Six Pack Abs [Archive] - SciForums.com

phlogistician

03-03-09, 11:04 AM

I want'em.

Who's got'em?

How'd ya get'em?

:D

It's more about diet than exercise. Sure, you need to have some muscle there, but you also need to have very low body fat.

I used to do 600 sit ups/crunches etc a day. My top row showed, I had 'marble runs' on my abdomen, but the leanness didn't meet in the middle. That was largely down to to age and diet on my part, and while I'm a tad vain, I wasn't willing to cut out all the fun things I like eating and drinking to look totally ripped.

clusteringflux

03-03-09, 11:15 AM

It's more about diet than exercise. Sure, you need to have some muscle there, but you also need to have very low body fat.

I used to do 600 sit ups/crunches etc a day. My top row showed, I had 'marble runs' on my abdomen, but the leanness didn't meet in the middle. That was largely down to to age and diet on my part, and while I'm a tad vain, I wasn't willing to cut out all the fun things I like eating and drinking to look totally ripped.

Is it something you can put a calorie count on, or is it more about the person's metabolism?

Btw, how did you break up (if at all) the 600 reps? 10 straight minutes of crunches may put me in the ICU. :o

Enmos

03-03-09, 11:16 AM

clusteringflux

03-03-09, 11:20 AM

I love good beer. It may be a lost cause.

Course, red wine is a great alternative.

phlogistician

03-03-09, 11:27 AM

I love good beer. It may be a lost cause.

Course, red wine is a great alternative.

I love red wine, and no six pack for me.

phlogistician

03-03-09, 11:33 AM

Is it something you can put a calorie count on, or is it more about the person's metabolism?

Metabolism plays a role, yeah. I'm 40, so not exactly in a calorie burning premium position like I was 20 years ago when I had a 28" waist. Cut down on bread (in case you are a mild Celiac, it can slow your metabolism) and don't mix carbs. Have bread, or rice, but don't mix in the same meal, as digesting both is inefficient and can cause fat build up.

Btw, how did you break up (if at all) the 600 reps? 10 straight minutes of crunches may put me in the ICU. :o

Three types of sit up, 50 reps each, four times a day. I work from home, and have a t-bar on my office door, so it's easy to just get down and do them when I get a few minutes, and that's all it takes. I don't do 600 now, seems little point, as I never got the six pack.

cosmictraveler

03-03-09, 12:24 PM

You have to really keep in shape to maintain the 6 pax as well, so once you ever get them, you'll be working very hard to keep them. :itold:

mikenostic

03-03-09, 01:25 PM

You have to really keep in shape to maintain the 6 pax as well, so once you ever get them, you'll be working very hard to keep them. :itold:

Nope. I'm 36. I do not go to the gym. I used to but it's been well over four years. I do no crunches or situps at home.
I have been lucky to have a very fast metabolism.
Aside from my work and working on my bike trail most every Saturday, I am pretty lethargic.

Genetics also play a big part in it. If you come from a heavy set family, and you are thus heavy set yourself, you are going to have to work much, much harder than someone who has a fast metabolism and comes from a skinny family.
In fact, genetics may prevent you from ever having a full blown six pack, short of dedicating your every free moment to having and keeping a toned physique.

Metabolism plays a role, yeah. I'm 40, so not exactly in a calorie burning premium position like I was 20 years ago when I had a 28" waist. Cut down on bread (in case you are a mild Celiac, it can slow your metabolism) and don't mix carbs. Have bread, or rice, but don't mix in the same meal, as digesting both is inefficient and can cause fat build up.
Phlo,
I can eat nothing but Mickey D's, Sonic and Arbys for two weeks straight and my stomach/abs will not change.
I have a 32 inch waist. When I was a senior in HS, I had a 32 inch waist.
Like I said, I'm 36, and I don't see my physique changing much in the next 4 years. If my metabolism hasn't slowed down by now, it probably never will.

