OT: P90X/Health and Fitness Thread

[jimmybones]

An hour of running a day isn't necessary. Sometimes long runs are good, but running should be treated just like any other training. You need to switch it up. Try incorporating sprints into your running. I just got done doing some. What I do is go to a football field, sprint 100 yards, take a 1:30 break, and repeat. I do this ten times. It is a good leg workout if you go hard enough and it is good for fat burn.

Totally agree. Long cardio is a pain and you have to keep improving for it to make a difference so you either need to run farther in the same amount of time or run for longer. I'd definitely mix in some high intensity runs and sprints are a good way to do it. You actually burn more calories throughout the day after an intense session.

[Ayt]

The running may seem like a bit of a time waster, but I enjoy it. A good runner's high everyday is a nice thing to experience. My family also has some serious heart issues, so the cardio is a good thing in that regard as well.

I do incorporate sprints into my running, but for the most part it is a brisk run. In the times in my life that I've felt the best, running has a been a big part of my everyday routine. The fact that I'm probably adding years to my life just makes it a bonus. My Dad needed quadruple bypass in his early 50's. My grandpa (Dad's dad) died from a major heart attack in his early 70's. One of my uncles had a heart attack at age 36 and another had one at age 42. Yet another brother in that family had one at 48. Given my family history, I should be going nuts with the cardio.

My Dad is the oldest of 11 kids. All of them are pretty scared of the heart issues. I have a ton of cousins from that family (about 30) who are also all very aware of the heart problems. Other than the muscles in my cock, I think my heart is the most important muscle in my body.

[jimmybones]

That's the key right there, if you're enjoying it then not much else matters. The two things you mentioned- health and enjoyment- are more important than body fat and the other details we workout nuts sometimes obsess over. Good for you man, stay consistent, good luck. (cheers smiley)

[Nebula1]

I've never been able to be a runner. I play ball about 5 days a week and for an hour or two each day, but get me on a treadmill and I last about 15 minutes before I want to quit. I think basketball is a much better cardio than running, but everybody is different.

Wanted to add that Tyson has a nice food option: http://www.tyson.com/Consumer/Products/ ... spx?id=296

High protein, low fat, very easy/fast to prepare. I add this to rice and it's an ideal meal for me. It's not organic, but it's still pretty good.

[BC_]

I've never been able to be a runner. I play ball about 5 days a week and for an hour or two each day, but get me on a treadmill and I last about 15 minutes before I want to quit.

Pussy.

[AussieBuck]

I'm with Neb I hate running if I'm not chasing a basketball. Burpees keep you fit enough anyway.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I hate treadmills but long outdoor runs. I'm talking 8+ miles.

[Nebula1]

I've never been able to be a runner. I play ball about 5 days a week and for an hour or two each day, but get me on a treadmill and I last about 15 minutes before I want to quit.

Pussy.

Clearly I need to man up. But really I should get on a treadmill a bit more often.

These NBA Fit shorts are pretty good inspiration.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAmFVAfhVv0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs2iLPrwoU0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B00U_hnI350[/youtube]

[ReasonablySober]

First day of biking to work, and it times out to be 30 minutes each way. There's a 5000 ft hill on my way home that was born straight from hell. If it was on my way to work I wouldn't be able to do this, I'd be a **** mess.

Keep it up, and you'll see tremendous results. When I started, my commute to work was about 6.5 miles one way. Over the course of about 4 months I got my time down from 40 minutes to 25 minutes. Additionally, I'd do a 30 mile round trip a couple of days a week (friends and family lived about 15 miles away). I lost about 50 pounds. You'll eventually be riding everywhere, including up that hill, in the highest gear ratio.

You were right.

Tonight I went for a 30 mile ride. Mile 29 was that bitch up the hill. Managed to do it on the highest gear the entire way.

The results I've seen from biking so much have been great. My lower body feels like it was cut out of granite and I lost the crappy weight I gained over the winter.

The golf, softball and sand volleyball have helped as well.

Been a good summer so far. I've got some goals to hit by late July when I turn 30, but I'm on track to get there.

[gbmb34]

A cool thing that my girlfriend and I do is we have highlight the routes on a city map that we've been on and our goal is to complete as much of the city map as possible. Has lead us to do longer and more frequent rides that we otherwise would, but also find us going places in town that we never otherwise would. Works better in a suburban or urban environment, but something anyone can do. Last summer I biked to work, but that was only 6 miles round trip. Not doing it completely to stay in shape or tone, but its something that both can enjoy and get some benefit from. Used to run very competitively XC in HS then head to the Y for 3 hours of bball, but that's just not something I have the time for anymore.

[JoeyMorgan619]

Sounds like a cool idea. A friend and I did that with our GPS but it is a lot less cool in a car

[ReasonablySober]

A cool thing that my girlfriend and I do is we have highlight the routes on a city map that we've been on and our goal is to complete as much of the city map as possible. Has lead us to do longer and more frequent rides that we otherwise would, but also find us going places in town that we never otherwise would. Works better in a suburban or urban environment, but something anyone can do. Last summer I biked to work, but that was only 6 miles round trip. Not doing it completely to stay in shape or tone, but its something that both can enjoy and get some benefit from. Used to run very competitively XC in HS then head to the Y for 3 hours of bball, but that's just not something I have the time for anymore.

I've started to do something similar, though not to extent you have it seems. When I started biking I had a relatively small radius I'd stick to. Neighborhoods, near-by grocery stores and work. For the last couple weeks, though, I've had the mind-set that if I can drive there I can bike there. Lately, unless it's been raining or I had to carry a lot of stuff, I've biked everywhere I can.

[bigkurty]

For those who still want to drink while trying to get in better shape, check this out:
http://getdrunknotfat.com/

[BUCKnation]

I've never been able to be a runner. I play ball about 5 days a week and for an hour or two each day, but get me on a treadmill and I last about 15 minutes before I want to quit.

Pussy.

im with you nebula. I have no problem running in sports, but i just get bored jogging for the purpose of jogging. I do however, will get on my bike and go on a long ride on high settings. There's just something more enjoyable in that for me

[jerrod]

i wish i could jog long distances but my left ankle can't take it. i can play basketball for hours, or soccer for hours but about a mile into a run my ankle feels like mush.

[BC_]

That pussy comment taken out of context looks really bad

There was joking about Dirk being a pussy that day

[jimmybones]

For those who still want to drink while trying to get in better shape, check this out:
http://getdrunknotfat.com/

Read this one:

http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html

Alcohol is not what makes you fat. It actually CAN'T be converted to fat tissue. The problem is that when alcohol is in the system your body prioritizes burning it off since it's a toxin to the body. Any food calories in your system or that you eat while alcohol is in your system gets put to the backburner, more likely to be stored as fat while the body goes to town on breaking down the booze.

[JoeyMorgan619]

Interesting Jimmy. I didn't know that. I don't drink, so it doesn't affect me much, but still a nice thing to know.

[jimmybones]

Yeah it kinda blew my mind when I first learned it. People talk about beer guts, but it's more like chips and salsa while drinking that beer gut.

[AussieBuck]

In my case it's bourbon and coke usually so I'm all sugared up even if I eat well.

I've put this 100 pushups thing in the backburner a bit as I've resumed boxing after a hand injury and there's only so much energy to go around. I also plateaued at week 6 day one. I had a great night tonight sparing getting hit in the head by 3 different guys.