HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 15:34:39 EST
From: <SML108@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: StairMaster Technique?
 <Jan.8.13.43.01.1993.19045@gandalf.rutgers.edu>
 <1993Jan8.192219.21089@news.acns.nwu.edu>

In article <1993Jan8.192219.21089@news.acns.nwu.edu>,
bergstrm@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Todd Bergstrom) says:
>
>
>
>        Here at school when I work out with the stairmasters I probably look
>like the odd one in the crowd because I use a full stride(comfortable length)
>while most others (usually the females) are just zipping along with 4 inch
>strides while supporting their weight with locked arms.  In comparison, I look
>like I am moving in slow motion. I can't believe they think they are working
>out  at all.  I don't know why they don't stay home and wiggle their toes for
>an hour to get an equvalent workout.

Yeah, we have lots of people like that at my gym.  I personally don't use
the rails at all because I am afraid I will lean forward.  At my peak, I
can do 20 minutes of level 7 interval on a stairmaster.  However, I see
many many people leaning into the machine holding it constant on the highest
level despite the clear visual directions posted next to our machines...

I think I have seen maybe 3 other people doing it right the whole time
I have been doing it; one was this amazing runner-type going full stride
on the highest level with perfect posture.  I wish I could do that...

Scott
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: curt@mcm.hp.com (Curt Simkins)
Subject: Re: StairMaster Technique?
Organization: HP Cardiology Business Unit -  McMinville OR
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 18:22:14 GMT

In article <24792@galaxy.ucr.edu>, samari@watnxt2.ucr.edu (Tammy Woodley) writes:
|> 
   Stuff deleted................
 

|> If you don't believe this, look at the faces of the people who are doing full  
|> strides... they obvious look like they are working hard, wheras the speed
|> mini-striders don't even look tired.
|> 
|> Now, i wonder if you didn't lean on your arms, yet still went fast with  
|> mini-strides, would it be harder than full strides?  I think it's time for an  
|> experiment..... :)
|> 
|> - Tammy
|> 
|> --
|> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|> Tammy Woodley (student)      | " It's not I who am crazy.....
|> UC Riverside                 |   It's I who am MAD!!!!.......
|> Samari@watserv.ucr.edu or    |   We're not hitch hiking anymore....
|> Samari@psychophysics.ucr.edu |   We're riding!!!!!!"
|> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|> 
   I can't say I have had them same experience.  I have been using a
   stair routine as a transition back into running after a serious
   injury to my ankle.  I have been simulating as best I can the 
   running motion and "cadance" ( faster turn over and a shorter range
   of motion) and manage to get my heart rate up as high as I want
   for any particular workout.  I keep my hands forward and on the
   machine without supporting my body weight.  When I am finished I
   seem to feel like I have put in a good workout and "look" tired.
   
   Yesterday I did 2 hours on the wind-traner and 1 hour on the
   stairs back to back.......I was pooped!!!!!!!!

   The stairmaster workouts are giving me a opportunity to "run" without
   the pounding.  Hopefully I will build up the muscles around the
   ankle so I will be able to actually start to run in a month or so.

   I would be interested in hearing if any of you folks out there have
   read what the "StairMaster" people reccommend as far as technique.
   
   If so please post it.

   Thanks,
   Curt
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: glex@nitro.cray.com (Jeff Gleixner)
Subject: Re: Salmonella Facial?: Raw Egg Face
Originator: glex@nitro
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 12 Jan 93 16:02:20 CST


In article <1993Jan7.235446.29247@cronkite.ocis.temple.edu>, katop@astro.ocis.temple.edu (Chris Katopis) writes:
> is raw egg.  Isn't this a tremendous salmonella risk?  can the	
> disease be transmitted through the skin????
tremendous? no.  Transmitted through the skin? no
-- 
glex@nitro.cray.com  === "Difficult tasks are never easy..."
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: dmwalter@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Dave Walter)
Subject: bad posture
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 07:55:14 GMT
Organization: Illinois State University


I haven't seen this one discussed yet, so here goes...

I'm in good physical shape with a fairly muscular body, but I have
trouble with standing straight, sitting etc.  It just seems that I
naturally tend to slump over, and my shoulders kind of hunch forward.
There's no question that I look my best when I straighten up, but
I keep finding myself hunched over when I'm driving, or standing,
whatever.  It actually takes serious concentration and energy (!)
to keep my posture straight, and it will slip my mind after a
while until I catch myself again (or, worse, someone reminds me).