Three types of sit up, 50 reps each, four times a day. I work from home, and have a t-bar on my office door, so it's easy to just get down and do them when I get a few minutes, and that's all it takes. I don't do 600 now, seems little point, as I never got the six pack.
Because sit-ups aren't as effective as crunches. Sit-ups also hit your hip flexors. And putting your hands behind your head; when you come up like that, your hands tend to push your head forward and that puts a LOT of strain on your neck and upper back.
All you need to do is lay on your back, lift your knees up with your feet flat on the floor, fold your arms across your chest, then contract your abs. As soon as your shoulder blades come off the floor, that is one rep. Then lay back down and repeat.
Crunches isolate your abs and remove the strain that sit-ups place on your neck.
Also, if you are not dieting properly, you'll never lose the layer of fat that covers up your abs to begin with. Defined abs mean jack shit when you have a three inch layer of 'beer gut' fat covering them.

leopold99

03-03-09, 01:37 PM

I want'em.

Who's got'em?

How'd ya get'em?

:D
by drawing water from a 250 foot well with a bucket and rope when i was a kid.
BTW i hated "wash day", the bucket only held 2.5 gallons.

edit:
the well was actually closer to 25 feet but hey i was a kid.
it certainly felt like 250 feet after drawing about 15 or so buckets from the damn thing.

clusteringflux

03-03-09, 01:41 PM

Do a lot of crunches.

http://www.5min.com/Video/10-min-Six-Pack-Abs-Workout-That-Actually-Works-24884614

Thanks for the link , Enmos.

Mike,
Do you watch your fat intake generally speaking? My matabolism has slowed quite a bit in the past couple years. I can get by on about half the food I used to. But it's as if ,at the same time, I have a much easier time building muscle than I used to.

I have always been thin but with that little roll beneath the belly button, or as the wife calls it "the chub". That would be a tough spot to whip into shape.

clusteringflux

03-03-09, 01:47 PM

by drawing water from a 250 foot well with a bucket and rope when i was a kid.
BTW i hated "wash day", the bucket only held 2.5 gallons.

Whoa!

Where did you grow up?

cosmictraveler

03-03-09, 01:54 PM

Whoa!

Where did you grow up?

I'll guess not near a river, stream or lake. :D

leopold99

03-03-09, 02:07 PM

Whoa!

Where did you grow up?
kentucky, the black hole of north america. why?

Enmos

03-03-09, 02:08 PM

I'll guess not near a river, stream or lake. :D

What's that, Steamboat Willy ? :D

clusteringflux

03-03-09, 02:43 PM

kentucky, the black hole of north america. why?

I had to put a mental picture with that statement. At first I was entertaining the thought of a little brown kid in a tribal desert village (it's a big board,ya know).
But no, Kentucky is great. I remember a funeral for one of my relatives in a cow pasture on a beautiful hillside. I remember noting that many of the people there looked as if they hadn't had running water, either.

All true, I swear it.

visceral_instinct

03-03-09, 02:55 PM

I kind of have one, more of a 4 pack, but those segments are just about visible.

leopold99

03-03-09, 10:30 PM

But no, Kentucky is great. I remember a funeral for one of my relatives in a cow pasture on a beautiful hillside. I remember noting that many of the people there looked as if they hadn't had running water, either.
let me guess, the eastern half right?
All true, I swear it.
you don't have to convince me, i lived it.

Michael

03-03-09, 11:45 PM

I dropped from 85kg to what I weight now 79kg and I do like to go to the gym 4d/wk but for me I have to get into the 77kg before some decent lower abs pop up. I think it's all about diet.

Idle Mind

03-03-09, 11:57 PM

It's not going to be all about one thing or another. A select few won't have to work for it (like mikenostic, for example), but for most of us poor people, it's going to be a combination of a proper healthy diet, free of excesses, and a solid workout routine. For the most part, abs are difficult to work out effectively in such a way that you will increase their size, but they are also covered with fat most of the time. So, the best way to have them defined is to lose that fat. How you do so is up to you, but it will likely be a combination of diet and exercise.

