HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: iris@execu.execu.com (Iris Strey)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: The FIRM
Date: 19 Aug 92 20:26:10 GMT
Article-I.D.: execu.3619
Organization: Comshare, Inc. Austin Development Center


   I'd be interested in hearing from any one who has exercised with the
   video tapes produced by The FIRM.  The work outs are a combination of
   weight training and aerobics; several of them also have you use a 
   step.


                <~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
                <                 Iris Strey              >
                <               Comshare, Inc.            > 
                <                Austin, Texas            >
                <               iris@execu.com            >
                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: jalal@lecap.wpd.sgi.com (Jalal Rajabali)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Info on Rowing Machines needed!!!
Date: 12 Aug 92 19:49:16 GMT
Reply-To: jalal@lecap.wpd.sgi.com (Jalal Rajabali)
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA


I am entertaining the thought of buying a rowing machine (fan operated).  I saw
one at TriCity Sports (Fremont,CA) for $400.00.  Is this a decent price
for it or they could be cheaper?  Also, I would like any info on the machines
(fan and/or hydraulics types).  

Please send e-mail to:  jalal@lecap.wpd.sgi.com

Thanks,
Jalal
From: georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Gymnastics and growing up
Date: 20 Aug 92 16:35:01 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland


I've heard this discussed periodically by Gabe Mirkin, a sports-medicine
physician, on his talk-radio show. Apparently, there has been a 
great deal published on the topic in medical literature.

The theory that weight-bearing exercises may be harmful for young
people because it might damage growth plates on the ends of their
bones is a bad theory. It is not supported by the data. In fact,
weight-bearing exercises are essential for children who hope later to
compete in high school sports.

Vigorous exercise among children does delay the onset of puberty,
and female olympic gymnasts typically begin menstruating two years
later than the average.

Delaying the onset of puberty delays destruction of bone growth
plates, so the child grows taller. In fact, children who are
too short for their age can have puberty intentionally delayed. A child
endroconologists is the physician who treats such conditions.
From: cla02@seq1.keele.ac.uk (R. Wallace)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Siezing up through stress
Date: 21 Aug 92 10:57:42 GMT
Organization: University of Keele, England

Can anyone help me with a problem I have never met before?

I work out about three times a week. Recently, I went for my regular
work-out after a day which had been a real bastard. It was the sort of day
when about three months worth of problems landed on my desk in one
morning. I ended completely wound up. Now, in itself, that was no
problem, because one of the reasons I excercise is to work off stress.
This time, however, I was so stressed that none of the muscle-groups I
was working would respond at all! I couldn't even get through my regular
warm-up! The muscles were stiff and unresponsive, they just wouldn't
work.

So I went off and drank a several beers instead (which actually worked
quite well).

Now, this was very annoying, because I could have done with a good
work-out that day, and it would have done me good. So - has anyone else
had this experience? What can I do about it if it happens again?

To put you in the picture, I am a British academic in his early fifties.
I work out at a gym with a Universal machine and a good range of free
weights. I usually warm up on the machine and then move to free weights,
and I have a regular sequence of routines which works each muscle group
twice in week (three sessions of about an hour and a half). I am not a
bodybuilder, and wouldn't claim to be exceptionally strong - I just lift
enough to regularly humiliate my students who work in the same gym.

Thanks for your help!  

Richard Wallace.
From: stgprao@xing.unocal.com (Richard Ottolini)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: HEART RATE, ETC.
Date: 20 Aug 92 00:23:16 GMT
Organization: Unocal Corporation
Originator: stgprao@xing

There are THREE heart rate measurements people look at:
(1) Resting heart rate.
(2) Recommended maximum training rate.
(3) Recovery rate: time to go from #2 to #1.

Each has its useful applications in evaluation fitness.
Each is influenced by age, body size, health, genetics, and fitness.
From: loftis@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kirk Loftis)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 19:51:46 GMT
Subject: Re: Running Question
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server
Newsgroups: misc.fitness


|I was wondering which of the following is a better workout and causes
|less wear-and-tear on your joints:
|
|1) Running smaller distances but at a harder pace
|2) Running medium distances at a medium pace but sprinting for the last
|   .2 mile
|3) Running longer distances at a slower pace
||
|Currently, I do (2) for a distance of about 3 miles. 
|
|- Sanjay
|
|----------

	My belief has been that if you run, not jog, there should be
less damage.  Jogging involves too much pounding of the joints.  I
believe that running is smoother, less pounding, more efficient in the
number of steps for distance covered.  I would recommend a combination
of intervals for speed and running hard/fast for whatever distance that
is for you(this is aerobic).  Your number 2 is somewhat like fartlet 
training.  Yet another philosphy.  I do not recommend running slow, with
a pounding fashion.  This is brutal on the body.  Although, to bring 
a person who is out of shape into shape, you do have go through the more
brutal forces.

