Some people not responsive to workouts??

placebomonkey

My friend was telling me about this the other day it's an article by Gretchen Reynoulds about a scientific study conducted (basically proving that some people's bodies are not responsive at all to excercise !?!?! ) Someone tell me this is garbage please!! lol

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/phys-ed-the-workout-enigma/#comments

LexyDB

Get your heart rate up high enough and you'll burn calories.

Di3012

My friend was telling me about this the other day it's an article by Gretchen Reynoulds about a scientific study conducted (basically proving that some people's bodies are not responsive at all to excercise !?!?! ) Someone tell me this is garbage please!! lol

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/phys-ed-the-workout-enigma/#comments

Why do you think it may be garbage?

What the article is hinting at is that jogging, for instance, will improve the aerobic capacity for MOST people but for the odd few - due to genetics (most likely) - it will do nothing, at all for them.

Other exercises such as weights, swimming, walking etc etc can have exactly the same effect of the odd (unfortunate) few individuals.

The article does state however, at the very end that just because a person may be in that small group of people that are affected as such, that does not mean they should just give up and slouch on the couch all day, doing nothing, using their "condition" as an excuse not to exercise. The article actually suggests that just because jogging, for instance, may be next to useless for one individual that does not mean that they willl necessarily find the same is true for another activity such as swimming.

It is finding the activity to suit the individual I guess.

Mayor_West

This is a complete joke. How some of these researchers not only earn a living but also procure grants for their half-assed studies is beyond me.

Any moron can tell you that DIET will be the predominant factor in how certain forms of exercise will effect one's body. Whether its Powerlifters wanting to lift heavier weights, bodybuilders who want to add muscle or endurance athletes, the common thread among them is that they all need to eat properly in order to meet those goals.

This quote was telling:

There is a collection of compelling data that indicate that about half of our aerobic capacity “is genetic,” Dr. Timmons wrote in an e-mail. “The rest may be diet,” or it could be a result of epigenetics, a complicated process in which the environment (including where you live and what you eat) affects how and when genes are activated. “Or it could be other factors,” he said.

Nutrition isn't mentioned until the 5th paragraph of the article, and based on the researcher's response, it was clearly not a part of the study, which IMHO leavess it completely without merit.

wellbert

So funny you posted this. I was thinking about how I've been spinning my wheels forever this morning.

there are those who just do not become fitter or stronger, no matter what exercise they undertake

This is me.

I've spent a year doing boxing, cycling, spin class, running, walking, heavy-azz weight training... and I'm right around where most people are after maybe a month. I still can't do more than a couple push ups.

My body looks exactly the same as it did when I joined MFP with only a few changes:
Arms and legs are about .5" thinner.
Waist is 1" smaller
stomach is 1" larger

I've had bloodwork done twice now, because I was convinced I had issues - all came back clean. Well, except the result of diet and exercise is much worse cholesterol (really.)

So, being screwed genetically is starting to sound pretty true for me.

I hate progress threads - don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled for people that make progress - but I see these 30 and 90 day results that are mind blowing, and I can't get there in a year doing as much, if not more, work.


As far as diet, I've ate exercise calories back, I haven't, I've increased, I've decreased. Right now I'm trying calorie cycling.

placebomonkey

Aww Bless you Welbert x Do you feel better in yourself for the excercise? Maybe push ups is not a good measure tho I'm rubbish Ive been doing them to try and tone up my arms and I still struggle with a pathetic 10 (yes the lady version ones lol) but when I used to work on the tools (electrician) hardly noticed at the time but ended up with quite defined muscles for me. Maybe it because I put more intense effort into it at the time as I wouldnt get paid if i didnt!

I know I'm lucky that I'm not overweight to start with but it does get on my nerves when so much effort goes in and I don't notice much of a difference.

I admire your determination tho and I think the fact that you do all the mentioned you will find something that works for you I'm gona keep it up..... god damn you abs I will see you soon lol x

ahamm002

The article is indeed garbage.

wellbert

I enjoy the exercise I do. The exercise part of it has really become secondary.
A relaxing walk. A nice, fun bike ride. Or just taking out the day's stress on a heavy bag.

(I did give up running. I frickin' hate running.)

One thing that I think is important is to do something you like doing.

I would have burned out in 3 weeks if I did hamster wheel cardio.


Have you considered doing things like assisted chins/pull ups/dips? Might be more beneficial than just pushups.

ahamm002

So funny you posted this. I was thinking about how I've been spinning my wheels forever this morning.

there are those who just do not become fitter or stronger, no matter what exercise they undertake

This is me.