CutsieMarie89

03-04-09, 12:12 AM

If I tighten my abdominal muscles I can see them really well, but I guess that probably doesn't count. My boyfriend has them though and he doesn't have to flex anything, unlike me.

Repo Man

03-04-09, 12:24 AM

Women don't put on weight on their abdomen the way that men do. They put weight on their hips first, but our abs are the first thing to get covered. Even when I weighed 180 to 185 (at 6'3"), and rode my bicycle 200 to 250 miles a week, I could only see the top of my abs.

But that's ok anyway. Six pack abs on women are too much for me. I prefer that they have a smooth stomach, and I think most men agree.

mikenostic

03-04-09, 09:24 AM

If I tighten my abdominal muscles I can see them really well, but I guess that probably doesn't count. My boyfriend has them though and he doesn't have to flex anything, unlike me.

That technically doesn't count, but you're still onto something.
What you just described can be used to your advantage.
If you want to exercise your abs, just tighten them, hold it for about 3 seconds, then let go. Repeat.
You can do this sitting at your desk, standing in line, walking down the sidewalk, anywhere.
I used to do those, but now, to be honest, I watch a lot of funny shows and laugh quite a bit. That helps just a bit too.

But that's ok anyway. Six pack abs on women are too much for me. I prefer that they have a smooth stomach, and I think most men agree.
Agreed. If it's too six-packy, they start to look mannish.
I also think a tiny, tiny little pooch is sexy too. Little imperfections like that make the person seem more human and less an airbrushed magazine model. Real is sexy.

iceaura

03-04-09, 09:40 AM

I'm male, and I put on fat on my hips and butt first, and then internally. Even now, aging, the fat is adding on the inside mostly.

I had what the kids call 6-pac abs from sometime in my early teens to sometime in my early forties (didn't notice the change until it had happened). I got them by genetics and general physical activity, especially fooling around on the parallel bars at the high school (there was no gym team, the school just left the bars set up in the corner. Those were the days - you'd probably get sued now).

By the time you can glide kip to an L, hold for ten, then pike press to a handstand on the parallel bars, you will have 6-pac abs. And more fun than the general workout routines.

The loss of elasticity with aging costs in cosmetics and spring before it costs in strength - I'm grateful to my youthful self for building a stock of strength to draw down on. If cosmetics is your goal, it's better than no motive.

clusteringflux

03-04-09, 09:42 AM

But that's ok anyway. Six pack abs on women are too much for me. I prefer that they have a smooth stomach, and I think most men agree.

Apparently I'm turned on by stretch marks. My wife's stomach looks like Freddy Krueger's practice corpse.

But hey, four kids and still a size 4, I can't bitch too much.

MacGyver1968

03-04-09, 09:51 AM

I had bronchitis or some other persistance cough for an entire summer once. I coughed and coughed and coughed all summer long. I actually coughed myself a six-pack. But it didn't last...I'm back to a keg.

clusteringflux

03-04-09, 09:54 AM

By the time you can glide kip to an L, hold for ten, then pike press to a handstand on the parallel bars, you will have 6-pac abs.

Lol, well that should only take .....the rest of my life.

clusteringflux

03-04-09, 10:00 AM

Now, I'm leaning toward this guy's approach.

http://www.vouspensez.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/six_pack.jpg

iceaura

03-04-09, 11:06 AM

Lol, well that should only take .....the rest of my life. Mine would be shortened by a serious attempt. But the recommendation was for the kids - even the slackest of them could get there in a year or so. Youth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSIuwAcgbVs&feature=related about my level, although I was a bit less strained.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPesl6xwK0A where it goes from there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1ho6_Qlvsw&NR=1 in context
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flZgqUcZyU8&feature=related there's a quick glide kip to an L about 34 seconds in.

