HO LEE CRAP!
I don't trust a lot of those machines, but I'm really careful on the leg press. Certainly don't do the max you can do, just do more of "less". LOL
And don't lock your knees. That thing can hurt mine even doing it carefully.
Injuries happen though, no matter where or what you're doing. Might as well be in shape so you can get through it better.

...but that was friggin horrible!

Dude was very on point about watching the women.

They're generally a lot more logical and conservative about the preservation of their bodies than men are.

Usually.....

I for one would be happy with a Kirk bod...

In another life (I mean so far in the past, not literally another life lol) I used to ride bicycles and rollerblades a LOT for transportation (and rarely for pleasure).

With both I'd constantly be passing runners. They'd often catch up at a red light, but over say 20 miles forget about it - I'd lose them all within 3 or 4 miles no matter how many red lights there were. If there were no red lights then I'd be losing them from the second I passed them.

I'd always think to myself "These people are doing this for exercise. I'm getting more of that, and that's just to get to work, AND I'm not thrashing my joints nearly as hard (at least per mile), AND I'm "getting something done".

To work your body hard for nothing other than the sake of exercise just seems so stupid to me (unless your body is literally the basis or a huge part of your career - athlete, model, movie star, hell even porn star maybe...)

You really want to work out for any other reasons? JUST for your "health"? Get a physical job. Least you're getting paid for the damage...

There are tons of benefits other than just aesthetics. That’s the least of my goals.

Until you slack off for a few months, get fat and regret it:

Don't know how old you are, but the benefit of training, building muscle when you are young and through your life as huge benefit when you are heading to become an elderly. Me personally I'm 62, in very good shape , started weight training when I was 18, don't want to get in a situation to have to ask anybody to push my wheelchair, help me cross the street , wipe my ass as long has I can . But if you do need help in the future getting out of bed I will help you

Marc..

I don't believe that anyone here is advocating this, not even on the Diet and Training thread.

My best example of the benefits of keeping at least a minimal routine of weight training and cardio is my 80 year-old father, still very strong and very active.

EDIT: I read into this excessively hard, apologies if that's not what you meant.

I don't believe it matters if you exercise for health or for aesthetics, either way they're both going to be positively affected. I know some people feel that it should be all about health vs. vanity. I say bulls**t! Do it for *every* reason that you can possibly think of because the more reasons you have the better. Staying consistent with it is hard sometimes and every bit of motivation helps.

Looking and feeling your best is more of a daily reward, but getting good marks on your annual physical (with blood panel) is your main goal.

I still exercise functionally.

While I used to cycle (and had amazing legs and lower core, but average to poor upper body strength) I now fence and have decent legs and much stronger arms, chest and shoulder/neck. I also still walk, now nearly exclusively.

Masses involved in fencing are low (swords et al are 1.5-2kg at most in use (and pollaxe is barely heavier - shields and weapon in one hand would be heavier but I don't have one at this time), but upwards of 30kg in total on back, hip and worn to and from classes), but they are used dynamically, and with strength and structure against a resisting partner.

I see less purpose in lifting a weight and putting it back down again, with nothing productive or fun accomplished in the process, but I guess YMMV

You involved in HEMA Lieste? I would loved to have been involved in that during my fencing years! Alas, not a thing then.

I have arthritis in a thumb which I put down to years of sabre, and a dodgy elbow caused by epee usage perhaps, apart from other old fencing/kendo injuries that have come back to haunt me in my autumnal years!

I get the most training done since I set it up next to my PC. In the breaks between weight sets I can write a few lines into my diploma paper, or open a new website for reading. That makes my breaks a bit longer than optimal, but it adds a nice variety to my PC time without feeling like a chore.

≤Posting on tablet from gym...painfull≥

Fencing and walking for travel, now why didn't I think of that (lives in rural Louisiana)?

Will elaborate when I get home.

For you and me, that would be "frog giggin" and "going to see the neighbors". LOL

Lol, RK. And I can hardly walk to my neighbors as our gravel driveways and street are hard on the ankles.

But at least now I can type...


And IIRC, you also don't like treadmills. But hey, you use what's available to you and make the best of it. I'd much rather be outdoors on a track, but I'm very glad to have a treadmill this time of year.

"Productive" to me is building strength and stamina, indicated over time by increasing weights and/or sets/reps on workouts. Or speed and distance covered on the treadmill. The charts show how productivity is being accomplished which cannot be denied.

Practical advantage (for me): The ability to pull my riding mower out of the mud.

"Fun" to me is time spent with my wife while putting forth the effort to better our looks and health. IMO, the effort and attitude is just as sexy as the results.

Practical advantage (for wife): 1. Post-menopausal. 2. Small frame. 3. Genetics (mother had osteoporosis), 3 strikes and we're only getting older. My mother-in-law (normal frame) in her late-50's took a small spill on her driveway and broke her hip. Terrible recovery and she was never the same. We have no desire to go through that, and certainly not in our 50's or 60's. Weight training not only strengthens/replaces muscle but also increases bone density. That's right. We had no idea of this until recently, that weight lifting actually builds bone.

The rest of course is diet, much harder to regulate for some of us.

++++++++++

Currently training for a 5k in 9 days (breast cancer...downtown Baton Rouge) but I'm having difficulty doing any jogging on the treadmill right now so I'll be restricting my pace to a brisk walk.

OMG, Lieste! You've, what's that word? Umm...triggered! You've triggered me!

Do not use a leg press machine. It is not safe at all. I've seen too many people have their knees go in reverse. This is why you use a barbell and squat the weight. If it gets too heavy, drop the weight off your back. NEVER EVER EVER use a leg press. Not only is it risky, but it also has limited range of motion and does not help with other important parts of strength, like improving your core.

Plus you are more likely to blow out your back on the machine than when doing a squat with a barbell or a deadlift.

Also, as a PSA:

One Arm Bent over rows are dangerous too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLHGa2MCI_A&t=

FWIW: I was into very serious weightlifting from age 13 to age 45 -- then I moved to a different sport and rarely lifted.

When lifting, I specialized in Power Lifting (versus Competitive Weightlifting and Competitive Body Building).

Power Lifting was all about getting stronger in practical ways for other sports and other activities.

A highlight was entering Junior Mr. Cleveland Competitive Weightlifting when I was 19 years old. I showed I belonged but won nothing -- because I had not practiced the "Snatch" lift which requires special coordination.

Now, I'm relatively weak and I find lifting just makes me weaker (old age). So, learn from my mistake: Get as much accomplished as you can before you are 50. Then continue to lift once a week to maintain it. FWIW.

What a nerco...

Interesting read Allen, and sound advice.

My struggle will always be my weight. I turn 55 tomorrow (an excuse to take a short online break to get back into a strict routine), and aging makes it so much harder to maintain any level of fitness.

When a skinny person asks, "How do I gain weight?" The answer is...just age. Enjoy the buffets while you can (my stomach no longer tolerates any serious over-eating). I'll keep it in check because I enjoy my lifestyle, but it's still hard.

If you consume more calories than you burn on a daily basis you will gain weight. Simple enough!

Having said that, it's an inescapable biological fact that metabolism slows down for the vast majority of people as they age which means you have to work harder to burn those calories.