HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: aw@sei.cmu.edu (Anne Wulffraat)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: step Reebok
Date: 1 Sep 92 19:03:36 GMT
Organization: Software Engineering Institute


Step aerobics is a great workout, and if done properly, it should not
effect your joints in anyway. However, doing it propoerly takes
concentration and effort, and since the body naturally tries to cheat, 
you can't slack off.

The main causes of joint/knee problems resulting from step are:

1. Too many risers under your bench. We all think more is better, but it's
not true in this case. The knee should never be lifted above a 90 degree
angle. Therefore, while your foot is resting on your bench, it should be at
an angle substantially less than 90 degrees.
2. Bad form. When you're calmly walking up and down the stairs, you are not
bouncing and hopping or inclining your body forward. You should never bounce
or spring when stepping off the bench. You can hop up, but not down. Since
I can't demonstrate the physics over a bboard, I hope you'll take my word
that you're stressing your knees by hopping down. Secondly, when people
get into the class, they step further off the back of the bench (a common
mistake even among instructors) and put the same increased pressure on the
knees.

The safest, most effective step workout is very controlled. Keep that in 
mind, keep your body aligned, and you'll be fine.

BTW, don't limit your exercise regimen to step aerobics only. You'll find you 
over-develop your quads (thighs) and under-develop your hamstrings (back of
leg). A combination of floor and step aerobics is better for you.

-Anne
(an aerobics instructor, among other things)
From: shedevil@vix.com (Anne P. Mitchell JD)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Stair Stepper Technique?
Date: 30 Aug 1992 22:23:10 -0700
Organization: Fathers' Rights & Equality Exchange
NNTP-Posting-Host: gw.home.vix.com


There are two techniques outlined in the "manual" which came with my
Stair Stepper... one is where your heel lifts off the "step" while in
the down stroke, so that the brunt of the down stroke is done with
the ball of your foot, the other is where your foot remains flat on
the "step" throughout the up and down strokes. 

Supposedly the former works more on your calves and general upper leg
and gluteus tone, while supposedly the latter really emphasizes your
upper and frontal thigh area.

Can anyone comment on the accuracy of this, and in general on stair
stepper technique?

-- 
   LOOKING FOR:  David Widdicombe, Hobson Woodward, Lorna Taylor & JJ Lancey
I am: Anne Mitchell, mom, & founder of the Fathers' Rights & Equality Exchange
Ask me about FREE!  FREE files available via anonymous ftp 128.45.1.1; dir /pub
	        	   CAPUT TUUM IN ANO EST
From: Mike_Gibson@mindlink.bc.ca (Mike Gibson)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Nordic-trac vs. Nordic-sport. ski machine
Date: 3 Sep 92 20:38:22 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

I am looking to purchase a ski machine to get a good work out.
Most people think that the Nordic track is the best unit available.

Does anyone know if the graphite "Sport" models are worth the extra money.
I've been considereing the Nordic trac "pro" model but the Nordic Sport people
are pushing their product as superior.

Any info. will be appreciated, thanks

Mike.

Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: harry@cv.hp.com (Harry Phinney)
Subject: Re: General Fitness
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 01:43:04 GMT

aw@sei.cmu.edu (Anne Wulffraat) writes:
: Do you see a lot of
: eating disorders and low self-images where you work out?

I work out on the roads and in a spare bedroom of my house.  I see no
eating disorders, but maybe some self image problems.  I focus my
training on bicycle racing, and regularly participate in races and group
training rides.  Most observers would not classify the participants as
suffering from low self images, but I do believe that most people at
least start out in sports primarily to boost their self esteem.

: It seems to be a trend among fitness 
: fanatics (evident even on the posts I've read here) to become intensely 
: focussed on one aspect of the fitness routine - i.e. body fat, perfect abs,
: weight, etc. and to lose the all-around focus necessary for real fitness.

Personally, I'm not overly concerned with all-around fitness.  I am
focused on training (and nutrition, etc.)  that will improve my
performance in the specific sport in which I compete.  I think this is
true for many of the body builders and power lifters who contribute to
this group, and most half-way serious/dedicated competitors in other
sports.

