03 March 2007

A new day, a new post.

See what's happening here??? I'm getting back into the grove and I start posting more frequently. Interesting connection, no??

I find the responses I got to my last post interesting. I'm guessing the common knowledge is changing. I really thought I'd have people saying lots of aerobic work is the only way to lose fat. So I was pleasantly surprised.

Although I am by no means an expert, I'd thought I'd address some of the comments.

Ellie said:
Sounds interesting. I think the connections between endurance cardio and fat-burning is that it's supposed to enhance your ability to use fat, of which most of us have more than enough, rather than glycogen, which is limited, over long periods of extended exercise.

According to Afterburn: "The body literally adapts to anything we attempt to do by responding in the reverse manner. Don't drink any water? Your body tries to retain water. Does weight training build muscle? No it doesn't. What actually occurs is a breakdown of muscle tissue and the body ADAPTS by building muscle.
So if you burn a ton of calories doing aerobic training, that same body adapts to aerobic exercise by slowing your metabolism and allowing your body to store more fat. "

So I guess it does enhance your ability to use fat over glycogen but then it enhances your ability to store it too.

Now, I can't prove this scientifically but I can tell from my own experience that's what's happened. When I weight 225 lbs. walking 1 mile a day gave me quite a workout and I lost weight. Over time as I could walk further and further, I had to walk further and further to continue losing weight. Both marathons I trained for I gained weight even though I was running more than ever, but that's all I was doing. I had started to come to this realization on my own, aerobic activity wasn't cutting it anymore. About 3 years ago I started adding weight training into my routine. As soon as I did that I started losing weight again, unfortunately I wasn't as consistent as I should have been. But I will be from now on!!!

And yes Ellie, it is similar to the Zone diet and BFL. The difference with both of them is that it changes over time as your body adapts. So every 4 weeks you're changing your weight routine, cardio work, and nutritional ratios. Periodization is all the rage now and that does this.

Sharon asked : Is this a book or video?

It's actually a loose leaf binder. Which I like because I keep a log for the weight training portion of reps, weight, etc, and I can keep it right in the book. I should point out to, he doesn't lay out the food for you. He helps you figure out how many calories you should be eating, what the ratios should be, and he gives you an example daily menu. Other than that all you get is a list of food and you're on your own.

Again, he states that there are times for long, slow, aerobic work, his wife is training for an Ironman and he helps her, but for fat burning it's not the best way to go.

Don't mean to sound like I'm preaching but I know when I was struggling to lose weight and couldn't figure out why I couldn't, I would have given anything if someone had told me about this. As I said yesterday, I discovered a lot of what he says on my own. But it sure would have been easier and quicker if I could have read his book :)

Moving on..... Today is weight day which I'm not rushing to do :) I'm just a little tired today. Didn't sleep well last night. Xena, the warrior Moluccan, and I are still going through the adjustment period and last night was rough. She did not want to go to bed and in fact, thought it would be a good night to leave. Umm, yeah, no!! So we argued until 10 p.m. when I finally tricked her into her cage (I know, I should be smarter than the bird but sometimes I'm not :). Then I still had to clean up the kitchen from dinner. It was almost 11 by the time I crawled in bed, way past my bedtime. Then we had the ac on and I was afraid I wouldn't hear Xena if something happened, she was pretty pushy last night, I was afraid she might hurt herself in her cage. Most of the time once you put birds in darkness they settle down, it's just nature - sleep at night. But last night she wouldn't stop even in total darkness so I was concerned. Anyway, I didn't sleep well. Luckily it's Saturday and I have no big plans at all. Workout, clean house, that's about it. Oh yeah, practice my guitar and draw some.

Okay, I guess that's all I really have to say. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

2 comments:

Duane said...

Well now you have gone ans tweaked my curiosity! I will be watching for more on how you do with this!

Deb said...

I have training ADD, which every trainer has told me is a good thing. I constantly get bored and mix it up. Tomorrow I'm back after a week off. Can't wait to pick up the weights again!

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