Orbit

03-04-09, 03:33 PM

clusteringflux

03-04-09, 03:50 PM

I would recommend not aiming for getting a 6 pack, since you actually already have an 8 pack. You can exercise to increase their size, but i would say you need to get your body fat % to 15-20% before you even start trying that. An good exercise regime including CV strength conditioning, and body weight free weight training is the best way forwards. Try doing 3 sets of CV a week, and a circuit session every other day.
A good circuit would include 8-10 exercises, performed for 15-30 seconds each. Once you complete the first circuit take a 3 minute rest, have some water and repeat. try and get 3-5 reps in there.
Make sure you balance out your exercises and dont just exercise your abs or you will become unbalanced, like those guys with massive arms and skinny legs, which to a woman, looks awful, believe me. Join an gym and get a PT to give you a good exercise regime to get to your goals and STICK TO IT, dont just give up after a month, it takes a long time to really get anywhere.

And i can't stress the importance of eating well to match what you aim to do. :)

Thanks.
I don't know what a circuit session is, though. Could you give me a little more info on that?

I don't know what my body fat % is but it has to be pretty low. My eating habits are decent as well. For instance today I've eaten:

1 turkey tenderloin cutlet (approx 1/2" x 2" x 3")
1 serving of broccoli (cooked)
1 grapefruit
1 diet coke
4 cups black coffee
1 handful unshelled sunflower seeds

And then I fell and had a snack size bag of BBQ chips.:o
I haven't eaten dinner yet.

mikenostic

03-04-09, 03:52 PM

I would recommend not aiming for getting a 6 pack, since you actually already have an 8 pack. You can exercise to increase their size, but i would say you need to get your body fat % to 15-20% before you even start trying that. An good exercise regime including CV strength conditioning, and body weight free weight training is the best way forwards. Try doing 3 sets of CV a week, and a circuit session every other day.
A good circuit would include 8-10 exercises, performed for 15-30 seconds each. Once you complete the first circuit take a 3 minute rest, have some water and repeat. try and get 3-5 reps in there.
Make sure you balance out your exercises and dont just exercise your abs or you will become unbalanced, like those guys with massive arms and skinny legs, which to a woman, looks awful, believe me. Join an gym and get a PT to give you a good exercise regime to get to your goals and STICK TO IT, dont just give up after a month, it takes a long time to really get anywhere.

And i can't stress the importance of eating well to match what you aim to do. :)

Agreed. Although let me elaborate on the bold statement. For all the ab training you do, you must also match that with your back muscles. Not so much the lats per se, but the rhomboids and especially the erector spinae.
Not balancing those exercises out can cause all sorts of back problems.
What happens is that your abs get so strong and tight that they start pulling against your back and can affect your posture. Well, when you try to compensate for that, your back muscles have to work even harder to off set the power imbalance from your abs. Now, unlike your back muscles, your abs are a non-jointed muscle, so you can work them everyday. You cannot do this with jointed muscles, especially the erector spinae, due to the fragility of your spine.

clusteringflux

03-04-09, 03:55 PM

Agreed. Although let me elaborate on the bold statement. For all the ab training you do, you must also match that with your back muscles. Not so much the lats per se, but the rhomboids and especially the erector spinae.
Not balancing those exercises out can cause all sorts of back problems.
What happens is that your abs get so strong and tight that they start pulling against your back and can affect your posture. Well, when you try to compensate for that, your back muscles have to work even harder to off set the power imbalance from your abs. Now, unlike your back muscles, your abs are a non-jointed muscle, so you can work them everyday. You cannot do this with jointed muscles, especially the erector spinae, due to the fragility of your spine.

Holy smokes! That's good to know.

What kinds of back exercises would you suggest?

mikenostic

03-04-09, 04:16 PM

Holy smokes! That's good to know.

What kinds of back exercises would you suggest?

