Exercise Question

[isaac42]

I can't find it now, but a while back, there was a thread on exercise, and someone said something along these lines: that running wasn't a particularly good thing to do, because it caused the body to consume the muscles, and that any sustained exercise at a moderate intensity would do the same.

 

Anybody remember that? Anybody know anything about it, and where I might find more information on that line of thinking?

[willsellout]

That's misenformation really. After a certain point your body runs out of food energy (calories) and it begins to use other things as food (Fat and muscle). If you aren't running marathons you won't have any issues with excessive muscle loss. But again, you body is incredibly adaptive and it will adapt to your training. This is why you see runners with the bodies they have. Very little fat, lots of lean muscle.

 

I'd worry more about muscle loss with weight training than any kind of cardio activity personally.

 

In any case running is an excellent form of exercise, our bodies were built to run. Some people have better frames for it though nowadays. You won't see me running more than a couple miles as I've got very thick frame. I find my joints don't particular care for it:D

 

Dan

[BeeTL]

Body for Life has a lot of info on maximizing gains based on minimal time committment.

 

High impact endurance sports like running do take a toll on the body.

 

I hope that helps.

[Roger in the sky]

biking > running

[Hearafter]

 

biking > running

 

 

Sex > running

[JacieFB]

 

Body for Life has a lot of info on maximizing gains based on minimal time committment. High impact endurance sports like running do take a toll on the body, when done incorrectly . I hope that helps.

 

 

Fixed.

 

 

Running doesn't hurt your joints. It strengthens them, if you do it properly.

 

Running also increases bone density.

[JacieFB]

biking > running

 

 

 

Nah.

 

[collinwho]

 

Running doesn't hurt your joints.

 

 

Are you sure? I was told by my doctor to avoid anything that is high impact on my knees, like running. I've had bad knees for years, and was told that the repetitive impact of any sort of regular running would just finish them off even quicker.

[willsellout]

If you have a natural tendency to have joint problems then take your doctor's advice.

 

 

Dan

[JacieFB]

 

Are you sure? I was told by my doctor to avoid anything that is high impact on my knees, like running. I've had bad knees for years, and was told that the repetitive impact of any sort of regular running would just finish them off even quicker.

 

 

 

I was just making the point that for the standard issue person, it is a complete myth that running somehow damages the body. It absolutely can, but if it's done properly with a normal body, it absolutely won't.

 

A lot of times, it's also about the will to run. (We're not always the smartest bunch.) A buddy of mine had his ACL and meniscus repaired (years of soccer and running and playing through injuries) just so that he could run again.

[piersonm]

 

I'd worry more about muscle loss with weight training than any kind of cardio activity personally.

 

 

Hmmm, have to disagree. There is 'No' exercise that causes muscle loss. Only extreme starvation will cause the body to actually start consuming muscle.

[Roger in the sky]

 

Sex > running

 

 

also true

[willsellout]

 

Hmmm, have to disagree. There is 'No' exercise that causes muscle loss. Only extreme starvation will cause the body to actually start consuming muscle.

 

 

When did I say an exercise would cause muscle loss?

 

Also, extreme starvation isn't necessary for catabolism of muscle to occur.

 

Muscle is never static. You are either losing or gaining.

 

 

Dan

[piersonm]

When did I say an exercise would cause muscle loss?

 

In the statement that I quoted of yours above

[georgestrings]

 

Are you sure? I was told by my doctor to avoid anything that is high impact on my knees, like running. I've had bad knees for years, and was told that the repetitive impact of any sort of regular running would just finish them off even quicker.

 

 

 

Exactly - running *can* be problematic for those with knee, ankle, back, or hip problems... I'm told that using an elyptical machine is good...

 

 

 

- georgestrings

[isaac42]

 

Hmmm, have to disagree. There is 'No' exercise that causes muscle loss. Only extreme starvation will cause the body to actually start consuming muscle.

 

 

And this is what I started the thread to talk about. Someone said otherwise. I'm trying to find out if there's any truth to what was said, because it flies in the face of what I thought I knew.

[collinwho]

 

I'm told that using an elyptical machine is good...

 

 

I've been told that too. I'm not willing to join a gym for one machine, though, so for now I'm not using one.

[Craig Vecchione]

 

Are you sure? I was told by my doctor to avoid anything that is high impact on my knees, like running. I've had bad knees for years, and was told that the repetitive impact of any sort of regular running would just finish them off even quicker.

 

 

Listen to your doctor (best advice possible) and avoid high-impact excercise to protect your joints. Cycling and swimming would be better suited. And strength excercises to build supporting muscles will help reinforce knee joints.

[willsellout]

I'll address your statement directly to clarify for you. I will assume that you were talking about weight training since that's the part of my statement that you quoted?

 

You said this:

 

Hmmm, have to disagree. There is 'No' exercise that causes muscle loss. Only extreme starvation will cause the body to actually start consuming muscle.

 

 

First, you are absolutely wrong about starvation being the only cause (see below).

 

As far as weight training goes, when you lift weights you create tears in the muscle that need to be repaired. To do this you supply your body with the nutrients and food energy that they need. If you don't you lose muscle. Although you can't attribute a certain exercise with muscle loss, you can attribute weight training in general with muscle loss if you aren't careful. You can really get into muscle loss when you are weight training and trying to lose weight, as you have to create a caloric deficit.

 

Here are universal points for both cardio and weight training:

 

1.As long as your diet is in check, and you train correctly, your muscle loss will be minimal. But have no doubt about, you can lose muscle when you train, no matter what kind of training you do. You can add to that loss with improper diet.

 

2. You don't need excessive starvation to lose muscle, that is simply wrong. There are a number of reasons why you'd lose muscle: Not eating enough, being a marathon runner, astronaut, injury, overtraining etc.

 

3. Our bodies use three types of food: Calories from what you eat, fat and muscle from our bodies. If you run out of calories your body will start to use other sources.

 

 

Dan

[willsellout]

 

And this is what I started the thread to talk about. Someone said otherwise. I'm trying to find out if there's any truth to what was said, because it flies in the face of what I thought I knew.

 

 

There is not really any truth to the original statement you posted as it applies to most people but It really kind of depends on what kind of running or training you will be doing.

 

 

 

Dan

[lonerstoenr]

Swimming is badass.

[Craig Vecchione]

Dan, you seem really angry.

[willsellout]

I'm not, why does it seem that way?

[Craig Vecchione]

I'm not, why does it seem that way?

 

Just the way you're writing. Seems like you're grouchy.

 

 

 

Or maybe just getting old.

 

 

 

:poke:

[Kindness]

Or maybe just getting old.

 

Sign me up.