I am also saying that we have lost a lot of anaerobic activity, and that partially is the problem. Ever worked on a farm? We used to be largely an agricultural or hunter/gatherer species. And these guys never had the prevalence of "Syndrome X" like we see today.
My friend Don has a tiny farm where he breeds Arabians, and the guy is strong as an Ox just from doing work that comes with raising animals. Something about that country living that makes for strong stock.
Bill, Back in the 80's my wife (size 12 at the time) signed us up at a gym. In about a year of only lifting weights she was down to a size 2, all muscle and ate whatever she wanted. Meanwhile some gals we knew took the aerobic route stalled after about six months. They had improved but stopped losing fat and were dieting like crazy. Now my better half just turned 40 and is still a head turner with a washboard stomach and a figure most in their 20's would kill for. Still lifting and still eating whatever she wants.
Rich wrote:
There are the usual unsightly females but this year I was truly taken aback by some of the men... a cross between a speedo and g string. About 2'" of A-crack displayed. Fat, ugly and exposed.
Even if you think you are a studly dude,
JUST SAY NO!!!!
Have mercy on those of us who appreciate an unpolluted view.
Thank god there aren't any more of those guys in the weight room with the lycra pants. On more than one occasion, I wanted to tell one of these freaks to get dressed...
Bill, Back in the 80's my wife (size 12 at the time) signed us up at a gym. In about a year of only lifting weights she was down to a size 2, all muscle and ate whatever she wanted. Meanwhile some gals we knew took the aerobic route stalled after about six months. They had improved but stopped losing fat and were dieting like crazy. Now my better half just turned 40 and is still a head turner with a washboard stomach and a figure most in their 20's would kill for. Still lifting and still eating whatever she wants.
Man I wish more women were so smart ...... we`d have a lot more eye candy about ..... Women are always afraid of turning into muscle bound freaks , when the fact is men dont even get that way without drugs ....
takes a lot of calories to build muscle , and alot to support it . can make one lean out quite well .
1) Aerobics won't reverse continual inactivity and unhealthy diet.
Yes, true. Neither will the same time of anaerobics. Who's advocating being a western couch potato? Not me. No one here. No "hour of quality time" in the gym (or with the kids) is going to reverse 23 hours of body misuse and disuse (or 23 hours of ignoring the kids). Fast food mentality doesn't work in either situation and the type of exercise is immaterial.
2) Aerobics will make people too skinny and they'll lose their fast twitch and maybe become ill and stop menstruating etc. [Or they won't work because walking is too slow]
Well, only if they abuse themselves. I've seen no evidence here that the kind of aerobics advocated here by anyone including me or by mainstream recs is going to induce this problem. You're talking about hard core exercisers, none of which got that way because of the advice to do 30-60 minutes of aerobics 3-5 times a week. It's immaterial. I do the exercises described (minus irregularity from schedule issues) and my muscle mass has increased since I started; karate hasn't changed. [And the couch potatoes deluding themselves with a casual stroll are equally immaterial. Can't fault the recs if they don't follow them.]
Likewise, I can't knock anaerobic exercise by describing people who do weights until they have injuries--or rhabdomyolysis or kidney failure from their stimulant and high protein creatine supplemented diet [or people who sprint 10 feet or lift 5 pounds twice].
3) Tae bo isn't dangerous.
Sure it isn't. Didn't ever hint that I thought it was! I would have people do uechi instead--keeping in mind that I could walk through a lot of so called punches and kicks I see passed off as strikes in some circles.
4) I can't indict anaerobics with the little data on aerobics.
Well, more is better than less when it comes to research. But, as I said before, all these recs can happily coexist so I am not trying to indict anaerobic work. Just defend the honor of aerobic work as the form of exercise with the best health outcomes at present. Not a panacea, not a karate program, just good for your body and from a cardiovascular standpoint, target 1.
