Dead on or Total Jerk?

AnAmericanGirl2
AnAmericanGirl2 Posts: 46 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
This was posted by a Facebook friend. I kind of laughed but was also kind off annoyed. Thoughts?

http://deadspin.com/5978620/?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
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Replies

  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    That post is so very full of win, but more importantly, full of truth. People have gotten so used to a pathetically easy lifestyle that the idea of a workout that truly brings them pain seems alien in many ways. There's a reason that man boobs are often referred to as "the tits of easy living".

    Most of the crap that people like to call exercise isn't exercise...it's life. The fact that we have come to view food preparation as exercise worth logging is pathetic. As I once read, unless you are a Japanese Habachi chef, dodging fireballs and flipping razor sharp knives in a 100+ degree environment, cooking isn't a damned workout.
  • AnAmericanGirl2
    AnAmericanGirl2 Posts: 46 Member
    I'm with ya, your second paragraph is hysterically so very truthful!
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    That article is 100% truth. I think the number one thing I hate seeing people try to consider a workout is housework.

    Oh, did you just not clean an single thing, ever, in your entire house, while you gained the weight that got you to this site? Because otherwise that stuff is just what the rest of us call normal everyday stuff to do to live like a regular human being. I don't care how hard you scrubbed your tub, how much vacuuming you did, or if you broke a bit of a sweat, it's not a workout. And if you actually live in a home that cleaning it from top to bottom would be a serious amount of calories burned, well, then you can probably afford and have a maid to do it for you anyway.
  • dollhousedolly
    dollhousedolly Posts: 73 Member
    Read the article in Mr. Torgue's voice. Now that made me laugh!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjulMT8mQYo
  • victoriavoodoo
    victoriavoodoo Posts: 343 Member
    I agree with the article, while I think it is a little harshly worded. Or at least worded in a way destined to piss people off lol. But I feel that way when I see some of the stuff you can log as exercise on here and the grossly overestimated calorie burn for such daily things.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    couldn't read it too much cussing. too much aggressive tone. just bored me.
  • devrinator
    devrinator Posts: 79 Member
    I don't know. I think we may be comparing apples and oranges in terms of "being more fit."

    I remember being in a gym some years ago, running away on a treadmill thinking, "What kind of country is this, that we have so many calories to consume that we have to subject ourselves to running in place like hamsters, or lifting useless heavy things for the purpose of 'fitness?'"

    If we're talking about an overweight person who needs to lose weight, then yes, a quick stroll down the street with a dog or a stroller won't make much change. If we're talking about wanting to be the next fitness pro-champion, then yes, picking weeds from a garden and turning the soil every six months isn't going to get us there.

    But...most people just want to be "more fit." Taking the stairs, riding a bike to work, and going for nightly walks are good for the heart and will help to maintain some health that a person probably already has.

    I just think that the purpose for doing those things is highly subjective and depends on the person's goal.
  • hatethegame
    hatethegame Posts: 267 Member
    Thanks for explaining it to me. So let me get this straight.... my finger nails have to bleed and I have to lay on the floor in pain for it to be a workout? Oh wait i missed one. If I don't follow the same routine as an olympic athlete than I'm not working out either. I don't do anything of those things but I do workout. What a tool.
  • dirtnap63
    dirtnap63 Posts: 1,387 Member
    Absolutely spot on! This made me lol:

    "Have you ever wondered why there aren't a lot of Olympic athletes who train by walking around the block with Diane after supper?"
  • Bumbeen
    Bumbeen Posts: 263 Member
    I love it.
  • dirtnap63
    dirtnap63 Posts: 1,387 Member
    Thanks for explaining it to me. So let me get this straight.... my finger nails have to bleed and I have to lay on the floor in pain for it to be a workout? Oh wait i missed one. If I don't follow the same routine as an olympic athlete than I'm not working out either. I don't do anything of those things but I do workout. What a tool.

    I think what the author is trying to imply is that you have to step out of your comfort zone to elicit change. He just said it in a caustic, hyperbolic way.
  • KBUnleashed
    KBUnleashed Posts: 44 Member
    There are different levels of "living a fit life". Not everyone has to be like the guy in the Planet Fitness commercials. And, yes, while I do run on the treadmill sometimes, I have also lost most of my weight in my Zumba classes (which I look forward to and are FUN).

    But, if it takes his workouts to be boring....I guess that's what does it for him. I prefer to be fit while having fun.
  • taramaureen
    taramaureen Posts: 569 Member
    I think parts of it are dead on. I think parts of it are ridiculous. If you want to be an olympic athlete you're going to train like one. If you want to lose a few pounds, you're going to simply do calories in calories out. I think if you're just starting out you're going to start by walking, by making small changes, etc. As you adapt slowly then you're going to add on. It's more likely to stick that way instead of one big drastic change. I don't feel there's anything wrong with walking your kid around the block, especially if you haven't done it before.
  • TNR32
    TNR32 Posts: 110 Member
    I think its right on the money...I went to bootcamp 8 weeks gained 3 lbs (boy was it hard work and yes I was in pain on some of those days) and left a smaller size than when I joined fast foward 14 years I am not working out like I used to and I have become soft. Trying to change that now.
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    I think this was probably my favourite sentence from this article:

    "A workout is something hard that involves pain. Pain that you willingly lap, lap, lap up out of the pain bowl"

    Hehe. I'm not saying that this kind of training and lifestlye is for everyone. Not everyone has the same goals. However, I do sometimes think that people who are out of shape look at fit people and think that they must be somehow pre-disposed to being that way. The truth, it takes hard work and disipline. When your body is aching from whatever workout you've done 2 days ago you have to be prepared to go back for more of the same and push through it. Not everyone has that kind of committment in them
  • pudadough
    pudadough Posts: 1,271 Member
    I definitely think this way when I see people ask if they should count calories burned from cleaning or sex...
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    Generally, I like the message. If you want to actually get fit and be fast, strong, and athletic, you have to push your body to do uncomfortable and sometimes painful things to get there.

