Kit is only half the battle

[J23]

As far as fitness is concerned, i am grateful for any progression that I can get in the limited time and energy that I have. If you think that my work used to involve doing without sleep and having no time to look after myself just so that I could afford to eat, you will understand that my body was in pretty poor shape. When I first got the elliptical (i think it was ) a little over a year ago, I couldn't even do five minutes on the thing. This is why i was so pleased that I could get up to 1h30 min. it shows that I have gained in fitness and I was concerned about cardio health long into my future, so it was a good thing to notice that my cardio health had improved. After a time and with discussion from people on various fitness forums and watching numerous youtube videos on the subject, I then came to my own conclusions as to what I wanted. SOME basic strength, to look a little better then I do now, to stave off cancer, diabetes and other diseases in later life and to improve my immune system.

I learned about rep ranges for my dumbbell exercises and I do train them all because I want a body that will become all around useful. Yes, we all want to look like arnold, but the fact is that that probably isnt going to happen and anyway, am I training to be a hollywood movie actor or just to be me but better?

The fact of the matter is that I have some progress, I have more body confidence in that i know that I can do more than I used to be able to and I am happier and healthier in myself.

As far as the subject of this forum is concerned, one could say that i am preparing for the NHS to be more privatised and health care to be more expensive in the future. Thus if I can build some health now, I will be less likely to be ill in the future and need the NHS.

I get your point and am happy you do some sports. When you train with dumbells what training do you do?
do you do pressups, pullups, situps, do you train your abdominals?

[nickdutch]

As far as fitness is concerned, i am grateful for any progression that I can get in the limited time and energy that I have. If you think that my work used to involve doing without sleep and having no time to look after myself just so that I could afford to eat, you will understand that my body was in pretty poor shape. When I first got the elliptical (i think it was ) a little over a year ago, I couldn't even do five minutes on the thing. This is why i was so pleased that I could get up to 1h30 min. it shows that I have gained in fitness and I was concerned about cardio health long into my future, so it was a good thing to notice that my cardio health had improved. After a time and with discussion from people on various fitness forums and watching numerous youtube videos on the subject, I then came to my own conclusions as to what I wanted. SOME basic strength, to look a little better then I do now, to stave off cancer, diabetes and other diseases in later life and to improve my immune system.

I learned about rep ranges for my dumbbell exercises and I do train them all because I want a body that will become all around useful. Yes, we all want to look like arnold, but the fact is that that probably isnt going to happen and anyway, am I training to be a hollywood movie actor or just to be me but better?

The fact of the matter is that I have some progress, I have more body confidence in that i know that I can do more than I used to be able to and I am happier and healthier in myself.

As far as the subject of this forum is concerned, one could say that i am preparing for the NHS to be more privatised and health care to be more expensive in the future. Thus if I can build some health now, I will be less likely to be ill in the future and need the NHS.

I get your point and am happy you do some sports. When you train with dumbells what training do you do?
do you do pressups, pullups, situps, do you train your abdominals?

I try and do a bit of everything. Most of it is based on the exercises that I have seen on

http://www.dumbbell-exercises.com

which seems to cover the whole body. I tend to split things up a bit, lets say doing upper body on one day, legs and abs or back another day, one day shoulders and another forearms and calves. You know, change can be a good thing. Some days focus more on a few body parts and then move on. I like the fact that the dumbbells are good compound move things and as I am doing workout at home I can watch my bad back and think about making sure I am being good to any other part that is a bit sensitive, such as the neck, but still working out.

Also, as I am not at the gym, I don't have the steroid addicted pumped up people looking at my weedy frame. Also I don't get any of the whole mentor/mentee thing that in some areas of life I find a bit challenging and goes against my nature.

For abs (as well as other dumbbell exercises for that), the weight bench has a thing to put my knees under when doing inclined or horizontal situps and on my belly weighted calf extension things as well as shins. Press ups I have a hard time with, but I am steadily getting stronger with that. And the pull up bar helps too.

Its almost a complete home gym and thats what I was heading for and thats what I have got.

Its not bad progress what I have done and the fact is that I can see changes in my body, including a marginal increase in neck thickness.

[cpslashm]

Anyone tried going even one day without food?

[Decaff]

Yes, not nice at all. First comes the hunger pangs, then the shakes, then the feeling of sickness and bad stomach ache, lightheadedness and pains getting worse in stomach and a terrific headache. That's what it did to me in one day. I do not ever want to find out what day two is like.

[cpslashm]

Yes, not nice at all. First comes the hunger pangs, then the shakes, then the feeling of sickness and bad stomach ache, lightheadedness and pains getting worse in stomach and a terrific headache. That's what it did to me in one day. I do not ever want to find out what day two is like.

Imagine what it would be like with no food available and a lot of people around who have never missed a few meals.

