The questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread X

[Karalysia]

What time is the healthcare vote scheduled tonight? I must watch it on CSPAN, I've never been so excited.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I'm getting my own room some time this year, and since Civ 5 is coming, I thought I could add Hexagons to the decor. Any suggestions? It's about 10 m^2, and I'm 16 years old. Nothing fancy, something simple, cheap and something that I won't get bored to easily.

Does your present room have an oblique pattern across it with a cartoonish bed and desk?

 

[Lord Baal]

I suppose

So she's prego aye? She's what? 18?

17 actually. Yes, I'm aware that's really young, but we were planning to have them once she finished university anyway. We simply accidentally jumped the gun by three years, so she has to study online. Apparently her fertility rate is in the top percentile, which essentially means if I sneeze she could get pregnant, which means much, much stronger birth control next time around.

Does that mean we only have to wait 20 years for another witty Antipodean fellow (okay, person) to frequent the forums?

Pfft, with me as his father, (s)he'll be doing it in 10. Though I don't know if the forums could survive another me.

Cut out the post as it was long but very helpful.

I've not really considered specific days for differing body parts but will probably give it some further though, i've no interest in getting involved with all the protein shakes etc as i'm not sure they even really make a difference.

A full-body workout - working out your entire body every day) isn't as good as training specific body-parts, but still works perfectly well if all you care about is fitness, not strength or definition. The most famous example of a guy doing a successful full-body workout regimen is The Rock, who's been doing a full-body workout since his football days. I have no idea what it is though, and being Samoan (and likely using steroids) probably gave him a lot of natural bulk, making it easier. Most people could probably look like Brad Pitt in Fight Club on a full-body workout, nice and lean - pretty much how I look even after years of weight training, come to think of it - but unless you're a freak like The Rock you'll lack musculature.

As for protein shakes and protein bars, it's a bit of a pickle. Most people who begin working out quit within three months. The companies who make protein shakes and other supplements are well aware of this. They therefore create products that aren't so much beneficial as non-harmful. These products include some ingredients that are good for you (whey is almost universal in protein powders) while the majority of the rest simply improves the taste. That being said, some of them are very good. Musashi is the best over-the-counter brand in Australia, but I don't even know if they sell it in the UK.

If you were really serious about body-building - and I can tell you're not, nor am I - you'd buy multiple supplements, turn your kitchen into what the cops would immediately assume was a crystal meth lab, and create superior supplements by splicing several inferior ones together. The wastage tends to be mostly chocolate flavouring, so you could give it to friends. No, I've never done this, but one of the guys I train with does, and I've known a few body-builders who also do so. The results are amazing, but you need to be either obsessed or a chemist to do it.

I'd suggest maybe having a single protein bar every time you work out, if possible Musashi. Eat half before your workout for an energy boost, and half afterwards to replace the energy you've burnt. It's a little-known fact that gyms make damn good money for selling soft drinks, more than for sports drinks, because people crave the sugar after a workout. Many people don't eat or drink immediately after a workout, and they should (barring nausea, which you can get if you sip too much water during a session). Better to drink juice or a protein shake than soft drink or a sports drink immediately after a workout. No milk (unless it's a smoothie) you'll vomit.

Due to the time avaliable to me i effectively circuit train for an hour- in that i push my heart rate up and keep it there, so whatever gets my heart rate up but it generally involves something along the lines of 2/3rds cardio 1/3rd weights. However, I am very lax with rest times inbetween each; I rarely rest whilst doing the cardio, the only rest is moving between equipment and maybe a quick drink of water. However, the weights are a whole different matter; I generally do at least 3 reps- depending on my mood i'll either do heavier weights and less of them or lighter weights and more of them.

2/3rds cardio and 1/3rd weights is a good balance for general fitness. Not resting at all during cardio doesn't really matter; so long as you're getting enough fluids avoiding rest is actually good for your body, as it pushes it harder. You need to rest between lifting weights though; your body needs time to recover between each set for it to use the muscle to its full potential.

