.

[ChiefsOne]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Simply not true. There are many like me. You seem to be underestimating the effect of a heavy lifting program and are way too fixated on running fitting your term of "fit."

Just admit you aren't very accurate here and we can go back to being friends.

Agreed

[luv]

Wow. I always miss the good discussions. To me, fit means healthy. Physically and mentally healthy. Period. That's going to mean something different to each person. We can debate our definitions in detail, but, ultimately, how we feel about ourselves, physically and mentally, is much more important than what others feel about us.

[NewChief]

I used to be pretty guilty of the "endurance athletes are the fittest" mentality and felt like weightlifters were cardio-depleted meat heads. Then I went to an Iron Man in Idaho. I know that the ability to do an Iron Man means that one is insanely "fit." However, I couldn't believe the amount of "unfit" people I saw who were absolutely killing it. My brother-in-law, who looked extremely fit, got his ass kicked by dudes with beer bellies and gigantic asses horrifically squeezed into Ironman unitights.

So yeah, I still think that endurance is part of the equation, but if you look like shit... what's the point? That's my main problem with cyclists. I know professional cyclists usually look pretty fit, but one can be a pretty badass cyclist who trains a LOT and have a shitty body. Tons of cyclists I know (who ride like multiple 100 mile rides in a week) have gigantic asses and beer bellies. Just huge midsections.

Maybe I'm vain or a narcissist, but if I'm going to spend a significanct amount of time working out, I at least want to look the part.