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Author Topic: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in  (Read 20480 times)

Kiero

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #45 on: August 19, 2022, 05:58:07 AM »
So, how does anyone who isn't a layabout manage to find time to dedicate to exercising?

My routine today:

0600: awake
0600 - 0630: SSS
0630: taking dog for morning constitutional
0645 - 0700: check work email while making coffee
0705 - 0715: drive to kennel to drop dog off for training
0720 - 0800: drive to office
0805 - 1305: work
1310 - 1400: lunch on drive home
1400 - 1700: work from home (actual work, not slacking)
1700 - 1730: drive to kennel to pick up dog and drive home
1745 - 1800: drive son to school for football- related meeting and return home
1800 - 1815: dinner (wife made butter chicken) and talk with wife and daughter
1815 - 1830: talk to wife
1830 - 1900: work teleconference with team in Australia
1930 - 2030: work teleconference with customers in Australia
2030 - 2130: poop, check personal email, surf internet, talk to wife
2130 - 2200: pick up son and friend from gym and come home
2215 - 0600: sleep

I work normal hours, from home, and don't spend hours a day in the car. Or try to get 8 hours sleep a night.

WTF is with your work pattern? 5 hours in the office, then 3 hours working at home, then 2 hours on teleconferences at night? 10 hour days, split up over the day preventing you getting anything else meaningful done, fuck that.

I have time to dedicate to exercise because I don't live to work, as you clearly do. Including the commute, you basically work 14 hour days, and sleep for around 8 hours. Leaving you about 2 hours of actual free time, so little wonder you can't fit exercise in.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2022, 06:01:30 AM by Kiero »
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3catcircus

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #46 on: August 19, 2022, 02:03:40 PM »
So, how does anyone who isn't a layabout manage to find time to dedicate to exercising?

My routine today:

0600: awake
0600 - 0630: SSS
0630: taking dog for morning constitutional
0645 - 0700: check work email while making coffee
0705 - 0715: drive to kennel to drop dog off for training
0720 - 0800: drive to office
0805 - 1305: work
1310 - 1400: lunch on drive home
1400 - 1700: work from home (actual work, not slacking)
1700 - 1730: drive to kennel to pick up dog and drive home
1745 - 1800: drive son to school for football- related meeting and return home
1800 - 1815: dinner (wife made butter chicken) and talk with wife and daughter
1815 - 1830: talk to wife
1830 - 1900: work teleconference with team in Australia
1930 - 2030: work teleconference with customers in Australia
2030 - 2130: poop, check personal email, surf internet, talk to wife
2130 - 2200: pick up son and friend from gym and come home
2215 - 0600: sleep

I work normal hours, from home, and don't spend hours a day in the car. Or try to get 8 hours sleep a night.

WTF is with your work pattern? 5 hours in the office, then 3 hours working at home, then 2 hours on teleconferences at night? 10 hour days, split up over the day preventing you getting anything else meaningful done, fuck that.

I have time to dedicate to exercise because I don't live to work, as you clearly do. Including the commute, you basically work 14 hour days, and sleep for around 8 hours. Leaving you about 2 hours of actual free time, so little wonder you can't fit exercise in.

The half days in the office are lesser of 2 evils.  My employer continues to allow people to telework except for those of us in a single office that gets a tax break from the state for being in an economically disadvantaged city (translation, help try and make this shithole city not so much of a shithole).  In order to qualify for the tax break, we have to physically have an ass in a seat 60% of the work week. We have a dog and a wife that works and are not made of money, so we crate the dog at home half the day 2 days a week and send to doggy daycare 2 days a week.  So - work full-day in the office Mon and Thu and half-day T/W.  Friday is a full work from home day. If we could afford to send the food to DDC 3 days a week, I would just work 3 days in the office and 2 days at home. But we're not going to crate her for a full 8 hrs straight.

Believe me - I don't live to work. I just happen to have a job where my day ends at the same time as my customers (who are representatives of foreign governments and their contractors) are just starting their day. When I have to travel to those places (ramping back up to pre-covid rates of 1-2 weeks every quarter), I love Mondays because nothing distracts me in Sunday night while I'm trying to sleep. Monday night is when everyone back home is starting their week so I don't have a wall of email until Tuesday morning...

oggsmash

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #47 on: August 19, 2022, 07:08:43 PM »
So what you are saying is..... You do have plenty of time to exercise on Fridays and weekends.  Geterdone.

