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Hill climber without using arms?
I really want to buy a hill climber machine for my home gym, but I have a long-standing shoulder issue and wouldn’t be able to use handlebars that require arm movement. Is there a machine that would allow me to keep my arms stationary? All the ones I’ve looked at seem to involve an upper body workout as well. In an ideal…
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Help in planning a home gym
We are buying a new house, and we will be lucky enough to have an outbuilding with electricity that I want to use as a gym. The dimensions are 17' 2" x 9' 9" (for metric people that's 5.23m x 2.97m), with wood over a concrete floor. I must have a treadmill in there, as I have Osteopaenia and am trying to minimise…
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Awful cramp - electrolytes not solving. Help!
I'm really struggling here because of bad cramp at night, and I'm almost at the point of giving up. This is one last attempt to see if anyone has any further ideas. I'm age 56, and I was already getting occasional cramps at night as many older people do. But now on a (very strict) keto diet it is almost every night and I'm…
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What's going on?
Hi everybody. I'm struggling a bit here and would really appreciate some thoughts about what's happening. The background is that I've been following a ketogenic diet for 24 days now, mainly for health reasons - I'm pretty lean but I'm trying to maintain my current weight. I've been strict with myself, and have had no…
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Hand strengtheners
I'm lifting heavy (NROLFW) and really benefiting from it, but I'm starting to find that my grip (in gloves) is limiting me more than the weights I'm lifting. I'm thinking of getting some 'hand strengtheners'. Does anybody have any experience of these? I'm wondering if 'hand and finger exercisers' or 'powerballs' are…
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Newly 'borderline' - doctor today!
Hello everybody! I've just had some blood test results back, to find that I am 'borderline hypothyroid', with a TSH score of 4.9 (I'm in the UK). I don't know what my T3 or T4 scores are - is it important to find out? It explains a lot of things, like muscles that ache with no exercise, and more recently, absolutely…
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Achilles tendon problem
So I'm now finding the workouts pretty challenging, and I've developed soreness in my Achilles tendon area - low down, at ankle level (both legs). I'm guessing it's the squats. I'm now on 61lbs for squats, which I know is not much compared to some of you, but I'm keen to keep good form and get my bum down to where it…
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Sarcastic British olympic humour
This woman really made me laugh: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19106722 (be sure to watch all the way through)
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MP3 player for running
I want to get my partner an MP3 player for Christmas for his runs; he borrows my iphone sometimes but it jumps a lot. Any recommendations?
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The origins of weightlifting
For your delectation, a potted history of weightlifting (about 15 minutes): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOeMeFIMfK4
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Squat rack
I'm using kitchen chairs for a squat rack, but concerned about the chairs if I go much higher (it feels like a big 'if' at the moment). I don't have a separate room at home to use, and I don't want to turn our living room into a gym - it looks bad enough already with all the weights lying around. So the question is, do I…
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Hunger and when to eat
I have a couple of questions about hunger and calories, and would really appreciate some advice. I'm a newbie, and I've just finished week 3 of stage 1. The hunger has really taken me by surprise - I am getting SO hungry, but not on the days I lift. I'm messing with the rules, in that I'm using the hunger as my guide…
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Twitching muscles!
I'm doing the NROLFW, eating tons of protein, and I'm on the second of two rest days. I wouldn't say my muscles are aching, but some of them are twitching! Does this mean that new muscle is being formed, and that I will suddenly develop those bulging biceps I hanker after? Or what? Does anyone else get this?
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Advice on buying barbell set
I'm in the UK and have just started the NROFLW. I want to buy a barbell set today! Is it worth buying iron as opposed to vinyl? I'm on a budget, but don't want to make a false economy and get something that won't last well.
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Clean eating time management
I would really like to move towards clean (or cleaner) eating, but fear it would take time I don't have. I work flat out 6 days a week, with day 7 reserved for normal housework-type things, and already struggle to fit in exercise in the evenings. Being vegetarian also means thinking hard about protein, and things like meal…
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Polar FT4 battery replacement UK
Does anyone know where / how to get a Polar FT4 battery replaced in the UK? I've been scouring the internet but always seem to end up in Finland!
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Muscle, calories, weights & cardio
So have I got this right? It is a good idea to build muscle, as apart from the other benefits, muscle requires more calories than fat. Hence, just by existing, you burn more calories on a daily basis if you have more muscle. But to build muscle you need to be lifting weights and consuming a surplus of calories, so you need…
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UK Kitchen scales recommendations?
Eeek! My kitchen scales have broken, so I need to get some new ones asap. But I worked out that my last ones were not so accurate anyway, and obviously that's the most important thing. Do you have any suggestions for scales I can find on the high street? My last ones were about £17, but I don't mind going between £20 and…
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Why do I feel so good?
I'm 53, and a longstanding vegetarian (30+ years) who has exercised fairly well for quite a long time, but more since joining MFP. I joined 120 days ago, and have lost 21 pounds in that time. I'm 5' 4" and now weigh 117.8 pounds. I have a small frame, and my target is 114, so not far to go. For as long as I can remember,…
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Water consumption
I know it is good to drink a lot of water, but logging it is a bit tricky for me. First of all, I tend to just fill up the water bottle as and when required during the day. Secondly I like eating ice cubes and have no idea how that equates to 'cups' (as a Brit I also don't relate well to the 'cups' measurement). Finally, I…
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Vegetable v animal protein
I vaguely remember reading somewhere that protein from vegetable sources is somehow 'worth' more than protein from animal sources. Can anyone shed any light on that please?
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Soya alternatives?
Just been reading about soya being bad for humans, and as a vegetarian I eat a lot of the stuff in various forms on a quest for higher protein levels (and I must confess, for convenience). For example, I've been having a myprotein soya isolate shake after working out and it seems like changing it would be a good start. Can…
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Soya alternatives?
Just been reading about soya being bad for humans, and as a vegetarian I eat a lot of the stuff in various forms on a quest for higher protein levels (and I must confess, for convenience). For example, I've been having a myprotein soya isolate shake after working out and it seems like changing it would be a good start. Can…
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Do we need more or less protein as we age?
Does anybody know how the ageing process affects our need for protein? I'm 53, and I know from experience (as well as from reading) that women lose muscle mass as they age. I'm interested to know whether that means we need more protein or less! I've recently re-started weight training and want to do it right but I'm not…
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Help! Exercises for scraggy neck needed!
I am getting on a bit (53 now - Eeek!), and my neck seems to be ageing faster than the rest of me. Now that I am losing weight, it is looking more and more 'scraggy'. I'd be so grateful if anyone knows of neck firming exercises - I don't mind if it looks bigger, by the way.
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Vegetarian friends
I'm a UK-based vegetarian, and I'm getting slightly bored as I seem to be eating the same thing over and over again. Recently a fellow-veggie became a friend, and I found it really inspiring to look through her diary (thanks lottycat!). Would any other veggies like to link up for mutual dietary inspiration? If interested,…
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Meal replacement bars - good or bad?
Meal replacement bars - good or bad? I've recently started using these (i.e.commercial slimming aids) once or twice a day because of a) convenience and b) their nutritional claims. I have to say though, that my body doesn't seem to get on with them very well, and I feel I'm getting too much sugar from them (I'm craving…
