Quickest way to get fit?

[theparsonski]

... So here I am, 4 weeks later ...

How can you have gotten so unfit in a month?

do not question the might of DORITOS!

I'm not unfit, I can just feel how much my fitness has decreased. I have tried running a few times since the injury and it's a lot more difficult, and I want to get back up to where I was before. But yeah, I guess I could have eaten better as well.

As for the guy who asked about my ankle, it's basically this sharpish pain around the joint, and I get it after any exercise that uses my feet and legs. It's never too bad WHEN I'm running, but when I get back it hurts like a *****. It feels like I might have worn something down somewhere, it definitely came on gradually, but I couldn't stop because I had races to train for.

 

[SEXTON HALE]

You would'nt consider changing to different form of cardio exercise like swiming or cycling
to hold your fitness over untill your ankle gets better would you?

 

[Yuno Gasai]

Trying to get fit as quick as possible is a surefire way to fail.

I'm inclined to agree with this.

Getting fit isn't a "quick" process. It takes time.

Considering the fact that you're injured, I'd recommend talking to your doctor or to a professional (e.g. a personal trainer) to seek their advice on exercises you can do which will benefit your ankle's healing, as opposed to hindering it.

 

[hermes]

If you have problems with your ankle, I would recommend you to get on a diet (a serious one) before trying to push it with exercise. Once you are ready, your ankle will thank you for the extra weight it doesn't have to pull.

 

[HardkorSB]

Hi guys, I'm really into running, have been for a couple of years now, and a few weeks ago I reached the end of a period of regular, hard training, due to having a number of races over a few weeks. I was pretty fit by the end, in all but one sense - I had worn something down in my right ankle and it hurt a lot every time I came back from a run. So here I am, 4 weeks later, and I've not run since then, save a couple of sessions in which I tested out how bad my ankle was (it was still bad).
I'd like to get fit again, my ankle isn't quite perfect but it's a lot better, so I'm trying to work out whether I should change the way I run to try and optimise my fitness gain. I've considered the following:

1. Running with a weighted backpack (about 40lbs or so)
2. High Intensity Interval Training (read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training)
3. Longer, more gentle runs which have less impact on my joints.

So, if any of you guys have ever run, or done any kind of long-term fitness regime, what did you find worked well? What didn't? Post away.

So, your ankle isn't healed yet and it can take LESS pressure than usual and your plan is to put MORE pressure than usual on it?
Wait another month or so, nothing will happen if you do. Something might happen if you don't.
I speak from experience, trust me.

 

[ExploreHer]

by fit do you mean lean? if so it's all about the diet.

 

[Marik2]

Read this Worksheet and sometimes refer to /fit/
http://4chanfit.wikia.com/wiki/Harsh%27s_Worksheet_%28WIP%29

LMAO that was actually very informative and hilarious, thank you for sharing that.

*bookmarked*

 

[lacktheknack]

It's not "ultra-fatty" anyways, unless you're drinking cream.

But it is formulated for growing calfs. Not humans.

It doesn't really matter. The idea that it takes more than 30% of the recommended daily amount of calcium to digest 200 calories is several types of absurd.

Also, I drink scary amounts of milk while not really eating enough calcium-rich veggies, and one problem I'm NOT having is calcium deficiency. I think the phrase used by my doctor to describe my arm was "wouldn't break if run over by a car".

And thirdly, if you set aside calcium, there's still lots of good things in milk. It's worth drinking.

 

[The Funslinger]

Well my first piece of advice is: do NOT run until your ankle is fully healed and you can run normally. It's not worth fucking up a joint just because you're eager to get back into it.

What I can recommend is doing light circuits ( Body-weight exercises ) press ups, sit ups and pull ups for the mean-time. It'll make passing the time easier and you'll feel productive. Trust me, I've done a lot of running. ( Royal Marine here ) I've had shin splints, torn ligaments and all kinds of problems when I was training ( A few years ago now ) and my instructors always said it wasn't worth risking further injury.

If you're REALLY wanting to get back into it and feel like you can run, do short distances; 3 mile runs at most - do them light and slow. ( This'll still help with Cardio )

Ah, I wondered if there'd be any military-types around here. Hopefully heading that way myself (not the Marines, probably the Paras). Thanks for the advice, I have been trying to keep up the weight training in the time spent off, but I probably should have lessened the amount I eat, as I've gained a bit of weight aswell. I have to admit I've also been feeling a lot more pent up since I stopped running, it helped relieve stress for me extremely well.

Ah...you poor misguided fool...off to join the bloody cherry berrets...

Just step up the weights if you're feeling a bit bored/stressed ( When you do exercise your brain lets off endorphin's, basically natures very own 'Heroin' - it's a feel good drug ) it really helps. I found a few heavier sets when I was injured let me go about my days without moping.

As for eating, if you're planning to join The Paras, put on all the weight you can - I was 75Kg when I began RT, came out the other side sitting at 69Kg and that was after I started putting weight back on. I lost a lot of weight. ( Just make sure you put on the 'right' weight )

Anything else you need to know, give me a bell!

I have a question: What diet advice can you give me for gaining weight?

 

[Dectomax]

Well my first piece of advice is: do NOT run until your ankle is fully healed and you can run normally. It's not worth fucking up a joint just because you're eager to get back into it.

What I can recommend is doing light circuits ( Body-weight exercises ) press ups, sit ups and pull ups for the mean-time. It'll make passing the time easier and you'll feel productive. Trust me, I've done a lot of running. ( Royal Marine here ) I've had shin splints, torn ligaments and all kinds of problems when I was training ( A few years ago now ) and my instructors always said it wasn't worth risking further injury.

