Running, Squats & Other Lifestyle Questions...

Google Beta User said:

3 - Does anyone actually get the recommended 8 hours of sleep?

Ha. Good one.

Jon

"Google Beta User" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi.

I'm considering giving up lower body weight training. I just need to
find a way to keep myself motivated...I defintely do not want to be in
the gym for more than 75 minutes per session (including pre and post
workout stretching) nor do I want to have to go the gym for anything
more than four days a week.

I'm hoping doing something like hills, can work out my calves and quads
well enough.

Goal: Maintain lean mass.
Lifestyle: 23 male, 185, 5'10".

So my new routine would be:
M - Chest (8 sets) Tue - Lat (8 sets)
Thu - Traps (3 sets) Fri - Bis (3 sets)
Delts (3 sets) Tris(3 sets)

I'll throw in abs and 30 minute running sessions randomly.

Thots:

1 - Is hitting one muscle group once a week enough?

2 - Is running really bad for your knees? I am defintely NOT doing any
step machine or treadmill. That drives me nuts, I've got to be on the
road to do my running. Two of my friends have given up running and
switched to biking and swimming, because they said they were worried
about their knees. My argument is that they're probably using [censored]
running shoes. I think running shoes are one of the things where you
actually get what you pay for. A $120 shoe IS worth it.

3 - Does anyone actually get the recommended 8 hours of sleep? I find
it impossible to do so in the modern world, what with 8 hour work
weeks? 5-6 hours seems much more realistic.

4 - Are abs 'special' muscles that can be trained at will, or should
they be treated like any other body part and worked out in regular sets
infrequently?

5 - Are hills, or speed training (i.e. intervals) anaerobic or aerobic?

6 - Is giving up squats harmful?

not weight training for lower body is going to affect lower body muscularity
and upper body as well, though there's no need for workouts longer than an
hour. My leg day is actually only 45 minutes, and it's enough. I do speed
training, specifically sprints. They are anaerobic and great for calves and
hams. They don't do much for my quads. Sprints up hills should be good for
glutes and quads, but I'd rather do squats. I do sleep the 8 hours a night,
but I don't watch much tv or party much anymore. If you are only working 8
hour days, I would think that possible, more and it gets harder. It isn't
always easy to do, but I manage most of the time. I hate jogging and I think
that's hard on my knees, though sprints aren't and I do jump rope in lousey
weather. I feel that hitting the big muscle groups once a week is enough
like back, chest etc, but I like to hit my arms once directly and once
indirectly. I don't know why you would train traps unless you are a specific
strength athlete, such as a thrower or strongman competitor. If you do heavy
deadlifts or cleans, you can save time. I work out 4 times a week in the wt.
room. about an hour. Oh, stretching before lifting is a waste of time and
can limit strength. Warming up is a waste too.

Quoted message said:

<< not weight training for lower body is going to affect lower body
muscularity
and upper body as well, though there's no need for workouts longer than
an
hour.>>

It's hard not to go over an hour when you take into account stretching.
And unfortunately, sometimes there are too many people (yes, I go to
Bally's). I'll try and start doing the 6 am thingy. Hey, I'll try.

<< My leg day is actually only 45 minutes, and it's enough. I do speed
training, specifically sprints. They are anaerobic and great for calves
and
hams. They don't do much for my quads. Sprints up hills should be good
for
glutes and quads, but I'd rather do squats. I do sleep the 8 hours a
night,
but I don't watch much tv or party much anymore. If you are only
working 8
hour days, I would think that possible, more and it gets harder. It
isn't
always easy to do, but I manage most of the time.>>

No offense, but I find it hard to have a profesional and social life
PLUS some personal time and still find 8 hours a night to sleep.

<< I hate jogging and I think that's hard on my knees, though sprints
aren't >>

Do sprints/hills burn fat calories like running even though it's
anaerobic?

<< I feel that hitting the big muscle groups once a week is enough like
back, chest etc, but I like to hit my arms once directly and once
indirectly. I don't know why you would train traps unless you are a
specific strength athlete, such as a thrower or strongman competitor.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Eh. It's just that if I'm working out my shoulders I might as well
develop the traps too. I don't want to have that "look" in which only
my chest and biceps are puffed up.

<< If you do heavy deadlifts or cleans, you can save time.>>

Are deadlifts a back or a hamstring exercise?

<< I work out 4 times a week in the wt. room. about an hour. >>

Mind posting your routines?

<< Oh, stretching before lifting is a waste of time and
can limit strength. Warming up is a waste too. >>

Saywha?? Seriously, that's the FIRST time I've heard that.

