RE: staying in shape and guitar playing

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Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)

It used to be when I felt the urge to exercise I would just lie down until the feeling passed.

But for the past six months I have been working up to following, which I do 3-4 times a week: (with this thing http://www.irongym.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1)

Pushups x 86
Pullups x 54
Situps x 164

(but I am also on my feet all day and occasionally do something moderately strenuous with a plane or something

)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2012 21:00:28

machopicasso

Posts: 973
Joined: Nov. 27 2010

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

what do you guys do to stay in shape?

I eat well, lift weights, and do a little cardio. I also think yoga's great for maintaining/improving flexibility and stretching out muscles that don't get the attention they need from one's daily routine.

If you're specifically looking to lose weight, then 1) eat a healthy, well-balanced, low carb diet and 2) do some "gorilla" cardio. The latter only takes ten minutes (including warm-up) and is great for revving-up your metabolism. (If you have a bad knee that's not conducive to sprints, then switch to a spinning bike and do the equivalent).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2012 23:47:38

marduk

Posts: 600
Joined: Feb. 3 2010

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)

I often join a gym, and practice martial arts. these days I just work on it at home, but not much (I am lucky and dont take much to stay in shape)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2012 0:32:02

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Guest)

quote:

Making LOVE!!!!!!

but you have to wear a fitness heart monitor to make sure you're in the calorie burning zone.

quote:

But for the past six months I have been working up to following, which I do 3-4 times a week: (with this thing http://www.irongym.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1)

i actually have something that's similar to that. you inspired me to dust it off and put it to use.

quote:

Pushups x 86
Pullups x 54
Situps x 164

i hope you mean with multiple sets and not in one go!

quote:

do some "gorilla" cardio

what's that? is it the same thing as interval training?

quote:

I often join a gym, and practice martial arts.

don't poke anybody's eyes out with your fingernails.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2012 1:33:36

mrgearbox

Posts: 24
Joined: Feb. 25 2011

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Like my username implies (to those in the know at least), I'm a sponsored racquetball player for Gearbox Racquetball, and aside from it being fun, and extremely fast, racquetball is an excellent cardio sport! Just wish I would have started playing the flamenco guitar when I started playing racquetball!!!!! I have a lot of catching up to do, but it's all good! I enjoy learning this art.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2012 1:42:11

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

I remember now here is a good youtube channel if you're interested leo

http://www.youtube.com/user/sixpackshortcuts?feature=g-user-u

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2012 7:12:08

machopicasso

Posts: 973
Joined: Nov. 27 2010

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

quote:

do some "gorilla" cardio

what's that? is it the same thing as interval training?

Yes. The general format is to warm-up and then:

Step 1: Sprint as fast as you can for 20 seconds.
Step 2: Jog lightly for 10 seconds.

The idea is to get to the point where you can do, say, eight rounds of Steps 1-2. If you're just starting out (and depending on what kind of condition you're in), you might want to aim for just three or four rounds. It's exhausting but extremely effective.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2012 9:15:36

akatune

Posts: 188
Joined: Mar. 28 2008

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Weight lifting is a must. If you don't over do it, and you know what you are doing ... Weight lifting allows you to focus on symmetry (i.e. targeting opposing muscle groups for balance).
It takes care of the joints marvelously, which is important for guitarists who hold positions for long stretches of time. It won't slow you down or damage your nerves. Weight lifting targets fast twitch muscles.
Take one or two minutes between each set. Use that time for stretching, so the stretching actually becomes just as much or more of a focus than the actual lifting. Stretch upper body when lifting with the lower body muscles and vice versa.
I found that standing and moving my shoulders and arms after every song or two, when practicing, really helps.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2012 10:58:08

FullMetalGuitarist

Posts: 88
Joined: Aug. 22 2011

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)

As akatune wrote , Weight lifting should not interfere guitar playing, As long as you do the exercises right and do stretching.

I'm doing weight lifting and body building stuff for a couple of years and it works fine for me. (just to be careful with the nails when messing with weight discs and other heavy stuff)

Many years ago I used to play tennis and table tennis , was thinking to play again , but I have friends who complain about wrist pain so i left that idea.

