Thursday, July 24, 2014

Muscle Confusion

"Confusing" muscles is a way to get off a plateau. A blog post on plateaus was written years ago on this blog. Often people train using periodization. They use cycles of three weeks or three months on which they do certain exercises with specific weights and/or repetitions. The problem is that muscles accommodate to this and do not get "shocked". Ultimately, they adapt to the workout program and don't grow as much or develop in power and flexibility.

This is akin to a person developing a habit which eventually gets outdated and leads to no more spiritual, mental or physical growth. Or it is akin to a relationship that stagnates. When someone, for instance, gets used to you and what you do, they may get bored, or may take advantage of you, knowing they can get away with it because you will react in the same way, or not at all. What better way to get the ball rolling on your growth or on a relationship but to put in needed changes.

Exercise becomes ineffective when the muscles accommodate to certain stress. Variety must be added as in someone's life and relationships. 
My third book, Pocket Guide to Fitness, is available on http://www.authorhouse.com and http://www.amazon.com. If you look up my name on those Web sites, you will find my other books The Boy in a Wheelchair and Life, Work and Play: Poems and Short Stories

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Stupid Things People Say: "Big-Boned"


People say lots of stupid things. Among them is “big-boned”. Next time someone tells you that you are fat,  you are just big-boned, tell them to go --  well, it’s up to you what to say.
If someone tells you this, even if it's a nutritionist or personal trainer, ask them if they are a [good] orthopedist who took an X-Ray of you.

This article by an orthopedist explains just what my intuition has "thought":
http://www.youbeauty.com/body-fitness/ask-a-scientist-being-big-boned.

Some people use "big-boned" to attack others' appearance, while some people use the concept to justify being overweight. A doctor writing for fashion magazine Glamour wrote that most people are not big-boned, and this should not be used as an excuse for being overweight. Most people, Dr. JoAnne wrote, are medium-built and a larger than usual bone structure accounts for only about a ten-pound increase in weight.

An obese person can have a small skeleton. The excess weight damages the joints. On the other hand, weight bearing exercise to  strengthen muscle takes away stress from the skeleton and makes bones stronger. This type of exercise also causes new bone growth by increasing the rate that osteoblasts cells bring calcium to bones to make them stronger. Running and jumping exercises can make bones stronger by increasing bone density. This does not cause bones to get "bigger". A thin person may be big-boned, as can be determined by wrist size.

Remember, for fitness levels, you must take into account your weight AND BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, energy levels, blood work, endurance, strength and flexibility. In general, according to the American Council of Exercise, women with a body fat percentage up to around 30 may not be overweight. This depends on muscle tone and distribution of fat. The same holds for men at a 25 percent rate of fat.
Percentages vary with age.

References

http://www.youbeauty.com/body-fitness/ask-a-scientist-being-big-boned
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/bonehealth/conditioninfo/Pages/activity.aspx
http://www.maxwettsteinfitness.com/Library/Ideal%20Body%20Fat%20Percentage.htm
http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/2007/09/your-doctor-big-boned 

My third book, Pocket Guide to Fitness, is available on http://www.authorhouse.com and http://www.amazon.com. If you look up my name on those Web sites, you will find my other books The Boy in a Wheelchair and Life, Work and Play: Poems and Short Stories

Saturday, July 05, 2014

Moving Plank

Get in the plank position. Get on the floor with palms of your hands and balls of your feet. Keep your back and hips on the same level. Now, bring your hands and feet together by using your abdominal muscles, not your back, hips or butt. This is very difficult. Try to do it five or ten times at a time, according to your ability and as long as you can. Breathe: Exhale when you bring your hands and feet closer together. Your lower back and butt will move up, but do not let this be too much, as this may indicate you are not using your abdominal muscles.
 
My third book, Pocket Guide to Fitness, is available on http://www.authorhouse.com and http://www.amazon.com. If you look up my name on those Web sites, you will find my other books The Boy in a Wheelchair and Life, Work and Play: Poems and Short Stories

Butt Massage

Sit on a small of medium Swiss ball and rotate clockwise ten times. Repeat counterclockwise. Repeat as many times as you want or with different motions to soothe those aching gluteus maximus muscles. This is preferably done after you use them in a good workout!

My third book, Pocket Guide to Fitness, is available on http://www.authorhouse.com and http://www.amazon.com. If you look up my name on those Web sites, you will find my other books The Boy in a Wheelchair and Life, Work and Play: Poems and Short Stories.