I've spent a year doing boxing, cycling, spin class, running, walking, heavy-azz weight training... and I'm right around where most people are after maybe a month. I still can't do more than a couple push ups.

My body looks exactly the same as it did when I joined MFP with only a few changes:
Arms and legs are about .5" thinner.
Waist is 1" smaller
stomach is 1" larger

I've had bloodwork done twice now, because I was convinced I had issues - all came back clean. Well, except the result of diet and exercise is much worse cholesterol (really.)

So, being screwed genetically is starting to sound pretty true for me.

I hate progress threads - don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled for people that make progress - but I see these 30 and 90 day results that are mind blowing, and I can't get there in a year doing as much, if not more, work.


As far as diet, I've ate exercise calories back, I haven't, I've increased, I've decreased. Right now I'm trying calorie cycling.

A very common method of failure: lack of patience and workout ADD. Go into the gym, and do the exact same resistance training movements every time. Log the exact amount of weight, reps, and sets. Continually increase # of reps untill you can do 3 sets of 10 (or 4 sets of 6 or whatever your program dictates), then increase the weight. You must be eating a calorie surplus! That is another reason for failure. And your must be eating at least 1 gram of protein for every pound of lean body mass.

If you keep changing your workouts and doing different things, it's easy not to progress.

ironanimal

So funny you posted this. I was thinking about how I've been spinning my wheels forever this morning.

there are those who just do not become fitter or stronger, no matter what exercise they undertake

This is me.

I've spent a year doing boxing, cycling, spin class, running, walking, heavy-azz weight training... and I'm right around where most people are after maybe a month. I still can't do more than a couple push ups.

My body looks exactly the same as it did when I joined MFP with only a few changes:
Arms and legs are about .5" thinner.
Waist is 1" smaller
stomach is 1" larger

I've had bloodwork done twice now, because I was convinced I had issues - all came back clean. Well, except the result of diet and exercise is much worse cholesterol (really.)

So, being screwed genetically is starting to sound pretty true for me.

I hate progress threads - don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled for people that make progress - but I see these 30 and 90 day results that are mind blowing, and I can't get there in a year doing as much, if not more, work.


As far as diet, I've ate exercise calories back, I haven't, I've increased, I've decreased. Right now I'm trying calorie cycling.

If I were you, I would lower my fat macro, pertinent to your increasing cholesterol. And I would cut the exercise substantially - you look to be massively over training. And I know when I did that, I was going absolutely nowhere. Have you tried any supplementation?

placebomonkey

I enjoy the exercise I do. The exercise part of it has really become secondary.
A relaxing walk. A nice, fun bike ride. Or just taking out the day's stress on a heavy bag.

(I did give up running. I frickin' hate running.)

One thing that I think is important is to do something you like doing.

I would have burned out in 3 weeks if I did hamster wheel cardio.


Have you considered doing things like assisted chins/pull ups/dips? Might be more beneficial than just pushups.

Only things I know how to do is sit ups , leg lifts , bridge (i think its called) and push ups not sure how to do chin ups and dips ? I know what you mean about enjoying what you do maybe thats my problem, I love running and tend to shy out of cross training

placebomonkey

So funny you posted this. I was thinking about how I've been spinning my wheels forever this morning.

there are those who just do not become fitter or stronger, no matter what exercise they undertake

This is me.

I've spent a year doing boxing, cycling, spin class, running, walking, heavy-azz weight training... and I'm right around where most people are after maybe a month. I still can't do more than a couple push ups.

My body looks exactly the same as it did when I joined MFP with only a few changes:
Arms and legs are about .5" thinner.
Waist is 1" smaller
stomach is 1" larger

I've had bloodwork done twice now, because I was convinced I had issues - all came back clean. Well, except the result of diet and exercise is much worse cholesterol (really.)

So, being screwed genetically is starting to sound pretty true for me.

I hate progress threads - don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled for people that make progress - but I see these 30 and 90 day results that are mind blowing, and I can't get there in a year doing as much, if not more, work.


As far as diet, I've ate exercise calories back, I haven't, I've increased, I've decreased. Right now I'm trying calorie cycling.

A very common method of failure: lack of patience and workout ADD. Go into the gym, and do the exact same resistance training movements every time. Log the exact amount of weight, reps, and sets. Continually increase # of reps untill you can do 3 sets of 10 (or 4 sets of 6 or whatever your program dictates), then increase the weight. You must be eating a calorie surplus! That is another reason for failure. And your must be eating at least 1 gram of protein for every pound of lean body mass.

If you keep changing your workouts and doing different things, it's easy not to progress.