Lighter weights and more reps are better for general fitness, and also for younger people. I don't know how old you are, but you shouldn't lift heavy weights until your body has matured, or you've already been lfiting weights for several years, accustoming your body to the process. Lifting heavy weights at a young age or without preparation can stunt muscle development. They'll get bigger, but they won't stretch correctly. I know a few guys with weird-shaped biceps from doing that.

I'm unsure what you mean by 4 'exercises'? Is this weights/stretching/cardio or all three at once?

Ah, sorry, I should have clarified. By 4 exercises I mean four separate exercises focusing on an individual body-part. 4 "machines" might be a better description, but I often don't use machines, preferring free weights. For example, let's say I'm working the chest that day. I'll do 3 of my 4 exercises that day; flat bench press; incline bench press; decline bench press. After two weeks I'll drop the flat bench press and bring in my 4th exercise, a dumbell twisting press. After a further two weeks I'll drop the incline press and bring back the flat press, two weeks after that I'll drop the decline and return to the incline, and two weeks after that I'll drop the dumbell press and be back to my original 3 exercises. Is that clarified now?

Tbh i'm not do bothered by the Ab's situation as most guys seem to be, for instance I am far more concerned with breaking the 1.30.00 barrier on the concept 2's. Considering when i started going to the gym (after years not doing anything) last summer and i could barely get sub 2 minutes it's going pretty well. Currently my fastest is 1.33.01, tweaked something in my back yesterday though so may have to alter my technique slightly.

A minor tweak isn't really a big deal, we all pull things from time-to-time. If you do it regularly though, you're doing something wrong. I mentioned the abs because most men think they're a big deal, and try to tone them by doing sit-ups, which is about the dumbest thing one can do to tone their abs. My own abs aren't well-defined at all, despite the huge amount of cardio I do. That cardio is more than negated by having a girlfriend who cooks fattening pasta dishes on a regular basis. My abs are incredibly strong though; some took once threw a javelin at me as a joke (great joke, moron) at a school sports carnival, and it bounced off. That's when my P.E. teachers started coming to me for fitness advice.

It seems like cardio is what you need to focus on to achieve your goals. I'd suggest sprints at a local park for half an hour to an hour a week. They're the single best exercise for cardio, though they force longer rest periods. If you do them long enough though, you won't need to rest very much when doing pretty much anything else though. Skipping is great too, though it kills your calves.

 

[Yared]

What did her parents say?

 

[BCLG100]

Cut out a little to avoid a huge post!

I'd suggest maybe having a single protein bar every time you work out, if possible Musashi. Eat half before your workout for an energy boost, and half afterwards to replace the energy you've burnt. It's a little-known fact that gyms make damn good money for selling soft drinks, more than for sports drinks, because people crave the sugar after a workout. Many people don't eat or drink immediately after a workout, and they should (barring nausea, which you can get if you sip too much water during a session). Better to drink juice or a protein shake than soft drink or a sports drink immediately after a workout. No milk (unless it's a smoothie) you'll vomit.

My gym doesn't cash in on the soft drinks market oddly, It's a Virgin Active gym but surprisingly lean and solely there for people who want to workout, its biggest luxury is a Sauna and a powerade drinks machine. I like this though as it means that people actually go there to workout rather than dick about! I'll pass on the shakes and just have a steak

I generally run/fast walk home as a cool down so to speak so i drink juice when i get there.

2/3rds cardio and 1/3rd weights is a good balance for general fitness. Not resting at all during cardio doesn't really matter; so long as you're getting enough fluids avoiding rest is actually good for your body, as it pushes it harder. You need to rest between lifting weights though; your body needs time to recover between each set for it to use the muscle to its full potential.

Lighter weights and more reps are better for general fitness, and also for younger people. I don't know how old you are, but you shouldn't lift heavy weights until your body has matured, or you've already been lfiting weights for several years, accustoming your body to the process. Lifting heavy weights at a young age or without preparation can stunt muscle development. They'll get bigger, but they won't stretch correctly. I know a few guys with weird-shaped biceps from doing that.