I have to fast a day or two at a time every now and then for health reasons. (Don't ask - too much information!) I still get thirsty all day - I'd hate to live without drinking water on tap.

My body got used to it with practice - say once every few weeks. (I'm not advocating alternate day/intermittent fasting, though I'll give it a go when I retire.)

[J23]

Anyone tried going even one day without food?

I have. I have tried some cleaning/clearing diet. it was some weekend diet, where you don't eat at all for first day just drink water and on second day you drink water and can eat grapefruit or orange. I am not sure if I lasted first day but it was weird feeling and it ended up in KFC (can't remember if it was first or second day). I don't like early breakfasts and I usually eat at 9am or later, but can easly hold till about 12pm, after that hunger starts.

[J23]

As far as fitness is concerned, i am grateful for any progression that I can get in the limited time and energy that I have. If you think that my work used to involve doing without sleep and having no time to look after myself just so that I could afford to eat, you will understand that my body was in pretty poor shape. When I first got the elliptical (i think it was ) a little over a year ago, I couldn't even do five minutes on the thing. This is why i was so pleased that I could get up to 1h30 min. it shows that I have gained in fitness and I was concerned about cardio health long into my future, so it was a good thing to notice that my cardio health had improved. After a time and with discussion from people on various fitness forums and watching numerous youtube videos on the subject, I then came to my own conclusions as to what I wanted. SOME basic strength, to look a little better then I do now, to stave off cancer, diabetes and other diseases in later life and to improve my immune system.

I learned about rep ranges for my dumbbell exercises and I do train them all because I want a body that will become all around useful. Yes, we all want to look like arnold, but the fact is that that probably isnt going to happen and anyway, am I training to be a hollywood movie actor or just to be me but better?

The fact of the matter is that I have some progress, I have more body confidence in that i know that I can do more than I used to be able to and I am happier and healthier in myself.

As far as the subject of this forum is concerned, one could say that i am preparing for the NHS to be more privatised and health care to be more expensive in the future. Thus if I can build some health now, I will be less likely to be ill in the future and need the NHS.

I get your point and am happy you do some sports. When you train with dumbells what training do you do?
do you do pressups, pullups, situps, do you train your abdominals?

I try and do a bit of everything. Most of it is based on the exercises that I have seen on

http://www.dumbbell-exercises.com

which seems to cover the whole body. I tend to split things up a bit, lets say doing upper body on one day, legs and abs or back another day, one day shoulders and another forearms and calves. You know, change can be a good thing. Some days focus more on a few body parts and then move on. I like the fact that the dumbbells are good compound move things and as I am doing workout at home I can watch my bad back and think about making sure I am being good to any other part that is a bit sensitive, such as the neck, but still working out.

Also, as I am not at the gym, I don't have the steroid addicted pumped up people looking at my weedy frame. Also I don't get any of the whole mentor/mentee thing that in some areas of life I find a bit challenging and goes against my nature.

For abs (as well as other dumbbell exercises for that), the weight bench has a thing to put my knees under when doing inclined or horizontal situps and on my belly weighted calf extension things as well as shins. Press ups I have a hard time with, but I am steadily getting stronger with that. And the pull up bar helps too.

Its almost a complete home gym and thats what I was heading for and thats what I have got.

Its not bad progress what I have done and the fact is that I can see changes in my body, including a marginal increase in neck thickness.

glad you do train, but still keep adding to the weight of dumbells, don't stop on the weight, keep adding weight, progression is important for strenght and muscle gain

[jansman]

Anyone tried going even one day without food?

Some years ago Ifound myself on the wrong side of the law. I was locked up for 23 hours, and my appetite for food disappeared. That stress level stayed with me for three days, during which time I drank only tea or water. I did not eat properly for three weeks-boy did I lose weight!
So based on that, I would suggest that in a real crisis situation anyone's body would react the same way. I actually looked this up, and it is a normal bodily response during the 'fight or flight' period.

[J23]

coming back to gym. When you go there nobody eyeballs you - no matter what weights you lift or how skinny/fat you are, nobody eyeballs you as everybody started from skinny/fat. as about steroids - not everybody takes them - you can get to quite big size without them, just takes longer. plus going to gym is opportunity to meet new people

coming back to eating - I had periods in the past when I was eating only twice a day and my weight was still same. I still can handle with 2 meals a day when off work.

[cpslashm]

Anyone tried going even one day without food?

Some years ago Ifound myself on the wrong side of the law. I was locked up for 23 hours, and my appetite for food disappeared. That stress level stayed with me for three days, during which time I drank only tea or water. I did not eat properly for three weeks-boy did I lose weight!
So based on that, I would suggest that in a real crisis situation anyone's body would react the same way. I actually looked this up, and it is a normal bodily response during the 'fight or flight' period.

Interesting point. Thanks for that.