General fitness

At a neighborhood gathering the other night, I encountered a chap I had known on and off since he was a little boy almost a quarter-century ago. He proved to be very well versed on matters of fitness--physiology, anatomy, kinesiology and all that good stuff. He was very familiar with all the alternative fitness modes I employ. He opined that the single best exercise for strength and overall fitness one could perform was the kettlebell goblet squat. I routinely perform this exercise whenever I have a kettlebell workout. Typically, I go through two cycles of a half dozen exercises in the course of a KB workout. Today, I did seven goblet squats with the 32-kg bell and about 25 reps with my 24-kg. I'll be curious see what results these give me in the course of a couple months. My impromptu instructor is certainly a big, husky guy but perhaps carrying more flesh than is desirable for a truly aesthetic physique. However, one could say the same of many strongmen, powerlifters, wrestlers and others involved in strength sports.
 
Jan Libourel said:
At a neighborhood gathering the other night, I encountered a chap I had known on and off since he was a little boy almost a quarter-century ago. He proved to be very well versed on matters of fitness--physiology, anatomy, kinesiology and all that good stuff. He was very familiar with all the alternative fitness modes I employ. He opined that the single best exercise for strength and overall fitness one could perform was the kettlebell goblet squat. I routinely perform this exercise whenever I have a kettlebell workout. Typically, I go through two cycles of a half dozen exercises in the course of a KB workout. Today, I did seven goblet squats with the 32-kg bell and about 25 reps with my 24-kg. I'll be curious see what results these give me in the course of a couple months. My impromptu instructor is certainly a big, husky guy but perhaps carrying more flesh than is desirable for a truly aesthetic physique. However, one could say the same of many strongmen, powerlifters, wrestlers and others involved in strength sports.
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Seems overstated but anyhow.
 
Still toning with 5 and 10lbs dumbbells and straps. Doing 180 curls with 10lbs is more like a fast stationary run, but it is still building some muscle and hitting cardio levels. What I’m really liking is the 5lb straps on the ankle for leg lifts - great for abs without the usual strain and pain of sit-ups. Overall, seems a good work out for an over 50 body, with the main draw-back being time - I’m spending 30-40 minutes a day to get in the workout I want/need with this lightweight equipment.
 
Dropbear, from the photos you've posted of yourself, you have a fine, muscular, aesthetic physique. I should think you could be capable of a lot more than 30-40 minutes with dinky weights. I mean, I just put in about 40 minutes with Indian mugdars and macebells to try to keep my over 80 body in some semblance of shape.
 
Dropbear getting challenged on his max load by an octogenerian.

Season 1 Episode 3 GIF by Rick and Morty
 
When I reflect back on my fittest era, in boot camp we didn’t have any equipment or weights other than 10lbs of this:

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I’ll probably relent and buy some bigger dumbbells at some point, but I feel this is working for me for now.
 
^Well, the good ol' FAL is certainly a better workout tool than the current crop of military rifles. I have thought the same of the M1 Garand, which was the issue rifle back in my cadet days.
 
Jan Libourel said:
^Well, the good ol' FAL is certainly a better workout tool than the current crop of military rifles. I have thought the same of the M1 Garand, which was the issue rifle back in my cadet days.
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It’s interesting how ideas of physicality have changed fairly recently. Thirty years ago we worked out with a rifle, doing curls and presses in order to get lean endurance. Now young guys lift weights and drink protein shakes in the army in order to bulk up and look strong.

I look at pics of my dad in Vietnam and they were all so skinny. These days, American troops look like bodybuilders. Partly the mechanisation of infantry and party a style thing, I suspect.
 
^I should think that for soldiering the physique of an endurance athlete would be much more efficient than that of a muscleboy. Luckily, I never had to perform combat military service. I did find that I could go up and down the mountains and cover wild terrain much more efficiently when I weighed about 180# than when I was 220 or 230# even though I was appreciably stronger at the heavier weight. But, then, the ancient Greeks knew that already!
 
Bowflex? I hope they give you years of good service. I have never been too interested in adjustable dumbbells for the simple reason that by the time they became readily available, I was heavily invested in the old-fashioned kind with loose plates.