Ah by heavy weights i didn't mean heavy weights in the conventional sense, just heavier weights. Nothing too dramatic just maybe 10 kilos more than the lighter weights. I'm 22 so my body isn't going to grow much more.

Ah, sorry, I should have clarified. By 4 exercises I mean four separate exercises focusing on an individual body-part. 4 "machines" might be a better description, but I often don't use machines, preferring free weights. For example, let's say I'm working the chest that day. I'll do 3 of my 4 exercises that day; flat bench press; incline bench press; decline bench press. After two weeks I'll drop the flat bench press and bring in my 4th exercise, a dumbell twisting press. After a further two weeks I'll drop the incline press and bring back the flat press, two weeks after that I'll drop the decline and return to the incline, and two weeks after that I'll drop the dumbell press and be back to my original 3 exercises. Is that clarified now?

Makes sense yep. You seem to only really use the gym for weights, is this a conscious decision as your time is spent doing cardio elsewhere or do you just not like doing the cardio at the gym? Or perhaps i'm reading your posts wrong

A minor tweak isn't really a big deal, we all pull things from time-to-time. If you do it regularly though, you're doing something wrong. I mentioned the abs because most men think they're a big deal, and try to tone them by doing sit-ups, which is about the dumbest thing one can do to tone their abs. My own abs aren't well-defined at all, despite the huge amount of cardio I do. That cardio is more than negated by having a girlfriend who cooks fattening pasta dishes on a regular basis. My abs are incredibly strong though; some took once threw a javelin at me as a joke (great joke, moron) at a school sports carnival, and it bounced off. That's when my P.E. teachers started coming to me for fitness advice.

It seems like cardio is what you need to focus on to achieve your goals. I'd suggest sprints at a local park for half an hour to an hour a week. They're the single best exercise for cardio, though they force longer rest periods. If you do them long enough though, you won't need to rest very much when doing pretty much anything else though. Skipping is great too, though it kills your calves.

Comedy genius with the Javelin...

Seems to be a semi regular tweak so thats not something I enjoy as it means i slow right down to not over exert it. I do think it's a combination of slightly off technique and poor stretching- very rarely do i do anymore than 5 minutes stretching prior to a workout.

I'm going to start swimming again soon so I'll probably do the sprints in the pool rather than the park. Not looking forward to it as i know the first few sessions will cripple me seeing as the muscles you use seem to be completely different in swimming than the ones you use normally!

 

[flyingchicken]

Lifting heavy weights at a young age or without preparation can stunt muscle development. They'll get bigger, but they won't stretch correctly. I know a few guys with weird-shaped biceps from doing that.

So how heavy is too heavy for a young'in like me?

(I'm a minor in the low end of normal BMI and I've been progressing steadily barring the odd few weeks off for about half a year now, aiming to reach "novice" strength standards (so far I've reached it for deadlifts, while I need about 3 more 5-lb increases for bench presses and squats and just 1 more for presses; I decided to skip on power cleans for the sake of safety, since I don't trust random people at the gym).)

Speaking of random people at the gym, how do you go about telling off someone who doesn't know how to spot but goes off "spotting" (i.e. assisting from the first rep to the last) anyway because it's either their job to prevent customer injury or they're a bit too enthusiastic with helping out? I mean, how do I go about it without hurting their egos nad saving me some face -- after all, I'm just a newbie kid and they're all ripped long-time gym-goers, and me telling them that their stupidity is costing me my progress (or at least how to spot properly, since I am concerned about my safety in addition to progress) would make me look like some uppity ass doubting their sage wisdom.

 

[BCLG100]

Say a couple of friends were asking you about 'spotting' and what his interpretation on how to do it is? Then when he gives you an answer then you can say- 'but wouldn't it be better to do it like this for safety/progress etc'. If it is someone that works there- you're paying for this just tell them straight.

 

[Lord Baal]

What did her parents say?

Her father was actually really quiet while he searched for his shotgun.

Seriously, her fathre is thrilled, her mother can't make up her mind whether this is good or bad - she likes the idea of her daughter being pregnant, marrying me and all that jazz, but hates the fact that she's pregnant right now - and her sister now despises us both, as her big sis is already pregnant and she's sweet 16 and never even been kissed.

