From: pae@blackcat.stortek.com (Phil Earnhardt)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Wanted: NordicTrak Ski Simulator
Summary: Try something other than the Nordic Norm on your NT
Date: 15 Sep 92 16:37:02 GMT
Organization: StorageTek, Louisville, CO

In article <1992Sep15.093458.1@nickel.laurentian.ca> g5000005@nickel.laurentian.ca writes:
>In article <1992Sep15.070546.2337@stortek.com>,
> pae@blackcat.stortek.com (Phil Earnhardt) writes:
>
>>Maybe the problem arises from limitations in how you perceive a NT should
>>be used. [...]
>	?? The above illustrates my point! Why not just buy small hand weights
>and walk stairs, or walk/jog around the park or neighborhood? This goes back 
>to my original comment: the NT isn't really worth the money! If you have modify
>a piece of equipment that radically, then what are you paying for?

Because people *like* the Nordic Track! Maybe they like it more than those
other things, or maybe they've (wisely) realized that having a rotation of
aerobic exercises helps avoid injury.

>	Remember, I said that any exercise is better than no exercise. I have 
>never said that you couldn't get any exercise benefit from the NT. My point is 
>that for the money, there are cheaper (and more efficient) alternatives.

For what group of people? Elite atheletes? Unfit people becoming fit?

If people like the the kinesiology of the Nordic Track, it's a great machine
for them to use. If they don't, it ain't. I understand that you don't like it,
but that's not a sufficient reason to categorically condem its use for others.

For an individual, Norm, the most important/effective exercise is one he likes
and will continue to do. This is especially true for people who are just
starting on becoming fit.

>>Doing skating-style asymmetrical pole plants with hand weights and a
>>skating-like leg stride raises *my* pulse rate quickly.
>
>	Can you do skating-like leg stride raises on an NT now? I am not 
>familiar with this model.

Emphasis should be on the word "like." To coin a phrase, it's definitely not
the Nordic Norm.

If you really want an answer, get on a NT (model of you choosing) with a pair
of hand weights and try doing a skating-like stride. Use your x-c skating
poling patterns.  See what happens to your pulse rate.

In order to do this, you'll have to suspend what you think is the "right" way
of skating and using a NT. Just like a speedskater has to give up his idea of
the "right" way to skate when he gets on x-c skis...

>I apologize if I seemed rude, Phil. Yes, I agree that are divergent groups
>here. I am a new reader to misc.fitness and have missed out on the general
>flow of discussions. I tend to react quickly to what I percieve as
>misinformation in terms of fitness: there are a LOT of so-called experts
>floating around who have no scientific basis (or only pseudo-science) to
>their fitness theories.

Then a question: what scientific basis is there that the NT will not be an
effective means of aerobic exercise for people -- either for unfit people
becoming fit or for elite atheletes? Also, did you find references for the
claim that swimming is one of the top aerobic exercises for losing fat?

>Nordic Norm

--phil
Newsgroups: misc.fitness