Harry Phinney   harry@hp-pcd.cv.hp.com
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: kbarss@scott.skidmore.edu (Kelly Barss)
Subject: Re: Weight Training
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 15:26:22 GMT

mmb@po.CWRU.Edu (Melina M. Barreca) writes:
> 
> 
> 
> I am just curious about the following.
> 
> I have been lifting weights for about a year and a half now, and
> as of May, have been lifting 6 times a week.  I really like the
> results I've obtained and am looking forward to even more.  Now
> here's my question:
> 
> If you have put yourself on a 6 day schedule, and then find it almost
> impossible to keep it up(schedule, folks, schedule), would doing two
> days lifting hurt muscle growth, i.e. lifting both legs and upper body
> on the same day.  I know you need to give your muscles time to grow
> while you're lifting, but I am running into a problem with my schedule
> (as well as the gym's hours) to keep lifting six days a week.  I 
> combined two of my workouts Saturday because I couldn't lift Friday
> and I felt fine.(It actually felt GREAT).
> 
> Any advice/help would be appreciated whether it be posted or e-mailed.
>

You should not be lifting 6 days in a row EVER!  You should do a 3 day on and 2 day off routine, or 2 day on 2 day off routine.  Your muscles do not grow while lifting, they grow while RESTING.  You should only be doing 2 or at the most 3 bodyparts a day, not 2 workout sessions in one day.  I can't believe you're getting any results at all.  If I were you, I'd change this schedule, but quick!

Kelly.

 
> -- 
> You say my eyes are crazy eyes
> Sometimes they are and so are you
> And if you wonder, what I would do, I would do anything if I could
> You know I would...
From: SSDC2@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU (J Green)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Fitness thoughts.
Date: 1 Sep 92 11:52:34 GMT

>From: becker@edwards-vax.af.mil
>>>>his PBS special, Covert Bailey talks about 12 minutes of x-country skiing,
>>>>15 minutes of jogging, and 40 minutes of walking as being what you should
>>>>aim for.
>
>ah huh, and there are many people who HATE jogging.....you see this is his
>theory of what he likes best not necessarily what is best for you.

i missed alot of the original stuff while i was on vacation, but i just
wanted to point something out. Covert Bailey does NOT mean that everyone
should choose jogging as his/her exercise. i believe the above paragraph
(he says similar stuff in The New Fit or Fat) is talking about comparisons
between different exercises, and how long it takes to for a given exercise
in order for it to be beneficial. there is a chart in tNFoF that gives the
minimum time you should do each of the best aerobic exercise, in order to
get best fat-burning results. the chart looks like this:

                       Aerobic Exercises

          I                     II                     III
       Required              Required               Required
     minimum time          minimum time           minimum time
      12 minutes            15 minutes             20 minutes
    ---------------      ------------------     ------------------
     jumping rope            jogging             outdoor bicycling
     jumping jacks           running             stationary bicycling
     chair stepping          dancing             ice skating
     x-country skiing        mini-trampoline     roller skating
     rowing                                      swimming

again, he is not saying that anyone must choose jogging (or any other
exercise) as their exercise. in fact, he stresses in his book that you
should choose an exercise(s) that you ENJOY, so that you'll have fun
and continue to exercise and stay fit!!!

i agree! :-)  (how can you argue with that?! :-)

Janice

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Janice Green, Research Programmer      Social Science Data Center   __o
Janice_Green@Brown.edu                 Brown University           _`\<,_
SSDC2@BROWNVM          -+||-----||+-   Providence, RI (USA)      (*)/ (*)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: mazur@inmet.camb.inmet.com (Beth Mazur)
Subject: Re: Fitness thoughts.
Organization: Intermetrics Inc, Cambridge MA
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 16:24:02 GMT

In <1992Aug31.064313.28897@edwards-vax.af.mil> becker@edwards-vax.af.mil writes:
>From: mazur@inmet.camb.inmet.com (Beth Mazur)
>
>>>>his PBS special, Covert Bailey talks about 12 minutes of x-country skiing,
>>>>15 minutes of jogging, and 40 minutes of walking as being what you should
>>>>aim for.
>>>
>ah huh, and there are many people who HATE jogging.....you see this is his
>theory of what he likes best not necessarily what is best for you.
>
I'm sorry, we're not communicating again...Bailey means that *if* you 
choose this activity, the times listed above are how long he recommends
you do them for maximum benefit--not that you must ski, jog or walk.  