Google Beta User said:

Hi.

I'm considering giving up lower body weight training. I just need to
find a way to keep myself motivated...I defintely do not want to be in
the gym for more than 75 minutes per session (including pre and post
workout stretching) nor do I want to have to go the gym for anything
more than four days a week.

Then it makes sense to cut back across the board.

Why all the excuses for not training legs properly ? If you want wimpy legs,
just do your beach muscles routine and be done for it.

Quoted message said:

I'm hoping doing something like hills, can work out my calves and quads
well enough.

Sure. This guy does "something like hills" (he's one of the top 10k guys in
the country).

http://www.mensracing.com/photos/usaxc03/usaxc541.jpg

Quoted message said:

Goal: Maintain lean mass.
Lifestyle: 23 male, 185, 5'10".

So my new routine would be:
M - Chest (8 sets) Tue - Lat (8 sets)
Thu - Traps (3 sets) Fri - Bis (3 sets)
Delts (3 sets) Tris(3 sets)

I'll throw in abs and 30 minute running sessions randomly.

Thots:

1 - Is hitting one muscle group once a week enough?

Enough for what ... presumably to maintain ? Probably comes reasonably close
(except lower body).

Quoted message said:

2 - Is running really bad for your knees?

The short answer is, "NO". This is a myth.

Slightly longer answer: you can get injuries from running like you can with any
other exercise. But recreational running does not cause irreversible cartilage
damage.

Quoted message said:

I am defintely NOT doing any
step machine or treadmill. That drives me nuts, I've got to be on the
road to do my running. Two of my friends have given up running and
switched to biking and swimming, because they said they were worried
about their knees.

Leave the worrying to them -- they're obviously experts.

Quoted message said:

My argument is that they're probably using [censored]
running shoes. I think running shoes are one of the things where you
actually get what you pay for. A $120 shoe IS worth it.

Yes and no. Real running shoes start at about $90. You can get closer to $60-
at clearance prices.

But it's a fairly safe bet that if the MSRP for a running shoe (excluding
racing flats and spikes) is less than $85, then the shoe is garbage (and
probably not a running shoe)

Get your running shoes from a speciality retail outlet, or a specialty online
store like roadrunnersports.com. Better to go retail though (again, not
footlocker, but a place that specialises in running gear). The staff should be
able to watch you run. If you come across as a clueless newbie, the staff
should *ask* to watch you run, so they can help pick out a shoe for you.

Quoted message said:

3 - Does anyone actually get the recommended 8 hours of sleep? I find
it impossible to do so in the modern world, what with 8 hour work
weeks? 5-6 hours seems much more realistic.

Dunno.

Quoted message said:

4 - Are abs 'special' muscles that can be trained at will, or should
they be treated like any other body part and worked out in regular sets
infrequently?

Like any other body part. Except that most people don't care whether their
abs are well developed.

Quoted message said:

5 - Are hills, or speed training (i.e. intervals) anaerobic or aerobic?

Depends on what you mean by aerobic or anaerobic. And how you approach them
depends on your goals.

Quoted message said:

6 - Is giving up squats harmful?

Depends on what you mean by "harmful". If you build muscle mass by using
squats, you'll probably lose it if you stop doing squats and don't start doing
anything comparable. And no, running hills isn't comparable.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Kevin J. Coolidge said:

not weight training for lower body is going to affect lower body muscularity
and upper body as well, though there's no need for workouts longer than an
hour. My leg day is actually only 45 minutes, and it's enough. I do speed
training, specifically sprints. They are anaerobic and great for calves and
hams. They don't do much for my quads. Sprints up hills should be good for
glutes and quads, but I'd rather do squats.

They might make those muscles feel sore, but they're not going to induce much
hypertrophy. There are a lot of guys who "sprint" uphill a hell of a lot faster
than you, and have thin legs.

Quoted message said:

I do sleep the 8 hours a night,
but I don't watch much tv or party much anymore. If you are only working 8
hour days, I would think that possible, more and it gets harder. It isn't
always easy to do, but I manage most of the time. I hate jogging and I think
that's hard on my knees, though sprints aren't

Keep believing that if it makes you feel better, but it's not true. What you're
calling "sprinting" is more likely to cause injury than what you're calling
"jogging". The type of injury you'll get from this is *different*, but no less
of a concern.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Google Beta User said:

<< I hate jogging and I think that's hard on my knees, though sprints
aren't >>

Do sprints/hills burn fat calories like running even though it's
anaerobic?

The "type" of calories they burn isn't important.

Depending on how you do them, they might burn a lot of calories, or they
might burn very few.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

"Google Beta User" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi.