Cut out a little to avoid a huge post!

I seem to be doing a lot of them lately. Might have something to do with going on a three day break earlier in the week. I have to catch up to fulfill my quota.

My gym doesn't cash in on the soft drinks market oddly, It's a Virgin Active gym but surprisingly lean and solely there for people who want to workout, its biggest luxury is a Sauna and a powerade drinks machine. I like this though as it means that people actually go there to workout rather than dick about! I'll pass on the shakes and just have a steak

Sounds like a really good gym. Most of the ones in this area aren't very good. The university gym is an exception, but mostly frequented by annoying posers. When I worked there I was always frustrated at their inability to actually use the damn equipment correctly. Not to mention they never shut up.

Steaks are actually really good for you after a workout. Not to mention awesome. I had one for dinner tonight.

I generally run/fast walk home as a cool down so to speak so i drink juice when i get there.

Good move on both counts.

Ah by heavy weights i didn't mean heavy weights in the conventional sense, just heavier weights. Nothing too dramatic just maybe 10 kilos more than the lighter weights. I'm 22 so my body isn't going to grow much more.

Fair enough. I tend to lift less than my own body weight myself except for the leg press, when I do nearly 8 times my body-weight. My legs are strong way out of proportion to the rest of me, for reasons I've never really understood. I tend to max myself out at 50kg on a bench press, even though I can do more, just because I prefer getting my 10-6-6-4 reps. I find it safer and healthier.

Makes sense yep. You seem to only really use the gym for weights, is this a conscious decision as your time is spent doing cardio elsewhere or do you just not like doing the cardio at the gym? Or perhaps i'm reading your posts wrong

Actually, I do all of my working out either at home or at my sister's place. Her boyfriend - my ex-roommate - has his own home gym. We work out together. We have pretty similar workout philosophies - though he does considerably more creepy martial arts stuff, like doing push-ups with his fingertips - and trust each other. I tend to spend my 1 min rest between sets spotting him, and vice versa. we're also almost the same weight and build, so we don't even need to change weights that often. He lifts a medicine ball about the size of a Volkswagen when doing sit-ups though, another thing that creeps me out.

Before that, I did most of my working out on my father's home gym so he could show me how to do things correctly. Then I went to the school gym, which was poorly equipped but where I had people to spot me, since dad changed shifts and wasn't home when I worked out anymore. After that I worked out at uni while also having a part-time job in the gym. All the places I have ever worked out were completely free of charge. If I had to pay to work out, I'd build my own damn weights out of broomsticks, tractor tyres and sandbags, like my creepy ex-roommate did in his teens. I've seen it at his grandmother's house. It looks the sort of thing you'd see a 1930s body-builder using.

I've always done my cardio at home though, even when i was training in the gym. I'm not a very sociable guy - if I were, I wouldn't be on CFC, right? - and dislike the gym setting. Working there during uni drove me insane. I work out to improve my health and well-being, not for appearances. I don't mind body-builders, they're working on their appearances for their livelihoods or as a hobby, but I dislike people working out to attract the opposite sex or simply to socialise. If they really want to attract people, maybe they should be less shallow. As for socialising, they already do enough of that getting in my way at the mall.

Comedy genius with the Javelin...

It was even funnier when he wet his pants after it bounced off me and I glared at him.

Seems to be a semi regular tweak so thats not something I enjoy as it means i slow right down to not over exert it. I do think it's a combination of slightly off technique and poor stretching- very rarely do i do anymore than 5 minutes stretching prior to a workout.

It does sound like your technique is off, yes. Try videotaping yourself exercising, or doing it in front of a mirror. Sometimes you don't notice what you're doing wrong until you can see it. I was leaning slightly to one side when doing neck bridges without knowing it until my dad pointed it out. god knows how long I was doing it for. Probably the 2 years I'd been neck-bridging for.

You also really need to strecth more. Stretching and warming up is critical. You should also stretch between exercises, to retain flexibility.

