The Health, Wellness, weight loss, and fitness thread

[Twangasaurus]

I posted this it the Spite etc thread, but I figured maybe I could get some feedback here on what this might be.

On Saturday, I woke up in the middle of the night in almost the worst pain I have ever been in - centered in my right calf. The pain was so bad that I was thrashing around. It felt like my muscles were tearing themselves apart. It started to fade after maybe 15 minutes, but the after-effects of it are still with me. On Sunday I could barely walk. Today it's just sore and a little tight.

Yeah man I get night cramps too. It's chronic anxiety disorder related for me but like jwar said potassium deficiencies is a more common cause. Dude, don't lay in bed, the pain will be a thousands times worse. You have to jump up immediately and start walking and it will sort itself out in a matter of ten or so seconds. Nothing else to do for it.

[D.o.S.]

Foam Rollers are pretty sweet.

[gunslinger_burrito]

Tennis elbow.

Yes I have tendinitis. It sucks ass. Do wrist curls and grip strength exercises like holding a 45lbs plate and squeezing your finger tips on it as hard as you can. This will help. Also get a wrap for your elbow for the really bad days.

Doctor Adam out.

Thanks! The pain I get is on the inside of my elbow near my funny bone. With some experimentation I've been able to narrow down the exercises that aggravate it. For some reason, wide-grip pullups don't seem to bother it as much, while close-grip pullups and pushups do (things that really put stress on my elbow joint in general). I've been going through some workout routines and cutting things out while keeping others; I'm isolating certain movements to see which ones really mess it up. The only variation of my routine I have yet to do is an almost strictly pullup day. For that I'll do a reasonable amount of those wide-grip pullups (no use in overdoing them) and a bunch of kettlebell stuff that I think isn't making the issue worse. I'm hoping that the KB work will improve my grip and thus help with forearm and elbow issues. Also, I'm hoping that the added core strength from the KB will help with some back soreness I get at work (I work produce and lift heavy boxes all damn day).

Edit: Do you have an opinion on whether or not to eat carbs after a workout? I was drinking a coconunt water after my protein, because I read that the glucose would help replenish the muscles, etc.... but that advice seems to contradict what I've read about insulin release and growth hormone output I've always been a really lean guy and I don't know if just sheer calories (complex carbs and healthy fats, for the most part) is better, or if shifting to a "hormonally intelligent" regimen is what I need. Thanks if you do have any info you'd like to share! I've scoured the internet and can't find solid studies or anything convincing yet.

[Jwar]

Well think of it this way. A carb and a protein equals a complete protein. That's why a lot of time they couple rice with beans, the carbs and proteins bind together and breakdown more efficiently when used together. You need a quick release carbohydrate after a workout to restore your energy levels. You could have an apple, pear, gummie bears, sugar sticks...whatever. Something that quickly spikes your blood sugar. You body will instantly use it as energy and you'll gain no fat from it.

You could be deficient in test or another hormone but the only way to determine that would be a blood test.

I consider myself very, very good at putting on muscle mass. A lot of people hire me for this specific reason as well. I know how to bulk. It's the other part I have trouble with! HAH! You need protein, carbs, good fats, water, creatine, beta alanine, and more protein.

[gunslinger_burrito]

Well think of it this way. A carb and a protein equals a complete protein. That's why a lot of time they couple rice with beans, the carbs and proteins bind together and breakdown more efficiently when used together. You need a quick release carbohydrate after a workout to restore your energy levels. You could have an apple, pear, gummie bears, sugar sticks...whatever. Something that quickly spikes your blood sugar. You body will instantly use it as energy and you'll gain no fat from it.

You could be deficient in test or another hormone but the only way to determine that would be a blood test.

I consider myself very, very good at putting on muscle mass. A lot of people hire me for this specific reason as well. I know how to bulk. It's the other part I have trouble with! HAH! You need protein, carbs, good fats, water, creatine, beta alanine, and more protein.

Thanks man. I've gathered that from talking to a lot of people and reading a bunch. This article sums up what I've been reading, although I'm not sure that I'm following his logic for how to eat throughout the day
http://eattoperform.com/2013/03/16/huma ... e-friends/

I feel like 90% of the advice I read online is geared towards guys that are either looking to lose fat and tone up/build muscle, or natural mesomorphs. I just haven't found any good testimonials by skinny guys who got bigger, and almost everything I've tried hasn't produced great results, even when I'm eating all of the "right" stuff in huge quantities (with lots of digestive enzymes. . .). The only thing I admit I haven't done is gotten a damn gym membership. I've always used crazy at-home, bodyweight type stuff, like sandbags (pushups with a 50lb backpack) handstand pushups, and squats with sand bags. I'm trying to find a gym so that I can work into heavy squats and maybe some deadlifts, as I've always read that those are great for hormone release and general bulking.