	What is running?  7min/mile would have to be upper bound,
anything slower starts getting to be hard on the joints.

	I hope this helps....Kirk
From: loszewski_im@sage.hnrc.tufts.edu
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: I WAS ON ABC W/ADAM FOR TWO MIN
Date: 19 Aug 92 18:16:56 GMT
Organization: USDA HNRC at Tufts University

In article <1992Aug19.045058.6873@athena.mit.edu>, aleck@athena.mit.edu (Aleck H Alexopoulos) writes:
> As a neutral observor to the unofficial Boston armwrestling and ego 
> championships (which Adam won) i must note that at no time did Adam 
> inform us of the official armwrestling rules. 
> 
> A hidden camera took a video of Adam using highly suspect technique against his
> worthy opponent Ron Cecchini. The tape will be forwarded to the 
> maryland Armwrestling Association and their punishment will be 
> severe: They'll take away Adams Arwrestling T-shirt! 
> 
> Aleck


I did the filming!!  :-)  :-)  And I'm selling it.  Are there any bids??

-Rob
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: aleck@athena.mit.edu (Aleck H Alexopoulos)
Subject: Re: I WAS ON ABC W/ADAM FOR TWO MIN
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 04:50:58 GMT

As a neutral observor to the unofficial Boston armwrestling and ego 
championships (which Adam won) i must note that at no time did Adam 
inform us of the official armwrestling rules. 

A hidden camera took a video of Adam using highly suspect technique against his
worthy opponent Ron Cecchini. The tape will be forwarded to the 
maryland Armwrestling Association and their punishment will be 
severe: They'll take away Adams Arwrestling T-shirt! 

Aleck
From: wilson@mailhost.aa.cad.slb.com (David Wilson)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Don't do leglifts (was Re: suggested books/exercises for ab work?)
Date: 13 Aug 92 15:18:49 GMT
Organization: Schlumberger CAD/CAM; Ann Arbor, Michigan (USA)

The sports medicine column in Iron Man has addressed abdominal training
three times in the last two years or so.  The latest announced some
research that had come up with a variation on the crunch that truly
prevents involvement of the muscles that rotate the hips (the hip flexors)
and pull on the lumbar vertebrae in the process.

One of the earlier columns was very specific on the fact that leglifts
in particular, and any excercises that depend on the same muscles,
are to be avoided.  Unless you are a gymnast you don't need great
strength in those muscles anyway.  The author said their clinic has
never seen a gymnast who DIDN'T have serious lowback pain.  He described
a case involving a female sprinter who was doing leglifts to, she thought,
strengthen muscles she needed to set better times.  After getting her to
quit the leglifts, her back pain was resolved, and she proceeded to set
new personal bests.

Leglifts do NOT work the "lower abdominals" as commonly believed, and
are VERY BAD for the lower back.  The object of training is to be stronger
and healthier, right?  You want your efforts to make you better off, not
worse off, right?  Don't believe 99% of the trash about developing the
abdominals.  Twisting exercises were another one debunked in a column a
while back.  I can't count the articles I've seen showing Joe Superstar
doing hundreds of twists, seated to boot.  You might just as well use a
hacksaw on the disks between your lumbar vertebrae -- you would at least
get it over with sooner.

The sports medicine column in Iron Man is very valuable reading.  There
are many common excercises that are very damaging, while not doing much
of the good they are commonly believed to do.  There are others that
can effectively work the intended muscles, and not do damage, if done
properly (but some of the commonly practiced versions are not proper and
cause problems).