I'm considering giving up lower body weight training. I just need to
find a way to keep myself motivated...I defintely do not want to be in
the gym for more than 75 minutes per session (including pre and post
workout stretching) nor do I want to have to go the gym for anything
more than four days a week.

I'm hoping doing something like hills, can work out my calves and quads
well enough.

Goal: Maintain lean mass.
Lifestyle: 23 male, 185, 5'10".

So my new routine would be:
M - Chest (8 sets) Tue - Lat (8 sets)
Thu - Traps (3 sets) Fri - Bis (3 sets)
Delts (3 sets) Tris(3 sets)

I'll throw in abs and 30 minute running sessions randomly.

Thots:

1 - Is hitting one muscle group once a week enough?

NO

Quoted message said:

2 - Is running really bad for your knees?

Depends.

Quoted message said:

3 - Does anyone actually get the recommended 8 hours of sleep? I find
it impossible to do so in the modern world, what with 8 hour work
weeks? 5-6 hours seems much more realistic.

never do

Quoted message said:

4 - Are abs 'special' muscles that can be trained at will, or should
they be treated like any other body part and worked out in regular sets
infrequently?

low volume frequently.

Quoted message said:

5 - Are hills, or speed training (i.e. intervals) anaerobic or aerobic?

anaerobic

Quoted message said:

6 - Is giving up squats harmful?

Yes, why not decrease the volume and just work on getting them stronger?

"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Google Beta User said:

<< I hate jogging and I think that's hard on my knees, though sprints
aren't >>

Do sprints/hills burn fat calories like running even though it's
anaerobic?

The "type" of calories they burn isn't important.

Depending on how you do them, they might burn a lot of calories, or they
might burn very few.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

calories burned is a moot point. It's excercises affect on your hormonal
profile that has the big effect. Endurance excercise is fine if you like it,
but short, intense excercise like sprints and weight lifting does fat loss
better

"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Kevin J. Coolidge said:

not weight training for lower body is going to affect lower body
muscularity
and upper body as well, though there's no need for workouts longer than
an
hour. My leg day is actually only 45 minutes, and it's enough. I do speed
training, specifically sprints. They are anaerobic and great for calves
and
hams. They don't do much for my quads. Sprints up hills should be good
for
glutes and quads, but I'd rather do squats.

They might make those muscles feel sore, but they're not going to induce
much
hypertrophy. There are a lot of guys who "sprint" uphill a hell of a lot
faster
than you, and have thin legs.

Quoted message said:

I do sleep the 8 hours a night,
but I don't watch much tv or party much anymore. If you are only working
8
hour days, I would think that possible, more and it gets harder. It isn't
always easy to do, but I manage most of the time. I hate jogging and I
think
that's hard on my knees, though sprints aren't

Keep believing that if it makes you feel better, but it's not true. What
you're
calling "sprinting" is more likely to cause injury than what you're
calling
"jogging". The type of injury you'll get from this is *different*, but no
less
of a concern.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Look at sprinters, best hamstring development of any professional
athlete(yes, better than most bodybuilders too) and among the best for
calves

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

6 - Is giving up squats harmful?

Yes, why not decrease the volume and just work on getting them

stronger

Hmm, let me modify for squats:

Quoted message said:

So my new routine would be:
M - Chest (8 sets) Tue - Lat (8 sets)
Thu - Traps (3 sets) Fri - Bis (3 sets)
Delts (3 sets) Tris(3 sets)

How about adding 3 sets each of squats and calves on the 6 set days?

Remember, my goal is to be in and out of the gym. Idealy Go in at 8.30
p.m, stretch until 8:45, lift, stretch at 9:15, and then be OFF of the
gym floor by 9:30....

"Google Beta User" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

<< not weight training for lower body is going to affect lower body
muscularity
and upper body as well, though there's no need for workouts longer than
an
hour.>>

It's hard not to go over an hour when you take into account stretching.
And unfortunately, sometimes there are too many people (yes, I go to
Bally's). I'll try and start doing the 6 am thingy. Hey, I'll try.

<< My leg day is actually only 45 minutes, and it's enough. I do speed
training, specifically sprints. They are anaerobic and great for calves
and
hams. They don't do much for my quads. Sprints up hills should be good
for
glutes and quads, but I'd rather do squats. I do sleep the 8 hours a
night,
but I don't watch much tv or party much anymore. If you are only
working 8
hour days, I would think that possible, more and it gets harder. It
isn't
always easy to do, but I manage most of the time.>>

No offense, but I find it hard to have a profesional and social life
PLUS some personal time and still find 8 hours a night to sleep.

