Fitness without equipment?

[Antiventurecapital]

Did someone say Parkour?

David Belle invented the sport.

[Antiventurecapital]

YouTube - Parkour

[songwriter]

Walking, walking, walking...

you get mental clarity, maybe sleeping better, more endurance if your do long walks, etc.

[Antiventurecapital]

More David Belle.

[dor]

Originally Posted by songwriter

Walking, walking, walking...

you get mental clarity, maybe sleeping better, more endurance if your do long walks, etc.

dickens was found of taking six hour walks andsorting out his novels -theodore r. paced relentlessly while dictating - movement is supposed to stimulate creativity.

[songwriter]

Originally Posted by dor

dickens was found of taking six hour walks andsorting out his novels -theodore r. paced relentlessly while dictating - movement is supposed to stimulate creativity.

Yes, the best ideas come while walking, not the better songs though...

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by ticktockclok

Random Fact: A guy named Jim Fixx wrote a book about running in the 70s. It became hugely popular, and contributed to a running craze. He dies in 1984. Cause of death? Heart attack on his daily run.

This is not very fair. Fixx took up running relatively late in life, and was a heavy smoker for many years, before he started running.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by The David

In case anyone's confused, I'll restate my purpose. I want to:

Increase endurance

If you're talking cardiovascular endurance, then running is very hard to beat.

Cycling is possible but long-distance cycling has been known to cause damage to your family jewels.

Swimming is also possible but generally people who aren't good swimmers enter anaerobic mode too soon (mainly because they don't know how to breathe properly, not that they're swimming too hard) and so they can't swim continuously long enough to get a proper cardiovascular workout.

Sleep better

Quit coffee.

Running works for me in eliminating stress, nervous anxiety too ---> better sleep.

and have more brain power

Omega 3 supplements and meditation. Especially meditation.

[mtrimpe]

This is the most promising one I've found ... I've been wanting to try it for a long time so perhaps this is something for you:

Zen in the Art of Self-Resistance

[Antiventurecapital]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Cycling is possible but long-distance cycling has been known to cause damage to your family jewels.

This is not very fair. Saddle technology has improved dramatically over the last ten years. The new saddle designs with cut-outs eliminate the pressure on the big nerve you sit on.

[Zombie]

I don't have personal experience with this (yet) but everything I've seen says you should take up rock climbing if you want to build a strong body without a weightlifting regimen. Of course, you're going to have to pay for training and unless you live near a mountain you'll probably end up at an indoor rockwall (more fees) so it kind of defeats the purpose if the problem is financial.

[ticktockclok]

You really don't need to spend anything to work out without weights. That link to Zen in the Art of Self-Resistance; I saw results in the two months I used it, before switching my workout up a bit. Or, you could simply do 500 pushups a day. All types. Add in some hindu squats, do a 30-day trial, and be amazed at your results.

[da1prophet]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

This is not very fair. Fixx took up running relatively late in life, and was a heavy smoker for many years, before he started running.

Yeah, and Pete Maravich was a NBA player and health nut when he dropped dead after playing a pickup hoops game at the age of 41. He had a genetic heart defect. It in no way means that playing hoops is dangerous. Same deal with running...

I'm personally not big on running, but there's a reason that every fighter does it as part of his training--it enhances endurance, cardio conditioning and general toughness. Also getting up at 5 AM to do it requires a lot of discipline, which is itself a valuable trait.

If you look at virtually any physical activity you can find some rare example of a freaky death or injury. That's not a good enough reason to stay on your couch and vegetate...

[da1prophet]

Originally Posted by Zombie

I don't have personal experience with this (yet) but everything I've seen says you should take up rock climbing if you want to build a strong body without a weightlifting regimen. Of course, you're going to have to pay for training and unless you live near a mountain you'll probably end up at an indoor rockwall (more fees) so it kind of defeats the purpose if the problem is financial.

The gym I go to actually started as an indoor climbing facility before they expanded to a full service fitness place. I pay $31 a month for the run of the place, including the climbing wall.

And as Zombie suggests, rock climbing is a very good way to build a strong body without weights. Again, you'll have more "functional strength" than bulk which depending on your goals might be good or bad. Personally, I'd rather be lean and strong than have what we refer to pejoratively as a "bar body" that's all about looks and not function...

Another thing that rock climbing is very good for--and this goes back to a post a couple of weeks ago about hand and wrist strength--is that it greatly increases your grip and hand strength, as well as your functional wrist strength.

Even if you *do* live near mountains I'd strongly suggest starting out at an indoor climbing wall.

