::like::

thomas - your daughter is awesome. I'm trying to take my big one on some short runs, but you can tell where her head is because she starts to get "tired" after a few blocks, and wonders what is happening on her tv show on the way back home...

My food drawer right now? A few Luna mini-bars, an apple (which won't last the hour...) a chocolate protein bar, a spoon (for my cottage cheese that's in the fridge,) a tube of Gu Brew tablets, and a bottle of hot sauce. I'm famous for leaving a bottle of hot sauce in evey branch. (I train, so I travel, and I tend to leave a bottle of Red Hot or Tobasco anywhere I'm going to be eating.)

Things like "They need to loosen up their arms, it's impacting their stride" or "they're too hunched over, must be having lower back pain and time for some new shoes!"? I find myself doing that far too often.

Okay, B^3 I have a story for you, it happened last night and I couldn't help but think of you when it was happening.

So, it's about 8:45 and we're wrapping up our volleyball session last night. The outside doors open up and a blast of cold air and snow comes flying in and the intro to Eye of the Tiger starts playing (in my head). In walk 6 guys, old guys. Not just old by my standards, but the youngest was maybe 65.

They're all decked out in their sweat suits and such. Then their opponents came in, equally aged. Everyone had a full set of knees and elbow pads, a few were wearing singlets and shorts that were far too short, but it was absolutely hilarious, something that belonged in a movie. I wish I would've stuck around to watch them play a bit, maybe another time. I'm sure it's epic!

Did you think that they were B^3 grandkids?

Could not resist

Matt, that's awesome! I admire those older guys at your gym so much!

Last night, I went to Curves and did my 30 minute circuit workout (even though the news was predicting a snowstorm, which didn't materialize til much later in the evening). Then I went directly to another gym (LA Fitness, formerly Bally) where I belong but have not been going. I signed up for a package of personal trainer sessions. I'm bored with Curves already... fortunately I only spent $10 to try Curves out for 30 days, and I got my money's worth.

My new trainer Rob has more energy than anyone I've ever met, and I have ZERO excuses on the basis of age, since he and I were born in the same month and year. I have my first session with him tonight after work. I'm 20% nervous, 10% terrified, and 70% really excited to begin. I now have a workout journal which he gave me and indicated I *WILL* be filling out and submitting to him for his analysis. I have already been doing a food journal for Weight Watchers for a couple months. He has promised (threatened?) to analyze my food journal for me weekly and make a few "tweaks" wherever he feels appropriate. Wish me luck!

Food drawer at work has: Mio sugar-free flavoring stuff for water (helps me drink enough water) in Peach Tea, Sweet Tea, and Berry Pomegranate, protein shakes, rice cakes, lowfat granola bars, a wee little one serving bag of almonds, a banana, an apple, and a Clementine "cutie".

All I have is a little bag of candy in my desk to fill up my candy bowl. After our little 'infestation', I'm too scared to keep much here anymore. I just pack extra snacks in my lunch bag.

Way to go BurntSienna! You are ready for a bigger challenge!

Thanks, manimal!

Thinking about my pushups while I sit here and enjoy a slice of Simma's cheesecake - the best cheesecake in town. I don't think I can possibly work this off.

it helps with the pain, but stops the muscle re-building process. if you want strong muscles ... no Ibuprofen.

my food drawer:

*pumpkin seeds
*can of soup
*cans of tuna fish
*Crystal Light "fitness" drink mixes
*Salt & Pepper
*more soy sauce than is ever neccessary (<- maybe to survive a zombie apocalypse)
*that hot red sauce you get at chinese restaurants (again, more than neccessary)
*chop sticks
*dried fruit
*hot cocoa
*Vitamin C
*Fish Oil
*an entire set of tools (shhhh - don't tell my husband)

& OMG what is THAT doing in there????

FWIW an an entire set of tools can not fit into a garage yet alone a draw.

ok so I don't have my husband's welder. But I do have a nice set of screwdrivers, hammers, nails, wrenches ... the basics.

silly me I though you had a gift for your husband.

My arms are toast and I haven't even done any official pushups yet. Can I get a pass?

If you already have toast why would you want someone to pass you more. Back to your pushups.

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2008 Jun;33(3):470-5.
The effects of ibuprofen on muscle hypertrophy, strength, and soreness during resistance training.
Krentz JR, Quest B, Farthing JP, Quest DW, Chilibeck PD.

High doses of ibuprofen have been shown to inhibit muscle protein synthesis after a bout of resistance exercise. We determined the effect of a moderate dose of ibuprofen (400 mg.d-1) consumed on a daily basis after resistance training on muscle hypertrophy and strength. Twelve males and 6 females (~24 years of age) trained their right and left biceps on alternate days (6 sets of 4-10 repetitions), 5 d.week-1, for 6 weeks. In a counter-balanced, double-blind design, they were randomized to receive 400 mg.d-1 ibuprofen immediately after training their left or right arm, and a placebo after training the opposite arm the following day. Before- and after-training muscle thickness of both biceps was measured using ultrasound and 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) arm curl strength was determined on both arms. Subjects rated their muscle soreness daily. There were time main effects for muscle thickness and strength (p < 0.01). Ibuprofen consumption had no effect on muscle hypertrophy (muscle thickness of biceps for arm receiving ibuprofen: pre 3.63 +/- 0.14, post 3.92 +/- 0.15 cm; and placebo: pre 3.62 +/- 0.15, post 3.90 +/- 0.15 cm) and strength (1 RM of arm receiving ibuprofen: pre 18.6 +/- 2.8, post 23.4 +/- 3.5 kg; and placebo: pre 18.8 +/- 2.8, post 22.8 +/- 3.4 kg). Muscle soreness was elevated during the first week of training only, but was not different between the ibuprofen and placebo arm. We conclude that a moderate dose of ibuprofen ingested after repeated resistance training sessions does not impair muscle hypertrophy or strength and does not affect ratings of muscle soreness.

That's one opinion.

I've read similar articles that state the opposite.

Well, it's actually a study, not just an opinion. And in fact, it tested the effect of normal doses vs high doses.

That said, my opinion would be that for mostly deconditioned trainees, worrying about ibuprofen interfering with muscle hypertrophy is a moot point.

Also, hypertrophy and strength are two different things.

Twelve males and 6 females (~24 years of age)

Does not seem like a large enough sample
How many here are 24 years old?


However I would stay away from IB (and most legal or illegal drugs)for other valid medical reasons.

Sore arms from exercise is good. If it dont hurt the next day you are doing it wrong (or not enough).

a 65-year old guy is NOT old!

I cannot defend or argue that really, except that it's a perspective thing. They're old to me, young to you, middle-aged to Bx3, I just know they were all more than double my age + a decade or two. I wasn't mocking them though, I thought it was pretty awesome (minus the clothing choices at least), I respect my elders most of the time.

Ok, all you fitness experts out there, I need some advice.

My trainer wants me to take Branched Chain Amino Acids to help me burn fat, not lose muscle and recover faster from workouts. Any raves, complaints, advice, cautions, experience, or concerns about BCAA? What dosage should I take. On WebMD, it seems that 68mg per kilogram of body weight per day, but my trainer is saying a much *lower* dose, and the guy at GNC and the guys online recommend a much *higher* dose. The stuff seems to be sold in 5000mg per serving powder or 1000mg per serving capsules. Anyone who uses the powder, how does it taste? Thanks!

Edited for Monday morning math mania/confusion.