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But I do have a 'proof of 1' that cycling a lot will wear out your knees and hips prematurely. Interesting. I have a single anecdata point that short-duration

But I do have a 'proof of 1' that cycling a lot will wear out your knees and hips prematurely. Interesting. I have a single anecdata point that short-duration heavy lifting cures the degenerative effects of putting miles on one's knees and hips.

usaphp 11y ago
Hi, can you tell me more about your experience?
- vox_mollis 11y ago
  Sure. Took up incline walking/running over a decade ago to mitigate a moderate case of programmer's ass. The habit stuck, but over time, my knees (right knee in particular) really began to ache and swell badly. Overall energy began declining also, but that's beyond the scope of this context. At the suggestion of some local "gym bros", I swapped out carbohydrates for fats and switched half of the endurance exercise for resistance exercise. At first it hurt, but over the course of a couple months, my knee issues disappeared completely. But again, single anecdata point.
  - Kluny 11y ago
    I'll add a second. I road biked, mountain biked, and played polo, but had knee, hip, and shoulder pain all the time. Since doing resistance training, I've only got muscle pain. Still hurts, but it goes away sooner and it isn't anywhere near as annoying as joint pain.
    - npsimons 11y ago
      I'll add a third - hiked and rock climbed for years, always had some pain afterwards, even at lower body weights. Started lifting, now I hardly ever get sore after hiking and climbing, and if I do, it doesn't last long. If it does, it's a sign I'm probably coming down with something. Which also happens much less often since I started lifting. BTW, started lifting based on a book suggested on an HN thread years ago: "Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training" by Mark Rippetoe.
      - angersock 11y ago
        Seconding the Starting Strength rec. It's a fantastic book for getting into novice strength training, and is fairly entertaining to boot.
      - Kluny 11y ago
        I also used Starting Strength. Not sure where I found it, but quite likely the same thread.
  - fpoling 11y ago
    Are you sure that diet change has anything to do with your improvements? My personal experience is that strength training alone can do wonders. 10 years ago I got rather bad back problems. I tried karate, running, walking in mountains. It did not help. Then 6 years ago I went vegan for ethical reasons resulting in a drastic diet change. I expected that would affect my health - something for better (like back pain), something for worse. To my surprise that had no effects for health. Then 3 years ago I read book from www.bodybyscience.net and started strength training. That really helped. Chronic back pain gradually became less bothering. The last time I experienced its acute form when one has to lay for few days was 18 months ago when previously it was 2-3 times per year. The best pert is that I only train once per week for 15-20 minutes.
  - eli_gottlieb 11y ago
    For an additional anecdata point, my exercise regime has always been strength-building weight-lifting with some cardio sprinkled on top. I just don't get joint pain. Also, I like to make it intensive cardio, which (I'm just picking it up again now, so past tense) tended to leave me with the most energy I've ever had in my life.
  - 2muchcoffeeman 11y ago
    I have cartalige damage in one knee (not due to strenuous exercise). I as originally advised to do low impact exercises that mobilised my knee for reps/time, e.g. cycling, swiming, rowing. This was OK, but lifting was what really helped with the problem. Over the years, improving my lifting has helped with my posture, hip flexor problems etc.
chubot 11y ago
Interesting -- have you heard of Nassim Taleb's book "Antifragile"? He talks about weightlifting vs. "traditional" aerobic exercise. I guess this may be common knowledge in some exercise circles... but it is probably not common knowledge with the general public. This article has a summary, though there may be better ones: http://gettingstronger.org/2013/07/antifragile/ http://gettingstronger.org/2013/07/antifragile/ How does the barbell strategy apply to health? A great example is combining occasional, high intensity weight lifting or interval training, alternating with long stretches of rest, recovery and “doing nothing”. The intermittent stress of lifting an extreme weight pushes the body to overcompensate and prepare for an even greater future challenge, but the interlude of rest and recovery is restorative and avoids the downside of chronic overuse. We can extend this idea of a bimodal “barbell” strategy to practices such as intermittent fasting or cold showers. The barbell strategy is the exact opposite of the conventional wisdom to engage in moderate aerobic exercise on the treadmill every day, or to eat regular small meals throughout the day.