Oh, I rather be called just plain "Jan" than "Mr. Libourel." We're all friends here. Actually, if you want to be formal, it's "Dr. Libourel," although my Ph.D. proved of scant help to me in making my way through the world after I was banished from the groves of academe. As my oldest friend, who spent almost his entire life in the academic profession, remarked, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. On reflection, I think he may be right!
 
Jan Libourel said:
Bowflex? I hope they give you years of good service. I have never been too interested in adjustable dumbbells for the simple reason that by the time they became readily available, I was heavily invested in the old-fashioned kind with loose plates.

Oh, I rather be called just plain "Jan" than "Mr. Libourel." We're all friends here. Actually, if you want to be formal, it's "Dr. Libourel," although my Ph.D. proved of scant help to me in making my way through the world after I was banished from the groves of academe. As my oldest friend, who spent almost his entire life in the academic profession, remarked, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. On reflection, I think he may be right!
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I still think of Bowflex as those silly rubber band home gyms that people buy in January and sell in June, but these dumbbells seem a cut above. The company seems to have improved their product line over the years. I don’t have a lot of space in the home for exercise equipment, so the adjustable style sounds suitable compact.

Ok, it’s Jan or Big Weightlifting Daddy. When I see Jan, I always think of Jan Michael Vincent - The Mechanic being one of my favorite films of the 70s.
 
I have similar Dropbear Dropbear and I use them multiple times a week and they are quite nice. I also don't have the space and time for regular gym visits these days - despite the fact that I am a member of a gym. Oh, I also despise gyms.
Eventually hope to build my own home-made custom-made gym when space allows as I have a few equipment here and there already.
 
I gave up my gym membership in 2020 and generally don’t miss the travel time and additional rigmarole. I used to like doing laps in the pool, but I’m ok with an early morning jog now.

I do miss having good equipment for abs workouts. My favorite had been the incline site up bench but the space-saving compromise had been ankle weights and leg lifts- unfortunately it seems like 5lbs is about the max for good weight cuffs, so I might need to find a new excercise or equipment.
 
Dropbear said:
Taking Mr Libourel’s advice, I just ordered some adjustable dumbbells on sale today from Amazon
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Peer pressure! Don't go to the gym - otherwise you'll start trying to compete with 22 year olds on your 1 rep max.
 
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It’s a bit of a tech novelty gadget, but I like the minimal footprint in an already overcrowded living room.
 
QuandoDio said:
Sorry, I meant is it made up of all (cast)iron or other metal? I see some plastic?
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The weights have a plastic shell around them. The mechanics and locking mechanism are all stainless steel. I’m not sure what benefit the plastic adds, tbh.
 
A bit over a month ago, I posted about getting a pair of 8kg mugdars. While I can use the heavier one for two-handed "clubbell" exercises, at this time swinging the pair of them is just too much. Today, I paid for a pair of 6kg mugdars from The Great Indian Workout in Nasik, India. I just hope these prove challenging but manageable enough so that I can progress to my heavy pair eventually. Don't know if at my season in life I'll be able to progress beyond the 8kg clubs, but I remain optimistic. Hope springs eternal!
 
I’m doing about 45mins a day weights training and toning up pretty well. Trying to adjust diet for building muscle, but at the same time I have about 5lbs on my stomach I need to loose. Doing both is a lot harder over 50!
 
Got my 6kg mugdars a few days ago. Definitely more challenging than the 5kg mugdars I bought almost 14 months ago , but much more manageable than the 8kg pair I acquired recently. That was a case of biting off more than I could chew, but I'm still hopeful I can work up to them. Swapnil Dangarikar, the proprietor of The Great Indian Workout, from whom I have bought the last three pairs of mugdars I've ordered, has advised me that because of disparities in the weights of the wood, they are reflected in the weights of the mugdars. Thus, in the case of the 8kg (17.6 pound) mugdars I acquired, one weighed 17 pounds, the other 18.5 pounds. With the recently acquired 6kg clubs (13.2 pounds), one was almost spot-on at 13.1 pounds, the other 14.5 pounds. I'll try to make a point of swapping weights from hand to hand to ensure even development. Anyway, they're a great workout tool--challenging and fun. Yesterday, I worked out with clubs/mugdars and macebells. Today, I used them in conjunction with kettlebells.
 