Back extensions are my favorite. They are more or less the exact opposite of a crunch/sit up.
This is what a back extension machine looks like:
http://bodybuilderfitness.com/library/Powerline_Back_Hyper_Extension_Roman_Chair_PCH24X. jpg

You can also use a Swiss ball:
http://www.sissel-online.com/images/exercises/back_extension_ball2.jpg
You can also just stand up straight with some light dumbells in each hand, then just bend over while keeping your arms relaxed. You will also need to keep your back straight when you do lean over. You can accomplish this by keeping your head facing forward (even when bending over), and not bending over more than 90 degrees (i.e. back parallel to the ground).
Before you start doing this, if you're past a certain age or are known to have back problems, consult your doc or just be careful when you do these exercises.

clusteringflux

03-04-09, 04:35 PM

Great stuff, Mike.

Thanks, again.

Michael

03-04-09, 10:20 PM

mikenostic,

I use to do back extension but during that time I got sciatica.
:(

I don't know if one led to the other, but it took a long time and a lot of stretching to go away. It's not gone but I don't do that workout anymore.

phlogistician

03-05-09, 08:50 AM

If you want to exercise your abs, just tighten them, hold it for about 3 seconds, then let go. Repeat.
You can do this sitting at your desk, standing in line, walking down the sidewalk, anywhere.

It's amazing how much exercise you can fit into your every day doings. I exercise abs, or do balance exercises while waiting for the kettle to boil. It all adds up.

mikenostic

03-05-09, 11:00 AM

mikenostic,

I use to do back extension but during that time I got sciatica.
:(
I just looked that up....OUCH!
But yeah, like I mention above, you have to be careful with those kinds of back exercises.
In hindsight, I should have mentioned that the back extensions isn't really a beginner exercise for that. You should start with the exercise I mention of just getting a pair of LIGHT dumbells and lean over, repeat.
But. BUT, if you have any sort of spinal issues, you might want to tread VERY lightly with those types of exercises....like I mention check with your doc first.

I don't know if one led to the other, but it took a long time and a lot of stretching to go away. It's not gone but I don't do that workout anymore.
I agree.
Oh, one other exercise I forgot that you might be able to do is the 'superman'.
Lay flat on your stomach (prone) with arms stretched out (like superman flying). Then arch your back (by lifting your hands and feet off the ground as high as you can simultaneously). This also works your erector spinae, but since it has a much narrower range of motion than extensions, it may be much better on your spine. HOWEVER, if you have spinal problems to begin with, consult your doc before you try those.

Michael

03-05-09, 07:03 PM

I've seen that one. I suppose you are lucky, being the same age as me, I know a lot of people that have sciatica or other back problems that come and go. I kind of wonder that maybe I built up the lower back muscles and slowly these put pressure on my sciatic nerve. Also, I am 100% convinced sitting in this shitty arse office chair all f*cking day is killing me. I'm buying a new chair next year and writing it off on taxes.

Because I hate to do stomach exercises I now have a 10-12 min routine I do that seems to work well enough.

First: 75 setups forward, 40 to the left, 40 to the right.
stretch.
repeat.
stretch.
second: get in that crunch-like position to do a crunch (lay on your back, legs are lifted and knees bent) place a 4kg (I think it's 4) medicine ball on your legs/ankles. Straighten your legs and lower the ball but don't let your heels touch the floor. Then forcefully lift the ball and toss it from the top of your ankles and catch it and let the ball continue the motion over your head. Slow it down until it's just above the floor. Don't let it touch. Lift the ball back over your head and place it onto your ankles which then are lowered towards the floor completing 1 repetition.

The motion takes a bit to get used to but once you get going it's a smooth flow.

repeat 25 times.
Immediately follow with 15-25 leg lifts. (use the ball as a counterweight balance)
stretch
repeat 25 times + leg lifts
stretch
(maybe one more set earlier in week ,if not leave, you are done)
done.

I'm not sure what's that called but I saw someone do it and now I do it every day I work out (4d/wk). It's very fast so I like it.
You should feel a good rip every time. If not, get a heavier ball.

Absane

03-05-09, 11:36 PM

I want'em.

Who's got'em?

How'd ya get'em?