3catcircus

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #48 on: August 19, 2022, 09:23:57 PM »
So what you are saying is..... You do have plenty of time to exercise on Fridays and weekends.  Geterdone.

Not always.  Today I had a half day, so after errands were done I was able to get in a hour long walk before eating an early dinner, dropping my son off at 1620 to pre-game football meeting, picked up the dog at 5pm, came home, and then left for his football game. Sitting in parking lot now waiting for my wife and daughter to finish working the post game pizza party.  Some Fridays are a full work day followed by volunteering to run concessions.  High school football (while not as crazy as it is if Texas) is basically from 4pm to 10pm Friday from start of getting the boys there in time to the locker room until picking them after the post game stuff. Away games can even take longer due to the travel.

Tomorrow we have training with the dog in the morning then we'll be at the beach the rest of the weekend.  I'll get exercise by proxy while at the beach - playing fetch with the dog, swimming, etc. 

But my point is this: there are people who are all about the gym, tan, laundry lifestyle, or whose schedule otherwise permit then to spend an hour (or more) say the gym every day.  I could too, if I didn't have familial obligations.
« Last Edit: August 20, 2022, 08:00:55 AM by 3catcircus »

Rob Necronomicon

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #49 on: August 19, 2022, 10:52:28 PM »
One of my mates always advocated staggered training throughout the day, mainly because he was so busy with his job and was on call a lot.

Basically, he would do sets of body exercises while waiting for the kettle to boil, or waiting for food to cook in the microwave, etc. Basically, whenever he had a few minutes and wasn't doing anything he'd be doing push-ups or something. So it never really ate into his day.

Not the best way to train, but it worked relatively well for him. I wouldn't have the discipline for that. I'd need a regular time and regime.

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Kyle Aaron

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #50 on: August 19, 2022, 10:56:58 PM »
  I would also argue a Squat and deadlift do a shitload more for punching power than a bench press.
I wouldn't know. What I do know is that I've trained a few cops and paramedics, and being stronger has kept them and their suspects/patients safer. Being stronger means they are less likely to injure themselves moving a patient or restraining a suspect, or just carrying around all the junk the bosses think is useful. Having a greater physical presence (adding muscle mass, improved posture) means the people they encounter are less likely to start trouble with them. As well, the improved confidence they get from the process of training (doing difficult things they thought they couldn't do) also discourages people from messing with them.

So on the whole, being stronger means they're less likely to have confrontations, which as most people apart from YouTube commenters know, is the best self-defence of all.

Of course, if it's a fight you're in by choice, whether for sport or street aggro, that's another matter. And again I'm not a fighter so I wouldn't know - but I do know enough that there are weight classes and gender splits in fighting for a reason.

The exact specifics of bench vs press vs squat or whatever, well that's not relevant for most. When a woman comes in on her first day and can't press the 20kg bar or squat 40kg, or a man 30 and 60 - the exact lift they need to do the best for their particular application of strength isn't really relevant, they're just weak overall.

3-6 months later when they've not only hit those numbers but doubled them it might be relevant.
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oggsmash

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #51 on: August 20, 2022, 04:56:23 AM »
So what you are saying is..... You do have plenty of time to exercise on Fridays and weekends.  Geterdone.

Not always.  Today I had a half day, so after errands were done I was able to get in a hour long walk before eating an early dinner, dropping my son off at 1620 to pre-game 0reo, picked up the food at 5pm, came home, and then left for his football game. Sitting in parking lot now waiting for my wife and daughter to finish working the post game pizza party.  Some Fridays are a full work day followed by volunteering to run concessions.  High school football (while not as crazy as it is if Texas) is basically from 4pm to 10pm Friday from start of getting the boys there in time to the locker room until picking them after the post game stuff. Away games can even take longer due to the travel.

Tomorrow we have training with the dog in the morning then we'll be at the beach the rest of the weekend.  I'll get exercise by proxy while at the beach - playing fetch with the dog, swimming, etc. 