<< I hate jogging and I think that's hard on my knees, though sprints
aren't >>

Do sprints/hills burn fat calories like running even though it's
anaerobic?

<< I feel that hitting the big muscle groups once a week is enough like
back, chest etc, but I like to hit my arms once directly and once
indirectly. I don't know why you would train traps unless you are a
specific strength athlete, such as a thrower or strongman competitor.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Eh. It's just that if I'm working out my shoulders I might as well
develop the traps too. I don't want to have that "look" in which only
my chest and biceps are puffed up.

<< If you do heavy deadlifts or cleans, you can save time.>>

Are deadlifts a back or a hamstring exercise?

<< I work out 4 times a week in the wt. room. about an hour. >>

Mind posting your routines?

<< Oh, stretching before lifting is a waste of time and
can limit strength. Warming up is a waste too. >>

Saywha?? Seriously, that's the FIRST time I've heard that.

Deadlifts are great for back and hams. Actually, the work almost everything
except the pushing muscles like chest and tri and delts. They work rear
delts. Look up on stretching and warmup, or read Pavel. I don't warm up
anymore, I stretch between my sets to save time.
My routine
Day 1 Back and shoulder
day 2 chest and hams
day 3 quads and abs
day 4 arms, forearms, grip work

I do 3 to 4 times a week. I like to do tue and wed , fri sat. But there's
nothing that says you have to work it in the same 7 day period. The week is
a manmade concept, not your body's.

Quoted message said:

"Google Beta User" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

6 - Is giving up squats harmful?

Yes, why not decrease the volume and just work on getting them

stronger

Hmm, let me modify for squats:

Quoted message said:

So my new routine would be:
M - Chest (8 sets) Tue - Lat (8 sets)
Thu - Traps (3 sets) Fri - Bis (3 sets)
Delts (3 sets) Tris(3 sets)

How about adding 3 sets each of squats and calves on the 6 set days?

Remember, my goal is to be in and out of the gym. Idealy Go in at 8.30
p.m, stretch until 8:45, lift, stretch at 9:15, and then be OFF of the
gym floor by 9:30....

so you are going to do 8 sets of chest in a week......how does that break
down?
" " lats..

Have you looked into abbreviated routines with more frequency?
What is your ultimate goal? Hypertrophy or strength gains? maybe primary
goal?

"Google Beta User" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

6 - Is giving up squats harmful?

Yes, why not decrease the volume and just work on getting them

stronger

Hmm, let me modify for squats:

Quoted message said:

So my new routine would be:
M - Chest (8 sets) Tue - Lat (8 sets)
Thu - Traps (3 sets) Fri - Bis (3 sets)
Delts (3 sets) Tris(3 sets)

How about adding 3 sets each of squats and calves on the 6 set days?

Remember, my goal is to be in and out of the gym. Idealy Go in at 8.30
p.m, stretch until 8:45, lift, stretch at 9:15, and then be OFF of the
gym floor by 9:30....

How about if you bench press then deadlift or squat 4 days per week,
each lift for 3 sets of 5 reps? That should do a lot of what you want
while taking very little time in the gym. You could even bench press
one day, deadlift or squat the next, 5 sets of 5 reps on a single
exercise for each workout. That would get you 2 bench sessions plus 2
dl or sq sessions (or one of each, dl and sq) per week Simple, short,
to the point.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

<<Have you looked into abbreviated routines with more frequency? >>

What is an "abbreviated routine", I'm asking because I don't know if
you're saying gym trips should be more frequent than 4/7 days.

<< What is your ultimate goal? Hypertrophy or strength gains? maybe
primary goal? >>

I get 'a high' of sorts from exercising (both running and lifting
weights), I do a lot of thinking and reflecting while in the gym or on
the road. Then also ofcourse, I want to be generally fit (energetic
and strong) and to look good of course - yeah, who doesn't want to look
good when they take of their shirt? I DON'T want the skinny magazine
model look though.

I'm 5'10" 185 (mostly lean weight, but I could lose some love handles,
and I kind of have a large derriere, but I think that's just genes
though...).

I know I sound very vague, but I don't have _specific_ goals, maybe I
should?

<< I don't know why you would train traps unless you are a specific
strength athlete, such as a thrower or strongman competitor. If you do
heavy
deadlifts or cleans,>>

Hmm...perhaps I can eliminate a trap specific exercise if I can find
exercises in which it is indirectly worked.

Do any shoulder or any back exercises work out the traps?

In rec.sport.football.college Google Beta User said:

Hi.