I have looked through the indexes of many fitness/health magazines
for articles on this subject, but most just stress the importance
of good posture without giving a good set of instructions for cases
like mine.  Can anyone out there help?  References would be useful,
but I would prefer tips or suggestions from those who have seen this
type of problem firsthand.  Is there some sort of therapy available?

There is some urgency here, as I'm scheduled to take part in a social
occasion in a few months....

Thanks in advance!  :-) 

-- 
               __
Dave Walter    \/    dmwalter@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu
"That's enough singing for now lads, looks like there's
dirty work afoot."
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: disraeli@leland.Stanford.EDU (Jamie Lara Bronstein)
Subject: Re: Abs Question
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 93 20:36:04 GMT

In article <Jan.8.16.15.18.1993.1767@gandalf.rutgers.edu> shagan@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Susan R. Hagan) writes:
>aa595@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Dan Duvall) writes:
>
>
>>dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
>
>>>There is little difference between eating a candy bar
>>>or drinking fruit juice.
>
>>...except for the many grams of fat found in most candy bars. Fruit
>>juice is fat free.
>
>How much vitamin C is in that candy bar?  How much fiber?
>
>Really.
>
>
>-- 
>Susan R. Hagan (shagan@gandalf.rutgers.edu) 
>Publications Coordinator - User Services
>Rutgers University Computing Services

How much fiber is in the fruit juice? Really.

Jamie Bronstein
disraeli@leland.stanford.edu
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: bunzey@bnr.ca (Danny Bunzey P920)
Subject: Wanted: Airdyne Stationary Bicycle
Keywords: Airdyne Stationary Bicycle
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, BNR-RTP 
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 22:41:07 GMT

I'm looking for a good used Airdyne Stationary Bicycle.  Anyone out there
buy one with good intentions, but it's just collecting dust in a dark room?
I'll give you a fair price for it.

Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: disraeli@leland.Stanford.EDU (Jamie Lara Bronstein)
Subject: Re: Gravitron
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 93 04:56:22 GMT

I hope I have spelled the name of the equipment correctly in the
subject line. In hopes of building some arm strength, I have begun
to use this machine, doing the program of 60 reps suggested on the
documentation on the front of the machine, every other day. What is
anyone else's opinion of the thing? Does it work? When do you start
to see results? Is it really a "complete arm workout" in itself, or are
there other important muscle groups which such a workout misses?

Thanks in advance--
Jamie Bronstein
History Department
Stanford University
disraeli@leland.stanford.edu
From: rachim_t1@verifone.com
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Neck Exercises
Date: 6 Jan 93 13:30:10 -1000
Organization: VeriFone Inc., Honolulu HI

In article <1992Dec24.001603.9106@nctams1.uucp>, 01f@pnet16.cts.com (Rmc Walker ) writes:
> Any recommendations on exercises to increase your neck size??
> Scott
> 
> UUCP: humu!nctams1!pnet16!01f
> ARPA: humu!nctams1!pnet16!01f@nosc.mil
> INET: 01f@pnet16.cts.com

I had a long, skinny neck and found that working the traps thickened it and
made it appear shorter.
Traps are worked with upright rows, shrugs (with weights, of course), and
secondarily with dumbell lateral raises (primarily delts), military presses.

Of course there are specific neck excercises that wrestlers do, etc like
leaning forward with a weight hanging from your head and raising/ lowering your
head.  Ouch.  I stick to trap routines.

strength,
Rachim.
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Low Body Fat Percentage but Spare Tire
From: jonathan@cs.pitt.edu (Jonathan Eunice)
Date: 6 Jan 93 06:06:29 GMT
 <1i2hf4INNbk@uwm.edu><JONATHAN.93Jan1185105@speedy.cs.pitt.edu><1993Jan5.235130.14962@ttinews.tti.com>
Organization: University of Pittsburgh Computer Science
In-reply-to: root@metis.tti.com's message of 5 Jan 93 23:51:30 GMT


   >   >[...] I still
   >   >have flabby upper arms and stomach (where I used to carry a lot of the
   >   >extra weight). Is there anything I can do to tighten up these areas short
   >   >of losing extra pounds?
   >
   >   Just firm up the muscles.  You're down to 18% already, but nothing you
   >   mentioned indicates that you're exercising those body regions.  So the
   >   flabbiness is probably lack of muscle tone, not too much fat.
   >
   >And I thought the Myth of Spot Reduction had been completely exposed!

   Please go back and READ what is being said.  The second poster is NOT
   talking about spot-reducing fat; the discussion is about firming up
   muscle, which CAN and DOES reduce "flabiness" locally.  

