Simple Exercise-related Question

Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
edited August 2005 in Off-Topic
This is for those of you who actually get off your rear to exercise on occasion <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Recently I've started a much more effective exercise routine, but I've made a mistake: for arm exercises, I've been doing things like push-ups and other exercises that involve me pushing, but can't remember a way to exercise the opposing muscle. As a result, I feel a pain around my elbow whenever I bend my arm far enough to do something like, say, touching my chin, my ear, or my shoulder.

I'd imagine balancing things out by doing pull-ups would work, but I have no strong structural thing at home to pull myself up to. I also have no free weights. I also have no intention of finding a local gym or equivalent just to use their machines. Part of why I didn't work out before is because of the lack of motivation to spend time going over there and paying money, so try to think of things I can do at home.

Comments

  • docchimpydocchimpy Join Date: 2003-07-19 Member: 18266Members
    Would you mind detailing your excersise...thingy?

    I tried one listed on the US Navy page, but it ruined me.
  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-docchimpy+Aug 4 2005, 09:17 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (docchimpy @ Aug 4 2005, 09:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Would you mind detailing your excersise...thingy?

    I tried one listed on the US Navy page, but it ruined me. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's mostly stretches, push-ups, crunches, and raising my heart rate a bit by turning on some music and jumping around, shadow boxing, and doing nerdy improvised dances <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • NumbersNotFoundNumbersNotFound Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7556Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Marik Steele+Aug 4 2005, 09:20 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Marik Steele @ Aug 4 2005, 09:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-docchimpy+Aug 4 2005, 09:17 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (docchimpy @ Aug 4 2005, 09:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Would you mind detailing your excersise...thingy?

    I tried one listed on the US Navy page, but it ruined me. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's mostly stretches, push-ups, crunches, and raising my heart rate a bit by turning on some music and jumping around, shadow boxing, and doing <b>nerdy improvised dances</b> <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The most wrong, yet most awesome, words ever put together in the english language.
  • SillyGooseSillyGoose Join Date: 2003-03-16 Member: 14572Members, Constellation
    excercies that involve pushing (ex: benchpress and push-ups) are mostly tricep muscles. Your tricep is proabably the hardest working muscle in your arms, so it's good to emphasize that, but you can't forget your biceps and forearms. Really the best way to work out your biceps are doing curls (free-weights) or chin-ups. I don't really know the proper term for what I do for my forearms, but its basically where you sit down and hold a free-weight in your hand and lift if using your wrists, both backwards and forewards (consult someone who knows what they're doing and can actually show you in real life). Also you can't just work out your arms, you really need a full body workout to get strong. If you don't want to do that, at least do some shoulder shrugs with free weight and other shoulder excercises to prevent a dislocated shoulder, because the stronger you get and the more you push your arms the more strain is on your shoulders . I'm no expert on training or anything, and the best advice I can really give you though is find someone who knows about these things to show you, so you don't hurt yourself. Oh and before I forget: STRETCH BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING.
  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Marik Steele+Aug 4 2005, 09:20 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Marik Steele @ Aug 4 2005, 09:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-docchimpy+Aug 4 2005, 09:17 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (docchimpy @ Aug 4 2005, 09:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Would you mind detailing your excersise...thingy?

    I tried one listed on the US Navy page, but it ruined me. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's mostly stretches, push-ups, crunches, and raising my heart rate a bit by turning on some music and jumping around, shadow boxing, and doing nerdy improvised dances <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    MARIK PLAYS DDR!!!!!!!!

    Wait... I do to...
  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    you are not gona get pain like that from simply overexersising a single muscle (or group)

    I dono WHAT would give you that pain (possibly improper streching), but it isn't from over exersinsing one group.


    oh, and you can actualy work out just about all of your arm muscles by varying the type of pushups you do.
    Wide
    regular
    diamond (put handtogether so your thumb/pointers form a diamond)
    fingertip
    knuckle
    etc etc etc

    if you want a fun and easy (and incredibly painful) exersise for your foreamrs then do this:
    hold your hands out to your sides
    open and close your hands as fast as yuo can (kinda flinking motion)
    put hands above your head, rpeate
    hands out infront, repeate.

