NightTime Sit-Ups and Push-Ups. Am I wasting my time ?

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polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,183
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You cannot turn flab into muscle... it is impossible...

Get rid of the fat first and you will see your abs... and skoorb is right, the gym is the best place for training...

I was always undet the impression that Fat was turned into Muscle via working out.

So the best I can do it burn off the extra flab....then work on increasing the muscle mass to compensate ?
 
Dec 27, 2001
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Whatever. Working out won't help anything except to bulk you up a bit more.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO! Start jogging. You will burn more calories and increase your metabolism faster than ANYTHING else you can do including swimming.
 

Siddhartha

Lifer
Oct 17, 1999
12,505
3
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Originally posted by: polm
I am looking to add a little more tone to my stomach, chest, and back.

I am not overweight at all, and I eat a very moderate and healthy diet of foods.

Will a good healthy round of Sit-Ups and Push-Ups before bed help me to acheive some more tonage in my desired areas ?

It would not hurt.

 

polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,183
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Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Whatever. Working out won't help anything except to bulk you up a bit more.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO! Start jogging. You will burn more calories and increase your metabolism faster than ANYTHING else you can do including swimming.


I don't want to lose weight. I like the "size" that the layer of flab renders. I would simply like that flab to be muscle and look tone.
 

SnapIT

Banned
Jul 8, 2002
4,355
1
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Originally posted by: polm
You cannot turn flab into muscle... it is impossible...

Get rid of the fat first and you will see your abs... and skoorb is right, the gym is the best place for training...

I was always undet the impression that Fat was turned into Muscle via working out.

So the best I can do it burn off the extra flab....then work on increasing the muscle mass to compensate ?

No, the fat cannot turn into anything other than energy, it can never be turned into muscle, muscle is protein mass that will grow if you work out, what happens is that you break the musclefibers and they compensate by becoming thicker, it's called hypertrophy... (i'm not going into hyperplasia as it has no use for the argument)

I would say that you can burn off the extra flab and work out at the same time, for a beginner it IS possible to increase muscle mass and burn fat at the same time...

 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: Mookow
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: polm
Is there any reason to do the Push-Ups & Crunches ? Are they basically working out the same areas ?

*snickers*

No, push-ups are mostly centered around upper-body enhancement. Crunches are like "better situps" - more ab-oriented.

It's all about the knuckle pushups on tile. :confused:

- M4H
No man it's all about the fingertip pushups on a bed of nails

:evil:

I'm going to have to side with Tenacious D on this one... its all about the c*ck push-ups

"C0ck pushups?"
"Yeah, you know. That's where you, like, lie flat on the ground."
"Mmmkay."
"And then you let your boner lift you off the ground."
"No ... no way. Your c0ck can support your whole weight?"
"Well, not at first. But over time."

:D

- M4H
 

SnapIT

Banned
Jul 8, 2002
4,355
1
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Originally posted by: polm
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Whatever. Working out won't help anything except to bulk you up a bit more.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO! Start jogging. You will burn more calories and increase your metabolism faster than ANYTHING else you can do including swimming.


I don't want to lose weight. I like the "size" that the layer of flab renders. I would simply like that flab to be muscle and look tone.

Most peole would like the flab to be muscle... but it isn't and it's not going to become muscle either, add size by building muscle, weight training, burn fat by doing cardio (running, brisk walking, aerobics etc.)

There are no easy ways, it takes time and effort...
 

polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,183
0
0
No, the fat cannot turn into anything other than energy, it can never be turned into muscle, muscle is protein mass that will grow if you work out, what happens is that you break the musclefibers and they compensate by becoming thicker, it's called hypertrophy... (i'm not going into hyperplasia as it has no use for the argument)

I would say that you can burn off the extra flab and work out at the same time, for a beginner it IS possible to increase muscle mass and burn fat at the same time...

So basically my attempts at a daily ritual of Crunches/Pull-Ups/Dips/Push-Ups will have absolutely no affect on toning my upper body ?
 

polm

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,183
0
0
Most peole would like the flab to be muscle... but it isn't and it's not going to become muscle either, add size by building muscle, weight training, burn fat by doing cardio (running, brisk walking, aerobics etc.)

