Yes I thought about this but still felt that depression needs a thread of it's own.

I have no complains though, everyone can post where one feels is the appropriate place.

This thread has motivated me to start doing some exercise.
I have done Yoga before so I feel compelled to just start it again. It is a good exercise.
But I think I will like something more aerobic, like running or cycling. The problem is that I am too shy to go running or cycling around the city and much much more shy to try doing it in the gym.
Any idea of aerobic exercises at home?

[ファブリス]

trusmis Wrote:But I think I will like something more aerobic, like running or cycling

If you do multiple rounds of the full sun salutation with the warrior pose in the middle, that's pretty intense. I was sweating like a pig last year when I did those at a Yoga class in India. Hard to find a complete video. I think it's called Sun Salutation A, and Sun Salutation B.

I ordered the Body-Solid Vertical Knee Raise, Dip, Pull Up machine.

That's pretty much all I need for the upper body, I think. I can't even line up 50 pushups so chances are this will keep me busy for a while *blush*

I hate doing ab crunches. Just doesn't feel right to me, maybe my back isn't straight enough, or maybe the coccyx makes it uncomfortable. I don't know if the vertical leg raise is intense enough but it's possible to add weights, and as a bonus it seems to work out the upper thigh as well. So it might turn out a lot better than I expect.

For the lower body I think the Yoga matt is all I need to keep the legs in shape. Don't really want to bulk on the legs and I'd rather do the squats at a gym with full protection and a mirror to watch my posture than do it at home.

I really like those core exercises that hit multiple muscle groups without weights. Might have to buy pullup bands to get me started. I don't know... probably won't be able to line up more than a couple pull ups lol.

ファブリス Wrote:I hate doing ab crunches. Just doesn't feel right to me, maybe my back isn't straight enough, or maybe the coccyx makes it uncomfortable. I don't know if the vertical leg raise is intense enough but it's possible to add weights, and as a bonus it seems to work out the upper thigh as well. So it might turn out a lot better than I expect.

Same here. Situps hurt in too many ways that just don't seem right.

I recently read an article saying that situps are the wrong way to build up abs. Abdominal muscles' purpose is to stabilize the body, not to bend it in half, so the right way to work them is to work them out doing just that, by doing plank exercises. Makes sense to me.

This isn't that article (I can't seem to find it now), but it expresses a similar opinion:
http://www.zimbio.com/How+to+get+a+six+p...+Exercises

Plank exercises L sits handstands etc. Are great workouts you can make paralette bars out of PVC for 15-20 dollars. Google Homemade parelettes or PVC parelettes. Not at home or I'd link to the articles I used.

For some more stabilizing exercises make or buy gymnastic rings.

I still suggest rock climbing best hobby I ever picked up.

Karate is fun too!

I am not that interested on building strength, I just want to do some aerobic exercise so lungs and heart work hard for let's say 30 minutes a day.
Today I tried performing Sun saludation A, B and several variations continuously. The problem is that before I started sweating and lacking breath, my muscles were so tired I couldn't continue. So I think it became more a strength exercise and not an aerobic exercise.

Maybe I am looking for something lighter

Have you seen the paragraph where I mention jump rope in this thread?
I think it will really suit you...

I did one back exercise in the middle of doing reps.

Made me more alert.

And anyway, I have exercised about 22 hours in total since starting this thread and can say that it has made me feel at least a bit better and less tired.

Reading this made me think...
I've been doing martial arts regularly (3 times/week) plus a little muscle training at home but I feel like my body isn't getting much fitter. I've never been very good in sports, but this is continually depressing me, since I see how you need lots of muscles for a good technique. Instead of blaming it on nature and genes, I guess I'll give this workout-at-home-thing a chance.
Also, I need to lose a few kilos that I've put on over the years. But I don't want and can't follow this eat-meat-diet (put simply) which seems to work, it's expensive, costs time and it's unethical.
Do you have any suggestions on how to eat to lose weight/get fit without meat every day?

Of course it's not necessary to eat meat.

You lose weight by:

- Reducing your portion size.
- Not eating junk food (anything from a takeaway joint, chocolate, crisps).
- Not drinking soda pop, or too much beer.
- Not buying 'processed' food. In other words, just buy 'real' food. Fruit, vegetables, fish (if you choose) to and a small amount of meat (if you choose to).

You get fit by going for a walk each day, increasing the distance until you're comfortable with an hour or so. If you wish, do some jogging as part of that.

That's it!

^ will make you lose weight but not put on muscle. You need to be eating a lot of protein to put on muscle, so things like chicken, eggs and milk are great. plus protein shakes.

You really need to be eating the right food for training to be effective, whether you're trying to lose or gain weight.

btw for working out at home the P90X videos are really good, I found out about them in a post on here last time this subject came up.

i agree with sammyb/ryuujin/nukemarine, starting strength is the truth and is excellent for anyone wanting to get stronger.