usaphp 11y ago

Hi, can you tell me more about your experience?

vox_mollis 11y ago
Sure. Took up incline walking/running over a decade ago to mitigate a moderate case of programmer's ass. The habit stuck, but over time, my knees (right knee in particular) really began to ache and swell badly. Overall energy began declining also, but that's beyond the scope of this context. At the suggestion of some local "gym bros", I swapped out carbohydrates for fats and switched half of the endurance exercise for resistance exercise. At first it hurt, but over the course of a couple months, my knee issues disappeared completely. But again, single anecdata point.
- Kluny 11y ago
  I'll add a second. I road biked, mountain biked, and played polo, but had knee, hip, and shoulder pain all the time. Since doing resistance training, I've only got muscle pain. Still hurts, but it goes away sooner and it isn't anywhere near as annoying as joint pain.
  - npsimons 11y ago
    I'll add a third - hiked and rock climbed for years, always had some pain afterwards, even at lower body weights. Started lifting, now I hardly ever get sore after hiking and climbing, and if I do, it doesn't last long. If it does, it's a sign I'm probably coming down with something. Which also happens much less often since I started lifting. BTW, started lifting based on a book suggested on an HN thread years ago: "Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training" by Mark Rippetoe.
    - angersock 11y ago
      Seconding the Starting Strength rec. It's a fantastic book for getting into novice strength training, and is fairly entertaining to boot.
    - Kluny 11y ago
      I also used Starting Strength. Not sure where I found it, but quite likely the same thread.
- fpoling 11y ago
  Are you sure that diet change has anything to do with your improvements? My personal experience is that strength training alone can do wonders. 10 years ago I got rather bad back problems. I tried karate, running, walking in mountains. It did not help. Then 6 years ago I went vegan for ethical reasons resulting in a drastic diet change. I expected that would affect my health - something for better (like back pain), something for worse. To my surprise that had no effects for health. Then 3 years ago I read book from www.bodybyscience.net and started strength training. That really helped. Chronic back pain gradually became less bothering. The last time I experienced its acute form when one has to lay for few days was 18 months ago when previously it was 2-3 times per year. The best pert is that I only train once per week for 15-20 minutes.
- eli_gottlieb 11y ago
  For an additional anecdata point, my exercise regime has always been strength-building weight-lifting with some cardio sprinkled on top. I just don't get joint pain. Also, I like to make it intensive cardio, which (I'm just picking it up again now, so past tense) tended to leave me with the most energy I've ever had in my life.
- 2muchcoffeeman 11y ago
  I have cartalige damage in one knee (not due to strenuous exercise). I as originally advised to do low impact exercises that mobilised my knee for reps/time, e.g. cycling, swiming, rowing. This was OK, but lifting was what really helped with the problem. Over the years, improving my lifting has helped with my posture, hip flexor problems etc.

chubot 11y ago

Interesting -- have you heard of Nassim Taleb's book "Antifragile"? He talks about weightlifting vs. "traditional" aerobic exercise. I guess this may be common knowledge in some exercise circles... but it is probably not common knowledge with the general public. This article has a summary, though there may be better ones: http://gettingstronger.org/2013/07/antifragile/ http://gettingstronger.org/2013/07/antifragile/ How does the barbell strategy apply to health? A great example is combining occasional, high intensity weight lifting or interval training, alternating with long stretches of rest, recovery and “doing nothing”. The intermittent stress of lifting an extreme weight pushes the body to overcompensate and prepare for an even greater future challenge, but the interlude of rest and recovery is restorative and avoids the downside of chronic overuse. We can extend this idea of a bimodal “barbell” strategy to practices such as intermittent fasting or cold showers. The barbell strategy is the exact opposite of the conventional wisdom to engage in moderate aerobic exercise on the treadmill every day, or to eat regular small meals throughout the day.