    you will know you are doing it right when your forearms start burning <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> (if it dosn't try moving faster)
  • BulletHeadBulletHead Join Date: 2004-07-22 Member: 30049Members
    For free weights

    put a few heavy books into a bookbag. There ya go


    For me, Tae Bo does it- do the advanced workout a few times a week and you'll feel GREAT. The Aerobics first, with stretching and cardiovascular after REALLY works your muscles well
  • SoulSkorpionSoulSkorpion Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 423Members
    Marik, how come you don't want to go toa gym "just to use the machines"? It makes less sense to me to join a gym to use the treadmills when there's a whole heap of free Outside which can be used to jog in. Besides, gyms tend to have people who can give you expert advice on what kind of training you should do based on your current ability and what you want to get out of it (not to mention being able to answer questions like this).
  • MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-SoulSkorpion+Aug 4 2005, 09:00 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SoulSkorpion @ Aug 4 2005, 09:00 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It makes less sense to me to join a gym to use the treadmills when there's a whole heap of free Outside which can be used to jog in. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Man, don't even MENTION that place. Weird **** goes on "outside".
  • kill4thrillskill4thrills Join Date: 2004-06-24 Member: 29506Members, Constellation
    fill some milk jugs with water and use them as weights. you can do arm curls with them that are similar to pull-ups
  • CplDavisCplDavis I hunt the arctic Snonos Join Date: 2003-01-09 Member: 12097Members
    pushups are good for triceps as mentioned before.

    I like to do inverted ones.

    Put your feet up on your bed or the couch for example. Makes it a bit harder.

    For wrists and forarms get a piece of pipe or a stick about a foot long. Tie a rope around the middle with a weight on the end.

    Hold the stick out horizontal with one hand on each side. Hold it out in front of you so your arms ar straight out. Then using your wrists roll and unroll the rope up weight up and down.


    Also Simply carying 2 equal weights (one in each hand) to your sides and walk up and down the hallway is good for building your forearms. I think this exercise is called the farmers carry or something like that.
  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-SoulSkorpion+Aug 5 2005, 12:00 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SoulSkorpion @ Aug 5 2005, 12:00 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Marik, how come you don't want to go toa gym "just to use the machines"? It makes less sense to me to join a gym to use the treadmills when there's a whole heap of free Outside which can be used to jog in. Besides, gyms tend to have people who can give you expert advice on what kind of training you should do based on your current ability and what you want to get out of it (not to mention being able to answer questions like this). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    This "Outside" you refer to doesn't charge money, it charges blood. Mosquitoes run the place.

    Thanks for suggestions about improv weights like books in bags and milk jugs. I guess I just needed to be more resourceful.
  • [WHO]Them[WHO]Them You can call me Dave Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10593Members, Constellation
    there is nowhere in the world where you can't *find* a freeweight.

    I used to routinely lift chairs at school when no weights were nearby.
  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Marik Steele+Aug 4 2005, 09:20 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Marik Steele @ Aug 4 2005, 09:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->nerdy improvised dances<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    i demand pics and/or video!

    <span style='font-size:4pt;line-height:100%'>zOMG torrentpls!</span>
  • SoulSkorpionSoulSkorpion Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 423Members
    edited August 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-CplDavis+Aug 5 2005, 02:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CplDavis @ Aug 5 2005, 02:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->pushups are good for triceps as mentioned before.

    I like to do inverted ones.

    Put your feet up on your bed or the couch for example. Makes it a bit harder.

    For wrists and forarms get a piece of pipe or a stick about a foot long. Tie a rope around the middle with a weight on the end.

    Hold the stick out horizontal with one hand on each side. Hold it out in front of you so your arms ar straight out. Then using your wrists roll and unroll the rope up weight up and down.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    ...huh? I'm having a hard time visualising this. MSPaint diagram?

    <!--QuoteBegin-Marik+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Marik)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->This "Outside" you refer to doesn't charge money, it charges blood. Mosquitoes run the place.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->Oh? My local franchise is under different management. <span style='font-size:5pt;line-height:100%'>in any case, it's the most creative excuse I've heard so far for not going outside...</span>
  • ChronoChrono Local flyboy Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18989Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-SoulSkorpion+Aug 5 2005, 01:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SoulSkorpion @ Aug 5 2005, 01:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-CplDavis+Aug 5 2005, 02:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CplDavis @ Aug 5 2005, 02:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->pushups are good for triceps as mentioned before.