Even on second reading, the "just firm up the muscles [in specific
flabby regions]" comments sound incredibly like spot reduction to me.
Perhaps you've misread, instead?

It is possible that either sagging or soft, well-fat-marbled muscles
are the problem, in which direct exercises may help.  Even on
rereading, this does not appear (IMO) to be necessarily the case.  I
suspect that someone who has lost considerable weight/fat might easily
retain some not inconsiderable fat stores outside of muscle.  Indeed,
people often refer to these stores as the "flab" of which our subject
spoke.  In which case, "toning up muscles" == spot reduction.  Which
is rightfully disdained as a sham.

   [...]  This may or may not be the original poster's
   problem, but your comments were way off the mark. 

Nonsense!  My comments are fine.  Someone asked for comments, and got
a response that apparently proposed spot reduction, a pernicious but
seemingly ever-popular fitness myth if ever there were one.  If I am
correct that spot reduction was being advocated, my comments are right
on target.  Even if I have misread the intent and advice of the
followup--which is certainly possible, but by no means certain--my
warning concerning the silliness of spot reduction is pertinent and
well-intentioned, if not precisely on target.  Instead, it is your
pointless rudeness intruding into a heretofore courteous discussion/
debate that is inappropriate; even if you disagree with me, an
"um...don't think he meant quite that" posting would have sufficed.

jse
From: krw@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (keith.r.smith)
Subject: Re: Carbs and diet
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 16:39:26 GMT

In article <Htc=cz+@engin.umich.edu> hajel@engin.umich.edu (john hajel) writes:
>
>I started lifting weights 5 months ago(I wouldn't call me
>a bodybuilder yet). I have a complete lifting routine and
>I want to eat right.
>
>I have a few questions:
>
>1)  How many grams of carbohydrates should I eat a day?
>2)  How many grams of protein should I eat a day?
>3)  When should I eat and how often?
>
>Oh yeah, I am 5'9" and weigh 165.
>
>Thanks,
>John Hajel
>
John,
I think that proper diet is more a matter of balance and healthy
choices, than of gram-counting.  Examine your current diet.
Eliminate, or cut back on, fried foods or those foods that are
otherwise especially fatty.  Eliminate, or cut back on, those
foods that are especially sugary.  Cut your meat intake by maybe
50%, and make up the difference in whole-grains, beans, potatoes,
and other starchy (high in complex carbs) plant foods that have
a reasonable fibre content.  Be sure to include fresh fruit and
leafy veggies on a regular basis.  Let your appetite control
your food intake, and be sure to get in some regular, moderate
aerobic work.  Your gram counts will take care of themselves.

Keith R
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: sfjr@wam.umd.edu (Steve Russell)
Subject: Re: StairMaster Technique?
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 19:38:37 GMT

In article <29525@oasys.dt.navy.mil> jbrown@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Jennifer Brown) writes:
>
>I guess I must be abnormal or something.  I use a Life Step for 35 minutes
>daily and while just standing there stepping, which can be really boring,
>I use 3 pound hand weights and do upper body exercises.  i.e. presses,
>butterfly, curls, tri-extensions.  For toning purposes and aerobic benefit
>I get two for the price of one!  = )
>
>Jennifer Brown

Jennifer-

	Geez! I wish I was your kind of abnormal:)  Im a Lifestep afficinado
myself.  I consider myself "pushing it" when I take my hands completely off
the rails for 4min at a time so I can say with all authority "you're a
stronger human then I gungadin*smile*  You must have one hell of a set of
back and lower bod muscles to do that.

Steve R
From: glen@rigel.cs.pdx.edu (Glen Barney)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Ab Reduction/Definition Exercises?
Keywords: abs lifting definition fat loss exercises
Date: 11 Jan 93 23:22:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: pdxgate.6686

I've recently returned to the workout world after some inactivity, and have
a question I've been trying to figure out for some time.  Usually when I work
a specific muscle group, I can see positive change reasonable quickly.  For
example, I can visually see improvements in shoulders, biceps, calves, etc.
But, I'm not having much luck with abs - I still have a bicycle (OK, moped)
tire around my stomach, and can't seem to shake it or flatten out or define
my stomach.

Does anyone have a good exercise or group of exercises for major abdominal
help?

Are situps any good really, and if so, how many and how often?

Are crunches better than situps, and if so, same questions?

Thanks!