But my point is this: there are people who are all about the gym, tan, laundry lifestyle, or whose schedule otherwise permit then to spend an hour (or more) say the gym every day.  I could too, if I didn't have familial obligations.

  I am talking 3-4 hours a week here, not instagram steroid tanned fairy tales.  I think there is room for something well below those fairy tales that is useful regarding a time obligation.

oggsmash

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #52 on: August 20, 2022, 04:58:14 AM »
  I would also argue a Squat and deadlift do a shitload more for punching power than a bench press.
I wouldn't know. What I do know is that I've trained a few cops and paramedics, and being stronger has kept them and their suspects/patients safer. Being stronger means they are less likely to injure themselves moving a patient or restraining a suspect, or just carrying around all the junk the bosses think is useful. Having a greater physical presence (adding muscle mass, improved posture) means the people they encounter are less likely to start trouble with them. As well, the improved confidence they get from the process of training (doing difficult things they thought they couldn't do) also discourages people from messing with them.

So on the whole, being stronger means they're less likely to have confrontations, which as most people apart from YouTube commenters know, is the best self-defence of all.

Of course, if it's a fight you're in by choice, whether for sport or street aggro, that's another matter. And again I'm not a fighter so I wouldn't know - but I do know enough that there are weight classes and gender splits in fighting for a reason.

The exact specifics of bench vs press vs squat or whatever, well that's not relevant for most. When a woman comes in on her first day and can't press the 20kg bar or squat 40kg, or a man 30 and 60 - the exact lift they need to do the best for their particular application of strength isn't really relevant, they're just weak overall.

3-6 months later when they've not only hit those numbers but doubled them it might be relevant.
 
   From a do know perspective, strong legs and hips matter more in anything expressing power in rotation (like a punch) of said hips and pivot of feet than a bench press.   However I 100 percent agree that stronger people are more useful than weak people, and folks looking to start shit prefer weak to strong 1000 percent.

3catcircus

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #53 on: August 20, 2022, 07:58:43 AM »
So what you are saying is..... You do have plenty of time to exercise on Fridays and weekends.  Geterdone.

Not always.  Today I had a half day, so after errands were done I was able to get in a hour long walk before eating an early dinner, dropping my son off at 1620 to pre-game football meeting, picked up the dog at 5pm, came home, and then left for his football game. Sitting in parking lot now waiting for my wife and daughter to finish working the post game pizza party.  Some Fridays are a full work day followed by volunteering to run concessions.  High school football (while not as crazy as it is if Texas) is basically from 4pm to 10pm Friday from start of getting the boys there in time to the locker room until picking them after the post game stuff. Away games can even take longer due to the travel.

Tomorrow we have training with the dog in the morning then we'll be at the beach the rest of the weekend.  I'll get exercise by proxy while at the beach - playing fetch with the dog, swimming, etc. 

But my point is this: there are people who are all about the gym, tan, laundry lifestyle, or whose schedule otherwise permit then to spend an hour (or more) say the gym every day.  I could too, if I didn't have familial obligations.

  I am talking 3-4 hours a week here, not instagram steroid tanned fairy tales.  I think there is room for something well below those fairy tales that is useful regarding a time obligation.

Kyle Aaron

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #54 on: August 21, 2022, 02:14:08 AM »
That makes sense, oggsmash. As I think I've mentioned before, in my work I focus on the first 50% - in terms of fraction of world record. Take someone from their starting 10% of WR deadlift and 5km travel to 50%, and you've got a totally different person. Even 25% for the 60+ crowd.

And for the 3catcircuses of the world, the 25% doesn't take much. Without quibbling over a few seconds or kg here and there,

Women
Deadlift 0-60, 60-120, 120-180, 180-240kg
5km travel 56'+, 42-56', 28-42', 14-28'

Men
Deadlift 0-80, 80-160, 160-240, 240-320
5km travel 50'+, 38-50', 25-38', 13-25'

25-50% can be done on just a couple of workouts a week - indeed, some under-50s with a history of being more-or-less active can do it on their first day. It can be done with barbells, kettlebells, machines, bodyweight, whatever suits you. You just have to do it regularly - not hard or daily.

50-75% usually takes some focused effort. 75+% is serious athletes doing a 5x5 programme (5 days a week for at least 5 years).

But it's that 25-50% where you're going to feel training's really making a difference to your quality of life, any social sports you do, etc.