Totally with you on the patience thing Ive heard it a few times on here depending on how responsive your body is it can take around 3 months to see /notice benefits of training

Elf_Princess1210

So funny you posted this. I was thinking about how I've been spinning my wheels forever this morning.

there are those who just do not become fitter or stronger, no matter what exercise they undertake

This is me.

I've spent a year doing boxing, cycling, spin class, running, walking, heavy-azz weight training... and I'm right around where most people are after maybe a month. I still can't do more than a couple push ups.

My body looks exactly the same as it did when I joined MFP with only a few changes:
Arms and legs are about .5" thinner.
Waist is 1" smaller
stomach is 1" larger

I've had bloodwork done twice now, because I was convinced I had issues - all came back clean. Well, except the result of diet and exercise is much worse cholesterol (really.)

So, being screwed genetically is starting to sound pretty true for me.

I hate progress threads - don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled for people that make progress - but I see these 30 and 90 day results that are mind blowing, and I can't get there in a year doing as much, if not more, work.


As far as diet, I've ate exercise calories back, I haven't, I've increased, I've decreased. Right now I'm trying calorie cycling.

If I were you, I would lower my fat macro, pertinent to your increasing cholesterol. And I would cut the exercise substantially - you look to be massively over training. And I know when I did that, I was going absolutely nowhere. Have you tried any supplementation?

This and increase fiber intake cause that lowers cholesterol too. It may be worth seeing a RD as well. I was having a problem until I got medical help. The weight isn't exactly flying off...but at least I'm losing.

wellbert

If I were you, I would lower my fat macro, pertinent to your increasing cholesterol. And I would cut the exercise substantially - you look to be massively over training. And I know when I did that, I was going absolutely nowhere. Have you tried any supplementation?

Aside from multivitamins and fish oil,
Have taken stuff like SuperPump and Craze. I'm not a fan of how it makes me feel on off days. I do take BCAA supplements.

I used to have GYM ADD like whoa, before I started doing Starting Strength.

vjrose

I can understand as they say "a few outliers" don't respond to typical exercise. However, there is a bucketload of things they didn't say.
Compliance - did they monitor the compliance at a gym
Fitness before starting
Weight
Age
Smokers vs non-smokers
diet
and on and on.
So, lots you can't say about this study and not much you can say that is good. Also the very word "outlier" means rare data that doesn't fit the norm. When you analyze any data there is often a few outliers that cannot be explained within the framework of your study so you go back and look at the data and say "is there a reason" not fasten on that and seemingly make it the focus of the study.

SPNLuver83

I think its garbage. The only way someone could not be "responsive" is if their diet completely sucked *kitten*.

wellbert

Only things I know how to do is sit ups , leg lifts , bridge (i think its called) and push ups not sure how to do chin ups and dips ? I know what you mean about enjoying what you do maybe thats my problem, I love running and tend to shy out of cross training

Look up 'Chair Dips' to start with. You can do that at home easy. Kind of like this:
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Triceps/WtBenchDip.html

Mins the bench under the feet and the weight belt.

For chin up:
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/LatissimusDorsi/BWUnderhandChinup.html

I like to stand on a stool so I can use my legs to help with the movement. Then use strength only to lower myself back down. ("negatives.")

blonde71

This is total garbage.

isn't this what Tony Horton preaches about in P90X - muscle confusion??

If you hit a plateau then switch up the workout and of course, diet has to be on-point too.

ironanimal

If I were you, I would lower my fat macro, pertinent to your increasing cholesterol. And I would cut the exercise substantially - you look to be massively over training. And I know when I did that, I was going absolutely nowhere. Have you tried any supplementation?

Aside from multivitamins and fish oil,
Have taken stuff like SuperPump and Craze. I'm not a fan of how it makes me feel on off days. I do take BCAA supplements.

I used to have GYM ADD like whoa, before I started doing Starting Strength.

Fish Oil and multivits - awesome. I take those too, and on top of that I think the most helpful supplement I take is a Billion Culture Acidophilus Probiotic - there has been a substantial increase in the breakdown of fat since I started taking it. I also take a high dose Vitamin D, as it is a precursor of sorts to testosterone, 2g L-Arginine daily and a thermogenic fat burner. These I don't think are necessary but helping. Just some ideas. I definitely recommend the probiotic though.

Starting Strength is a good program - just be sure you are pushing your limits on the weights.

wellbert

muscle confusion??

Isn't that widely regarded as broscience? which is a shame. I really like the idea of it.

Starting Strength is a good program - just be sure you are pushing your limits on the weights.

Most definitely. On the bright side, squatting did 'cure' my arthritis.