I'm going to start swimming again soon so I'll probably do the sprints in the pool rather than the park. Not looking forward to it as i know the first few sessions will cripple me seeing as the muscles you use seem to be completely different in swimming than the ones you use normally!

Good idea. I found out how much swimming kills a person just a few weeks ago, when I went swimming for the first time since I left school. My girlfriend used to swim 2 km every morning, and being the super-fit ultra-masculine adonis I am, I made it a point of pride to keep up with her.

My pride was shattered by the 200m mark, and my legs and back soon followed suit. I wasn't in the least bit tired or out of breath; I still did my hour on the exercise bike later in the day, as well as having my sister coerce me into practising some dance with her for an hour so she could impress her boyfriend, who hates dancing as much as I and wouldn't even know if she was doing it right. I just couldn't bloody move my legs and back in the pool. It's not every day a pregnant woman publicly humiliates you by appearing to be fitter than you are. I had to make her buy me lunch just to let her know I'm still the boss in this relationship.

 

[Lord Baal]

So how heavy is too heavy for a young'in like me?

(I'm a minor in the low end of normal BMI and I've been progressing steadily barring the odd few weeks off for about half a year now, aiming to reach "novice" strength standards (so far I've reached it for deadlifts, while I need about 3 more 5-lb increases for bench presses and squats and just 1 more for presses; I decided to skip on power cleans for the sake of safety, since I don't trust random people at the gym).)

I hate power cleans. I've never done them, since I don't consider them safe at all. I'm Australian and use the metric system, so I'll have to speak generally so we don't both get confused.

I seem to remember you mentioning you were 16 somewhere. If so, your body's pretty much at the level where you won't stunt muscle growth. It's early adolescence where you need to be careful. I started when I was 14, which would have been too early to lift heavy, but luckily my dad told me not to even try. So long as you stretch well, your muscles will grow correctly. If you're younger than 16, don't do more than 2/3 of my estimates below. Your muscles will still be growing.

In general, you should never be lifting less than a fifth of your body-weight in any exercise. Even if you're merely warming up a muscle by lifting light before lifting heavier later, something I don't personally do as I think it's stupid and tires the muscle, you should always be doing at least a fifth of you body weight.

I don't believe in ever lifting more than your body-weight without a spotter. I'm around 75kg (I think that's between 165-181lbs on the chart you linked to, though without a calculator handy I'm not sure. I'm also not confident that 2.2lbs per kg is actually the correct formula, since I haven't had to work it out since school), give or take 2-3kg. If I'm benching alone I never do more than 50kg, even though I'm capable of over 150kg. Your own body-weight across you throat is deadly enough. Believe me, I've found out twice, though both those times were due to idiot spotters. On a military press never do more than half your body weight. Ever. The military press is the lift most likely to kill you if you screw up. If you used fixed machines rather than free weights like me, disregard what I say about spotters, since they aren't necessary. Still be careful about maintaining muscle growth and flexibility though.

As for what you can lift with a spotter, I'd suggest you can safely do 3/4 of the standard for adult men on your chart. Maybe 4/5 after a few months. So, if you're 165lbs aiming for novice strength standards you should do no more than 60lbs on a press, rather than the maximum 75lbs suggested.

Of course, if you'd been pressing for years you would be able to do 3/4 to 4/5 of 186lbs, the elite level. Really, when you're young the most important thing is getting your body used to lifting, so that the muscle still stretches properly during the workout. It will always contract, but if you're lifting too much weight it won't stretch fully. At 16, your muscles are likely fully developed already, except maybe for your back.

Speaking of random people at the gym, how do you go about telling off someone who doesn't know how to spot but goes off "spotting" (i.e. assisting from the first rep to the last) anyway because it's either their job to prevent customer injury or they're a bit too enthusiastic with helping out? I mean, how do I go about it without hurting their egos nad saving me some face -- after all, I'm just a newbie kid and they're all ripped long-time gym-goers, and me telling them that their stupidity is costing me my progress (or at least how to spot properly, since I am concerned about my safety in addition to progress) would make me look like some uppity ass doubting their sage wisdom.

