Debating fitness with people on non-fitness forums...ugh.
I do quite a bit of reading on this forum, so I've gained some knowledge over the past year or so. A couple days ago I was posting on a backpacking forum I am a member of, and it turned into a debate about weight loss, which frustrated me. So this is a bit of a rant...
Someone posted saying his wife hit a "weight loss wall". I read it, he got several responses, some were relevant, some were useless. I came across a post where he said something about her doing preacher curls. I responded to it by saying she should stay away from iso's unless she has a specific reason she's doing them. I then went into an explanation of why she should be doing more compound movements, etc. I then get this guy responding (who everyone respects quite a bit on that forum) saying I am "dead wrong" and that iso's are much better for long term fat loss. I explained why he was wrong, and his info was somewhat outdated. I also mentioned some stuff that Lou Schuler said, as well as things my orthopedic surgeon and my physical therapist told me. He insists that his info is "more than up to date" and that MY info is old. Ugh, so frustrating. Worst part, I know everyone on there looks like all his info like he's a god, so they're probably taking his advice as gospel and not listening to me at all. Anyway, I told him I want to know where he got his info, still waiting for a response...
This is why I rarely discuss the matter in real life.
Same here... Some lady asked me about my workout at the gym tonight. I was doing a Fat Loss workout from NROL, but she thought I may be doing P90X. Instead of telling her about NROL, I basically just told her "No, that wasn't P90X".
The best bits are some of the fun I get to deal with from our BBer friends at the gym. The Bro-factor sometimes reaches level 9 or higher. If I'm drunk, I start calling them out. If I'm sober, I just shake my head and laugh under my breath.
Apparently if you win a bodybuilding contest you're qualified to train people and don't need a certification. It's true!
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Certainly true in this area. I absolutely love it when someone questions whether I know what I'm talking about or not because I'm not a meat head like the trainer who's been advising them thus far. It doesn't take long for them to figure out that bb'ers are generally idiots
(not all so no bb'ers take offense please, unless you're stupid in which case you are exactly what I am referring to). Most are completely misinformed, and have only achieved size because of a cycle and/or genetics. This qualifies them to prescribe ridiculous programs that "work for them" to every 45 year old soccer mom who wants to drop a few pounds.
This thread is useless without the link. (Evil grin)
Hahaha...I thought about it, but I didn't want to bury the "health and fitness" forum over there with posts telling this guy he's an idiot. I'm new over there, I don't want people to hate me yet
Now last night he posted another thread asking about doing a 5 day split routine. Of course, the guy who I've been arguing with over there responded with a loooooong explanation. I haven't read it yet, but I can only imagine how stupid it's going to be. I think I'll stay out of that one.
Anyway, I finally sent the guy I was giving advice over there a PM basically giving some suggestions of places to do some reading.
But he must know everything! He has like 12,000 posts on the backpacking forum and you barely have 100. If Ric Flair has a theory, it's probably HIT (slow reps, train to failure). (Google made this way too easy to find.)
But he must know everything! He has like 12,000 posts on the backpacking forum and you barely have 100. If Ric Flair has a theory, it's probably HIT (slow reps, train to failure). (Google made this way too easy to find.)
Haha...yeah, I figured it someone really wanted to they could find it.
Talking about fitness is a lot like talking about sex: either you get it and don't say much except when asked (or offer a thought to a person/group who is genuinely curious/stumped), or you don't get it and talk 24/7 about what you wish you were doing/getting. Not much difference between "I totally nailed this chick, and she begged me for more!" and "I totally squatted 700 pounds back in the day and could've gone pro except for [injury/chick/discrimination]!"
Not a 100% rule, but pretty close
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I found it too, the nature boy really really really thinks he knows what he is talking about, and he is really proud of himself. Listen and learn grasshopper, isolation is the key. Obviously.
Hard to stay motivated if you are only getting around 20% functional carryover from machines (number I got from a PT but I don't know where he got it from). Even if they did gain lean muscle in a way that was balanced, and worked hard enough to get results, they will still stumble the first time then try to walk on a curb, or anything else in life. I like the positive reinforcement I get from being more functional, 24/7, as an added motivation.
I would suggest very heavy dripping sarcasm, since it's not on THIS forum.
What does "functional carryover" really mean? Sure, maybe I can help move a couch a little easier, but I'm not sure what I do will help me walk on a curb....or I'm not sure why I would want to walk on a curb in the first place.
I agree that using only machines isn't smart, but I don't think doing stuff like squats, deadlifts, etc makes one "functional".
It means you have to go give a functional expert some of your functional dollars to hear about how to stand on a bosu ball, and still see no improvements in your actual performance.