:D

I got a thick 4-6 pack.. depending on the day.

And I say "thick" because I have a good bit of fat covering my abs but I am so blessed with fat distribution than I can fake a six pack and look lean.

But I don't really care for a six pack... it's an obsession for 14 year old girls. My concern is to look like a man and not a 12 year old boy. Part of this is to lean up some.. I'm slowly getting fat and I don't find this acceptable. So, I am doing a lot of hiking and I am starting back up on my pullups. When I get leaner, I will, of course, have a six pack... and I'll probably use it to my advantage... why wouldn't I? But, it is not my motivation.

sixpackabs

03-12-09, 04:16 AM

Roman

03-12-09, 07:39 AM

How many pull ups are you up to, Absane?

John99

03-12-09, 08:06 AM

mikenostic

03-12-09, 09:04 AM

I've seen that one. I suppose you are lucky, being the same age as me, I know a lot of people that have sciatica or other back problems that come and go.
Whoa. Hold on there. I'm by far not w/o lower back pain. I've had my share of back issues. I got a pinched nerve in my neck/upper back when I was on active duty. It was bad enough that I had to tilt my head to the left to avoid pain. I have to go to the chiropractor every few months to have him pop my vertebrae.

I kind of wonder that maybe I built up the lower back muscles and slowly these put pressure on my sciatic nerve. Also, I am 100% convinced sitting in this shitty arse office chair all f*cking day is killing me. I'm buying a new chair next year and writing it off on taxes.
Slumping in an office chair is so bad for your back. I did the same thing a couple of years ago at my last place of work. I slumped and leaned to the right. I did that for about two weeks then one day I woke up and the right side of my lower back (erector spinae) was pulled. I had to walk with my upper half leaning to the right to avoid pain. I just stretched it to the best I could for a few days until it worked itself out.

First: 75 setups forward, 40 to the left, 40 to the right.
No sit ups dude. Period. People with back problems are the last people to be doing sit ups. You are getting nothing out of situps that you can't get from doing crunches.

mikenostic

03-12-09, 09:06 AM

Thanks for the wonderful forum. I think to get the desired six pack abs, the recommended exercise is should be performed everyday. You should go to six pack website to Know more about six pack abs. :):)

Abs don't need to be worked everyday, but since they are a non-jointed muscle, they are one of the scant few muscle groups you can work everyday w/o detriment to the muscles. Your calves are another muscle group that can be worked everyday.

phlogistician

03-12-09, 12:02 PM

People with back problems are the last people to be doing sit ups. You are getting nothing out of situps that you can't get from doing crunches.

Ah yeah, earlier when I said 'different situps' I do regular sit ups, crunches, and then rotation from a half sit up, touching opposite toes.

I too have trapped by sciatica, and displaced a vertebra previously, so have to be careful.

mikenostic

03-12-09, 12:09 PM

Ah yeah, earlier when I said 'different situps' I do regular sit ups, crunches, and then rotation from a half sit up, touching opposite toes.

I too have trapped by sciatica, and displaced a vertebra previously, so have to be careful.
I'd highly recommend you remove sit ups from your regimen entirely.
The Marines used to do sit ups during their physical fitness test and during PT on M,W and F. They now do exclusively crunches because they have deemed that situps are 'overkill' for your abs and cause unnecessary neck/back strain.
And during the sit up range of motion, once your shoulder blades come off the ground, you're not isolating your abs anymore; you're also using your hip flexors (if you're standing straight up and you pick your knees up...high stepping, that's what hip flexors do).

Absane

03-15-09, 11:48 PM

How many pull ups are you up to, Absane?

On a good day, 10.

The last few days it's been miserable outside... so I spent most of my free time eating like shit and doing nothing... so I am easily winded going up a single flight of stairs.

It's going to be sunny on Tuesday so I am planning an 8 mile hike that day... that should get all the sodium and other shit out of my system to allow me to do my pullups again.

draqon

03-15-09, 11:52 PM

so whats sorta of food do you eat and how much jugging you do to stay in shape?