>>>>As far as figuring out *your* target heart rate, the best way is to get
>>>>on a LifeStep and work up to a pace that you feel you could do for 20
>>>>minutes or so and that enables you to talk without gasping.  Now take 
>>>
>>>Now are you absolutely sure about that advise?  Too many people do 
>>>exactly what you just suggested and get NO fat reduction because its simply
>>>not happening.  
>>
>>Geez, you mean you haven't heard that people burn more fat exercising at
>>a lower intensity?
>
>Excuse me, the question was dealing with figuring your target heart rate, 
>a very important piece of the fat burning formula.  I have not ever exercised

If one assumes, as you do, that one is looking for "fat reduction" then it
makes sense to find one's heart rate at a lower intensity for two reasons.
One, more fat is burned, percentage-wise, than at a high intensity.  Two,
it is easier for an unfit person to keep going longer at a lower intensity.
This is why I suggest finding a target heart rate at a comfortable pace,
rather than one that is too strenuous.

I agree that those who are already fit should be working out harder.

Beth Mazur                   "...life is more than a vision.  The sweetest
mazur@inmet.inmet.com         part is acting after making a decision."
...!uunet!inmet!mazur                                  -- The Indigo Girls
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark)
Subject: Re: GNC Health Care Products
Date: Wed, 02 Sep 92 00:11:41 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland

GNC has stores in shopping malls throughout Virginia, Maryland, and
I'm not sure where else.

My opinion is that GNC is the worst of the worst of health-food
stores promoting quack remedies and misinformation to the public.
This is their specialty. They even stand at the entrance of their
stores passing out leaflets with misinformation about vitamins,
amino acids, etc, to people passing by.

Here's an example. For $25 they will sell you a small bottle of
vitamins and minerals in a solution intended to be mixed with
your drinking water. The product is called Optimin. I can't 
imagine a more expensive, foolish way for someone to meet their
vitamin/mineral needs.

By contrast, some of the better health-food stores (that are usually
non-franchised) at least carry dried beans, a good selection of
produce, books, and appliances.

Even if you like what GNC sells, their prices are not competitive.
Their prices are very high, at least in their retail stores.
From: Paco Ojeda <Paco_Ojeda_Gonzalez@macmailgw.dfci.harvard.edu>
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: step Reebok
Date: 1 Sep 1992 15:51:40 GMT
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: macdrf_43.dfci.harvard.edu
X-UserAgent: Nuntius v1.1.1d9
X-XXMessage-ID: <A6C90B8C3B014F9B@macdrf_43.dfci.harvard.edu>
X-XXDate: Tue, 1 Sep 92 16:59:08 GMT

In article <Btwnu4.JL0@news.cso.uiuc.edu> Nancy Lellenberg Bentrup,
nancyl@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu writes:
>Our university is offering a class called "Step Reebok" which includes
>20 minutes of "stepping" and 15 minutes of other exercise.  Does anyone
>know anything about this type of class/ form of exercise?  

Well, I take step class three times a week and it's a wonderful aerobic
exercise. I'd be curious to hear from any possible harmful effects to the
knees or joints.

    *****************************************************
    ** Paco Ojeda-Gonzalez                             **
    **                                                 **
    ** Paco_Ojeda_Gonzalez@macmailgw.dfci.harvard.edu  **
    *****************************************************
From: natali+@pitt.edu (Thomas J Natali)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Abominable Abdominals
Date: 27 Aug 92 22:02:09 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <19920826095247IZZYOA1@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU> IZZYOA1@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU writes:
>
>   OK HERE'S THE DILEMMA.  I DO A REASONABLE  AMOUNT OF ABDOMINAL
>  WORK.  BY NO ONE'S DEFINITION DO I HAVE A "SIX PACK", BUT IF I
> FLEX MY STOMACH THERE IS SOME NOTICABLE DEFINITION.  THE PROBLEM
> IS THAT ALL THE OTHER TIMES WHEN I'M NOT WORKING OUT OR FLEXING
> MY GUT HANGS OUT. I FLEX IT IS OK, I DON'T THEN ITS FLABBY. COULD
> THIS BE LACK OF TONE IN THAT AREA AND IF SO DOES THAT REQUIRE A
> SPECIAL TECHNIQUE OF EXERCISING THE ABDOMINALS?  PLEASE POST
> ME SOME ANSWERS PLEASE OR MAIL ME DIRECTLY.  MY ABS THANK YOU.
>
> R.P.   (IZZYOA1@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU)
>        I AM MALE, 20 YRS OLD.