Glen
glen@rigel.cs.pdx.edu
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: billb@crpmks.uucp (Bill Bochnik (Info Systems))
Subject: Re: StairMaster Technique?
Reply-To: billb@crpmks.UUCP (Bill Bochnik (Info Systems))
Organization: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 16:16:39 GMT

In article <!f2rp3b@lynx.unm.edu> bhjelle@carina.unm.edu () writes:

>Here is another physical principle. Supporting your weight with
>your hands requires maintained physical effort, and is not
>trivial. If you really wish to assert that one method of using
>the Stairmaster is incorrect, you should be able to back it
>up with the pulse rates of those people using the different
>techniques. A poor technique, by definition, is one that does
>not raise one's pulse into the aerobic range. If you know that
>to be true for the "incorrect" Stairmaster technique, you should
>say so. Otherwise, it is impossible to say which method is
>"better".
>
>Brian

Except, of course, if one of the methods puts undue strain on your back and/or 
will promote injuring your back (as others have posted).



-- 
Bill Bochnik			| It's hard to be a James Bond in an Abbott
Systems Analyst 		|	and Costello world.
Ciba-Geigy Corporation		| Signed and sealed, they deliver oblivion.
philabs!crpmks!billb		| It's worse than that, he's dead Jim.
From: dawn@umiacs.umd.edu (Dawn Vance)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Beginner questions
Date: 11 Jan 93 18:18:35 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: UMIACS, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

Hi All,

First, please forgive me if this question is asked frequently, but I would
like the wisdom of the fitness gurus out there. I've been able to lose
approx. 17 lbs. rather effortlessly by reducing my fat intake and working
out aerobically 2-4 times per week (Jazzercise) over a peroid of 8-9 months. 
I'm getting married in May and want to take off an additional 20 lbs. which
would put me at approx. 125 lbs. I'm 5'6" and 31 years old. The question is,
what weight training could I do 2-3 times per week that would tone my upper
arms and my thighs? My calves are relatively well developed from the aerobic
activity and I don't want to increase the musculature there, however, my thighs
are large (FAT is really the best word to describe my thighs). Should I lose 
the weight before I start lifting weights? I have bursitis in both shoulders
and also need to know if I should forgo upper arm weight training.

I guess I should mention that I'm female :) Thanks in advance for any 
helpful advice. E-mail responses are welcome.

Peace,
Dawn
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: pmoloney@maths.tcd.ie (Paul Moloney)
Subject: Re: bad posture
Organization: Somewhere in the Twentieth Century
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 19:38:30 GMT

timbomb@cs.uq.oz.au (Tim Mansfield) writes:
> dmwalter@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Dave Walter) writes:

>>I'm in good physical shape with a fairly muscular body, but I have
>>trouble with standing straight, sitting etc.  It just seems that I
>>naturally tend to slump over, and my shoulders kind of hunch forward.

I'm a virgin to this keep-fit lark, so I haven't a notion of the
technical terms, but one exercise I've seen for improving your
shoulder posture is to lie face down on a bench, and lift dumbbells
with arms extended.

P.
-- 
moorcockheathersiainbankshamandcornpizzapjorourkebluesbrothersspikeleepratchett
clive  P a u l   M o l o n e y    "I'm pretty witty and you're itty bitty    pe
james  Trinity College, Dublin     And isn't it a pity the city can't see?   vr
brownbladerunnerorsonscottcardprincewatchmenkatebushbatmanthekillingjoketolkien
From: loszewski_im@hnrc.tufts.edu
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Loss of Energy midway through a set
Date: 8 Jan 93 14:49:49 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: USDA HNRC at Tufts University

In article <1993Jan7.222114.7747@cbnewsk.cb.att.com>, krw@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (keith.r.smith) writes:
> In article <1993Jan7.142031.611@hnrc.tufts.edu> loszewski_im@hnrc.tufts.edu writes:
>>In article <1993Jan7.163725.5915@cis.ohio-state.edu>, rviswana@violin.cis.ohio-state.edu (r viswanathan) writes:
>>> 
>>>   I am 22 years of age, 6' tall and weigh about 157 pounds. I work out
>>>   6 days a week for about 40 minutes per session. I know I am not
>>>   overtraining  because my back and legs are making progress.
>>>   Can anyone suggest a remedy?
>>> 
>>>  --Thanks
>>
>>It sounds like you might be experiencing carb depletion.  In other
>>words,depending  on what I consume for carbs during the day before my workout, 
>>will determine how well my workout will be.  If I eat little carbs during the
>>day, my muscles will not be able to work as hard as when I consume alot of
>>carbs.
> 
> Rob,
> Your comments on carbs and their effect upon workout intensity are well
> taken, but if ths were Ram's problem (not enough carbs in his diet),
> then, would that not effect his lower-body training as well?  For that
> matter, would it not _especially_ effect his lower-body training?