This is difficult for me, since I've always been the one dispensing the sage wisdom. if it were me I'd just tell them they were doing it wrong, but obviously you're in a different situation. I'd suggest simply saying to them that their method of spotting is great for someone who is already an experienced lifter - even if it's not - but that you need them to spot for you in a different way so that you can progress to become an experienced lifter. Say it as politely as possible, so as not to offend them. If they take offence anyway, find a machine to work on, so as to avoid needing a spotter to begin with.

Say a couple of friends were asking you about 'spotting' and what his interpretation on how to do it is? Then when he gives you an answer then you can say- 'but wouldn't it be better to do it like this for safety/progress etc'. If it is someone that works there- you're paying for this just tell them straight.

Decent advice, but I'd prefer to just point out that he's doing it wrong. Then again, I'm a jerk who's made a lifetime of ridiculing those in authority, usually to my own detriment.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Why did my mom just throw all my pants in the garbage?

 

[holy king]

satanic ritual.

 

[Lord Baal]

Why did my mom just throw all my pants in the garbage?

How about you ask her?

 

[Yared]

Maybe they had holes in them...?

 

[BCLG100]

Her father was actually really quiet while he searched for his shotgun.

Seriously, her fathre is thrilled, her mother can't make up her mind whether this is good or bad - she likes the idea of her daughter being pregnant, marrying me and all that jazz, but hates the fact that she's pregnant right now - and her sister now despises us both, as her big sis is already pregnant and she's sweet 16 and never even been kissed.

Don't think i've mentioned this but congrats on the baby!

Sounds like a really good gym. Most of the ones in this area aren't very good. The university gym is an exception, but mostly frequented by annoying posers. When I worked there I was always frustrated at their inability to actually use the damn equipment correctly. Not to mention they never shut up.

Steaks are actually really good for you after a workout. Not to mention awesome. I had one for dinner tonight.

Yeah it is, sometimes i'm not 100% sure on how to use some of the newer equipment. They've now got them vibrating machines at the gym don't even really want to know how to work them. My point is, i can understand people not knowing and even bothering me to ask but perhaps if it is every single machine sign up for an induction! Don't even get me started on the people that go there for a convo.

Fair enough. I tend to lift less than my own body weight myself except for the leg press, when I do nearly 8 times my body-weight. My legs are strong way out of proportion to the rest of me, for reasons I've never really understood. I tend to max myself out at 50kg on a bench press, even though I can do more, just because I prefer getting my 10-6-6-4 reps. I find it safer and healthier.

I've not rally done much weights at all tbh, only having recently started doing them. I was informed that there is next to no point in doing them until you have a decent fitness so i spent about 6 months solid on cardio. To the extent that now doing the weights helps with the cardio (better muscles etc). So the actual weight that i can lift is minimal at best, always embaressing having to set it down after watching a woman get off.

Actually, I do all of my working out either at home or at my sister's place. Her boyfriend - my ex-roommate - has his own home gym. We work out together. We have pretty similar workout philosophies - though he does considerably more creepy martial arts stuff, like doing push-ups with his fingertips - and trust each other. I tend to spend my 1 min rest between sets spotting him, and vice versa. we're also almost the same weight and build, so we don't even need to change weights that often. He lifts a medicine ball about the size of a Volkswagen when doing sit-ups though, another thing that creeps me out.

Before that, I did most of my working out on my father's home gym so he could show me how to do things correctly. Then I went to the school gym, which was poorly equipped but where I had people to spot me, since dad changed shifts and wasn't home when I worked out anymore. After that I worked out at uni while also having a part-time job in the gym. All the places I have ever worked out were completely free of charge. If I had to pay to work out, I'd build my own damn weights out of broomsticks, tractor tyres and sandbags, like my creepy ex-roommate did in his teens. I've seen it at his grandmother's house. It looks the sort of thing you'd see a 1930s body-builder using.

