The new improved fitness thread

[Cav]

If your legs are stiff from cycling, is it best to do more cycling to loosen them up or something different?

[D6Nutz]

Personally, I would take a protein supplement to aid muscle recovery and go for an easy walk.

Rest days are as important in a training schedule as exercise itself.

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[D41]

Loosen them up at the end of the ride by taking it very easy for the last ten minutes or so. Then a piping hot shower.
Stay hydrated before, during, and afterwards.....water is as good as anything for me personally... I don't care for the recovery-electrolyte-laden-sports-drink-thing.... there's nowt wrong with them, they're just not for me.

[Cav]

Personally, I would take a protein supplement to aid muscle recovery and go for an easy walk.

Rest days are as important in a training schedule as exercise itself.

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I had a mixed grill.. should have enough protein in that

I totally agree with rest days but I've never before done the whole "recovery day" thing.. at least not in a cardio sense such as with cycling.

Loosen them up at the end of the ride by taking it very easy for the last ten minutes or so. Then a piping hot shower.
Stay hydrated before, during, and afterwards.....water is as good as anything for me personally... I don't care for the recovery-electrolyte-laden-sports-drink-thing.... there's nowt wrong with them, they're just not for me.

Hydration I've got down. I drink 1L/hour which is twice the recommended amount but about normal for me (I drink 6L of fluid a day). As for the easy 10 minutes, yeah I should probably do something like that but the carpark at the place I was at was at the bottom of the valley so that doesn't really exist here. I know I should have stretched afterwards though, that's for certain.

[Kwacky]

Cardio is still exercise though - your muscles need rest to recover. Stretches before and after exercise, be it cardio or weights, is always going to help. Use bands and foam rollers and/or consider a sports massage.

[Cav]

I forgot about the foam roller! That was extremely beneficial before weights, not tried it for cardio.

How do you use bands? (I take it you mean resistance bands?)

[Kwacky]

Yep, resistance bands. They're useful for stretching out the muscles and tendons.

[Cav]

Of course, I forgot all about that too. 3 years out of the gym haha. I needed them for stretching my calves.

[Kwacky]

The gym was packed last night. They've only got 2 squat racks and one Smith machine. I was lucky enough to get some back squats in on a rack but there were people waiting. I really don't like being watched when I'm exercising.

[Cav]

Nothing more awkward than being watched by a bunch of gym rats is there

[Kwacky]

I was pissing them off by doing loads of stretches with the bar inbetween each set

[Cav]

Good man !!!!!

[D41]

Nothing more awkward than being watched by a bunch of gym rats is there

As long as they're not having a #@π¢ while they watch, because that would DEFINITELY be more awkward.

[Cav]

That only happened once when my balloon knot slipped out of my ripped shorts.

[Cav]

Between myself, my Wife and my MiL we decided to calorie count and healthy eat.

When I weighed myself I was gobsmacked.. when I was at my leanest and training in the gym I weighed 82kg. I now weigh 104kg.

I'm targeting a slow and sustained weight loss with at least 2x 1 hour cycles a week. I've been averaging 3x 1.5hr rides recently but with the nights drawing in and no funds for powerful lights I doubt I'll maintain that.

[D41]

Wow....you weigh more than me, and I do nothing except eat & sleep, and I'm twice your age. How tall are you??

[Cav]

I'm 5'9 but still have a 35" waist... I can wear some 34s and some 36s fall off me. I don't look my weight.

[D41]

Good.... I guess the workouts are having the right effect..... muscle carries more weight/density than fat. So people get fit, they lose the flab, but often the weight stays more or less the same.

[Cav]

I aim to lose 19kg...3 stone. My waist should return to a 32, legs will grow though so I'm still stuck in 34 jeans

[D41]

That is a LOT! Still, if you can put it on you can take it off....it just takes more work & time.