Get off the Damn Treadmill

I just had a friend ask me about fitness so I figured I would kick off my blog with a little bit about exercise.

Picture your average joe who just got pumped watching the latest Oprah episode on obese siamese sex slaves. He goes to the gym to get ripped so he jumps on the treadmill and pounds away for an hour burning 600 calories. Then dripping sweat he goes over to the on site juice bar and orders up a large frizzy strawberry latte smoothie to replenish his glycogen stores or whatever and gulps down about 800 calories. Confident in his newfound physique Joe heads to the beach to show off his nonexistant abs and spindly arms and wonders why all the girlies aren't rushing over to feel his bulging guns. Joe is about 6', 190 lbs and about 25% body fat, and he gets tired when he's carrying his case of coors light up to his second floor apartment.

I have seen way too many d-bags in my life like this and you know what, it is not his fault. There is so much misinformation out there about fitness, it is no wonder we are as a nation fatter than ever. (hint= every ad you have ever seen on tv selling an exercise machine is a total crock, except for maybe the bowflex, it's just overpriced)

Everyone repeat after me, I will stop doing long steady state cardio thinking it is going to give me a six pack. Unless you're ideal body type is the guy on the left you are better off doing heavy weight lifting and interval training like sprints.

It all boils down to slow and fast twitch muscle fibers. Fast twitch have a far greater ability to grow than slow twitch and how do you get them to grow. PUSH Them HARD.

Ok, second example. Bobby Six Pack goes to the gym, lifts big heavy weights doing these weird caveman exercises like squats and deadlifts. He does actual pullups, and the only reason he ever goes near the peck deck is because that is where the 45 pound plates are stored. He never has to wait because everyone is busy on the left buttcheek isolation machine and the squat rack is totally empty. He never does long runs or situps, and he busts out of the gym about 45 minutes later. He only has to do this 3 days a week, and doesn't get tired when carrying a playboy bunny draped over each arm up to his 80th story penthouse. Oh yeah Bobby is about 6' ,190 lbs and about 8 % body fat.

So next time you're watching 300 and are getting pumped from all the blood and half naked men and homoeroticism, leave the running shoes at home and go lift some damn iron.