7 ms·

I would say focus on building a solid, functional body vs. say focusing on goals like "how much can I lift?" or "how much do I weigh?" or "how fast can I go?".

I would say focus on building a solid, functional body vs. say focusing on goals like "how much can I lift?" or "how much do I weigh?" or "how fast can I go?". Those goals, while laudable, can also cause you to break down your body in your quest to achieve them. An example from literally yesterday. Over the past few months, I struggled with medial knee pain that was limiting my ability to walk up stairs and do other activities (see other list of goals from above). I had a bunch of observations (pain only when going up stairs, pain goes away oddly enough when running up stairs, clicking noise in knee before onset of pain) but I hadn't spent time trying to root cause it. I had done a bunch of Google searches but to no avail (with scary things like surgery showing up on the list). But then of all things the YouTube algorithm came to the rescue and recommended this: [1]. Turns out it was a weak Gluteus Medius that allowed my femur to rotate medially which in turn caused the kneecap to track in an unnatural way. Once I knew this, I "fixed" it in a day. But it won't stay "fixed" unless I focus on strengthening that muscle. Figure out what you need to do to provide you with sufficient functional strength, focus on root causing pain and then addressing it. Don't ignore the foundations of your body. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbe_DqMJfzg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbe_DqMJfzg

nautilus12 7y ago
Rock climbing and/or swimming are great ways to achieve these goals. The nature of the sports are such that it pushes the body hollistically. Plus rock climbing is fun and mentally challenging, like chess with your body.
- TheHegemon 7y ago
  I would second this. I took up bouldering and it's amazing how much more energy I have. My lower-back pain from sitting has nearly disappeared. It's a true full-body workout (including the brain).
  - valtism 7y ago
    It's not so good for lower body or cardio. Supplementing it with something like cycling can really help get the whole shebang.
    - etherealG 7y ago
      While I agree supplementing with cycling or running is great, on the boulders if you’re too “top heavy” try focusing on “wobbly” problems more. Find a gym with a slab wall, and practice balance style climbing where you don’t need strength in the arms & shoulders. Doing that regularly will balance out the legs portion easily if biking or running isn’t your thing.
      - anthonypasq 7y ago
        no it wont. Its not even remotely stimulating enough compared to actual lower body exercise.
- elbear 7y ago
  I would add buying a kettlebell and starting to do swings and Turkish get-up. They're energizing and work almost your entire body in a functional way.
- starpilot 7y ago
  I'd add hiking or running to this. I've seen my coworkers get winded walking hilly sidewalks, any type of ambulatory work is at the heart of human function.
pranit10 7y ago
you had a medical issue and instead of going to doctor you went on the Internet? hmm not sure I am going to take any advice you give
- nske 7y ago
  The reality I've seen is that most doctors can only help with small/very specific issues of this kind if it's something they happened to had encountered before. Otherwise they will send you on a trip for multiple exams and in the end tell you there's nothing particularly wrong and should just bear with it till it becomes worse. Doing our own research or reaching out to others -none of which is mutually exclusive to consulting doctors- often pays out. Remember the experience of Patrick Volkerding? http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/pipermail/ilugc/2004-November/013903.html http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/pipermail/ilugc/2004-November/01390...
  - quickthrower2 7y ago
    You need a physio for this. Hopefully a doctor would just recommend physio.
clSTophEjUdRanu 7y ago