Dave Wilson
From: tzf@csl.biosci.arizona.edu (Theron Friedman)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Calf/Vertical Jump Training
Date: 21 Aug 92 18:41:57 GMT
Reply-To: tzf@csl.biosci.arizona.edu
Organization: U of Arizona, CS Dept, Tucson

THere was an article a few years ago about a new jump training method that
used running _DOWN_ stairs. I forget the keywords - maybe "plyometrics"??
But apparently catching the weight coming down was the right kind of
stress for improving the legs' ability to push the weight back up in jumps.

	terry friedman
From: loszewski_im@sage.hnrc.tufts.edu
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Building Arm Size
Date: 18 Aug 92 16:49:27 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: USDA HNRC at Tufts University

In article <1992Aug17.155600.6237@cbfsb.cb.att.com>, yyz@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (donald.w.coons) writes:
> All this talk about arm size and maximum curl amounts have got me thinking
> about my arm size. Compared to most of the posts I have seen my arms are 
> rather small 14 1/2 inches but my curl amount seems to be pretty strong
> 120 pounds x 6-8 reps. I was wondering if anyone has any advice for building
> size other than what I currently do. My arms are very long (37 inch sleeve) and
> I have very little body fat (around 5 to 6 percent), I suspect that I may be 
> overworking arms but advice will be appreciated. Here is my current arm workout
> done 2 times a week.
> 
>                   3 sets triceps dips
>                   3 sets tricep pulldowns 60/70/80 pounds
>                   3 sets single arm tricep extensions 25/30/35 pounds
>                   3 sets  single arm hammer curls 40/45/50 pounds
>                   3 sets two arm curls 100/110/120 pounds
>                   3 sets single arm preacher curls 40/35/30 pounds
> 
> I do all exercises for 6 to 8 reps except for preacher curls which I do till
> total burn.
> 
> Don Coons
> dwc@wnb3b2.att.com

Increase the amount of weight you are lifting and decrease your reps to 4-6/set.

-Rob
********************************************************************************
*                                                                              *
*Rob Loszewski                       -*|||--*****-----****--|||*-              *
*Loszewski_im@hnrc.tufts.edu                                                   *
*                                                                              *
*                   "Hasta La Vista...Baby."--Arnold Schwarzenegger            *
*                                                                              *
********************************************************************************
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: rrp@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (rakesh.r.patel)
Subject: Re: Don't do leglifts (was Re: suggested books/exercises for ab work?)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 18:58:50 GMT

In article <1992Aug13.151849.9000@mailhost.aa.cad.slb.com> wilson@mailhost.aa.cad.slb.com (David Wilson) writes:
>
>Leglifts do NOT work the "lower abdominals" as commonly believed, and
>are VERY BAD for the lower back.  The object of training is to be stronger
>and healthier, right?  You want your efforts to make you better off, not
>worse off, right?  Don't believe 99% of the trash about developing the
>abdominals.  Twisting exercises were another one debunked in a column a
>while back.  I can't count the articles I've seen showing Joe Superstar
>doing hundreds of twists, seated to boot.  You might just as well use a
>hacksaw on the disks between your lumbar vertebrae -- you would at least
>get it over with sooner.
>

With all this bad news about leglifts and twists, what are some of the
good exercises for the abs (upper and lower abs)????


Rakesh  Patel
From: wilson@mailhost.aa.cad.slb.com (David Wilson)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: More on Don't Do Leglifts
Date: 17 Aug 92 15:13:20 GMT
Organization: Schlumberger CAD/CAM at Ann Arbor, MI

I've received a number of email replies to my previous article on "Don't do
leglifts".  Some agree with at least part of what I said, some tell me I'm
full of it because leglifts work great for them.

It is not my intention to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do.  I posted
the article because I was getting tired of seeing the some misinformation the
magazines have been spreading for at least 30 years (I'm not old enough to know
what they said even further back).  If you choose to do something, with some
awareness of what you are doing and the possible consequences, then Merry Christmas.
I was aiming at the people who read the myths, thinking they're getting good advice,
and then screw themselves up doing things they honestly thought were good for them.

If you want to pursue the matter, the first thing you should do is eliminate my
possible garbling of the information, and go to the source.  The issues of Iron
Man that had sports medicine columns specific to abdominal training are the June
1989, May 1990, and September 1992 issues.  I called up their 800 number to see
if back issues are available, and they are (actually, the Sept. 92 issue may still
be at your local bookstore/newstand).  The back issues are $4.00 each.  Call
1-800-447-0008.  That puts you into a phone mail system.  Hitting zero will get
you a human operator who was very polite and helpful.

