Bodyweight Strength Training

[el-jihadul-akbar]

Every now and then, you come across a newspaper article that tells of the poor fitness level of our youngsters; how their 12-minute runs are getting shorter and shorter, muscles degenerating to the point where a single pull-up becomes an impossibility, while their body mass indexes are soaring to all-time highs, the latter applying both for young and old alike - not because of a drastic increase in muscle mass, though. There have been stories how the modern-day youngsters are inaccustomed to physical exertion, some of them viewing even simple perspiration from exercise as an alarming "symptom"!

http://www.corrupt.org/data/lifestyle/bodyweight_strength_training/

[Saturn]

Body (weight) strength training need not be an Olympian routine if one maintains a healthy diet and does regular hard work. However, it can help supplement a healthy lifestyle and especially be useful for those whose work is non laborious.

Generally speaking I’ve maintained a regimen to help keep myself strong and fit for a number of years now in conjunction with the rigors of my daily work activity. Requirements will always differ from person to person, although here are a few suggestions:

-Get a bicycle and bike in lieu of a motor vehicle as often as possible.
-Take frequent walks, and swim, if you have access to a river, lake or pool. These activities impact the joints very little but still raise the heart rate and keeps the body healthy and vital.
-Strength training like the pros is suicide. We are not designed to squat with 500 pounds on our backs or lift a 300 dead weight off the ground. What we can do to obtain lean body mass and strength are relatively simple exercises like push-ups, chin/pull-ups, and light weight lifting. I would recommend working the back, chest and shoulders 3 times a week (each muscle group only once a week) for no more than 40 minutes a day.

[C19H28O2]

-Strength training like the pros is suicide. We are not designed to squat with 500 pounds on our backs or lift a 300 dead weight off the ground. What we can do to obtain lean body mass and strength are relatively simple exercises like push-ups, chin/pull-ups, and light weight lifting. I would recommend working the back, chest and shoulders 3 times a week (each muscle group only once a week) for no more than 40 minutes a day.  

As a powerlifter / bodybuiler I have to disagree. Strength athletes are among the healthiest people on the planet. Muscle burns fat and increases testosterone, both have endless benifits. Not only that, but it expresses the value of our culture... strength + beauty. Our bodies are design to do whatever we tell them to.

[Evangelikum]

Well I've heard that putting on too much muscle will really screw you over in later life.

[vex]

Well I've heard that putting on too much muscle will really screw you over in later life.

As you get older you lose more and more muscle mass, leaving people weaker and frailer. You'll want to build substantial muscle mass and retain it for your later years.

"Too much muscle"? That is like the guys who say they don't want to exercise because they don't to be as big as Arnold. Right, like a few months of low effort will somehow make you massively muscular.

Exercise produces whatever results you put into it, but gaining muscle is a long-term proposition that doesn't happen overnight. Then if you stop strength exercising your muscle mass will decline, so it is easy to do away with "too much muscle" if you decide you'd rather look like a marathon runner than a strength athlete.

[C19H28O2]

Well I've heard that putting on too much muscle will really screw you over in later life.

As you get older you lose more and more muscle mass, leaving people weaker and frailer. You'll want to build substantial muscle mass and retain it for your later years.

"Too much muscle"? That is like the guys who say they don't want to exercise because they don't to be as big as Arnold. Right, like a few months of low effort will somehow make you massively muscular.

Exercise produces whatever results you put into it, but gaining muscle is a long-term proposition that doesn't happen overnight. Then if you stop strength exercising your muscle mass will decline, so it is easy to do away with "too much muscle" if you decide you'd rather look like a marathon runner than a strength athlete.

Very good points vex.
People make foundationless comments like that all the time. "Too much muscle will screw you" or "training like a pro is suicide", what evdence do you have? Ironically there is only evidence to the contrary.
For good info anyone interested in training (for health, strength or aesthetics) check out these sites http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.asp?tid=51  
http://youtube.com/user/EliteFitnessSystems  

[RogueTemplar]

I am a religious strength trainer. I get up every morning at 2:30 am, pump some coffee in me and sugar free red bulls- In the GYM by 4:10 till 5:55 am- Which I know do a lot of super-sets but add cardio at the end.

Im 41, very strong and in good condition. I do however have aliments from a lifetime of excessive weight training. The good outweighs the bad. Cart and ligament damage will occur, especially if you reach for those last 2 reps.

I have damage in my right shoulder from a car accident, damage to c6 and c7 in my upper spine and was able to avoid surgery because of my commitment to strength training and excercise. Yes, there is some pain, but I'm stronger and more fit then most 20 year olds I come across daily.

Change up your excercises to shock your body. My Squat is 495 on a free weight rack, and that's coming all the way down, My Dead Lift is 405 lbs- Those 2 EXERCSISES ARE KEY-- Because they release natural testostorne in the body. Also, I have been able to put off a MCL surgery because of taking cartlidge repair vitamins and continuing to workout.

Its not just all about Benching and doing Bi-Cep curls. And finish your workout with either 40 minutes on the treadmill or swimming. Sometimes, I even come home and hit the heavy bag for 2 mins at a clip and do push ups in between my rounds.

Stregnth training is also a key in preventing or keeping diabetes at bay-

PS- I also work in an office in management.

[Mr.Brown]

I am a religious strength trainer. I get up every morning at 2:30 am, pump some coffee in me and sugar free red bulls- In the GYM by 4:10 till 5:55 am- Which I know do a lot of super-sets but add cardio at the end.

Im 41, very strong and in good condition. I do however have aliments from a lifetime of excessive weight training. The good outweighs the bad. Cart and ligament damage will occur, especially if you reach for those last 2 reps.

I have damage in my right shoulder from a car accident, damage to c6 and c7 in my upper spine and was able to avoid surgery because of my commitment to strength training and excercise. Yes, there is some pain, but I'm stronger and more fit then most 20 year olds I come across daily.

Change up your excercises to shock your body. My Squat is 495 on a free weight rack, and that's coming all the way down, My Dead Lift is 405 lbs- Those 2 EXERCSISES ARE KEY-- Because they release natural testostorne in the body. Also, I have been able to put off a MCL surgery because of taking cartlidge repair vitamins and continuing to workout.

Its not just all about Benching and doing Bi-Cep curls. And finish your workout with either 40 minutes on the treadmill or swimming. Sometimes, I even come home and hit the heavy bag for 2 mins at a clip and do push ups in between my rounds.

Stregnth training is also a key in preventing or keeping diabetes at bay-

PS- I also work in an office in management.

My BMI is between 21/22 right now.Your routine is a little intense for me , but I was interested in the cartlidge vitamins.How do you like them and maybe you have some recomendations?

[RogueTemplar]

Sure Mr Brown

Try these -
GNC  Tri-Flex - Great Product

Osteo  Bi-Flex

I have to like them, I think they are holding my knee and shoulder together.  

[Kleiber]

Im more of a running person, although not everyone can just up and take off. Plus i'm still a kid But I prefer a nice little run through the park and whatnot. I'm also into soccer...ever since I was little. But even power walking is good for you if you have the right pace. Helps cardio too.

But any form of physical/mental exercise is good for you as long as you are consistant. Like an everyday thing. Because if you work out hardcore for like one day, then wait a week...it sure negates the whole deal.

[Mr.Brown]

Sure Mr Brown

Try these -
GNC  Tri-Flex - Great Product

Osteo  Bi-Flex

I have to like them, I think they are holding my knee and shoulder together.  

                                                                                                                         Yeah I heard that, 40 years is 40 years. I'll look into these products and give it a go,maybee go a little heavier?thanks.