You could be right Keith.  I am assuming that he does not work his lower and 
upper body both in the same day.  I am also assuming that it happens to be 
coincidence that this only occurs on days that he works his upper body.  It
also could be psychological as well.  If he knows that he has is weaker in the
upper body, then he will be less inclined to want to improve.  In other words,
(for example), my chest and lats are my upper body weaknesses, but my bi's and
tri's are great.  I love to work my arms, but cringe all day when I know that 
"tonights" workout is chest and back; because I know that I will have to work
alot harder to improve my chest and lats.  
Maybe I am assuming too much.  Ram, if you haven't already, elaborate on your
workouts a little more.

-Rob

> 
> Keith R
> 
>>Try this:  on a day that you are experiencing this problem, during your workout
>>, drink a bottle of Twinlabs Ultra Fuel.  This is loaded with glucose.  After 
>>about a half an hour, you should feel a little bit better.  If this works, then
>>you know that you are experiencing carb depletion, if not, then the problem 
>>could lies elsewhere.
>>
>>-Rob
>>> 
>>>   Ram Viswanathan.
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: glex@nitro.cray.com (Jeff Gleixner)
Subject: Re: skinny_legs
Originator: glex@nitro
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 6 Jan 93 08:56:55 CST


In article <1993Jan6.071432.10450@g2syd.genasys.com.au>, mikep@g2syd.genasys.com.au (Michael Preedy) writes:
> these exercises consists of 4 sets of 10-15 reps. I can leg press 400lbs so
> my legs are fairly strong... just whimpy.
> Can anyone suggest what I can do to improve this part of my body?

Assuming that you are doing 400 lbs for 10-15 reps.  Or is it 400x1?

Go heavier and make sure you're doing the full range of movement.  Also make
sure you're going to failure, I think you'll be surprised how many more reps
you can do if you put your mind to it.  I'd suggest doing a couple of warm-up
sets (200x6, 400x6) then go to 450, do as many as you possibly can, having a 
spotter will help.  Add weight (5 lbs) every workout and do the same reps as you
did the workout before. Do 1 heavy day (3 sets of 6-8 reps) then 1 light day, 
about 3 days later (3 sets of 10-15 reps).  Lunges are another great leg exercise.
Keep a log and stick to it.  Long distance running may be hindering any leg
growth.  If you want to get bigger/stronger legs back off a little on the
long distance running.
-- 
glex@nitro.cray.com  === "Difficult tasks are never easy..."
From: lott@egr.msu.edu (Jennifer Lott)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Alias Information requested
Date: 11 Jan 93 19:46:20 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Division of Engineering Research
NNTP-Posting-Host: tame.egr.msu.edu

I'm requesting information on obtaining an alias for a friend.  She has e-
mail but can't post to the net.  Can someone please send me information on 
how it works?

Thanks
Jennifer
lott@frith.egr.msu.edu
From: je10+@andrew.cmu.edu (James Brian Endres)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Basic questions
Date: 11 Jan 93 20:18:10 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.8fIa_We00WB_8mWGJk
Organization: Sponsored account, Statistics, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


Hi All,

I have some very general fitness questions. I should say from the very
beginning that my goals are modest and long-term. I'm more interested
in feeling good now and encouraging future health benefits than, say,
looking good or building muscles for its own sake.

My feeling is that there is a general (conservative) consensus in the
health/fitness field (from enthusiasts to researchers) that
preventative health measures basically divide themselves into diet and
exercise. My diet is fine: low fat, high fiber, lots of vegetables,
and so forth. Exercise can further be divided (roughly) into aerobic
for cardio-respiratory fitness, weight training for muscular and bone
fitness, and perhaps stretching for general flexibility. Different
activities would have some overlap, of course.

Would anyone radically challenge this overview? I mean, am I leaving
something big out?

I walk a lot (from Pittsburgh to Fort Wayne over about four weeks this
summer); my feet and my bike are my transportation. There are some
good trails right in the middle of Pittsburgh fun to mountain bike on.
I love swimming. I also really enjoy stretching.

So diet, aerobics, and stretching are covered. Unfortunately, I know
essentially nothing about the weight training part. I lifted in high
school under the direction of my shotput/discus coach, so I know what
to *do*, basically, I just don't know what's important given my goals.
I do NOT want to get big, but I would like definition. I do NOT want
to injure myself, but I do want to feel good.

I guess what I am asking for is (a pointer to) information concerning
a modest, conservative (with respect to whatever consensus there is),
plain-vanilla outline of what I could be doing.
Thanks in advance,
Jimmer.