If you don't care to risk $12, you can write the author of the column.  Each
column ends with:

        Editor's note: If you have  any questions or comments,
        or if you would like information on the soft-tissue
        therapy as performed here, please send a stamped, self-
        addressed envelope to the Soft Tissue Center Inc., 6317
        Wilshire Blvd., Suite 204, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

That reduces your risk to $0.29 plus a few minutes of your time to write a letter.

The author of Iron Man's sports medicine column is Joseph M. Horrigan, D.C.,
"Developer and president of the Soft Tissue Center".  There was an article
sometime back about his center.  He seems to have a lot of experience with
serious athletes, including Olympic caliber ones.  I recall he mentioned
Jackie Joyner Kersey (sp?) among those he had worked with.


The fellow seems extremely competent to me.  Read his stuff for yourself if
you care enough to follow up, or just keep doing what you like.  I've made
you aware of the issue, and of one source of (what I think is) good information.
That was all I aimed to do.

Dave Wilson
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: evanh@sco.COM (Evan Hunt)
Subject: Re: Life Cycle comments wanted - oops, make that Life Circuit
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 19:49:20 GMT


SSDC2@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU (J Green) writes:
<>From: evanh@sco.COM (Evan Hunt)
<>I'd like to know people's opinions about the "Life Cycle" weight training
<>machines used in gyms. Good, bad?
 
>do you mean "Life Cycle" stationary bikes? or "Life Circuit" weight
>training machines???

Sorry, I did mean the "Life Circuit".
 
>Life Circuit is a line of weight machines that are/were initially only
>available at Holiday Health clubs. i tried them a few times and they
>are WONDERFUL machines. some of the most adjustable machines i've used!!
>too bad they are (were?) only available thru Holiday Health, as i HATE
>their pressure on joining and getting friends to join. i go to the gym
>to WORKOUT, not to listen to sales pitches. ugh. but the Life Circuit
>machines are awesome, check 'em out! :-)

Well, they're available at a gym here, which isn't affiliated with Holiday
Health, as far as I know. They do seem pretty cool but weird for someone used
to free weights.

-- 
"I had generously shown on the stage my interior life as a raging beast, but
 my exterior life as a mediocre human being and dilettante of of normal int-
 elligence remained unchronicled...I *knew* that beneath my work's primeval,
 hysterical facade there was a calm little writer in an armchair just waiting
 to burst forth." -- Wally Shawn, on the writing of "My Dinner With Andre'"
From: kbarss@scott.skidmore.edu (Kelly Barss)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Met-Rx
Date: 12 Aug 92 17:24:27 GMT
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY

dl@thumper.bellcore.com (Daniel Liebster) writes:
> In article <1992Aug11.185445.10532@scott.skidmore.edu>, kbarss@scott.skidmore.edu (Kelly Barss) writes:
> |> I've been using Met-Rx for a little over 5 weeks now and have dropped my
>   bodyfat from 16% to 10% already.  I plan on competing in October and will be
>   at my targetted 5%!  I have improved mass and strength.  The stuff is great
>   and tastes better than food!!|>   It's wonderful!
> 
> So what is the concept behind the system? Does the product replace regular food?
> Does it help build mass or just loose fat?
> Inquiring minds want to know!
> 
> dan

Dan - it is meant to be your major food source...anything else you eat, like pasta, potatoes etc are you "supplements".  In one of the other articles posted here, it is explained right from the manual on how it works and is meant to be used.  I use 2 full servings a day (recommended for my size) and supplement it with a little pasta and egg whites and tuna.  Met-Rx is low in carbs, so you need to add that to your diet for energy.  It helps to build mass (very well I might add) and loose fat.  It's definite




ly worth trying.  When you call their number, tell them you want the instructions and write up on it...you'll get a big packet with lots of information.  It's very interesting and it works!
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: What's the deal with those carbohydrates
Date: 21 Aug 92 01:08:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.1992Aug21.010845.12135
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <1992Aug20.155251.314@sage.hnrc.tufts.edu> loszewski_im@sage.hnrc.tufts.edu writes:
>Simple carbohydrates are mono and disaccharides which are composed of single and
>paired rings of sugar. Polysaccharides are known as the complex carbs, and are
>composed of one monosaccharide which is glucose.  One example of this is Starch
>which is a plant polysaccharide composed of glucose.
>Basically, complex carbs are healthier for you than simple carbs.  However, a 
>balanced diet should include simple carbs as well. (like lemon meringue pie,
>Hagan Dazs ice cream! :-)  sp?)  Sorry...i'm drooling on my keyoard. :-)
>This competition diet i'm on is devoid of anything that tastes good.  :-)
>Now then, complex carbs are converted to energy slower than simple carbs.  That
>is why you should consume complex carbs rather than simple carbs before your
>workouts; so that you have sustained energy release through your workout.
>hope this was helpful.