Here's an idea that might work for you...
A friend of mine once told me to work my obliques as well as my lower back
in order to help develop a tight stomach.  He claimed that if you only work
your abs, you'll end up with strong abdominals that sag.  He said that the 
lower back, obliques, and abs are somehow all connected, therefore strengthening
the lower back and obliques will actually lend support to the abs.  ie. lifting
them and pulling them tight.  I don't know how true this explaination is, but
I do know it works pretty well for me.  
So try doing hyperbackextension (reverse sit-ups) and other exersizes that 
strengthen these other muscles. 

hope this helps,

Tom
From: kathy@fleance.UK.Sun.COM (Kathy Jago - Sun EHQ)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: re step Reebok
Date: 2 Sep 92 10:21:04 GMT
Reply-To: kathy@fleance.UK.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: fleance.uk.sun.com

Jane Littlehales writes

>>>>To increase the intensity I use small handweights (1.5 lb each) but often only
>>>>one block. You need to make sure you know the moves and are fit enough before
>>>experimenting wiht more than just stepping.

My personal experience is that handweights really increase the effectiveness of step, and is a wonderful
way of toning loose skin (I've lost a significant amount of weight over a 1 year period). HOWEVER, be very
careful when doing any kind of leaping/propulsion work (jacks, even on the floor, power steps, skips
across the board) with weights.  You can stress the muscles/joints very easily. 

Carry on stepping ....

Kathy
From: clong@remus.rutgers.edu (Chris Long)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Computerized Bodybuilding
Date: 28 Aug 92 19:17:25 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


I've been kicking this idea around for some time.  Basically, I'm
thinking about writing a program which, given the exercises you
are willing to do and poundages you can handle for them, would
prepare weekly workouts for you to do.  It would keep track of
anything special, like if you are going through light/heavy
cycles, or it could be set to output random exercises/sets/reps,
or even totally random (where you might end up not doing triceps
one week but three times some other week).  Ideally it would
also serve as a database, keeping track of your workouts and
adjusting suggestions accordingly.  It should also be able
to arrange supersets, giant sets, 1/3 reps, etc.

Any suggestions or comments?
-- 
Chris Long, 265 Old York Rd., Bridgewater, NJ  08807-2618

"In a study of schoolboys, an educator discovered a correlation between size
 of feet and quality of handwriting.  The boys with the larger feet were,
 on the average, older."        Wallis & Roberts, _The Nature of Statistics_
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: jreece@sousa.intel.com (John Reece)
Subject: TMJ surgery -jaws wired shut?
Reply-To: jreece@sousa.intel.com
Organization: Intel - Information Technologies
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 05:17:36 GMT


What exactly is TMJ surgery?  Is this the operation to
fix an underbite?


------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Reece			"Oop. Ack. Pfffthpt"	
Not an Intel spokesman 			- Bill the Cat
From: sasmith@galaxy.gov.bc.ca
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Chromium Picolinate: How does it work?
Date: 31 Aug 92 13:05:57 -0700
Organization: BC Systems Corporation

In article <839@jgaltstl.UUCP>, terry@jgaltstl.UUCP (terry linhardt) writes:
> Can anyone explain why Chromium Picolinate is supposed to work?
> That is, the claims are that it accelerates fat loss while maintaining
> lean body mass. A problem with most calorie reduction plans, of course,
> is that muscle is metabolized along with body fat.
> 
> So, what is going on inside the body that make Chromium Picolinate
> work? (If indeed it does work)
> 
	   I'd also be interested in hearing if there are any known 
       side effects (headaches, dehydration, etc). 
================================================================
       Steve Smith
       BC Systems Corporation
       Victoria, B.C.  Canada
       Internet: sasmith@bcsc02.gov.bc.ca
From: nananuku@ecs.umass.edu
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Muscular Soreness
Date: 23 Aug 92 10:41:48 GMT

  Here is an excerpt from "Fitness and Wellness: the physical
connection" 2nd edition by Frank D. Rosato (1990).