Couldn't get into bare hand martial arts as well , went once to a MMA training , all seemed good until I literally flew on a wall and the only thing that kind of softened the crash was my right hand thumb.

However ,armed martial art such as Kendo and Naginata (trained in that one) can be good , since you are not using your hands and fingers to hit , and you wear protected gloves.

And last one , I really wanted to get into mountain biking and downhill ride , but the chance of damaging arms in a severe way is high on this one.(correct me if I'm wrong)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2012 14:43:20

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to mrgearbox)

quote:

Like my username implies (to those in the know at least), I'm a sponsored racquetball player for Gearbox Racquetball

i know nothing about racquetball so i thought it had something to do with cars. racquetball sounds interesting though. i need a workout that's not only effective but fun so i dont lose interest so easily.

quote:

I remember now here is a good youtube channel if you're interested leo

i'm wary of anything that has shortcut in it but he actually has some pretty good stuff. he also advocates short high intensity cardio like machopicasso suggested. thanks for sharing!

quote:

The idea is to get to the point where you can do, say, eight rounds of Steps 1-2. If you're just starting out (and depending on what kind of condition you're in), you might want to aim for just three or four rounds. It's exhausting but extremely effective.

i'm going to try this on monday. i just got an app on my iphone that will chime at specified intervals. thanks for introducing me to this idea!

quote:

Take one or two minutes between each set. Use that time for stretching, so the stretching actually becomes just as much or more of a focus than the actual lifting.

that's a great idea. i usually waste this time chatting away.

quote:

However ,armed martial art such as Kendo and Naginata (trained in that one) can be good , since you are not using your hands and fingers to hit , and you wear protected gloves.

this sounds like a fun idea. but i'm just worried it will take up too much time and money. mountain biking, however, i can do for free since i already have a bike collecting dust in my basement.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 19 2012 3:35:09

FullMetalGuitarist

Posts: 88
Joined: Aug. 22 2011

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

this sounds like a fun idea. but i'm just worried it will take up too much time and money. mountain biking, however, i can do for free since i already have a bike collecting dust in my basement.

Just be careful with the falls , maybe it'll be good to invest in arm protectors.

About weight lifting , I'm finding this site very good and easy to use in order to build a training plan and get started http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/workout.htm

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 19 2012 14:13:59

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Here is some of the stuff im using in my physical therapy routine for my
tenosynovitis recovery.

Consult a proffesional to learn how to use these things safely!

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM6110218602P?ci_sku=SPM6110218602&ci_src=14110944&i_cntr=1329637128945&sid=IDx20101019x00001a

http://www.amazon.com/Digi-Flex-Hand-Exerciser-Green-Lb/dp/B00066FHWE

http://www.healthykin.com/p-2225-the-xtensor-hand-exerciser.aspx?gclid=CN-htpbDqa4CFUff4Aod9jkdPQ

http://www.healthykin.com/p-2818-cando-theraputty-resistive-exercise-putty.aspx

In addition, i do wrist curls , lat raises ,, pushups, and postural workout with a theraputic foam cylinder.

I use 3, 5 , and 10 pound hand wieghts, and kettlebells.

Being a bit stronger than you need to be overall, and building a good firm grip will go a long way towards preventing injury.

TK

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 19 2012 18:10:25

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)

I'm curious as to what workout routine Grisha Goryachev does. I patted him on the arm as we were saying goodbye. The man's got rocks for biceps and shoulders and he's obviously "cut" underneath his shirt.

I've integrated NRL into my M/W/F routine but am hampered by the lack of gear at our company's gym. I also have to keep my workout short.

4x8 - squats
4x8 - bench press
8, 6, 5, 5 - pullups (that's as much as I can do for now)
4x12 - dips
8x12 - leg raises
4x8 - weighted twists

I sometimes add stuff but the six above form my core routine. I'd do deadlifts if the gym had a deadlift hex bar.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 20 2012 0:43:58

gaash

Posts: 74
Joined: Jul. 29 2011

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

When it comes to exercise, focus on the general concepts and less so on the details.