This is the conventional wisdom.  In fact, when the effects of pure
foods (i.e., not what you typically eat in a balanced diet) on blood
sugar have been studied in diabetics, the results have been inconsistent
and topsy-turvy.  Some foods consisting mainly of complex carbohydrates
(i.e., mashed potatoes) raise blood sugar FASTER than some simple carbo
foods.  Go figure.

[Note: this is studied in Type-I diabetics, becaue they don't exhibit
an insulin response to increases in blood sugar.  As a result, the
rise in blood sugar is undisturbed.  In normal individuals, the rise
is blood sugar is challenged by insulin release.]

It's hard to know what to do with these results, other than to conclude
that for diabetics, the distinction between simple and complex carbohydrates
might not be as cut and dried as the conventional wisdom says.  For most
other people, the rule would probably to eat what you find to be most
compatible with your workout, etc.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
From: aweaver@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Andy Weaver)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Fast food choices
Date: 18 Aug 92 21:10:37 GMT
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center

I have to eat cheap fast food at least one meal a day.
A few of the fast food meals that I eat:

Wendy's-- two plain baked potatos covered with a small bowl of chili
		(approx. 800 cal with about 8g of fat) 

Subway--foot long turkey or chicken on wheat bread, no cheese, vegetables
	and some mustard (the fat is from the meat and the bread.  Does
	anyone have these figures for Subway?)

KFC--large mashed potatos, large red beans and rice

fast chinese food--lots of steamed rice, a chicken and vege dish cooked then
	the sauce and oil strained off

Any other suggestions for fast food dining?

Andy
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: lmiller@heineken.tuc.nrao.edu (Luther Miller)
Subject: Want to lose weight?
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Tucson Az.
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 15:14:28 GMT


Well, now that its about the end of the summer (at least, I won't be on USENET
until fall semester starts for me), this is a good time for me to post the
results of my summer workouts.

I started out with a reasonable amount of muscle (I've been working out on
and off for about 2+ years, and before the summer started I was doing a lot
of high-reps low weight workouts). I weighed in at about 192 lbs, and I was
eating a lot of junk food and exercising aerobically an average of once a
week.

Anyway, at the beginning og June I started working out a very regular
schedule-- 3 days on and one day off. My program has developed into a
mass building program with lots of aerobic exercise:
	Day 1-	Chest (bench, incline, flat w/dumbells)
		Back (Chin-ups, Close grip lat pull downs, barbell rowers)
		Abs
		Stairmaster for 35 minutes at 70-85% max heart rate
	Day 2-  Legs (Squats, Leg Presses)
		Shoulders (Military press, 2 of side/front/rear raises,
			and shrugs for the traps)
	Day 3-	Biceps (standing straightbar curls, preacher curls,
			supinated curls w/ dumbells)
		Triceps (nosebreakers, dips, reverse pushdowns)
		Abs
		Stairmaster for 35 minutes
	Day 4-  rest

Most exercises I do for 3-5 sets, between 6-10 reps, warming up with lower
weights at 12 reps.

In addition to the above program, I began eating lowfat foods, and consuming
more protein. I am vegetarian, and I estimate that now I eat about 10-15% of
my calories from fat, and I probably eat between 80-100 grams a protein a
day. I haven't tallied my daily calorie intake.

Well, I am down to about 178 lbs now, and I have gotten a lot stronger and
I have more definition than at the beginning of the summer. (BTW, I am about
5'9"). I also made gains in my workouts for about 5 weeks straight before
beginning to plateau (and the I got sick just before I plateau-ed). I still
have a ways to go on the losing the fat, but I am definitely heading in the
right direction. (At one point about a year and half ago I was up to 215..)

Anyway, I just thought that you might all be interested.

Luther