If you're REALLY wanting to get back into it and feel like you can run, do short distances; 3 mile runs at most - do them light and slow. ( This'll still help with Cardio )

Ah, I wondered if there'd be any military-types around here. Hopefully heading that way myself (not the Marines, probably the Paras). Thanks for the advice, I have been trying to keep up the weight training in the time spent off, but I probably should have lessened the amount I eat, as I've gained a bit of weight aswell. I have to admit I've also been feeling a lot more pent up since I stopped running, it helped relieve stress for me extremely well.

Ah...you poor misguided fool...off to join the bloody cherry berrets...

Just step up the weights if you're feeling a bit bored/stressed ( When you do exercise your brain lets off endorphin's, basically natures very own 'Heroin' - it's a feel good drug ) it really helps. I found a few heavier sets when I was injured let me go about my days without moping.

As for eating, if you're planning to join The Paras, put on all the weight you can - I was 75Kg when I began RT, came out the other side sitting at 69Kg and that was after I started putting weight back on. I lost a lot of weight. ( Just make sure you put on the 'right' weight )

Anything else you need to know, give me a bell!

I have a question: What diet advice can you give me for gaining weight?

Steak. All day, every day!

On a serious note; LOTS of protein. If you're not taking enough in, try whey-powder for a few weeks after the GYM. You'll start putting on weight no problem. As long as you're lifting and doing running - taking in a protein heavy meal afterwards and a few protein shakes here and there it'll stack up! ( Give it a few weeks and you'll start to notice a difference. )

 

[renegade7]

Trying to get fit as quick as possible is a surefire way to fail.

In what way? Could you explain further?

Just so you know, I'm not looking for a shortcut, I'm just wondering what method will be the best for my fitness, both in speed of action and overall quality.

Because it's not so much about 'getting fit' than it is about altering your lifestyle to a healthier one rather than doing exercises until you (aren't fat, have a 6 pack, get ripped, etc etc). And it really depends on what you mean by 'fit' if it's losing weight then focus more on cardio and medium intensity stuff like jogging and definitely work in an hour (total) of some kind of activity a day, like walking. High intensity interval workouts may sound attractive at first but it's a really difficult routine to maintain. It's much easier to walk for an hour a day than it is to do 20 minutes of hard sprints every other day for several months.

And the weighted backpack thing really depends on what you are trying to do. If you are trying to build muscle then yes. If you are trying to lose weight then no, since that makes you unable to run for as long a time.

 

[esperandote]

High intensity interval training, search bodyrock.tv in youtube the have hundreds of routines.

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

A well balanced diet but be sure to eat better, not less. When you workout don't push yourself to exhaustion because once you've already broken down the muscle there's no point in pushing any farther, wait for recovery and do it again. People have a habit of pushing themselves harder than they have to and trying to live on protein shakes and egg-whites but you need real food. Remember that just because a food says it's healthy, check for sugar, because it's usually loaded.

 

[DSK-]

Quickest way to get fit: Listen to what your body tells you. If you think you're over doing it, cut back a bit, build up and then make yourself work that bit more harder, and gradually continue on from there.

Don't neglect stretching, keep to your goals and push yourself as much as you can without over doing it and injuring yourself.

 

[Erana]

Despite the old people stereotypes surrounding it, water aerobics can be good workouts and great for flexibility. Its super soft on the joints, too. There's equipment for it to increase resistence and such, so it can be made fairly tough.
I'm not saying to switch to it entirely or anything if running does you good, but it would be a good alternative for you to consider if you can't put your ankle under the pressure of running but still want to move.
*insert angry glare at genetic predisposition to knee problems*

 

[loc978]

What I've found out about fitness in my life is that there is no hard-and-fast rule for everyone. Some people can run their whole life through, some people get hurt running. For me, the best exercise is swimming upstream in the river by my house.

 

[Mordekaien]

Hi guys, I'm really into running, have been for a couple of years now, and a few weeks ago I reached the end of a period of regular, hard training, due to having a number of races over a few weeks. I was pretty fit by the end, in all but one sense - I had worn something down in my right ankle and it hurt a lot every time I came back from a run. So here I am, 4 weeks later, and I've not run since then, save a couple of sessions in which I tested out how bad my ankle was (it was still bad).
I'd like to get fit again, my ankle isn't quite perfect but it's a lot better, so I'm trying to work out whether I should change the way I run to try and optimise my fitness gain. I've considered the following:

1. Running with a weighted backpack (about 40lbs or so)
2. High Intensity Interval Training (read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training)
3. Longer, more gentle runs which have less impact on my joints.

So, if any of you guys have ever run, or done any kind of long-term fitness regime, what did you find worked well? What didn't? Post away.

When I had damaged my ankle joint (in a fight via ankle lock) I used to walk everywhere, slowly building the stress it would hold as it healed.

Generally I abide by these rules when I'm running:
Don't run on hard concrete. That's perhaps the worst thing to do if you have a damaged joint. Walk instead with a higher pace or find softer ground for running (about 30 minutes walk is the same as 30 minute running, without much sweat and still keeping you in fit shape; but it must be practiced more often than running).
Take it slow. Try running only for a few minutes, and then stretch the ankle, feel if it's painful after little physical activity. There's no use in destroying your foot because you're impatient.
Do some alternative form of exercise (pushups, sit-ups, etc.).

Also, if you're suffering from pain, or it swells, apply ice bags or anything else that's cold to counter the swelling.

Hope it will help you.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

You have an injury right and it hasn't recovered? Then stay off of it. Just do something that doesn't involve your ankle as you don't have to run to get or stay fit.