Getting In Shape

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2003-07-10 08:53pm

Since you say you are not quite 14 I would reccomend that you stick to the aerobic stuff and save the serious weightlifting until after your body is a little more mature. I would say at age 16 or 17 is when you could seriously start to to the heavy stuff and not have to wory about impeding your growth.

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2003-07-10 09:20pm

Depends on what you're aiming for.

If you want to lose weight, try running. A little at a time, start with 1 mi, then gradually move up. You'll want to be careful running on concrete too.

If you want to try toning muscles, swimming is an excellent way. It also improves your circulation and respiratory capacity.

Is there a specific part you'd like to improve?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-07-10 09:25pm

Personally, I think swimming is really good if you just want to "get in shape".

But if you want to look good or be strong, some weight training is necessary. The women may say that they don't care about that, and it's certainly true that the bulging-veined steroid-popping bodybuilders of recent competitions turn them off, but that doesn't mean they aren't attracted to a guy who has a moderately muscular build.

Honestly, I've never known a teenaged guy who wanted to "get in shape" just for the sake of being in shape. Most of them want to look good for the ladies (not that there's anything wrong with that, I'm just pointing it out).

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-10 09:28pm

Darth Wong wrote:Honestly, I've never known a teenaged guy who wanted to "get in shape" just for the sake of being in shape. Most of them want to look good for the ladies (not that there's anything wrong with that, I'm just pointing it out).

(emphasis mine).

You are completely right. However, there is an element, with me, anyway, of wanting to be in better health and fitness for sake of (hell, I'm even considering your odd organic apple juice thing, and normally I'd never consider such a thing; the idea of toxins and compacted shit hiding in my colon isn't appeasing, though).

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-07-10 09:36pm

Honestly, I've never known a teenaged guy who wanted to "get in shape" just for the sake of being in shape. Most of them want to look good for the ladies (not that there's anything wrong with that, I'm just pointing it out).

Small helping of Column A, generous portion of Column B.

Mostly losing a bit of weight; like I said, I'm not visibly fat or overweight, but I'm lugging around more than I'd like to.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-07-10 10:54pm

Swimming is great if you are exercising for your health, since it not only burns calories and is a full body workout, but it's big selling point is that it's great for your cardiovascular system. That's why I like it. I'm a big guy, but all that walking, jogging, and swimming means that my body is used to keeping mobile and active for a long time. It's also really cheap which is a concern for me, since stuff like student loans and paying rent is a bit more pressing than buying equipment or a gym membership at the Y.

J · Post by J » 2003-07-10 11:21pm

Darth Wong wrote:Personally, I think swimming is really good if you just want to "get in shape".

But if you want to look good or be strong, some weight training is necessary. The women may say that they don't care about that, and it's certainly true that the bulging-veined steroid-popping bodybuilders of recent competitions turn them off, but that doesn't mean they aren't attracted to a guy who has a moderately muscular build.

It is indeed, and weight training will also improve your performance at whichever sport you're doing, be it cycling, skating, or in my case swimming. Swimming gives a great workout while being easy on the body, but there's only so much it can do. Eventually you come to a point where you don't get any fitter or stronger from swimming or doing whatever sport you do, and that's where weight training comes in. When I was swimming competetively at the national level, roughly 1/5 to 1/4 of our daily workouts were spent in the weight room so that we could get stronger and swim faster.

Some people (like my lazy BF) can't be bothered to weight train or they don't believe in it. To them I say, get off your butts and make that iron move!

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-07-10 11:35pm

I'm in pretty much the same situation Hemlock is. Telling lies in bars is not enough to hit it with the ladies. I need to get jacked.

Sriad · Post by **Sriad** » 2003-07-10 11:40pm

Since cost is an issue, I'd definately say go with biking. One of my best friend's car broke down last Summer, so she biked everywhere she went and lost 20 pounds. You can train pretty well with the weights you have; 30 lbs should be plenty. I'm assuming you have free weights, one for each arm. Anyway, invest a couple dollars in a book that shows good weight exercises, bike all over town (15-20 miles a day is where you probably want to shoot for) and do some weight training. Not a lot since you're young, but if you get a good start now it'll be a lot easier to get more serious with it in 2-3 years.

Running is great for endurance and all around fitness, but running shoes can be expensive; even if you get a good deal you're looking at shelling out $60-80. And injury is an issue too, even when you know what you're doing, simply due to overuse; I think I was the only member of my entire high school team who was never injured.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-07-11 01:11am

Colonel Olrik wrote:
Howedar wrote:If you're going to run regularly, you simply have to get a good pair of shoes. Your feet are worthy of good treatment; injury can really ruin your day (or month).
Not only the feet, running without proper footwear can ruin your back.

True, but usually foot problems will stop your running well before that point.

Sriad wrote:Running is great for endurance and all around fitness, but running shoes can be expensive; even if you get a good deal you're looking at shelling out $60-80. And injury is an issue too, even when you know what you're doing, simply due to overuse; I think I was the only member of my entire high school team who was never injured.

Some of the best shoes I've ever gotten were from the clearance rack for $40 or so. As for injury, my team was/is the same. But there's a little difference between casual getting-in-shape and competetive athletics. If Hemlock hurts his foot, he's probably go brains enough to not run on it for a week, and the problem is solved. As runners, you and I and everyone else are all too stupid or stubborn to do that. Our "injuries" are small things that we blow out of proportion because we aren't willing to take a breat in-season.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-07-11 10:17am

RedImperator wrote:I'm in pretty much the same situation Hemlock is. Telling lies in bars is not enough to hit it with the ladies. I need to get jacked.

Well, you are writing a novel, so as soon as you get published that should be enough to convince some of the more intellectual chicks that you are the man.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-07-11 10:55am

my 2 cents:

I started biking heavily about two years ago. I found that the important thing is to train yourself to work past the feeling of being tired. You concentrate on your breathing, to keep in regular, and just keep peddling.

I bike really fast, keeping a fast pace, and I can feel my legs getting tired about 15-20k, but I just keep pushing and I find it gets easier (either getting used to the feeling or endorphins are kicking in) and can easily go for another 20k.

So start off by biking a decent speed (don't push yourself too much), then keep trying to increase your distance over time.

Make sure you've eaten a decent meal at some point before doing lots of exercise. I was doing weights once w/o having eaten too well, and I crashed, becoming hypoglycemic and almost passing out... the trick to counter this is to have some sugar handy (like a softdrink). If this ever happens take a softdrink (or dump lots of sugar packs in water) and you'll be fine in about 5 minutes.