To lose weight, eat less than you burn, the rest is just details

To gain muscle, lift heavy weight (weight you can do for 8 reps at most), eat more than you burn, and sleep a lot. The rest is just details.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 20 2012 13:26:27

Munin

Posts: 595
Joined: Sep. 30 2008
From: Hong Kong

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Yeah if you really want to make gains you have to EAT. A lot. Getting big is 30% gym, 70% eating right.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 20 2012 15:28:28

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

quote:

Just be careful with the falls , maybe it'll be good to invest in arm protectors.

i'll probably take the wimpy trails to reduce the risk of falling.

quote:

Here is some of the stuff im using in my physical therapy routine for my
tenosynovitis recovery.

hey todd, i hope you're doing okay with your recovery! i had to use those putty things after i had hand surgery a couple years ago. it's like playing with play-doh except 10x less fun.

quote:

Being a bit stronger than you need to be overall, and building a good firm grip will go a long way towards preventing injury.

i was worried that doing any hand exercises could potentially put too much stress on a guitarist's hands but maybe that's not true after all.

quote:

I've integrated NRL into my M/W/F routine but am hampered by the lack of gear at our company's gym. I also have to keep my workout short.

i'm not familiar with nrl but the routine you listed looks very straight to the point and is pretty similar to my routine.

quote:

When it comes to exercise, focus on the general concepts and less so on the details.

true. sometimes people tend to over complicate working out. but i do like to get new ideas to keep things fresh, since i'm not as motivated as i used to be.

quote:

Yeah if you really want to make gains you have to EAT. A lot. Getting big is 30% gym, 70% eating right.

i'll never get those guys that eat deep fried donuts with cream cheese and bacon to get muscle. they usually just get fat.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2012 21:15:23

akatune

Posts: 188
Joined: Mar. 28 2008

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

If you are beginning at lifting weights, don't just do a few types of excercises. Balance is very important. For example, if you are doing dips, which really work the triceps, you need some bicep curls. If you are bench pressing or doing push-ups for the pecs, you need to do something like a bent-over row for your lats.

Not necesarrily in the same workout. But you need to work the opposing muscles. Triceps pull on the rear of the arm, so you need to work your biceps because it pulls at the front of the arm. That balance is really important in wieght lifting.

Lifting is much deeper that some folks believe it to be at first glance. There are tons of great books written by folks with Phd in the subject or former olympic coaches. Creating your wieght lifting routines can be challenging and creative because there is a lot to consider.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2012 8:08:42

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)

When my old bank started charging a lot of fees I closed my account and moved to a bank that paid me to open a new account. The new bank is farther away, about a 45-minute hilly walk (from my home to the middle of downtown Seattle, where it is difficult and expensive to park a car). One of my students pays me by check every week and I walk to and from the bank to deposit that check and any others I may have gotten. Also standing up building guitars much of the time seems to keep me from getting fat--even though I eat a lot of fatty pork (really).

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www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 27 2012 2:58:05

akatune

Posts: 188
Joined: Mar. 28 2008

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

Yeah, walking is super important. I try to supplement my workouts with hiking. Studies and doctor types have said that most health problems in developed nations are from sitting too much. We suffer from affluenza and sitting disease.

Guitarists gotta move.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 27 2012 3:29:18

FullMetalGuitarist

Posts: 88
Joined: Aug. 22 2011

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to akatune)

quote:

Guitarists gotta move.

True, I think I'll attach a strap to my guitar and go playing around my neighborhood

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 27 2012 6:48:29

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to akatune)

quote:

But you need to work the opposing muscles.

i had this problem before. i overworked my quads and did nothing for my hamstrings. i actually started getting knee pains from the imbalance.

quote:

he new bank is farther away, about a 45-minute hilly walk

i've heard many people say that walking is the most natural, healthy form of exercise. when i visited spain, i did A LOT of walking. it felt great! but now back in boston, i mostly drive but i try to walk whenever i can.