S.N.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Exercise and Sore Muscles
  Muscles may become sore during exercise (acute soreness) and/or
one to two days later (delayed soreness). Acute soreness is
probably the result of reduced blood flow to exercising muscles.
when muscles contract vigorously - as in weight training - blood
vessels constrict, inhibiting the delivery of oxygen and nutrients
as well as the removal of waste products.
  Delayed muscle soreness occurs 24 to 48 hours after a workout.
There are several possible explanations for this phenomenon, but
the most widely accepted of these is the tissue damage theory. 
Proponents of this theory state that exercise damages muscle
fibers and connective tissue, which in turn respond by swelling
and impinging upon nerves, resulting in soreness.
  Lactic acid accumulation in the muscles was thought to be 
involved in delayed soreness, but this is unlikely because
lactic acid is removed from muscles long before soreness occurs.
Secondly, activities which produce lactic acid do not necessarily
result in muscle soreness, while other activities produce no lactic
acid but considerable muscle soreness.
  Delayed muscle soreness occurs to untrained beginners, but it
also occurs to trained participants who overload excessively or
who change from one activity to another. It can be prevented or
minimized by exercising within your capacity and by overloading
in small increments. People trained in one activity should
approach new activities cautiously because their previous
training may not carry over to the new activity.
  The antidote to delayed muscle soreness involves stretching
exercises, light workouts, or complete rest. The best treatment
is prevention.

---------------------------------------------------------------


Organization: Masters student, Urban and Public Affairs, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Date: Wed,  2 Sep 1992 17:59:29 -0400 
From: Kimberly Sewright <ks57+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: step Reebok
	<1992Sep2.085214.15934@uqvax.cc.uq.oz.au>

Anything above an eight inch step WITH propulsion AND hand weights is
going to put a strain on your body. ESPECIALLY if the music is too fast
(above 126 bpm). Believe me, I know how it is when you are extremely fit
and you want to push yourself and you feel that the work-out is too easy
otherwise. But EVERYONE can modify a step routine to make it more
difficut by adding propulsion on an eight inch step and PICKING UP YOU
LEGS!! Do knees instead of taps, kicks instead of knees, etc.

It is hard to believe because you haven't had any problems....yet.
Sometimes overuse injuries take YEARS to materialize. Be excellent to
your body! 

PRACTICE SAFE STEP!!!!

Kim Sewright
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
From: starkid@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Lance Sanders)
Subject: Re: fast food choices
Organization: EnviraForm
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 21:25:16 GMT
X-Disclaimer:  Material posted in this article is the sole responsibility of
                the poster and does not represent MCSNet or the system owners.


On Tue, 18 Aug 1992 21:10:37 GMT, aweaver@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Andy Weaver),
in Message-ID: <1992Aug18.211037.14057@spdc.ti.com> writes:

>I have to eat cheap fast food at least one meal a day.

   I rarely feel like cooking after a long bike ride or weight-lifting 
session. 

   Not too much to choose from.

   McDonald's "Chicken Fajitas" were nice; grilled, marinated chicken 
strips, onions, tomatoes and a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. At .99, one of 
these w/ two large fries (hold the salt) were a good "hate-to-cheat" meal. 
Unfortunately, some bright boy at Hamburger U. decided they were losing 
money using identifiable chicken, and the fajitas were axed. 
   I feel anyone consuming ground (or processed) meat items at fast food 
palaces do so at their own risk, esp. in light of the lifting of the ban 
on foreign ground meat importation.

   There's a new franchise in Chicago, Cajun Joe's, that serves broiled 
chicken, greens, rice, corn muffins (delicious), beans, and biscuits. The 
greens are great, but overpriced; $2.29 for a large serving. 
 [you can rarely get cruciferae at fast food joints; the cole slaw at KFC 
  sucks, and they use "high-tech" bits of something in their greens - awful, 
  BTW] 

   I make a very large bowl of "Foode" at the beginning of the week 
(Creamettes, garlic, onions, cabbage, Northern beans and a 1/3 can of 
water-packed tuna), and store ind. servings in Baggies. 
   Two australian toaster biscuits w/orange marmalade, Foode, and plenty of 
water make a great pre-exercise meal. If I can't workout on time, I snarf a 
Power Bar about 30 min before the session.

   Starting to get in the habit of keeping marinated chicken breasts and 
catfish steaks on hand in the fridge, along with plenty of cruciferae 
(mainly broccoli and cabbage - cabbage raw in slaw; steamed broc.) for 
after-workout meals (and large quantities of cold brewskis). :) 

---------
Lance "Pardon me, but do you have any Kirin Dry?" Sanders
starkid@ddsw1.MCS.COM / GE Mail: L.Sander6 / Vox: (312) 667-5958


Newsgroups: misc.fitness