But either way, it's obvious 3catcircus needs a new job. Lots of people get sucked into jobs like that.
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oggsmash

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #55 on: August 21, 2022, 08:13:02 AM »
  Something I have seen a lot of guys who promote strength training and seem more "hardcore" talk about is how they have an ever growing client list of people over 50 and really booming at 60+ who have never lifted any weights.   The changes they talk about older people doing with a couple training sessions a week are as you say Kyle, life changing.  I always concerned myself with breaking parallel with 500 on a squat and never thought how a little more strength makes a MASSIVE difference for a person who is 70 with regard to independence/mobility/quality of life.

Kiero

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #56 on: August 23, 2022, 07:18:14 AM »
It is to everyone's benefit not to suffer from sarcopenia as they age. Getting weaker is always bad.
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Kyle Aaron

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #57 on: August 23, 2022, 08:10:26 AM »
I always concerned myself with breaking parallel with 500 on a squat and never thought how a little more strength makes a MASSIVE difference for a person who is 70 with regard to independence/mobility/quality of life.
For you as a 70yo it won't be life-changing, because you've established the foundation now. I suppose if you really tried you could fuck it all up with enough years of sitting around drinking beer, but that's unlikely.

But for someone who's been previously sedentary, just deadlifting bodyweight and being able to walk 3-4 miles in an hour - totally changes their life. Like I trained one guy, Shubroto. He comes along at 67yo, never lifted before, some significant health issues. Anyway, clearance from his cardiologists and all and off we go. A few months go by and he squats 40kg, presses 20kg, deadlifts 60kg.
"How are you feeling with it all?"
"Great! Each Sunday I play with my grandchildren. I used to fear picking them up, that something in my chest or back would pop. I no longer feel that fear - and more importantly, I don't see that fear in my son's eyes, he just says, "pick them up, dad.""
So we helped an old man have a better family day.

Compare: we had this young guy Matt come, in 18 months he squatted 230, benched 135, deadlifted 250kg. Pretty good. Thing is, though: when he started he already squatted 165. Now, I'd like to think he progressed more quickly with us than he would have on his own, he had some fun competing and so on. More importantly, he got all this progress without even a minor injury along the way - and that's not usual, as oggsmash will know - if you push close to your personal limits for long enough, something will pop. But he didn't, and I believe that's to your credit.

But... he already squatted 165. Matt was going to be okay. But Shubroto? Without us, he's one of those blokes on a walking frame in his mid-70s.

Helping someone have a better day with their family vs someone pulling a quarter-tonne. Both are worthy things, but... well... First 50%.

And that really doesn't take a huge amount of dedication or time. Ideally, you do it when you're younger. It's muscular superannuation. The earlier you can lay it down and start seeing the interest compound on it, the better.

I said to a couple in their 60s tonight: "Either you lift weights now, or one of you will be lifting the other as their carer ten years from now. It's up to you whether you do it here or somewhere else, but you have to do it somewhere." 

This shit's really important. If more people did it, we'd have a much smaller Medicare bill, that's for sure. Make time, boys and girls. Talk to a friend, eat 3 cups of vegies and go for a 30-60' brisk walk every day, squat to your chair for 3 lots of 10 times. Anything else is a bonus.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2022, 08:12:30 AM by Kyle Aaron »
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oggsmash

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #58 on: August 23, 2022, 11:23:10 AM »
Funny thing is, I have never injured myself lifting weights, even serious strength training past a minor pull.  I have been injured in sports training/competition and for the most part always when I was not as strong/conditioned.  I do think keeping a competive powerlifter healthy says a lot about being smart though.  I have certainly avoided injury weight training in my youth more through luck than smart.  I honestly think for those who have never engaged, strength training is probably the best exercise hitting 50+ could decide to take up.   But as mentioned by Kyle, seek a professional (and every one who is a certified trainer is IMO not always the right professional) who understands older lifters (especially older novices).

Thorn Drumheller

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Re: Preferred Exercises or Fitness Activities the Forum engages in
« Reply #59 on: August 27, 2022, 03:53:39 PM »
For me it's walking (try for every day but if I get in three days I don't feel so guilty LOL), and resistance/pull up assistance bands.
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