I've been pondering this lately. What exactly constitutes a workout? I mean, what makes it so that your post workout meal is truly post workout? Is it based on time? Intensity? How you feel? Just wanted to see what people think about this.
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"Don't spend your life wishing. Spend it doing." -FishrCutB8
"You're a mutant, like a snake with two heads or a cat shy one nipple. Be thankful that your mutation is helpful." - LD
A concerted effort of at least a certain minimum intensity with an elevation of heart rate over a quantifiable amount of time in which there's little interruption within that time.
A concerted effort of at least a certain minimum intensity with an elevation of heart rate over a quantifiable amount of time in which there's little interruption within that time.
What is that minimum intensity? How long is that amount of time?
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"Rust on a nail builds tetanus. Rust on a barbell builds character, strength, and attitude." -EC
"Don't spend your life wishing. Spend it doing." -FishrCutB8
"You're a mutant, like a snake with two heads or a cat shy one nipple. Be thankful that your mutation is helpful." - LD
What is that minimum intensity? How long is that amount of time?
one that has an elevated heart rate... usually over 50% of max.
time is some function of intensity, more intense can be less time.
I've done 10 minute tabatas that were definitely workouts, whereas an hour long stroll through the mall wasn't.
It's not necessarily a specific amount of time, but I think in order to call something a workout... it needs to have been for a measurable time length.. there was a start and end point... not an all day thing.
Yes, there could be an all day workout... extreme endurance sports kinds of things... but generally there's a point at which your workout starts and stops.
During that time that minimum intensity should be maintained for the most part, simply because otherwise what you have is a bunch of smaller workouts clustered together.
3 minutes between sets tends to still have intensity since you need that rest for your next set... 20 minutes is probably long enough that you've stopped one workout and started again.
one that has an elevated heart rate... usually over 50% of max.
time is some function of intensity, more intense can be less time.
I've done 10 minute tabatas that were definitely workouts, whereas an hour long stroll through the mall wasn't.
It's not necessarily a specific amount of time, but I think in order to call something a workout... it needs to have been for a measurable time length.. there was a start and end point... not an all day thing.
Yes, there could be an all day workout... extreme endurance sports kinds of things... but generally there's a point at which your workout starts and stops.
During that time that minimum intensity should be maintained for the most part, simply because otherwise what you have is a bunch of smaller workouts clustered together.
3 minutes between sets tends to still have intensity since you need that rest for your next set... 20 minutes is probably long enough that you've stopped one workout and started again.
Interesting point, but I think you are speaking intensity with no respect to volume (like Tabata which is generally lower intensity with higher volume). You seemed to be intense more as a substitute to say harsh or tough.
I like the question of what a workout is?
I would imagine it would mean a lot of different things to different people. I would be curious what a knowledgeable experienced pilates practitioner would say versus a Crossfitter. I would imagine there would be a clash of ideas.
interesting question
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I would also ask "what's special about your pwo meal?"
It doesn't have to be set in stone. Eat to recover from what you just did. Eat according to your goals.
In general, the more drained I am, the more I feel I can eat and get away with it, but I'm on the perpetual "stay lean" plan.
Depending on your goals, ask yourself if you can get away with the meal, based on the intensity, length, and type of workout or does the meal help your goals?
I don't think the difference between a "pwo" meal and a regular meal should have a huge difference in your outcome, assuming you're eating right at other times. e.g., if you've eaten about an hour before the workout, then again afterward, you're probably pretty good.
If the pwo meal is a cheesecake with a protein shake chaser, you know the kind of workout you need to justify that.
Well, I ask because I've been limiting carb to breakfast and post workout. Yesterday, I went out to do some HIIT and sprint work. I was going to jog around the block as a warm up. That jog turned into my "workout" as my calves cramped up again (they had cramped up during gym basketball earlier in the day). It ended up being about an 8 minute jog. Moderate intensity, very low volume. Still, I came home with a nice little sweat and an elevated heart rate. Kinda threw me for a loop as to what to eat. Do I go ahead with my normal PWO with carbs and protein? Or can the carbs and stick to the protein? It got me thinking, which led me here to air the question and see what you guys had to say.
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"Rust on a nail builds tetanus. Rust on a barbell builds character, strength, and attitude." -EC
"Don't spend your life wishing. Spend it doing." -FishrCutB8
"You're a mutant, like a snake with two heads or a cat shy one nipple. Be thankful that your mutation is helpful." - LD
Well, I ask because I've been limiting carb to breakfast and post workout. Yesterday, I went out to do some HIIT and sprint work. I was going to jog around the block as a warm up. That jog turned into my "workout" as my calves cramped up again (they had cramped up during gym basketball earlier in the day). It ended up being about an 8 minute jog. Moderate intensity, very low volume. Still, I came home with a nice little sweat and an elevated heart rate. Kinda threw me for a loop as to what to eat. Do I go ahead with my normal PWO with carbs and protein? Or can the carbs and stick to the protein? It got me thinking, which led me here to air the question and see what you guys had to say.
In that situation, eat nothing special. Just eat who you normally would.
I did eat a normal meal. I was just trying to explain how I came about wondering what a workout actually is with my little story there. My question wasn't as much about what I should eat as it was about throwing something out there to see what people thought, as I was moved to ponder such a thought by that specific scenario.