Funny. When I shipped to Marine boot camp I was frightful my minor knee pain would get worse. Turns out I was just a wimp. Pain disappeared with exercise. I also had acid reflux and stomach problems for years that disappeared. Every single ailment that I've had that is not an injury disappeared when I got into shape (and read Sarnos book).
- joshdance 7y ago
  Which book?
  - trts 7y ago
    assuming The Mindbody Prescription. Worth reading through some of the reviews on Amazon. Sarno's argument is essentially that emotional distress (mainly, rage) manifests itself in the body through TMS (tension myositis syndrome), and that depending on the person this expresses itself as a number of different ailments (sciatica, back and neck pain, migraines) with the same underlying cause (stress that results in decreased blood flow and oxygen deprivation which cause pain in the related area).
  - clSTophEjUdRanu 7y ago
    Healing Back Pain, I had minor back pain but this mentality definitely made numerous small aches and pains disappear.
- gassiss 7y ago
  I've been feeling pain in my right elbow for a couple of years now. Doctor diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. You know the picture. Spent tons of time playing video game and works in an office since forever. I can't afford physical therapy, but working out + good posture makes the pain goes away "magically". I say "magically" because I am not doing anything to target it, just go to the gym and literally do whatever for 30-40 minutes every other day.
astockwell 7y ago
Love Jeff’s stuff, there’s a reason he has such a following. His deep dives into pelvic tilts and shoulder issues have been a huge help to me also.
agumonkey 7y ago
I'd love to know more about biomechanical readjustment
relativeadv 7y ago
There is beauty to the simple goal of "I want to lift x amount one day." Instead of worrying yourself to death over whether you are "functional" or not. I've seen so many regulars at my gym over the years still doing the same stuff, still looking the same, still lifting the same, still doing kettlebell goblet squats and farmers walks and step-ups and whatever else have you. I realize what an elitist knob this makes me sound like but I decry all of this because I've been there before and made the same mistakes. I like your example because you mention a specific issue you had that you then went on to fix. I know of many who train this way when they have no ailments whatsoever.
- y-c-o-m-b 7y ago
  "I want to lift x amount one day" is not for everyone, it's what lead me to destroy my spine. I went years without any problems and I was in the best shape of my life, but I never thought about the level of compression my spine was taking on. I ended up having multiple bulging discs from C5-C7, a severe disc herniation in T8-T9 (which happened mid workout, very painful), L4-S1 herniations and L4-L5 breaking away chunks of my vertebrae. I eventually had to get emergency surgery on C5-C7 due to the narrowing of spinal cord. I still "work out" with resistance bands, but I'm never allowed to properly lift weights again thanks to my foolishness. It's horribly depressing and I don't wish this on anybody. Moral of the story is you might be just fine and have the skeletal structure to support lifting, or it could be a ticking time bomb like in my case. Lifting goals should carry disclaimers about the possible dangers.
  - Infinitesimus 7y ago
    That sucks. What lift did you in? Was it gradual or a sudden injury? I hope the recovery is going smoothly now at least :/
    - sbmthakur 7y ago
      My guess is that it could be deadlifts.
    - y-c-o-m-b 7y ago
LZ_Khan 7y ago
I thought I was special in this philosophy but seems like others are catching on too. The tip that worked for me is "Do the activity to get that type of body." I've always admired the physique of basketball players like Steph Curry so I picked up basketball a few years back. It's done wonders for my posture and aesthetics and basketball is a fun kickass workout. Swimming/soccer/tennis are other sports I'd put in the category of aesthetically pleasing.
tomaskafka 7y ago
For others reading this - this is what good physiotherapists do. Changing the movement patterns and balancing the body instead of prescribing painkillers.

