Pyrian on 12/11/2019 at 04:48
You can't really meaningfully distinguish between core strength and abdominal strength. The latter is an important part of the former.
That being said, that "6-pack" appearance also needs low body fat, as Starker said. Lower than health considerations would recommend, as I understand it.
Tony_Tarantula on 12/11/2019 at 15:12
Quote Posted by SubJeff
So what are TTLG up to? I'm sure SD is pushing some monstrous weights by now, and Tony must be doing some secret service/marine training with risk of death daily. What about everyone else, how are you staying fit?
Nope. As I've mentioned, the reason I'd say everything is classified is because overclassification is rampant and literally everything except PR talking points is classified.
These days I'm in a high travel gig at one of the large consulting firms. It makes fitness relatively challenging because during the week you're stuck with crappy hotel gyms that rarely have enough equipment to do an actual workout. I've settled into a routine where my travel days are rest days, I do cardio during the week, and hit the local gym to do weights Fri-Sun.
I'm still a long ways off from my peaking but it's rapidly coming back. One thing that's massively helped is seeing a chiropractor so I'm rediscovering enough flexibility to start throwing my old boxing combos smoothly again, and focusing more on core/back exercises is something I hadn't done enough previously so putting more emphasis there this time is having some significant benefits to other lifts.
Quote:
is there any practical use for a six-pack?
So you can cosplay as Dante.
qolelis on 12/11/2019 at 21:56
Quote Posted by Starker
Having a six-pack has more to do with the amount of fat you have than muscles, so yeah, unless you're an athlete or a body-builder who needs to keep a low amount of body fat, they are for vanity.
However, if you're asking whether abs are useful, yes they are. They help with posture and they protect one of the most vulnerable parts of your body.
By "abs" I meant the clearly visible, highly defined kind (the so-called "washboard"). What I was also curious about was if a visible abdominal muscle is somehow better than a less visible -- practically speaking (not taking into account that less body-fat could be an advantage for athletes). I take it the answer to that is that it's not. I remember watching some video about bodybuilders versus powerlifters, who focus on different things, but both are considered strong (and by "body-builder" I mean the old type, like Arnold and the likes, and not so much today's body-builders, of which many seem to have taken it way too far).
SubJeff on 13/11/2019 at 23:39
Different people will have a more visible six-pack with a different amount of body fat. It's good to have a strong core, which they are part of. It protects your back and groin from injury. You don't need to be cut to shreds to have one though.
Anyway, I'm now planning on doing a bunch of cycling sportifs next year, to get ready for the 74km one. It's hard to find time, but I have to start training now if I expect to survive the plans for next year. Having the goal is hopefully going to motivate.
mxleader on 14/11/2019 at 02:13
I'm 47 and only slightly overweight. I've worked in the cycling industry since 1994 and currently I am living in Arizona. I've spent most of my years in Western Washington cycling, hiking, kayaking and rafting in the cold rain year round. Now I ride in the dry heat almost year round. I only miss about a month of outdoor cycling a year. The indoor time I spend on a trainer or just read on the couch. Last April I got back on riding road and mountain bikes almost daily and have lost twenty pounds. I also have changed my diet quite a bit and so my cholesterol has dropped 20 points. The only bad part is that I've had high blood pressure for many years without knowing it because I went a long time between doctor visits. The amount I was cycling in the past with high blood pressure contributed to my heart becoming enlarged so now I have to be super careful when I ride and I really shouldn't do any heavy lifting. Still I'm in fairly decent shape and feel pretty good most days. It also may have helped that I switched from drinking American whiskey to Scotch and Irish whiskey. I don't really have the time or the energy to really get back into the best shape possible but doing something almost everyday really makes a difference in the long run. I also stopped eating cheeseburgers and french fries except on rare occasions and that really helps.
SubJeff on 14/11/2019 at 21:52
Sounds like you've done a great job tbh!
Gray on 10/8/2020 at 04:54
Well, it's been several months of lockdown, and most of us have either got fatter or fitter. Which one are you? I've not been as active as I should have, given that the gyms are all closed, and that I'm lazy, but I have lost weight from walking a lot and eating less crap. I still can't do 100 pushups. Tocky? Do I need to buy a fancy bottle?
henke on 10/8/2020 at 05:46
I've kept up my regular routine of walking 60min/day + 20 situps & 20 pushups in the morning. The only major change in the last half year are dietary. Realized I didn't need to eat meat every day. So every other day I'll just have a sallad + fried halloumi, or something similar.
SubJeff on 11/8/2020 at 22:08
I started weight training with a bit of swimming in Nov 2019 and stuck to it solidly until March 2020.
Covid had borked all that.
Cycle season started again though. I've not been out as much this year but it has been fun. We're in the middle of the season though and I've noticed my fitness dramatically improve.
Also - if anyone cycles off road I can STRONGLY recommend the Doom 2016 OST as your soundtrack to the trails and forests. There really is nothing like BFG Division when you're caning it through a forest!
Up that training henke! It would be so easy fo you. Do 3 sets. Add in some bodyweight squats and some pull ups!
Tocky on 12/8/2020 at 03:18
Quote Posted by Gray
Well, it's been several months of lockdown, and most of us have either got fatter or fitter. Which one are you? I've not been as active as I should have, given that the gyms are all closed, and that I'm lazy, but I have lost weight from walking a lot and eating less crap. I still can't do 100 pushups. Tocky? Do I need to buy a fancy bottle?
No worries about fancy bottles on my end. I got up to fifty and my knee started messing up and I used that as a bullshit excuse to lay off. I'm not making 100. I should exercise more though and specifically pushups. My back muscles are all that keep my nerves from being pinched there some days. I'm just so lazy lately. I want to blame it on age but I know that's a lie because if I were fitter I wouldn't hurt so much regardless.