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/S...ength_Wiki

my numbers aren't as impressive as them, and i was hesitant about benching and power cleaning but not anymore... so they lag behind the other lifts quite a bit. also i hated my gym so i wouldn't go as often, but now i have my own equipment at home.

squat: 245lb
bench: 135lb
deadlift: current 295lb, used to be 345lb
overhead press: current 100lb, used to be 115lb
power clean: 135lb

if you have the equipment and time i highly highly recommend it. linear, measurable increases in strength make you feel like you progressed a lot, and everyone notices. one of my brother's friends was like "damn your arms got huge! what do you curl?" i don't curl. =)

i don't know what your ethics are on animals; you could always buy humanely-raised stuff. if you're a pescatarian you could load up on seafood instead. if you're a vegetarian look into seitan, tofu, hemp seeds, flax seeds, nuts, and other proteins. if you're a vegan, i have no idea. good luck!

kainzero Wrote:if you're a vegetarian look into seitan, tofu, hemp seeds, flax seeds, nuts, and other proteins. if you're a vegan, i have no idea. good luck!

those are all vegan

it's totally possible to gain muscle as a vegan. just get enough protein (i like pea protein powder for supplementing), challenge your body, rest, and repeat. also, muscles build at a surprisingly slow rate, so don't expect miracles overnight.

Vegan athletes...

Bill Manetti: Power-lifting champion
Stan Price: World weightlifting record holder, bench press
Dave Scott: Six-time winner of the Ironman triathlon
Sixto Linares: World record holder, 24-hour triathlon
Andreas Cahling: Swedish champion bodybuilder
Bill Pearl: Four-time Mr. Universe
Chris Campbell: Olympic wrestling champion
Keith Holmes: World-champion middleweight boxer
Peter Hussing: European super heavy-weight boxing champion
Desmond Howard: NFL star, Heisman trophy winner
Art Still: Defensive End, NFL Hall of Famer
Ingra Manecki: World champion discus thrower

I lost a lot of weight by doing a vegan diet over the last few months + running. Once you cut out cholesterol I guess it makes it a bit easier to do so. I did go through some pretty bad withdrawals as I was detoxing though >_<.

There are some protein powders you can get made from both soy and rice.
I've chosen to go with the rice protein as I don't want to overload on soy products (as a precaution to the rumours about plant estrogen)

I read on a soy protein container that it's mainly for lean muscle development/maintenance, so I'm not sure how effective it would be compared to something like pure whey protein.

You can also get vegetal proteins in form of dry stuff, like lentils, chickpeas, navy beans...

Thanks for all the tips. Well I'm female so I don't want huge muscles. I feel like they are already quite big from karate.
Hit pretty much rock bottom of my frustration when after the examination the trainer said I should become fitter. I was so angry I could have yelled there. Been fuming all day. It's really not like I haven't tried, I just got the impression that I'm helpless against this body since others always seem to have it a lot easier in physical training... since middle school. I just don't get why?
I've been continuously training 3 times plus some at-home work-out. So probably the same amount as the other dudes, still I don't feel like I'm improving... rather always overwhelmed by the training...
Well I suppose I have to train more and eat less chocolate, more protein... Or I'll become some crazy monster soon :p

lanval Wrote:Thanks for all the tips. Well I'm female so I don't want huge muscles. I feel like they are already quite big from karate.

As you are a female...

-you won't get huge muscles anyway unless you take steroids
-if they get too big you can always stop
-starting strength is mostly for strength, not size

I always hear stuff like "oh yeah i don't wanna work out 'cause i don't wanna get too bulky" which is really ridiculous... no one ever grew gigantic muscles overnight and stressed about it in the morning.

I've never been considered athletic by any means, always thought I was wimpy... but then starting strength taught me otherwise, that I can grow and get strong. My conditioning still sucks, but I don't get pushed around as much.

definitely Wrote:I read on a soy protein container that it's mainly for lean muscle development/maintenance, so I'm not sure how effective it would be compared to something like pure whey protein.

Well, there's no fatty muscle development/maintenance. There's fat and there's muscle, there's no lean muscle or fat muscle. Shed fat and your muscle shows, get bigger muscle and your muscle shows.

kainzero Wrote:Well, there's no fatty muscle development/maintenance. There's fat and there's muscle, there's no lean muscle or fat muscle. Shed fat and your muscle shows, get bigger muscle and your muscle shows.

I really like this idea

Perfect work out music!

Daft Punk - Digital Love

And strangely enough, I can relate to the title of this song.

hmm, I was referring to lean as in smaller, not as in lacking fat

definitely Wrote:hmm, I was referring to lean as in smaller, not as in lacking fat

well...
almost all protein brands say something like that, "promote lean muscle growth" because the opposite of "lean" is "fat." no one would ever promote "builds small muscles." if you look at enough supplements you get to see how much BS there really is.

muscles just build, you cannot really control their size through nutrition... you can only control whether you get them or not. =)

Hey guys, I got Vibrams the other day. Next week I want to start running. Any good schedule you could recommend?

TheVinster Wrote:Hey guys, I got Vibrams the other day. Next week I want to start running. Any good schedule you could recommend?

Run a long time one day, rest 2 days, run a long time on the 3rd day, rest 2 days, repeat. This will help you build muscles in your leg and avoid injury.