The Fitness Adviser

I am doing an intense exercise routine in my apartment this winter. One of the days is such a pain in the butt that I really have to psych myself up to mentally prepare for it. The big challenge I have found with doing exercise at home is the ability to go easy on myself or finding an excuse to cut my workout short. It is much harder to justify cutting a workout short, when you drive to a gym. I'd like to discuss this a bit as well as get your comments and tips that you may have regarding exercising at home.

[The benefits of working out at home is the time you save. The downside is that you are the only person holding yourself accountable. It is so easy to simply find an excuse to cut your workout short, skip sets, etc.]

Ab Circle Pro sells for $199, Body by Jake Ab Scissor Ultra sells for $159, and the basic "old school" Ab Wheel sells for $10. The ironic thing is that cheap little ab wheels are more effective than either of these over priced, yet wildly popular, ab machines. The crazy thing is according to the merchant, over 700,000 Body By Jake Ab Scissors have been sold to date. Who knows how many Ab Circle Pro units have been sold, but it has to be a ton judging by all the recent infomercials on TV late at night or early in the morning.

[Getting flat abs or a a six pack is mainly about diet. The Ab Circle Pro advertises that you do "Cardio & Abs at the Same Time". Technically they aren't lying, except that the type of cardio performed will do very little if anything to make a difference.]

I am sure you have heard the excuse of a slow metabolism as a reason for putting on weight as people get older. I remember being pretty thin as a teenager and older relatives telling me to "enjoy it while you can". They would say things like, "I was thin just like you until I hit 30, then my metabolism slowed down". I was told "just wait until you are 30, then you will understand what we are talking about". So I am rolling up on 40 and didn't put on any weight in my 30's. I waited for that big metabolism slow down to hit me, but it never really happened. Was I just lucky or is something else going on here?

[I love black and white photos, especially when they are well done. I chose this particular photo because I love the lighting and shadowing. Plus this older gentleman looks great!]

I am going to dissect a recent Time magazine article called, "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin". I do agree with parts of this article, but think a lot of this is bogus. The author simply isn't taking a strategic approach to exercise and seems to be complaining for his lack of results. That being said, I do agree with a few of his points. Let's dig in!

[While staying lean and losing body fat is largely about diet, you can magnify the effects of a good diet with the right types of exercise. Note: The photo above is a good example of eating smaller portions of your favorite foods.]

A Brief Overview of the Article in Time Magazine

Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin <---click here to read the full article (opens in a new window). In this article, the author John Cloud complains about how he has been stuck at the same weight his entire life. He claims that no matter how hard he exercises he just can't get rid of the gut that hangs over his belt. He believes exercising "makes" him overeat and does the same for just about anyone who exercises. The rest of the article shows studies that try to prove his point.

Some of the Problems With the Article and Studies He Cites

Ryan Kwanten is an example of a guy who stays extremely fit without going anywhere near a gym. He also keeps a normal amount of muscle mass for his frame, while keeping his body fat low. The result is a physique that looks great in nice clothes as well as on the beach. True Blood is an extremely entertaining show by the way, me and my girlfriend are hooked. So let's talk more about Ryan Kwanten's workout and how he stays so lean.

[The cool thing about being slim and muscular is that you can look great in stylish clothing. You certainly don't have to be as slim as Ryan, but there really isn't a big need to go out of your way to add a bunch of muscle. Being the normal size for your frame with exceptional conditioning, will create a better look than endlessly pursuing muscle mass.]

 

For decades, fitness experts around the world have been debating whether or not you should mix up your workouts. Those who are in favor of it claim that by mixing up your workouts, you’re challenging your muscles in new ways and forcing them to adapt and grow in response. Those against it say that the most important thing is consistency, and mixing up your routine ruins that consistency.