There are no easy ways, it takes time and effort...

So why the heck do people to Pull-Ups/Push-Ups/Sit-Ups/Crunches/Dips ?

Apparently I will only gain muscle through wight training....and I will only burn fat through cardio.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
As snapit said fat doesn't turn to muscle. The only thing that makes muscle is protein. Since fat is fat the only way it benefits you is by giving you energy, although since weight training is aneorobic (doesn't use oxygen as much as aerobic) then fat doesn't help you lift weight. For that it's carbs turned into glycogen in your muscles!

Although you can tighten the area with more muscle really the vast majority of how good a person's abs look is determined by their fat layers, so although you "don't want to lose fat" overall, to lose it in those specific areas unless you see a surgeon you have to lose overall body fat. So you lose overall bodyfat you'll see a reduction in the waist. Then your muscle sticks out more and you have nice abs :)
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
Just buy a bottle of Stacker 2. It does work..... It also makes your blood pressure sky rocket, and you feel like you could run a marathon 24/7, but it works....
 

SnapIT

Banned
Jul 8, 2002
4,355
1
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Originally posted by: Skoorb
As snapit said fat doesn't turn to muscle. The only thing that makes muscle is protein. Since fat is fat the only way it benefits you is by giving you energy, although since weight training is aneorobic (doesn't use oxygen as much as aerobic) then fat doesn't help you lift weight. For that it's carbs turned into glycogen in your muscles!

Although you can tighten the area with more muscle really the vast majority of how good a person's abs look is determined by their fat layers, so although you "don't want to lose fat" overall, to lose it in those specific areas unless you see a surgeon you have to lose overall body fat. So you lose overall bodyfat you'll see a reduction in the waist. Then your muscle sticks out more and you have nice abs :)

Actually, glucose turns into glycogen (called glycogenesis) when it is stored in the muscles, but the muscles cannot use the glycogen directly, it has to be turned into glucose (glycogen will release glucose into the bloodstream) to be used as fuel, your body can also use fat (in the form of ketones) for anaerobic excersise...
 

SnapIT

Banned
Jul 8, 2002
4,355
1
0
Originally posted by: polm
Most peole would like the flab to be muscle... but it isn't and it's not going to become muscle either, add size by building muscle, weight training, burn fat by doing cardio (running, brisk walking, aerobics etc.)

There are no easy ways, it takes time and effort...

So why the heck do people to Pull-Ups/Push-Ups/Sit-Ups/Crunches/Dips ?

Apparently I will only gain muscle through wight training....and I will only burn fat through cardio.

All of the excersises you mentioned are considered anaerobic excersises aka weight training...

Chins, crunches, sit ups and dips, i go to a gym to work out but these are still excersises that i do...

Sure it will help, a little bit, but you do need to add weight and lower reps to make any real gains...
 

SnapIT

Banned
Jul 8, 2002
4,355
1
0
Originally posted by: edro13
Just buy a bottle of Stacker 2. It does work..... It also makes your blood pressure sky rocket, and you feel like you could run a marathon 24/7, but it works....

It will increase energy expenditure, that is, it will burn off a few more calories a day, these calories can come from consumed energy (food) or stored energy (glycogen and fat)...

Just eat a little less or excersise a little more and the results will be the same... great deal huh, less money spent on food and no money spent on supplement...

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Actually, glucose turns into glycogen (called glycogenesis) when it is stored in the muscles, but the muscles cannot use the glycogen directly, it has to be turned into glucose (glycogen will release glucose into the bloodstream) to be used as fuel, your body can also use fat (in the form of ketones) for anaerobic excersise...
Ah see I haven't read anything in so long I was just cruising through my post :)
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: AUMM
what are some good yet simple excerises that workout the back?
Chin ups! If you have access to a gym my favorite are close grib (using a special end to the cable palms face each other about 6 inches apart) lat pull downs.