Quote:
I agree that using only machines isn't smart, but I don't think doing stuff like squats, deadlifts, etc makes one "functional".
Functional is a matter of context. Functional for what?
I know all our Famous Experts like to trot out "functional training" as some magical thing you can go do, but it's nonsensical to speak of it that way.
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Functional is a matter of context. Functional for what?
I guess thats what I was trying to say...functional for daily life I guess is what Adam is trying to say. I love to lift heavy stuff, but I don't think it necessarily makes me better at doing day to day stuff, unless I need to help someone move. Although I haven't tried to walk on a curb lately, maybe I will try that
What does "functional carryover" really mean? Sure, maybe I can help move a couch a little easier, but I'm not sure what I do will help me walk on a curb....or I'm not sure why I would want to walk on a curb in the first place.
I agree that using only machines isn't smart, but I don't think doing stuff like squats, deadlifts, etc makes one "functional".
People get functional by doing whatever it is they need to be functional at. Weight training makes an individual stronger. A stronger athlete is a better athlete. If this were not the case, why bother with S&C coaches at the college level?
Andy, I'm agreeing with you regarding the "functional" comment, but I think there is a carryover aspect to strength training. On one hand, you can't train proprioception outside the lines. Doing squats, power cleans and bench press will help build essential strength levels to compete as an offensive lineman. However, the functional aspect associated with the skill of coming off the ball and driving is trained by practicing on the football field.
I have no doubt that doing squats, deads, power cleans, etc helps enormously in terms of playing football, I wasn't really thinking of the functional aspect of coming off the ball as a lineman.
I was mainly responding to this commentL
Quote:
I like the positive reinforcement I get from being more functional, 24/7, as an added motivation.
I have no doubt that doing squats, deads, power cleans, etc helps enormously in terms of playing football, I wasn't really thinking of the functional aspect of coming off the ball as a lineman.
I was mainly responding to this commentL
Quote:
I like the positive reinforcement I get from being more functional, 24/7, as an added motivation.
I did a poor job of trying to add to what you were saying. I agree with you 100%. You're one of the folks that "gets it".
If we're talking "everyday life" then strength is considered a general fitness quality.
Meaning, being stronger helps out the specific activity even if it doesn't directly improve it. That's where people tend to be confused about the matter.
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Yea. I use buzz words because I don't fully understand the concepts yet.
I tell you what though. I'm fairly certain that single leg squats improved my curb walking skills, which corresponds to any time your foot half steps on a crack, and you catch your balance.
What I mean by functional when it comes to squatting, other than just my sports specific, is always "the worst case scenerio." I guess that not everyone needs to be prepared in this way and it may be considered over prepared by some, and even obsessive in some cases, but if you ever need to lift something on your back, like a boat that is half stuck on a rock or something, you'd have more chance of maintaining control if you do free weights. However that is more of a good samaritan "rescue someone else thing," and it presuposses if that is a word that people's greatest joy in life is to help others, and that this urge will overcome the social stigmas that accompany being strong, and our general laziness, but I'm dead wrong. I have extra motivation at times because of my lack of validation from others in the past, and although my ethical justifications are good, the reality is a different story.
So, in general, there is less of a need for general "functionability" that I originally though, however, the more the better, as long as we keep the rest of our live balanced too ya know?
Why yell at someone for doing smith machine squats instead of free weight squats, if their nutrition is horrible, or they are a mean person... I myswel yell at them for what they really need, or perhaps not yell at all lol.
Deadlifts, though, as opposed to hyper extensions, even with a hexagon, seem VERY generally functional.
Pushups, because of the shoulder stability
Farmers walk
Turns out that I was able to walk on a curb this morning without falling on my head, and I've never even done a single legged squat on a BOSU ball. I might just be a freak of nature though.
Lol. I don't do them on the bosu ball, and I don't see any point in me attempting that again until I can do 20 easy single leg squats a side. I suppose, at that level you myswel be doing agility drills instead of wasting your time with bosu balls. :P
In the initial post the lady "had hit a weight loss wall" (plateau). In this case she would need to change something, her training program, calorie intake, daily activity, type of food, ect...
The most important thing to consider is her specific goal of weight loss.
With this in mind a properly executed functional training program would cause her to activate more muscle fibers (i.e. Transvers Abdominus, Glutes, other stabilizers). This would lead to quicker weight loss assuming that everthing else stayed the same (i.e. calorie intake) that's a big assumption.
Realistically it is not possible to settle on the best functional exercise to choose for her without knowing more about her.
By the way this is my first post. I am impressed by many of the comments I read. I think I am going to enjoy this!
Debating fitness with people on non-fitness forums...ugh.
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