Absane

03-16-09, 12:08 AM

so whats sorta of food do you eat and how much jugging you do to stay in shape?

I try to stick to basics... eggs, oatmeal, cream of wheat, fruits, veggies, steak, etc.

For about 3-4 days I ate basically nothing because I wasn't hungry at all. Then in the last two days I ate candy, pizza, pretzels, and copious amounts of Mountain Dew. As a result, I feel bloated and sluggish.

Tomorrow I am going back to my normal diet.

I don't jog because it bores the heck out of me. Instead, I do lots and lots of hiking. The last time I went I did 5.5 miles back-to-back in about 3 hours. The next few days my calves were killing me. I can also get to the top of Stone Mountain (in Georgia) in 16 minutes just by walking fast.

mikenostic

03-16-09, 08:33 AM

On a good day, 10.

Do you do them under or overhand?
Underhand is always easier if you're not very strong or well versed in pull ups, but if you have strong and built up lats, overhand is better because it uses a larger muscle group,

visceral_instinct

03-16-09, 06:38 PM

@Absane, why would sodium make you weaker?

@Mike, when you say underhand, do you mean your palm facing towards your body?

Roman

03-16-09, 06:58 PM

Wow, ten is no small amount.

I can do about two on a flat surface (no bar, just a ledge, palms facing away). Haven't done any on a bar in a long time.

How's the hiking in Georgia? Is the 5.5 miles in three hours on trails?

John99

03-16-09, 07:02 PM

i never did pull ups. i do these barbel lifts where i put one knee on the bench and one foot on the floor and lift barble until it is perpendicular to my chest. i think you have to see it to understand.

I was trained professionally but i woud rather not mention specifics. IF...someone really wanted to know i may let out a tidbit.

visceral_instinct

03-16-09, 08:21 PM

Absane

03-17-09, 12:49 AM

@Absane, why would sodium make you weaker?

I don't know why... I just know that when I eat a lot of salt, I get winded very quickly. My best hikes are when my sweat tastes less like the ocean and more like bottled water.

How's the hiking in Georgia? Is the 5.5 miles in three hours on trails?

No, it was 11 miles total. It's a loop trail at Stone Mountain Park here in Georgia that's 5.5 miles around. The first time I went around it I finished in 1:10 and some-odd seconds. The second time around i was pretty tired and I also took my time to actually look around... I have a really bad habit of blasting through hikes.

Granted, all I had with me was my Camelback waterpack with 100 oz of water and a few Powerbar gel packs to keep me going.

Trying to keep this pace at Kennesaw Mountain is tough, though.

I am debating whether I want to go to Fort Mountain for an 8.2 mile hike or find some places to go bouldering.

Roman

03-17-09, 12:24 PM

C'mon, you're a male. You should be able to do more than a pathetic little thing like me. :D

I used to be able to do 30 until I herniated a couple disks in my back. How many can you do on a flat surface? Can you do pull ups on a door frame? I used to be able to do five or six on just my fingertips.

No, it was 11 miles total. It's a loop trail at Stone Mountain Park here in Georgia that's 5.5 miles around. The first time I went around it I finished in 1:10 and some-odd seconds. The second time around i was pretty tired and I also took my time to actually look around... I have a really bad habit of blasting through hikes.

Granted, all I had with me was my Camelback waterpack with 100 oz of water and a few Powerbar gel packs to keep me going.

Trying to keep this pace at Kennesaw Mountain is tough, though.

I am debating whether I want to go to Fort Mountain for an 8.2 mile hike or find some places to go bouldering.

Alright, that's better. 4 miles an hour on trails without a pack is what I expect from anyone who isn't a cripple. ;)

So you do the powerbar stuff when you hike, eh. I like taking Snickers. Pop tarts are good, too. Used to bring pringles, but I burnt out on those. Cheese & almonds is a pretty good source for salt. So is jerky. The last thing I want to eat when I've been hiking is 3 types of milled grains and science flavored ooze. I know this guy who goes hiking with just Cadbury chocolate bars. He did a 1000k trek, and for lunch, he brought like 30 lbs of chocolate, which was like 1 lb a day. We like to travel light, and the best way to package calories in the smallest bundle are fats and simple sugars. That, and energy bar products taste like cardboard.

