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pfm Health Club

Well, I can see a way to progress to a straddle planche (may take me a couple of years - it is a level 8 skill - maybe I will only get to a tuck planche) but I suspect the iron cross (level 10) will always be beyond my capabilities!

I have always wanted to try circling on a pommel or mushroom, but but the local gymnastics club is run by women who do not do that kind of stuff!
 
There's a world of difference progressing to iron cross within 12-18 months as a teenager to the reality of trying to achieve that when in your 30s/40s/50s! I was a rings, pommel and parallel bars specialist.
 
Although I have come to it when most of my contemporaries are heading towards pipe and slippers, I get a tremendous sense of achievement when progressing to a new level or skill
I have gone from normal press-ups to diamond to ring press ups. Next step pseudo planche press-ups. Getting a broken rib and tennis elbow have set me back a bit in recent weeks, but I am on the mend.
 
Anyone take probiotics? I've just started and tummy is beginning to feel nice. Gut flora is supposedly linked to mood, ok many things are linked to mood, insulin etc.
 
The last couple of weeks have been a bit crap.

Just before I went on my hols to Mexico, I started getting a lot of issues with itchy skin. I put this down to possible stress, for assorted reasons, but also wondered whether three lots of Metronidazole in succession, and one of Clarithromycin.. for Dental issues., were contributing factors.

While away I took full advantage of the Sun, but also of good quality sunscreen, and was mostly OK.. I should add that I was already tanned before going away. The first hint of trouble was after an early morning swim in one of the hotel pools. I developed very sore eyes soon after.. followed by Rosacea type redness over my face. I suspect they'd just 'treated' the pool.

Next day the skin peeled off my nose. I have never experienced this in 70 years, either in UK or some very hot hols in the med etc. I can usually feel if my skin is 'on the edge', and I get into shade. I also swam in the sea everyday. Who wouldn't?
Anyway, after I got home, my skin was pretty dry. (I forgot my Aloe Vera after sun stuff.)

I should repeat here again that I have never been obviously sunburned and never been bothered by sunlight. I don't burn easily at all and have never 'blistered'.

But...

The last couple of weeks have just been constant itching and sensitive skin. Even the feel of a low pressure, low temp shower head on skin causes a sensitive reaction. Touching practically any area of skin kicks off itching. Clothing is a PITA and I'd rather be in the buff. It's unbelievable. I'm needing two cool showers a day just to feel human and am using a minimum amount of very mild shower gel. There is no rash to speak of. Just odd little raised bumps here and there. Not red.

I've tried following showers with assorted moisturisers, notably Aveeno stuff, which helps a bit, but leaves me feeling greasy, despite the Mfrs claims. Have also been taking Loratidine (Over the counter Anti Histamine) daily, with little/no effect

I originally got the earliest poss appointment with my Doc but that's not till April 6th.. so I called again, asking to see just anybody.. and got one for next Mon.29th. Am prayng he can help.

I still think the holiday Sun is a bit of a Red Herring and that my issues come from Clarithromycin. There's a bit about such things online.

And as you'd expect, my exercise regime is a bit farked..

But still under 14 st!
 
Easter week-end - no chocolate but we did have a roast lunch on Sunday and a couple of meals out and more beer than usual.

My actual weight reading this morning was 2lb lower than last Saturday, but my rolling average is up slightly as it peaked Monday and Tuesday.

Overall, my rolling 7 day average is 4lbs down on this time last month so that's good.
 
New lows today...

14st 6.5lb the first time I've weighed less that 14 and a half stone in eons.

My rolling average is also going down nicely and my BMI based on that has dipped below 27 (it started at just over 30).

Next target is 200lbs, that's a drop of 2.5 lbs from today's weight.

Keep it up, you're doing great.
 
Anyone take probiotics? I've just started and tummy is beginning to feel nice. Gut flora is supposedly linked to mood, ok many things are linked to mood, insulin etc.

not for any length of time, how long have you been taking them for?

I've bought a various packs of them in the past when they've been on offer but never had any real effect..but then only taken for a week max at a time
 
not for any length of time, how long have you been taking them for?

I've bought a various packs of them in the past when they've been on offer but never had any real effect..but then only taken for a week max at a time
They started to have an effect on me after 1 - 2 weeks, tummy feels more settled. I am eating healthier in general, as part of a balanced diet etc.......
 
No appreciable exercise for weeks on end. Now into about week 6 of incessant itchy skin and Hives. Have tried four different anti histamines and loads of different skin creams/lotions/moisturisers etc. Blood tests show no liver or kidney issues.

Allergy tests show no appreciable allergy to grass, animals or foods. But, Immunoglobulin E, which is seemingly a 'marker' for allergic reaction, is raised by a factor of 10-20 above 'normal'. No idea what it is but if I can keep this going for a couple more weeks, I flip into 'Chronic Urticaria' territory... Triffic Del...Triffic..

It's driving me nuts.. The rash doesn't look like any kind of parasite thing, but I've got so desperate that with Doc's agreement I've even treated myself with Lyclear, just in case. Naturally..... it hasn't helped. This evening I spent 15 minutes of my life soaking in a tepid bath of 'colloidal Oatmeal' You can buy this at about 12 quid for a few grams from Aveeno et.al. Or, you can spend 85p on a bag of Co-op rolled oats and blast a cupful in the food processor, mix it into a bath of tepid water and have a soak. It's remarkably soothing, but already, an hour or so on.. the itch is returning. If no improvement by next appointment on 28th May.. it's 'Specialist Time'.
Seriously pissed off..
 
I realise that those fighting to lose weight might not want to hear this but I'd like to put a bit of weight on . . . in the form of muscle.