[da1prophet]

Originally Posted by ticktockclok

You really don't need to spend anything to work out without weights. That link to Zen in the Art of Self-Resistance; I saw results in the two months I used it, before switching my workout up a bit. Or, you could simply do 500 pushups a day. All types. Add in some hindu squats, do a 30-day trial, and be amazed at your results.

I personally like to mix in weight training, but ticktock is 100% correct--do 500 pushups and sit ups a day and you'll be in great shape. Hindu squats hurt like hell, but they're also great for getting in shape.

[da1prophet]

Originally Posted by Antiventurecapital

This is not very fair. Saddle technology has improved dramatically over the last ten years. The new saddle designs with cut-outs eliminate the pressure on the big nerve you sit on.

AVC is correct, and I'd also suggest that for a recreational rider the benefits far outweigh the negligible risks to your sperm production. If you ride 8 hours a day every day--like a professional cyclist--you might want to give this some thought but if you're simply trying to get in shape I wouldn't worry about it.

[da1prophet]

Originally Posted by songwriter

Walking, walking, walking...

you get mental clarity, maybe sleeping better, more endurance if your do long walks, etc.

Good point...whenever I have to work out a problem or do some serious "plotting" I grab my dogs and go for a long walk. It's good for them and the mental clarity I have on walks is amazing...

[da1prophet]

Originally Posted by dor

herscle walker never lifted weights..

Actually, the story I heard is that he never lifted weights until he got to the NFL. Even so, he was in amazing shape while at the University of Georgia so your point is well taken....

[ticktockclok]

Originally Posted by da1prophet

Actually, the story I heard is that he never lifted weights until he got to the NFL. Even so, he was in amazing shape while at the University of Georgia so your point is well taken....

Walker stated in a phone interview on The Jim Rome Show on November 20, 2006 that he still performs 2500 situps and 1500 pushups every morning. He has been going through this same routine every morning since high school.

While in the NFL, he did some weight training but still did 1500 pushups and 1000 situps in th offseason. However, he was something of a genetic freak, which definitely contributed to his great body.

[da1prophet]

Originally Posted by ticktockclok

Walker stated in a phone interview on The Jim Rome Show on November 20, 2006 that he still performs 2500 situps and 1500 pushups every morning. He has been going through this same routine every morning since high school.

While in the NFL, he did some weight training but still did 1500 pushups and 1000 situps in th offseason. However, he was something of a genetic freak, which definitely contributed to his great body.

That's insane...but I am glad to hear that someone else here is a Jim Rome listener ; )

[dor]

Originally Posted by ticktockclok

While in the NFL, he did some weight training but still did 1500 pushups and 1000 situps in th offseason. However, he was something of a genetic freak, which definitely contributed to his great body.

well i think if you did 1500 pushups every morning you'd be a genetic freak too

another example - and don't laugh - are ballet dancers - male and female - have incredibly developed legs - and always have - some might do theraputic weight training now, but traditionally it was all body based.

I don' t like weights because of memories of football training but more importantly - its so much more conveint to do push ups and other type exercises - there's never an excuse of the 'the health club is closed' 'too crowded' whatever...

[ticktockclok]

Originally Posted by da1prophet

That's insane...but I am glad to hear that someone else here is a Jim Rome listener ; )

More of an online web searcher, lol

[The David]

I've been visiting the rec center at my previous college (I still have a valid ID, apparently), and my attention span has noticeably increased. Incidentally, I've been drinking more coffee lately---It just sort of happened---and yet my sleeping patterns have improved. It's odd.

[adamsoho]

This means the body primarily likes to use amino rich muscle tissue as this high quality fuel source.

Muscle tissue is not something your body wants to use as a fuel source, ever... The only times you start using decent amounts of muscle tissue and protein as energy is after 90 minutes or more of continuous activity. Even at this point, only 5-15% of your caloric needs come from protein. This has led to the incorporation of proteins in energy drinks (Accelerade, etc.) in a ratio of about 4 to 8 parts carbo's to 1 part protein.

I really don't know where you came up with that information regarding protein utilization, but it's simply not true.

As for The David's goals of developing strength and endurance:

Your best bet without equipment include

-walking/jogging/running for endurance
-lunges and squats with only your body weight (make sure you are paying attention to your technique here) for lower body strength
-Isometric (holding a position) exercises for your trunk (again, technique is important)
-pushups, pullups, etc. for upper body strength

I realize that that is a little vague, but if you have more specific questions or goals in mind feel free to contact me.