Official Workout/Fitness Thread (Re-born)

[W. Unseld]

What is "BJJ"? I'm sure it's defined some where in these 51 thread pages but if someone could help me out here, that would be great. Also, I found a new motivation for dieting that resonates more with me as a married guy than the 6 pack abs thing does:

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-brain-young.html
Many studies suggest that obesity is bad for our brain, slows it down, causes early brain aging, making it susceptible to diseases typical of older people as the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In contrast, caloric restriction keeps the brain young. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanism behind the positive effects of an hypocaloric diet on the brain remained unknown till now.

The Italian team discovered that CREB1 is the molecule activated by caloric restriction and that it mediates the beneficial effects of the diet on the brain by turning on another group of molecules linked to longevity, the "sirtuins". This finding is consistent with the fact that CREB1 is known to regulate important brain functions as memory, learning and anxiety control, and its activity is reduced or physiologically compromised by aging.

Moreover, Italian researchers have discovered that the action of CREB1 can be dramatically increased by simply reducing caloric intake, and have shown that CREB is absolutely essential to make caloric restriction work on the brain. In fact, if mice lack CREB1 the benefits of caloric restriction on the brain (improving memory, etc.) disappear. So the animals without CREB1 show the same brain disabilities typical of overfed and/or old animals.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or BJJ, is a combat sport that involves grappling, W Unseld.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu

I am fascinated by it because it seems to be the best most successful style in mixed martial arts. A lot of guys I run into at the fitness facility I belong to are into "rolling", or training mostly on the mat in BJJ. Soldiers are learning it as part of their combatants training. It is the kind of sport that you have to be in good shape to do. I would like to get in good enough shape to withstand the injuries that no doubt would occur in training. I would like to know enough to train my kids in it.

What I like most about it is that almost everyone who does it seems to have a degree of discipline and respect.

[W. Unseld]

I did grappling for a while and loved it. I wasn't as big of fan of kickboxing. Anyway, what ruined grappling for me was wrestling one night with an opponent who had a mild cough. I was sick as cr*p for ten days after that, I don't know if he was in the beginning or end stages of it but whatever it was kicked my a$$. Don't let my negativity ruin it for you though, I haven't heard of that happening to other friends of mine that do it.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I had the same experience with taekwondo. IMO it is made for folks with quick, long legs. I was more of a boxer but you just don't get many punches in in that sport. I had terrific speed and power as a puncher, but my legs are squat and my kicks didn't have much snap. (My sensei was a big guy, 6'4" and 235, who had really powerful front kicks. I would have been a lot better off learning from a Muay Thai person of small stature how to throw my hip into a kick). I had to really get close to the long-legged guys to beat them with my hands and with low kicks.

Back in the day W. Unseld, I also didn't like wrestling. Didn't like dudes reaching all over my crotch and vice versa. My PE teacher also used to make me wrestle guys 20-30 pounds heavier. He was also the wrestling coach and he really dogged me about not going out for wrestling. In hindsight, I should have. Now, I can see how good it is as a man to have strength everywhere. Grip strength, flexibility, core strength, and the whole package is how we evolved in good health as a species. Man was not meant to be a couch potato. I also think it is better to live actively than to watch it on tv. My legs are still a little sore from playing football this past weekend and quite frankly, I love it!

As an older guy, I now appreciate what comprehensive combat sports training can do for your physical conditioning, mental wellness, and confidence.

(Here's a product for someone interested in self-defense--only at the highest level http://www.closecombattraining.com/learnclosecombat/)

[Induveca]

Update on my weightlifting idiocy.

You know you're addicted to a sport when you own two knee braces, one elbow brace and an ankle brace! Absolutely love lifting, feel horrible without it.....anyways....

Been focusing on squats and leg presses lately. Straight leg press I'm up to 765 pounds for 8 reps. For a single rep 855 is pretty easy.....but frightening. At this level of weights gotta go slow, especially at my height/age.

Free squats I'm doing 405 with no spotter. I can push it to 495 with a spotter. Unfortunately I work out alone 95% of the time which has held me back.

Pull ups, I do 35 each workout, and I'm back to full body workouts every other day. Some say it's a bad move, but I see the most gains with full body workouts and a ton of protein.

I've gained a solid 20-25 pounds of muscle since May, and dropped my bf significantly. Squats/pullups/bench presses/dips/leg presses/military presses every other day with heavy weight makes you GROW FAST.

Just a little update, cross your fingers I don't rip something. 36 years old and going strong (albeit with body armor)!

[dobrojim]

so if I misplace my floorjack, I can just have you come over to
lift my car while I work under it

[fishercob]

Out of curiosity, are there any vegetarians or vegans in these parts?

[Induveca]

so if I misplace my floorjack, I can just have you come over to
lift my car while I work under it

Haha gotta work on my lower back more then!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I have been searching for an accountability partner for some life issues, and remembered this thread.

Guys, I fell off the wagon. I gained 10 pounds last month and have been eating away my sorrows and siting in front of the computer screen again. That said, it's time to get back on it. I am signing off for a while. Please include me in your thoughts and prayers, because I think I am pretty addicted to the Internet.

So, I'm just posting to say I am heading back to the gym and restructuring my life to be more healthy starting today. I appreciate your thoughts and best wishes.

[dobrojim]

I suggest you don't have to do one to do the other

first, remember to talk to yourself in a positive tone of voice.

when you get back to working out, it's possible that the initial
reaction may not be as positive as you might hope. Do not let
that deter you.

I've gained weight, as is typical for me, since the beginning of
winter. But I'm running well.

