Comments on: The Human Body Teaches Us To Embrace the Chaos http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/ life uncommon Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:11:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Hello. My name is … » links for 2008-01-29 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50217 Hello. My name is … » links for 2008-01-29 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:37:14 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50217 [...] The Human Body Teaches Us To Embrace the Chaos (tags: tara hunt) [...] [...] The Human Body Teaches Us To Embrace the Chaos (tags: tara hunt) [...]

]]> By: Charlie http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50075 Charlie Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:03:01 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50075 Work on resistance training that involves your own body weight. Different muscles in your body are more easily trainable and so using artificial weights can lead to all sorts of disproportionate bulk. Pushups, dips, pullups, situps, squats, leg raises, done slowly and methodically, paying close attention to form, and with assistance if needed (like those pullup things that you kneel on the counterbalance so you don't have to lift your own bodyweight), are much more effective for me personally. I've also been hitting the heavy bag at the gym... again, not for speed, but paying much more attention to solid form and that's been very effective. You're also supposed to switch up workouts every 3-4 months. Also, I've seen a lot of people lose weight getting into regular swimming routines. One other thing... stress keeps pounds on. If you are stressed, your body may think you're in some kind of emergency situation and it stores fat in times of distress. Make sure you're not overstressed either. Work on resistance training that involves your own body weight. Different muscles in your body are more easily trainable and so using artificial weights can lead to all sorts of disproportionate bulk.

Pushups, dips, pullups, situps, squats, leg raises, done slowly and methodically, paying close attention to form, and with assistance if needed (like those pullup things that you kneel on the counterbalance so you don’t have to lift your own bodyweight), are much more effective for me personally.

I’ve also been hitting the heavy bag at the gym… again, not for speed, but paying much more attention to solid form and that’s been very effective.

You’re also supposed to switch up workouts every 3-4 months.

Also, I’ve seen a lot of people lose weight getting into regular swimming routines.

One other thing… stress keeps pounds on. If you are stressed, your body may think you’re in some kind of emergency situation and it stores fat in times of distress. Make sure you’re not overstressed either.

]]> By: miss rogue http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50058 miss rogue Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:06:11 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50058 Thanks for looking into this, Mike. I don't know what interest Tony would have in lying to me. Plus, I got their numbers from the HR person and their sales from observing an internal leaderboard (and by eavestropping in on a staff event they didn't know that I was at). I have a feeling the Hoover's numbers are either off or they are calculating something different. :) Thanks for looking into this, Mike. I don’t know what interest Tony would have in lying to me. Plus, I got their numbers from the HR person and their sales from observing an internal leaderboard (and by eavestropping in on a staff event they didn’t know that I was at). I have a feeling the Hoover’s numbers are either off or they are calculating something different. :)

]]> By: miss rogue http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50057 miss rogue Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:04:24 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50057 Thanks for the hope. I'm trying. It's totally harsh. I'm not so good at the weights stuff and am naturally VERY muscular, so I tend to bulk up with weight training (not tone down), so I have to watch out...even at smaller weights at high reps. But the smaller meals a day makes awesome sense. Thanks for the hope. I’m trying. It’s totally harsh. I’m not so good at the weights stuff and am naturally VERY muscular, so I tend to bulk up with weight training (not tone down), so I have to watch out…even at smaller weights at high reps.

But the smaller meals a day makes awesome sense.

]]> By: miss rogue http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50056 miss rogue Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:02:26 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50056 Awesome tips, Keith, thanks! I usually don't eat after exercising and you are totally right about the wheat stuff. I haven't had a loaf of bread in my house in 7 years...but my bad has been eating that bread they bring at restaurants...and I eat out ALOT. Awesome tips, Keith, thanks! I usually don’t eat after exercising and you are totally right about the wheat stuff. I haven’t had a loaf of bread in my house in 7 years…but my bad has been eating that bread they bring at restaurants…and I eat out ALOT.

]]> By: miss rogue http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50055 miss rogue Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:46:37 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50055 Hey Kerry, I don't know if that is a focus on process, or an agile approach to trying new things, seeing what works and what doesn't and then executing. I have worked for alot of companies that have spent too much time planning and not enough time doing...that's what I mean about process. But I think we are saying the same thing. :) I like the metabolism metaphor...but I think it is the market that changes... Hey Kerry,

I don’t know if that is a focus on process, or an agile approach to trying new things, seeing what works and what doesn’t and then executing. I have worked for alot of companies that have spent too much time planning and not enough time doing…that’s what I mean about process.

But I think we are saying the same thing. :)

I like the metabolism metaphor…but I think it is the market that changes…

]]> By: Kerry http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50054 Kerry Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:24:17 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50054 Re: "focusing too much on processes" Surely it is not that you shouldn't focus on processes per se, but rather that you should focus on the process by which you manage change. To go back to your analogy, you seem to have a process by which you try things to lose weight, measure the change, then judge whether to continue that or try something new. Surely an increased focus on this process would help? For instance, at what point do you decide a fitness routine isn't working? Just as one person can't try every diet/exercise combination all at one time, so too an organisation can't try every change all at once. Some process is needed to decide on what changes can be made and how to assess them. Personally, I put on 3kg within 3 weeks of the end of the hockey season without any change in diet. I'm now back to the weight that the zone diet tends to stabilise me on (8kg more than my low for last year) - heavy exercise for at least an hour every 2-3 days will get me back down where I want to be, but its just too hot right now. Restricting carb (and protein) intake has its limits - I eat so little now that it is embarrassing when I go out to dinner with friends and struggle to eat a normal sized meal, yet I'm still 10kg heavier than when I finished my first degree. The metabolism just adapts. Do organisations have metabolisms? Are there some organisations that are so stuck in their cultures that nothing short of major surgery will change them? Re: “focusing too much on processes”
Surely it is not that you shouldn’t focus on processes per se, but rather that you should focus on the process by which you manage change. To go back to your analogy, you seem to have a process by which you try things to lose weight, measure the change, then judge whether to continue that or try something new. Surely an increased focus on this process would help? For instance, at what point do you decide a fitness routine isn’t working? Just as one person can’t try every diet/exercise combination all at one time, so too an organisation can’t try every change all at once. Some process is needed to decide on what changes can be made and how to assess them.