[gunslinger_burrito]

Well, my arm was fine all week last week with some minor twinges. I worked out with the kettlebell on Monday, it was fine all night. Then yesterday morning it started throbbing and was even a bit swollen. I know I should be good and give it rest but that just leaves me with running. Then I lose all the weight I worked to gain. I wish there was a really cheap gym where I could just pay $10 or something so that I could go in and do squats or something.

[foomanfat]

Just went to the gym for the first time in about nine years.
My brother-in-law needed someone with whom to work out, and he can actually instruct me on form and junk.
We did back and shoulders today. Tomorrow is chest.

[the_carl]

Just went to the gym for the first time in about nine years.
My brother-in-law needed someone with whom to work out, and he can actually instruct me on form and junk.
We did back and shoulders today. Tomorrow is chest.

Be prepared to be sore as fuck in like 2 days.

[Jwar]

So I haven't updated what's going on with me. Dunno if anyone cares. LOL.

Ok so I hired a bodybuilding coach. Yes a personal trainer hired a trainer. I need it.

He's got me on a strict diet for an 18 week cut. My exercises have all changed as well. Doing lots of negative reps. They are brutal as fuck.

I've lost 6 lbs of water weight in 2 days. INSANE. I was carrying around too much. Making me look bloated.

I'll update as I progress.

[gunslinger_burrito]

Doing lots of negative reps. They are brutal as fuck.

YES. I started doing gymnastic-style strength training about a month ago. Adding in a 6x3 set of negative/eccentric handstand pushups on the parallettes has worked wonders for my "Arm gains." I have to watch it, though, because overdoing it makes my tricep tendons pretty mad. I have to watch my form real close.

On another note, it's finally getting pretty nice, pretty consistently outside here and my running instinct is chiming in. I want to know if there's any chance in hell I can still do a couple longish runs (4-6 miles) each week and still gain some strength and size with the other stuff. There is an infinite black hole of information on the internet and it takes SO MUCH TIME to read it all.

[hbombgraphics]

I have never found a good balance either between long runs and keeping strength and quickness.
For me it's not as much about building muscle mass as it is about the difference between 5k shape and basketball shape.

would love to see someone weigh in on that

[D.o.S.]

I have never found a good balance either between long runs and keeping strength and quickness.
For me it's not as much about building muscle mass as it is about the difference between 5k shape and basketball shape.

would love to see someone weigh in on that

Pretty much. I stay in snowboard shape by playing basketball and jumping rope because fuck running, but some excercises for, you know, actual sports exertion would be pretty appreciated (snow is melting fast )

[Jwar]

I'm training and long range running right now. He does marathons, halfs...and the like. I've got dude to pack on 7 lbs of solid muscle and tripled his strength in less than 2 months. Of course my expertise is building muscle mass. So I know lots of tricks. He's still really thin, but it's helped his runs a LOT.

[Jwar]

Doing lots of negative reps. They are brutal as fuck.

YES. I started doing gymnastic-style strength training about a month ago. Adding in a 6x3 set of negative/eccentric handstand pushups on the parallettes has worked wonders for my "Arm gains." I have to watch it, though, because overdoing it makes my tricep tendons pretty mad. I have to watch my form real close.

On another note, it's finally getting pretty nice, pretty consistently outside here and my running instinct is chiming in. I want to know if there's any chance in hell I can still do a couple longish runs (4-6 miles) each week and still gain some strength and size with the other stuff. There is an infinite black hole of information on the internet and it takes SO MUCH TIME to read it all.

Dude it's crazy when you add a negative to the eccentric and concentric. OMG. I did this a couple times on accident, LOL, and my muscles are so fucking sore I can barely move.

My coach has me doing a mixture of times for negatives as well as standard lifts. A fuck ton of deadlifts. UGH. I did 72 the other day. I think that's the most I've done in a single setting and I have to do it every week for six weeks. OH and 200 abdominal exercise reps of my choice. ABS sore to the max!!!

Gymnastic style workouts are hard as hell. I'd love to be able to do some of the stuff those dudes do.

[hbombgraphics]

Did the coolest thing this morning: Took my 10 year old running.
She wants to get into running, and we made a deal that if she can get in three runs a week for three weeks I will get her legit running shoes (currently running in air max 90s)
It was pretty awesome
Did a mile (with some walking) and planning on going out tomorrow. Hoping she will put the work in.

love that this thread is still rolling.

also: My wife snagged a hiking backpack for the baby so for about an hour a day I have been toting around an 8 month old. I feel like that is better than any gym workout I could do. Want to get the conditioning up for longer hikes this summer.