    I like to do inverted ones.

    Put your feet up on your bed or the couch for example. Makes it a bit harder.

    For wrists and forarms get a piece of pipe or a stick about a foot long. Tie a rope around the middle with a weight on the end.

    Hold the stick out horizontal with one hand on each side. Hold it out in front of you so your arms ar straight out. Then using your wrists roll and unroll the rope up weight up and down.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    ...huh? I'm having a hard time visualising this. MSPaint diagram?

    <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    its simple

    take a ruler imagine a rope is attached to the center of the ruler at the bottom of the rope there is a weight. you have each of your hands at the ends of the ruler and your basicly spinning the ruler so the rope windes around the ruler
  • Owen1Owen1 Join Date: 2003-04-13 Member: 15457Members
    work your triceps eh? you can actually work both your biceps and triceps equally when doing pushups. When you get to the highest stress point of the press (When it's the most uncomfortable) hold it there for 5 seconds, then continue down, on the way back up do the same, you should be able to get 30+ in before you start thinking about stopping.
  • MausMaus Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5599Members
    edited August 2005
    I tried doing everything myself like that Marik, including improvised weights which in retrospect were a retarded idea (if you want to improve, you need to keep track of the weights your shifting - a filled bottle of water isn't help much), but it wasn't really getting me anywhere. I joined a gym 6 months ago and exercising became ten times easier and ten times more effective - just bite the bullet and cough up the money for membership at the local Y or something.
  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    You've come to the right place Marik! Although I don't exercise as much as I did prior to arthroscopic knee surgery, not that long ago I was a lean mean running machine who ran marathons AND weightlifted, resulting in 14% body fat. Not to shabby for a 50+ dude.

    As a result I wound up quite qualified in exercise physiology. When you work a set of muscles you always want to be cognizant of working the opposing ones as well. Quadraceps and hamstings, biceps and triceps, pecs and lats - you get the picture. Pushups of course are working the triceps, so you want to focus on the biceps as well. It also wouldn't hurt to work on the forearms.

    Since you're unable to do pullups and don't have freeweights, we've got to be imaginative here. I'd recommend bicep curls, so ... do you have any heavy lumber around, like a pressure treated 4x4x8? Not knowing what your current developmental level is, it's difficult to "assign" you a piece of "equipment". But you could do bicep curls using a heavy piece of lumber, holding a couple of bricks (I have an assortment of bricks here, weighing from a few pounds, up to about 15), or even using concrete blocks (gloves recommended). If you can't find anything around your house to curl, we'll procede to the next step.

    Resistance bands: these come in varying sizes and thickness and can be effectively used if done right. For curls I'd loop one end under your foot and place the other end in your hand, keeping your arms down to your sides and curling upwards.

    As to the elbow pains: do not ignore them. I had an epicondylectomy (elbow surgery) performed 10 years ago for tennis elbow. It was definitely overuse related, and compounded by my weightlifting. It is now 110%. They have tennis elbow wraps that minimalize pain and injury if your elbows are a problem.

    And don't forget the forearms. The simplest squeeze-grip will work. If you don't have or can't afford one, poke a small hole in a tennis ball, and squeeze it till it hurts. :>

    One more piece of advice: a lot of reps at a lower weight will tone your muscles, and fewer reps at a greater weight will bulk your muscles up. I suggest toning first, then bulking up. And never stretch cold muscles. Ever.

    <span style='font-size:7pt;line-height:100%'>Good luck ... that is all</span>.
  • kill4thrillskill4thrills Join Date: 2004-06-24 Member: 29506Members, Constellation
    edited August 2005
    you might also want to consider buying excercise equipment. I've got an excercise bike and a all purpose gym set at home with free weights. set me back about 400 bucks but it's a one time investment and is good for life. you can also park it next to the TV and watch what you want whlie you excercise. If you go to a gym it's pretty boring cause you usualy don't want to watch whatever they're showing
  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Yeah I considered mentioning freeweights, but he said something about "paying money" so I tried to come up with "home remedies". :>
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