Personally, I put on 3kg within 3 weeks of the end of the hockey season without any change in diet. I’m now back to the weight that the zone diet tends to stabilise me on (8kg more than my low for last year) – heavy exercise for at least an hour every 2-3 days will get me back down where I want to be, but its just too hot right now. Restricting carb (and protein) intake has its limits – I eat so little now that it is embarrassing when I go out to dinner with friends and struggle to eat a normal sized meal, yet I’m still 10kg heavier than when I finished my first degree. The metabolism just adapts. Do organisations have metabolisms? Are there some organisations that are so stuck in their cultures that nothing short of major surgery will change them?

]]> By: Charlie Park http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50050 Charlie Park Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:33:00 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50050 For anyone else who ... um ... didn't know what ISO 9000 was: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9000" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9000</a> For anyone else who … um … didn’t know what ISO 9000 was: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9000

]]> By: Keith Macdonald http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50047 Keith Macdonald Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:30:22 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50047 The long and the short of it: exercise does NOT promote weight loss. It doesn't. It'll make you fitter, but it won't cause you to lose weight. Do you eat not long after you work-out? I bet you do because most people do. By doing that you are replacing the calories you burned during exercise. Don't worry it's perfectly natural, but it's also going to guarantee you will never lose weight due to exercise. Try NOT to eat after exercising. It's extremely difficult. The reason is obvious: we have adapted to replenish nutrients after physical exertion. There is only 1 thing that causes weight loss: caloric restriction. Specifically, the restriction of carbohydrates in your diet. That's right, a low carb, high-protein diet. Atkins is just a marketing term, but the underlying concept has been proven time and again to be the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off. What's more, it's been found to be the healthiest way to eat. Human beings are not adapted to consume large amounts of carbs. Only when we became civilized about 40K years ago did we start eating so many carbs. That's not enough time to evolve. We are adapted to eat a high-protein, low-carb diet. Now, you can do one of two things at this point: you can either poo-poo what I - and the medical establishment is increasingly saying - or you can actually look into this. If you want to lose weight and be healthy, might I suggest you stop listening to the agricultural industry - a HUGE lobby group, with huge influence, that has been very effective at promoting carbs as healthy. Look into what I've said. Email me if you want to discuss it further. ;) The long and the short of it: exercise does NOT promote weight loss. It doesn’t. It’ll make you fitter, but it won’t cause you to lose weight. Do you eat not long after you work-out? I bet you do because most people do. By doing that you are replacing the calories you burned during exercise. Don’t worry it’s perfectly natural, but it’s also going to guarantee you will never lose weight due to exercise.

Try NOT to eat after exercising. It’s extremely difficult. The reason is obvious: we have adapted to replenish nutrients after physical exertion. There is only 1 thing that causes weight loss: caloric restriction. Specifically, the restriction of carbohydrates in your diet. That’s right, a low carb, high-protein diet. Atkins is just a marketing term, but the underlying concept has been proven time and again to be the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off. What’s more, it’s been found to be the healthiest way to eat. Human beings are not adapted to consume large amounts of carbs. Only when we became civilized about 40K years ago did we start eating so many carbs. That’s not enough time to evolve. We are adapted to eat a high-protein, low-carb diet.

Now, you can do one of two things at this point: you can either poo-poo what I – and the medical establishment is increasingly saying – or you can actually look into this. If you want to lose weight and be healthy, might I suggest you stop listening to the agricultural industry – a HUGE lobby group, with huge influence, that has been very effective at promoting carbs as healthy. Look into what I’ve said. Email me if you want to discuss it further. ;)

]]> By: debra http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/comment-page-1/#comment-50046 debra Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:24:03 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/01/12/the-human-body-teaches-us-to-embrace-the-chaos/#comment-50046 You CAN get your old body back! I've spent the past year doing it. But, yes, as we get older it doesn't happen as quickly. The trainer was correct: I'd say cut back on the cardio and add more resistance training. I do 30 minutes of cardio 4x a week (treadmill at highest incline, elliptical..), and a half hour of resistance training (floor, stretchy band, weights). Eat smarter: 5-6 smaller meals a day. I am back to the weight that I had in my late 20s with a stronger body (oh, I'm 55)! There have been huge improvements, though, in other parts of my life that cannot be measured by clothing size or a number on a scale: greater confidence, clearer thought, a sense of joy and accomplishment. Again.. focusing too much on the finish line can obscure the opportunities along the way. You CAN get your old body back! I’ve spent the past year doing it. But, yes, as we get older it doesn’t happen as quickly. The trainer was correct: I’d say cut back on the cardio and add more resistance training. I do 30 minutes of cardio 4x a week (treadmill at highest incline, elliptical..), and a half hour of resistance training (floor, stretchy band, weights). Eat smarter: 5-6 smaller meals a day.

I am back to the weight that I had in my late 20s with a stronger body (oh, I’m 55)! There have been huge improvements, though, in other parts of my life that cannot be measured by clothing size or a number on a scale: greater confidence, clearer thought, a sense of joy and accomplishment.

Again.. focusing too much on the finish line can obscure the opportunities along the way.

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