Ran 5 on Saturday beating everyone who showed up at the club
run. Ran ~16 miles on Sunday, my highest total since Nov, and ran
well.

I have a 50K to run this weekend. I'm treating it as a training
run for the 2 marathons I'll be running in the next 2 months.

Gotta get back on the bike for commuting ASAP. The weather
has been permissive for this. No excuses once my daughters
basketball season ends.

[Zonkerbl]

I've lost 19 lbs since November, although I'm still about 16 lbs overweight. It has been REALLY HARD. OH. MY. GOD. Weight control pills and basically working out three times a day, biking back and forth to work for twenty minutes a pop and with one intense 45 minute cardio workout a day, after which I feel completely dead. To the point that gym instructors pull me aside after workouts like, "are you ok dude?" To average six pounds A MONTH. I've cut out ordering out for pizza entirely, no alcohol, no juice, drastically reduced amount of wheat products I eat. I feel like a fricking monk. Is it worth it?

When I was in college I could NOT get above 148 no matter how much I lifted or ate or whatever. Now I'm over forty and looking down at 165 like it's the holy grail. I haven't been under 165 since 1997. And I have to stop when I get to 165 or I'm afraid I'm literally going to die. The only thing that keeps me going is I've promised myself if I can get to 165 or lower I can go play basketball again, which I have been too fat to do, well, since 1997. And now I'm 15 years older... Hope I don't hurt myself.

I gotta say... being old SUCKS.

[Nivek]

Zonk: Try cutting carbs and sugar from your diet. It's worked for me in the past. Another diet option that worked for me -- eliminate these ingredients:

1. high fructose corn syrup
2. enriched flour
3. partially hydrogenated oils

A couple weeks ago, I spent a day with 10 folks who had lost 80-100 pounds each. One guy had lost 200+ pounds. The thing they all said was that you can't outwork a bad diet. When it comes to losing/maintaining weight, they said diet is 80% of the battle.

[Zonkerbl]

Zonk: Try cutting carbs and sugar from your diet. It's worked for me in the past. Another diet option that worked for me -- eliminate these ingredients:

1. high fructose corn syrup
2. enriched flour
3. partially hydrogenated oils

A couple weeks ago, I spent a day with 10 folks who had lost 80-100 pounds each. One guy had lost 200+ pounds. The thing they all said was that you can't outwork a bad diet. When it comes to losing/maintaining weight, they said diet is 80% of the battle.

Yeah, that's what I'm doing -- no soda, no juice, cut down on the bread, eat whole wheat bread when I do. And no booze and no beer, which my body apparently thinks is equivalent to chocolate syrup. I'm subsisting on stir fried chicken with broccoli and rice. Blech. Although I'm finding that as time goes on I crave pizza and buffalo wings and crap like that less and less. Still doesn't mean I look forward to vegetables and rice. I got some bulk lentils the other day. How sad is that?

It's really obvious to me that diet is about ten times as important as working out. Although I still have to work out like crazy to lose weight -- it's just that if I'm not watching my diet I have to work out like crazy just to maintain my weight. Not like when I was in my twenties when I could eat whatever the hell I wanted and then go play basketball for two hours and burn it all off. Just can't work out like that anymore. I do cardio for 45 minutes and I'm DEAD. I used to be able to RUN PEOPLE INTO THE GROUND on the basketball court. I used to play for two, three hours straight. That was my prime advantage, my stamina. All my points came at the ends of games when everybody else was tired. Now I'm one of those old tired guys.

[Zonkerbl]

Weighed in at 178 today, that's 22 lbs lost since the beginning of November.

At that rate I only need three more months to hit 160 -- I promised I'd let myself play basketball again once I hit 165. Just impossible to move with 20-40 extra lbs of blubber. Anyone know of any good over-40 basketball clubs in dc?

[dub81]

fyi...

you need carbs for energy..so Don't cut carbs out of your diet. It can be hazardous to your health. If I know I am not going to work out I will not eat carbs. I usually do not eat carbs after 4pm because your not going to burn it.

[nate33]

You don't need carbs for energy. The body can burn fat for energy if starved of carbs.

[hands11]

Rumor has it that Dray has been reading this thread and he is going to return in great shape.

Good job fellas.

[dandridge 10]

Rumor has it that Dray has been reading this thread and he is going to return in great shape.

Good job fellas.

Ha, he'll get in shape just in time to do is obligatory annual tease at the end of the year, then go right back to clubbing, drinking and eating all summer. I can't believe people still get excited about Dray possibly making a turn around. I'll be excited when he is no longer on this team.

[nate33]

Rumor has it that Dray has been reading this thread and he is going to return in great shape.

Good job fellas.

Ha, he'll get in shape just in time to do is obligatory annual tease at the end of the year, then go right back to clubbing, drinking and eating all summer. I can't believe people still get excited about Dray possibly making a turn around. I'll be excited when he is no longer on this team.

I don't think anybody is expecting Blatche to turn things around on a long term basis. The hope is that if he comes back strong, he can be moved at the Trade Deadline, or maybe this summer.

[dandridge 10]

Rumor has it that Dray has been reading this thread and he is going to return in great shape.

Good job fellas.

Ha, he'll get in shape just in time to do is obligatory annual tease at the end of the year, then go right back to clubbing, drinking and eating all summer. I can't believe people still get excited about Dray possibly making a turn around. I'll be excited when he is no longer on this team.

I don't think anybody is expecting Blatche to turn things around on a long term basis. The hope is that if he comes back strong, he can be moved at the Trade Deadline, or maybe this summer.

Even if he comes back strong, you really don't think the rest of the NBA has this guy figured out by now? My guess is how Blatche comes back will really make no difference.