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I’m currently looking for the cheapest high protein low carb powder supplement without all the other BS. Preferably vanilla.
 
^In my day, I must have consumed an ocean of protein shakes. These days, the very thought of them almost sickens me!
 
Dropbear said:
I’m currently looking for the cheapest high protein low carb powder supplement without all the other BS. Preferably vanilla.
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Generally speaking, I don’t think “cheapest” should be the adjective describing anything that goes into your body/digestive system, imho.
 
QuandoDio said:
Why? Other than say convenience/ laziness. You becoming a gymbro like Fwiffo Fwiffo ;).
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Huh? I'm not a gymbro. I go to the gym every morning but that doesn't mean I'm interested in flexing/attracting/creeping on women or challenging/gloating over other men. I actually arrive at 5:30 or 5:45 to get all the work out of the way with minimal people seeing me disheveled or soaked in sweat.
 
Dropbear said:
I’m currently looking for the cheapest high protein low carb powder supplement without all the other BS. Preferably vanilla.
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you want to look for a whey isolate powder. preferably with no extra fillers or bullshit ingredients. not all vanillas are the same as well. i think costco still sells Optimum Nutrition whey which is generally considered a good brand. they sometimes have ISOPure but that seems to be rare down here. definitely hunt costco sales for Optimum they put it on coupon pretty often.

packets are all junk for the most part and are far more expensive than just buying a bag.
 
My goal is to add muscle definition and lose 5-10lbs of fat. I’m doing about an hour of weights a day and seeing good results, but no weight/fat loss.

Daily intake is roughly:

140g protein
5-20g carbs
Not counting fats but feels like a healthy balance
Not counting calories but I’m guessing 200-300 less than baseline
Only drinking red wine and spirits
 
Is it indelicate to ask what your current weight is? 140g pro? Seem you could go higher there. Especially as your carbs are essentially non existent.

Though I laugh at 'only drinking red wine and spirits' but can't eat a potato or carrot!
 
QuandoDio said:
Is it indelicate to ask what your current weight is? 140g pro? Seem you could go higher there. Especially as your carbs are essentially non existent.
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Real weight or what I tell the sherif at booking?

I’m 180lbs and trying to get to 170-175lbs.

QuandoDio said:
Though I laugh at 'only drinking red wine and spirits' but can't eat a potato or carrot!
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I’m cutting out the breads and pastas for a few months while I’m on this fitness kick … but I’m not giving up on life! I tried a few lite beers but they are pretty awful.
 
Dropbear said:
Real weight or what I tell the sherif at booking?

I’m 180lbs and trying to get to 170-175lbs.



I’m cutting out the breads and pastas for a few months while I’m on this fitness kick … but I’m not giving up on life! I tried a few lite beers but they are pretty awful.
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:lol

Others can chime in but I think you could definitely up the protein a little, spread out over various meals. Unless you want to remain in ketosis?

As long as basics are met (sleep, progressive overload, nutrition), things should progress nicely. Anyhow I am sure you know what you are doing anyway and body adaptations take time so might just be waiting it out.
 
QuandoDio said:
Though I laugh at 'only drinking red wine and spirits' but can't eat a potato or carrot!
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Not all of us can have one beer during the day and that's it. Although if I go full ISIS muslim and give up cigarettes, alcohol, recreational drugs I will definitely get better training results. I'd be richer too since I'd have 5 kids and can claim child benefits through my 2 or 3 wives.
 
Dropbear said:
My goal is to add muscle definition and lose 5-10lbs of fat. I’m doing about an hour of weights a day and seeing good results, but no weight/fat loss.
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Don't you need to do cardio to burn the fat?

I walk 50-60km a week on top of alternating cardio.
 
A good friend encouraged me to add some MCT oil to my diet, to help burn fats while still building muscle. I started five days ago, adding a tablespoon to my morning coffee. Today I have the worst diarrhoea of my life.
 
Dropbear said:
A good friend encouraged me to add some MCT oil to my diet, to help burn fats while still building muscle. I started five days ago, adding a tablespoon to my morning coffee. Today I have the worst diarrhoea of my life.
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On the upside, I’ve lost about six pounds in 24 hours. 💩
 
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