nautilus12 7y ago

Rock climbing and/or swimming are great ways to achieve these goals. The nature of the sports are such that it pushes the body hollistically. Plus rock climbing is fun and mentally challenging, like chess with your body.

TheHegemon 7y ago
I would second this. I took up bouldering and it's amazing how much more energy I have. My lower-back pain from sitting has nearly disappeared. It's a true full-body workout (including the brain).
- valtism 7y ago
  It's not so good for lower body or cardio. Supplementing it with something like cycling can really help get the whole shebang.
  - etherealG 7y ago
    While I agree supplementing with cycling or running is great, on the boulders if you’re too “top heavy” try focusing on “wobbly” problems more. Find a gym with a slab wall, and practice balance style climbing where you don’t need strength in the arms & shoulders. Doing that regularly will balance out the legs portion easily if biking or running isn’t your thing.
    - anthonypasq 7y ago
      no it wont. Its not even remotely stimulating enough compared to actual lower body exercise.
elbear 7y ago
I would add buying a kettlebell and starting to do swings and Turkish get-up. They're energizing and work almost your entire body in a functional way.
starpilot 7y ago
I'd add hiking or running to this. I've seen my coworkers get winded walking hilly sidewalks, any type of ambulatory work is at the heart of human function.

pranit10 7y ago

you had a medical issue and instead of going to doctor you went on the Internet? hmm not sure I am going to take any advice you give

nske 7y ago
The reality I've seen is that most doctors can only help with small/very specific issues of this kind if it's something they happened to had encountered before. Otherwise they will send you on a trip for multiple exams and in the end tell you there's nothing particularly wrong and should just bear with it till it becomes worse. Doing our own research or reaching out to others -none of which is mutually exclusive to consulting doctors- often pays out. Remember the experience of Patrick Volkerding? http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/pipermail/ilugc/2004-November/013903.html http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/pipermail/ilugc/2004-November/01390...
- quickthrower2 7y ago
  You need a physio for this. Hopefully a doctor would just recommend physio.

clSTophEjUdRanu 7y ago

Funny. When I shipped to Marine boot camp I was frightful my minor knee pain would get worse. Turns out I was just a wimp. Pain disappeared with exercise. I also had acid reflux and stomach problems for years that disappeared. Every single ailment that I've had that is not an injury disappeared when I got into shape (and read Sarnos book).

joshdance 7y ago
Which book?
- trts 7y ago
  assuming The Mindbody Prescription. Worth reading through some of the reviews on Amazon. Sarno's argument is essentially that emotional distress (mainly, rage) manifests itself in the body through TMS (tension myositis syndrome), and that depending on the person this expresses itself as a number of different ailments (sciatica, back and neck pain, migraines) with the same underlying cause (stress that results in decreased blood flow and oxygen deprivation which cause pain in the related area).
- clSTophEjUdRanu 7y ago
  Healing Back Pain, I had minor back pain but this mentality definitely made numerous small aches and pains disappear.
gassiss 7y ago
I've been feeling pain in my right elbow for a couple of years now. Doctor diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. You know the picture. Spent tons of time playing video game and works in an office since forever. I can't afford physical therapy, but working out + good posture makes the pain goes away "magically". I say "magically" because I am not doing anything to target it, just go to the gym and literally do whatever for 30-40 minutes every other day.

astockwell 7y ago

Love Jeff’s stuff, there’s a reason he has such a following. His deep dives into pelvic tilts and shoulder issues have been a huge help to me also.

agumonkey 7y ago

I'd love to know more about biomechanical readjustment

relativeadv 7y ago

There is beauty to the simple goal of "I want to lift x amount one day." Instead of worrying yourself to death over whether you are "functional" or not. I've seen so many regulars at my gym over the years still doing the same stuff, still looking the same, still lifting the same, still doing kettlebell goblet squats and farmers walks and step-ups and whatever else have you. I realize what an elitist knob this makes me sound like but I decry all of this because I've been there before and made the same mistakes. I like your example because you mention a specific issue you had that you then went on to fix. I know of many who train this way when they have no ailments whatsoever.

y-c-o-m-b 7y ago
"I want to lift x amount one day" is not for everyone, it's what lead me to destroy my spine. I went years without any problems and I was in the best shape of my life, but I never thought about the level of compression my spine was taking on. I ended up having multiple bulging discs from C5-C7, a severe disc herniation in T8-T9 (which happened mid workout, very painful), L4-S1 herniations and L4-L5 breaking away chunks of my vertebrae. I eventually had to get emergency surgery on C5-C7 due to the narrowing of spinal cord. I still "work out" with resistance bands, but I'm never allowed to properly lift weights again thanks to my foolishness. It's horribly depressing and I don't wish this on anybody. Moral of the story is you might be just fine and have the skeletal structure to support lifting, or it could be a ticking time bomb like in my case. Lifting goals should carry disclaimers about the possible dangers.
- Infinitesimus 7y ago
  That sucks. What lift did you in? Was it gradual or a sudden injury? I hope the recovery is going smoothly now at least :/
  - sbmthakur 7y ago
    My guess is that it could be deadlifts.
  - y-c-o-m-b 7y ago

LZ_Khan 7y ago

I thought I was special in this philosophy but seems like others are catching on too. The tip that worked for me is "Do the activity to get that type of body." I've always admired the physique of basketball players like Steph Curry so I picked up basketball a few years back. It's done wonders for my posture and aesthetics and basketball is a fun kickass workout. Swimming/soccer/tennis are other sports I'd put in the category of aesthetically pleasing.

tomaskafka 7y ago

For others reading this - this is what good physiotherapists do. Changing the movement patterns and balancing the body instead of prescribing painkillers.