Hmm unfortunatly central london and a student house mean it is next to impossible to 'build a gym' especially seeing as i'm only in this house for another 5 months or so. Does seem that you have a very sweet set up and the exercise bike in the house must be very handy. I get such odd timings of urges to actually do something and so that would be handy as i wouldn't be overly keen to go running in the dark in the area i live in!

I've always done my cardio at home though, even when i was training in the gym. I'm not a very sociable guy - if I were, I wouldn't be on CFC, right? - and dislike the gym setting. Working there during uni drove me insane. I work out to improve my health and well-being, not for appearances. I don't mind body-builders, they're working on their appearances for their livelihoods or as a hobby, but I dislike people working out to attract the opposite sex or simply to socialise. If they really want to attract people, maybe they should be less shallow. As for socialising, they already do enough of that getting in my way at the mall.

I don't mind it, stick my ipod in and forget about everyone else. I think that if that is there motivation then that's fine, at least they are taking that route than plastic surgery etc. As for attracting the opposite sex i can think of little things more unattractive than a woman during a particularly heavy workout! I mean that's not to say i don't have a quick glance when i first walk in but if i have the energy to talk during a session then i'm not doing it right.

It does sound like your technique is off, yes. Try videotaping yourself exercising, or doing it in front of a mirror. Sometimes you don't notice what you're doing wrong until you can see it. I was leaning slightly to one side when doing neck bridges without knowing it until my dad pointed it out. god knows how long I was doing it for. Probably the 2 years I'd been neck-bridging for.

You also really need to strecth more. Stretching and warming up is critical. You should also stretch between exercises, to retain flexibility.

Tricky in a gym setting though, I'm considering getting a personal trainer for a session to see what they say but tbh i probably know just as much about it as they do. I may just ask a friend to take a look, i think i've already pinpointed the problem. In that I pull back with my arms a little too early putting needless pressure on my back.

I've never been a big fan of neck-bridging i think the risk of injury there is a bit too high for my liking.

Good idea. I found out how much swimming kills a person just a few weeks ago, when I went swimming for the first time since I left school. My girlfriend used to swim 2 km every morning, and being the super-fit ultra-masculine adonis I am, I made it a point of pride to keep up with her.

My pride was shattered by the 200m mark, and my legs and back soon followed suit. I wasn't in the least bit tired or out of breath; I still did my hour on the exercise bike later in the day, as well as having my sister coerce me into practising some dance with her for an hour so she could impress her boyfriend, who hates dancing as much as I and wouldn't even know if she was doing it right. I just couldn't bloody move my legs and back in the pool. It's not every day a pregnant woman publicly humiliates you by appearing to be fitter than you are. I had to make her buy me lunch just to let her know I'm still the boss in this relationship.

should try my old schedules when i was swimming county, i have literally never been more tired in my life. I would say the warmup alone was about 2k with a combination of sprints and technique before lengthy swims and then cool down probably another 2k.

You definitely showed her with the lunch incident though!

 

[Yared]

Yeah, congrats! Are you done with your university stuff?

 

[Takhisis]

I can't believe we're getting a new Lord Baal within 13 years (I started at 15, but I didn't grow up with a computer, some new kids learn before they're 4), but cognrats anyway.
This question might need a thread of its own: how will the forum survive the presence of two such creatures?

 

[Perfection]

Are planets completely and utterly impossible in Alpha Centauri in real life?

No. It is quite possible that there are planets orbiting Alpha Centauri, it is even possible for planets to be orbiting in Earth-like orbits.

I know there is the "rare earth hypothesis", but what's the terminology used for the opposing viewpoint, the viewpoint that says habitable planets are common?

The "Rare Earth hypothesis" isn't simply the viewpoint that Earth-like planets are rare, but refers to a common specific argument for the rarity of Earth-like planets.

 

[Takhisis]

It is quite possible that there are planets orbiting Alpha Centauri, it is even possible for planets to be orbiting in Earth-like orbits.

Not exactly Earth-like, after all, Alpha Centauri is a dual system.

 

[Shekwan]

Anyone here ever used chatroulette?


Link to video.

 

[Quackers]

Thats excellant