Having hit my target of getting to 70kg from 83kg I'm now hovering around the 68-69kg mark and I'd like to put a little bit on, especially on my quads.

Any simple exercises or changes in diet anyone can suggest.
 
I realise that those fighting to lose weight might not want to hear this but I'd like to put a bit of weight on . . . in the form of muscle.

Having hit my target of getting to 70kg from 83kg I'm now hovering around the 68-69kg mark and I'd like to put a little bit on, especially on my quads.

Any simple exercises or changes in diet anyone can suggest.

Increase muscle mass or strength? They aren't the same. If it's strength then I'd look at power lifting exercises over purely body building/hypertrophy techniques.
 
I realise that those fighting to lose weight might not want to hear this but I'd like to put a bit of weight on . . . in the form of muscle.

Having hit my target of getting to 70kg from 83kg I'm now hovering around the 68-69kg mark and I'd like to put a little bit on, especially on my quads.

Any simple exercises or changes in diet anyone can suggest.

A very simple question, which I wouldn't normally ask, but given your recent weight loss and improvements in cycling performance, I do have to ask why you think you need to add muscle mass?

Also given your talents in slow twitch endurance physiology, you're also probably more likely to add muscle density due to CPE than circumference and mass. There's a very good reason why Froome and Hoy have very very different leg musculature!
 
Indeed, although I bet Froome doesn't have much of this in his training rota

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That bench press is painful to even look at!

As a cyclist you will know that Cav had to trade weight for power. He was training for power and getting heavier and heavier, to the point where his sprint performance was the best it had ever been. However that extra kilo or two was slowing him down on the day's racing before the sprint. Even with the aero tow from the rest of his team the extra weight meant that instead of being (say) 30 seconds behind the leader when he put the hammer down for his 70kph finish he was a minute adrift, and the extra power wasn't enough to pick up the 30 seconds. Obviously you can be as fast as you like in the sprint, but if you are 2 minutes behind the leader you won't catch him. This is on a full time athlete so the extra weight was not a pie layer, it was muscle, but he still couldn't carry it, just as you don't get any 6ft, 13 stone world class marathon runners. Mo Farah at 5 ft 6 and under 9 stone (or whatever he is) will always beat them because he's just not carrying the load.
 
A very simple question, which I wouldn't normally ask, but given your recent weight loss and improvements in cycling performance, I do have to ask why you think you need to add muscle mass?

Also given your talents in slow twitch endurance physiology, you're also probably more likely to add muscle density due to CPE than circumference and mass. There's a very good reason why Froome and Hoy have very very different leg musculature!

CPE? Apologies if I’m being dumb.

The reason is a need to get more ‘punchy’ when I’m riding. I’m doing a race next month and although I’m more than happy with my endurance and I’m better that I’ve been in more than ten years on long climbs, on the short, steep climbs when I really need to transfer power quickly I’m losing out to people I train with by a few seconds. A few seconds makes all the difference. Long climbs are no problem as my lightness and improved endurance fitness have seen me beating PBs from seven years ago.

Also from a purely vain angle my legs are looking too skinny. They make Froome’s look like tree trunks :)
 
That bench press is painful to even look at!

As a cyclist you will know that Cav had to trade weight for power. He was training for power and getting heavier and heavier, to the point where his sprint performance was the best it had ever been. However that extra kilo or two was slowing him down on the day's racing before the sprint. Even with the aero tow from the rest of his team the extra weight meant that instead of being (say) 30 seconds behind the leader when he put the hammer down for his 70kph finish he was a minute adrift, and the extra power wasn't enough to pick up the 30 seconds. Obviously you can be as fast as you like in the sprint, but if you are 2 minutes behind the leader you won't catch him. This is on a full time athlete so the extra weight was not a pie layer, it was muscle, but he still couldn't carry it, just as you don't get any 6ft, 13 stone world class marathon runners. Mo Farah at 5 ft 6 and under 9 stone (or whatever he is) will always beat them because he's just not carrying the load.

Cav is a poor example. His power output in sprints is piss poor compared to many of his rivals. But in his prime he still beat them with wattage that was much lower. Many reasons for that and weight and power output aren’t among them. Having spacial awareness, tactical nous, being able to spot a tiny gap and having balls of steel are more relevant.
 
CPE? Apologies if I’m being dumb.

The reason is a need to get more ‘punchy’ when I’m riding. I’m doing a race next month and although I’m more than happy with my endurance and I’m better that I’ve been in more than ten years on long climbs, on the short, steep climbs when I really need to transfer power quickly I’m losing out to people I train with by a few seconds. A few seconds makes all the difference. Long climbs are no problem as my lightness and improved endurance fitness have seen me beating PBs from seven years ago.

Also from a purely vain angle my legs are looking too skinny. They make Froome’s look like tree trunks :)

I can’t remember the right term, it’s something like CPE, but basically the ability to increase strength and power in a muscle without necessarily this meaning a proportional increase in muscle diameter - think wiry men and strong women for their size. Slow twitch physiology also tends towards this.

So in short, you ain’t gonna get bulbous ripped quads in a hurry! And quite frankly I would not encourage you anywhere near weights to try to develop the kind of explosive rapid acceleration I think you’re after. Too big a risk of injury from high impact loaded movements which would keep you off your bike and be counterproductive.

I would look at your training though and mix in some sprint interval sessions on your bike. This is probably the most obvious way of transferring this into your racing.

If your knees and hips are okay it might be good to do body weight squats and build up to jumping squats, with a health warning not to rush this and of course to be thoroughly warmed up before trying any acceleration/ explosive movements.

And look, you’re a skinny endurance athlete - skinny legs come with the deal!
 


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