So, who's been up to what lately?

[rydra_wong]

In the last few weeks, I've been going to the gym for the first time in ages.

In the past few years, I've generally been doing bodyweight and kettlebell stuff at home as strength training, and now I've decided to get some barbell work done again, and in particular get back to deadlifting -- partly because I've been having a run of back aches and would like to build up my back strength again, partly because I'd forgotten just how much I enjoy deadlifting.

So I thought I'd check in here and see how everyone else is doing: getting into anything new lately? Learning some new things? Switching training plans? Buying, making or enjoying any new heavy things? Re-starting after time off, or looking to get started? Lurking shyly in the comm?

Comments

Re: cn: discussion of desirability of weight loss

[rydra_wong]

But I may decide to dance with a 15oz can of food in either hand, so my arms have a little more heft at the ends for strengthening purposes. Good idea y/n?

In terms of muscle physiology, probably not the most effective way of strengthening, because that generally happens at the "low reps heavy weight" end of the spectrum (whatever "heavy" is for you, but we'd be talking something you can only lift for 1 to 10 reps in a row, not, say, 30-40 reps). If you can dance with it doing the same sort of arm moves for 15 minutes straight, it'll be working muscular endurance, not strength.

However, that endurance might still be a useful goal for you!

And personally, I am all in favour of including random physical experiments in my dancing time. You could play with lots of different moves and see what the cans feel like. Just don't be afraid to dump them if it feels too much, gets boring, or your shoulders/any other joints feel tweaky, etc..

Re: cn: discussion of desirability of weight loss

[alexseanchai]

Endurance is good, yes, but I take your point. :)

that was fun but Re: cn: discussion of desirability of weight loss

[alexseanchai]

I grabbed the broth boxes and hit play on the playlist...

Three minutes in it occurred to me I ought to be singing along, or trying to, to check where I am on the aerobic-ness of the activity (answer: pushing towards the anaerobic end pretty hard; either that or lung capacity is just that shit), and thirty seconds later I flopped. That first song is only four minutes long!

I think I need to make a new playlist with lower-energy songs.

Re: that was fun but Re: cn: discussion of desirability of weight loss

[rydra_wong]

The rule of thumb for aerobic-ness I've heard is that you should be able carry on a conversation but not sing -- don't know if that helps at all? (And if you can't speak in sentences, you're out of the aerobic training zone.)

I think I need to make a new playlist with lower-energy songs.

Sounds like it! *g* And/or build up the time more gradually.

If you naturally tend to go all-out, one option would be to treat it as interval training (which can be very effective at improving aerobic endurance), and make a playlist of alternating bouncy and low-energy songs. So you're deliberately pushing yourself for a few minutes, then recovering gently for a few minutes, then pushing youself again.

Re: that was fun but Re: cn: discussion of desirability of weight loss

[alexseanchai]

I was misremembering, then. Couldn't talk either, though, so my analysis was still fine.

Hmm. :)