    Then again, not everyone's desire is to be "fit" as the definition applies here. Some people just want to manage their weight and improve overall health not be the best leanest meanest version of themselves. It's a personal choice. There is nothing wrong with choosing the latter.
  • envy09
    envy09 Posts: 353 Member
    It's actually kinda crap.

    http://www.sph.sc.edu/usc_cparg/pdf/Sedentary2008.pdf
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    I think this was probably my favourite sentence from this article:

    "A workout is something hard that involves pain. Pain that you willingly lap, lap, lap up out of the pain bowl"

    Hehe. I'm not saying that this kind of training and lifestlye is for everyone. Not everyone has the same goals. However, I do sometimes think that people who are out of shape look at fit people and think that they must be somehow pre-disposed to being that way. The truth, it takes hard work and disipline. When your body is aching from whatever workout you've done 2 days ago you have to be prepared to go back for more of the same and push through it. Not everyone has that kind of committment in them

    If the commitment doesn't exist, it must be created. I was a worthless, soft fatass for almost all of my life. It took a swift "verbal" kick in the nuts that came in the form of a searing article not too different from this one to get me moving.

    I had just resigned myself to a life of suck, using the old 'bad genetics' excuse, due to the fact that my family members are all fat as hell and injury prone. However, after getting my *kitten* handed to me in text form (with plenty of evidence to support his position), I found the drive within me to make the changes.
  • ladyrider55
    ladyrider55 Posts: 316 Member
    Isn't the whole idea of exercise to "just get up and move"? More and more people sit around whining because they aren't losing any weight, but in reality all they're doing is being a couch potato! No, I didn't read the article but if a person is moving what difference does it make if sites such as this one considers "cooking" or "housework" as a means of exercise?!! Power to the People on the Move, jus sayin.....:wink::smile:
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    Both. :laugh:

    I agree that in order to call it a workout, you need to really push yourself. If it's easy, it's not going to do much but maintain your current fitness levels. It's better than nothing, but it's not going to make you over. I'm sure people will be offended - they always are. I found it amusing, though. Some people don't really set high fitness standards, and that's ok. But they shouldn't kid themselves and complain when they don't reach their personal fitness ideal by just walking around the block. It does take work...
  • newmein2013
    newmein2013 Posts: 674 Member
    I do agree with the article that a workout should be something other than your daily activities and it should be strenuous. However, some people may need to do the activities mentioned in order to build up to more strenuous activities. I don't think it's right to judge others workouts, especially not knowing their physical condition/limitations. Live and let live.
  • AngelsFan91106
    AngelsFan91106 Posts: 111 Member
    I <3 this. Yeah, the author of the article was a little abrasive, but if you can't take the writing, you probably can't take a serious workout either.
  • MsJulielicious
    MsJulielicious Posts: 708 Member
    This reminded me of the movie "Just go with it" Where Jennifer Anniston's character claims she stays in shape by taking the stairs, and her kid says "don't buy that line she takes spinning classes like they're m&ms. Lol. He has a point in the respect that you can't expect big changes by taking small steps.
  • Jai_LaDawn
    Jai_LaDawn Posts: 1 Member
    I think he is dead on...a few months ago when I wasn't serious about my journey I would have called him a jerk for sure! lol I'm forwarding to some friends that need a wake-up call :)
  • peckish_pomegranate
    peckish_pomegranate Posts: 242 Member
    That article is just bad. Not interested in workout snobs. These are the same whiners who complain about new people in "their gym". Any step to getting healthier is a good thing.
  • martinah4
    martinah4 Posts: 583 Member
    bump for later :)
  • sweetchildomine
    sweetchildomine Posts: 872 Member
    It's true but a little harshly worded lol. I don't necessarily agree with his examples because a walk around the block with a kid actually IS difficult for someone who is very obese. However, I agree with the general idea. You gotta actually push yourself out of your comfort zone in order to make changes. It reminds me of my friend that is a waitress and claims that she doesn't have to work out because she walks around at work all day. lol I wish I could send her that article without seeming like a total b**ch. lol
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    dead on. hat tip to Dope for posting it where i could find it. it just became like the 3rd thing i have facebooked in 5 months. my FB account is damn near dead
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    I think this was probably my favourite sentence from this article:

    "A workout is something hard that involves pain. Pain that you willingly lap, lap, lap up out of the pain bowl"

    Hehe. I'm not saying that this kind of training and lifestlye is for everyone. Not everyone has the same goals. However, I do sometimes think that people who are out of shape look at fit people and think that they must be somehow pre-disposed to being that way. The truth, it takes hard work and disipline. When your body is aching from whatever workout you've done 2 days ago you have to be prepared to go back for more of the same and push through it. Not everyone has that kind of committment in them

    If the commitment doesn't exist, it must be created. I was a worthless, soft fatass for almost all of my life. It took a swift "verbal" kick in the nuts that came in the form of a searing article not too different from this one to get me moving.

    I had just resigned myself to a life of suck, using the old 'bad genetics' excuse, due to the fact that my family members are all fat as hell and injury prone. However, after getting my *kitten* handed to me in text form (with plenty of evidence to support his position), I found the drive within me to make the changes.

    Definitely agree that committment can be created in anyone. Anyone CAN do it it's just that not everyone wants it badly enough to put in the time and put up with the pain. It's more a matter of finding something, a goal, that is worth all the time, effort and sacrifice. Most people don't have that and a lot of people are quite happy chugging along in their comfort zone.

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