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"Rust on a nail builds tetanus. Rust on a barbell builds character, strength, and attitude." -EC
"Don't spend your life wishing. Spend it doing." -FishrCutB8
"You're a mutant, like a snake with two heads or a cat shy one nipple. Be thankful that your mutation is helpful." - LD
Everyone has a different cutoff....as an example, I swim 2x a week for an hour each time and count those to be workouts. However, when I have to go to work early and can only swim for 20-25 minutes, I usually don't consider that to be "real" workout.
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I want to be pushing weights when I'm 70 instead of a walker in an old folk's home.
I did eat a normal meal. I was just trying to explain how I came about wondering what a workout actually is with my little story there. My question wasn't as much about what I should eat as it was about throwing something out there to see what people thought, as I was moved to ponder such a thought by that specific scenario.
Dude, you ate a normal meal after your stroll. You're going to get sooo fat.
If the pwo meal is a cheesecake with a protein shake chaser, you know the kind of workout you need to justify that.
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"Focus on making the 5 lifts stronger and getting enough food. There will be plenty of time to worry about glycemic indexes, PERs, and Bulgarian Split squats later. Much later."-Mark Rippetoe
That's a great question and one I'd like to try my hand at putting in writing:
1) A "workout" is relative to your experience/training history and personal goals/timelines.
For example: if one of my 'rookie' clients (one with no formal/consistent training history) wants to improve their "general fitness", they get a bit more freedom in deciding "what counts" than if they were more experienced, with well defined performance and/or appearance goals.
As the rookie gains experience, what counts as a 'workout' is continually refined.
2) If in doubt, it probably shouldn't count. If you've been training for any length of time, there's a good chance you'll know which "workouts" need a PWO meal.
And as long as you have something constant (whether it's your training or nutrition), it shouldn't be too hard to make minor adjustments to see what balance of 'eat right and exercise' works best for you.
Interesting point, but I think you are speaking intensity with no respect to volume (like Tabata which is generally lower intensity with higher volume). You seemed to be intense more as a substitute to say harsh or tough.
No, I was talking about intensity... how hard you worked. I used the example of tabatas as a short duration activity that one could consider a workout.
I think of a workout as any physical activity that takes me out of my comfort zone for a period of time. Now, I don't mean that a workout has to be uncomfortable, but physically challenging in one or more parameters, such as strength, speed, endurance, power, agility, etc. Furthermore, it should be done with the intention of improving the parameter that is targeted.
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
I wouldn't count playing tennis as a workout either.
I don't know what kind of tennis you play or have seen, but in no way would I consider it not a workout. In the summer I've been out for 3 hours sessions, I can barely walk after that. Even for shorter sessions (i.e. an hour), I still get an ample workout from the constant sprints and such. I guess with a typical game of doubles that someone sees on the courts, no, that likely isn't a workout, but I don't like doubles because it's too slow and not enough activity.
A workout is what it is in your mind. If you do what you do with the intention and goal of improving yourself physically (strenght, size, endurance, cardio, etc) it's a workout.
In other words, if I'm late for the buss and I run from where I live, I don't consider it a workout, thus it's not. However if I put on my ipod, go outside and run as cardio, then it's a workout. A workout is just a word we use to have something to refer to when we are trying to improve ourselves physically.
A workout is what it is in your mind. If you do what you do with the intention and goal of improving yourself physically .... it's a workout.
In other words, if I'm late for the buss and I run from where I live, I don't consider it a workout, thus it's not. However if I put on my ipod, go outside and run as cardio, then it's a workout.
These are concepts I call "intentional exercise" and "incidental activity".
While incidental activity is fine and good as part of a healthy, active lifestyle, it's not enough to bring about any meaningful change.
But just because exercise is done "intentionally", it does not automatically qualify as a workout, either.
So building on my earlier definition of 'workout', I'd now include the idea that it has to be "intentional exercise performed at an intensity which one has not yet adapted to".
(move over webster! I might just make the switch to the dictionary business )
I don't know what kind of tennis you play or have seen, but in no way would I consider it not a workout. In the summer I've been out for 3 hours sessions, I can barely walk after that. Even for shorter sessions (i.e. an hour), I still get an ample workout from the constant sprints and such. I guess with a typical game of doubles that someone sees on the courts, no, that likely isn't a workout, but I don't like doubles because it's too slow and not enough activity.
Tennis is not for weenies. The running, lunging, stretching, quick stops, swings with the racket...it's a solid workout.
Just look at the some of the people that play it and tell me they are not in tremendous physical condition. Even the woman on the Riccola commercial is fantastic looking.
These are concepts I call "intentional exercise" and "incidental activity".
While incidental activity is fine and good as part of a healthy, active lifestyle, it's not enough to bring about any meaningful change.
But just because exercise is done "intentionally", it does not automatically qualify as a workout, either.
So building on my earlier definition of 'workout', I'd now include the idea that it has to be "intentional exercise performed at an intensity which one has not yet adapted to".
(move over webster! I might just make the switch to the dictionary business )
-JS-
I like your line of thinking.
I think it is the "intentional exercise" that gives you the ability, on a day to day basis, to cope with the "accidental activity."
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
What exactly is a workout?
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