Absane

03-23-09, 12:56 AM

So you do the powerbar stuff when you hike, eh. I like taking Snickers. Pop tarts are good, too. Used to bring pringles, but I burnt out on those. Cheese & almonds is a pretty good source for salt. So is jerky. The last thing I want to eat when I've been hiking is 3 types of milled grains and science flavored ooze. I know this guy who goes hiking with just Cadbury chocolate bars. He did a 1000k trek, and for lunch, he brought like 30 lbs of chocolate, which was like 1 lb a day. We like to travel light, and the best way to package calories in the smallest bundle are fats and simple sugars. That, and energy bar products taste like cardboard.

How in the hell can you live off chocolate for the length of time it takes to do 1,000 km (or miles.. whatever)?

But couldn't you do a long trek on nothing but peanut butter, some beef jerky, and gatorade?

visceral_instinct

03-23-09, 02:26 PM

I used to be able to do 30 until I herniated a couple disks in my back. How many can you do on a flat surface? Can you do pull ups on a door frame? I used to be able to do five or six on just my fingertips.

I can do 7 or 8. A little more if I've had a can of red bull.

How exactly am I supposed to do door frame pullups? Do you mean clench the top of the door frame with my whole hand or use both hands, vicelike?

Absane

03-23-09, 11:11 PM

How exactly am I supposed to do door frame pullups? Do you mean clench the top of the door frame with my whole hand or use both hands, vicelike?

Yep, this.

I can't do one... but it's because my grip gives out so easily :(

mikenostic

03-24-09, 09:59 AM

I can do 7 or 8. A little more if I've had a can of red bull.

How exactly am I supposed to do door frame pullups? Do you mean clench the top of the door frame with my whole hand or use both hands, vicelike?

Rock climbers could do those.
I think I might be able to do one, maybe two for the same reason Absane has trouble with them...the grip.

Back when I was on active duty/active reserve, I could do anywhere from 14-16 pull ups. I might be able to do 7 now.

@Mike, when you say underhand, do you mean your palm facing towards your body?
Yes. It's called the supination type grip. The overhand grip is called the pronation type grip.
Overhand pull-ups on a bar with at least a 1.5 diameter are the easiest for me. The small diameter bars tend to hurt my hands more. I guess it's because of all my weight concentrated on a smaller surface area.
While the pronation grip requires a larger muscle group to be easy, it also goes through a shorter range of motion than the supination grip, which is a bit easier on your joints.

Roman

03-24-09, 03:41 PM

I can do 7 or 8. A little more if I've had a can of red bull.

How exactly am I supposed to do door frame pullups? Do you mean clench the top of the door frame with my whole hand or use both hands, vicelike?

You have to do the pullups on your finger tips, which means curling you don't to actually hold anything in between finger and palm. It's sort of like clenching your fist, but you only bend your fingers at the first two joints, not at the knuckles.

[edit]
I was looking for a picture of a hand to show what I mean, and so much porn showed up, including erotic belly punching. "Never before have you seen a woman punched in the stomach so hard, yet love it so much!" Wtf.

visceral_instinct

03-28-09, 11:39 AM

Ooooh...that does actually sound like fun.

Personally, always liked the idea of cracking my victim's neck, then fucking the body...

You have to do the pullups on your finger tips, which means curling you don't to actually hold anything in between finger and palm. It's sort of like clenching your fist, but you only bend your fingers at the first two joints, not at the knuckles.

Funny sort of door frame that you can do this on. What am I supposed to cling to?

Could you take a picture of yourself doing this so I can get the idea? (NO, I do not want to look at you for sexual reasons, so save it.)