I'm considering giving up lower body weight training. I just need to
find a way to keep myself motivated...I defintely do not want to be in
the gym for more than 75 minutes per session (including pre and post
workout stretching) nor do I want to have to go the gym for anything
more than four days a week.

I'm hoping doing something like hills, can work out my calves and quads
well enough.

Goal: Maintain lean mass.
Lifestyle: 23 male, 185, 5'10".

So my new routine would be:
M - Chest (8 sets) Tue - Lat (8 sets)
Thu - Traps (3 sets) Fri - Bis (3 sets)
Delts (3 sets) Tris(3 sets)

I'll throw in abs and 30 minute running sessions randomly.

Thots:

1 - Is hitting one muscle group once a week enough?

YMMV. I find that my strength backslides if I only do a particular muscle
group once in a week. So, I go for two. One day I'll go heavy/few reps.
Then two to three days later (I never work the same muscle group with less
than 48 hours of rest), I'll go light/many reps.

Also, for a single muscle group, I will do a variety of movements, week-to-week.
For chest, one week on Monday I'll five sets of twelve reps of incline bench barbell,
followed on Thursday by three sets decline, five sets flat bench pyramid/set of negatives/
one set low-weight rep-out/negative on last rep, three sets incline bench. Next week,
I'll come back to do the same things, but with dumbells, then the following week,
I'll incorporate flies and maybe do some supersets. Variety is the spice of life.

Quoted message said:

2 - Is running really bad for your knees? I am defintely NOT doing any
step machine or treadmill. That drives me nuts, I've got to be on the
road to do my running. Two of my friends have given up running and
switched to biking and swimming, because they said they were worried
about their knees. My argument is that they're probably using [censored]
running shoes. I think running shoes are one of the things where you
actually get what you pay for. A $120 shoe IS worth it.

Yes it is. Worth every penny, and then some.

Quoted message said:

3 - Does anyone actually get the recommended 8 hours of sleep? I find
it impossible to do so in the modern world, what with 8 hour work
weeks? 5-6 hours seems much more realistic.

Unfortunately, yes. Gotta have some downtime there somewhere, though.

Quoted message said:

4 - Are abs 'special' muscles that can be trained at will, or should
they be treated like any other body part and worked out in regular sets
infrequently?

You can do abs/forearms/calves every day.

Quoted message said:

5 - Are hills, or speed training (i.e. intervals) anaerobic or aerobic?

Anaerobic. If you can do hills/sprints two/three times a week, you will
get all the cardio you need.

Quoted message said:

6 - Is giving up squats harmful?

Depends. If you are doing a lot of running with upperbody weightlifting,
probably not. But its such a useful exercise, as it affects a *lot* of
muscles. Same with dead-lifts.

Try this workout sometime: set up two bars - one for squat/deadlift, one
for benchpress - with about 30-40% of your max lifting weights for both
movements. Then:
set of 10 deadlifts/squats, followed *immediately* by
set of 10 benchpresses, followed by
one minute rest, then
repeat five or six times.
You may need a spotter on your last set of benchpresses. And you will be
gasping for breath.

One thing I've learned the hard way is that its very easy to ignore core
back muscles. These are small muscles that run along the spine. While we
are pushing around all these big weights with squats and presses and such,
these little guys quietly do their work of supporting the back and spine.
Well, quietly most of the time. Eventually, especially with us old guys,
they tend to get sore and inflamed. Then they do unsportsman like things
like rubbing up against nerves, which causes all sorts of pain, which can
travel down your legs and feet. Don't neglect these muscles. They don't
require much attention, but they do require some attention. Some simple
stretches (lower back and hamstring in particular), and some weight-free
exercises (bridges, for example) is all it takes.

--Lee

"Google Beta User" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi.

I'm considering giving up lower body weight training. I just need to
find a way to keep myself motivated...I defintely do not want to be in
the gym for more than 75 minutes per session (including pre and post
workout stretching) nor do I want to have to go the gym for anything
more than four days a week.

I'm hoping doing something like hills, can work out my calves and quads
well enough.

Goal: Maintain lean mass.
Lifestyle: 23 male, 185, 5'10".

So my new routine would be:
M - Chest (8 sets) Tue - Lat (8 sets)
Thu - Traps (3 sets) Fri - Bis (3 sets)
Delts (3 sets) Tris(3 sets)

I'll throw in abs and 30 minute running sessions randomly.

Thoughts, coming from the perspective of one who lifts weights because it
helps with rowing:

If you want to cut down gym time, then there are better things to drop than
leg weights. There's no need to do 8 sets of chest work, or lats (back?)
work. Furthermore, chest exercises will probably cover triceps too, back
exercises will probably cover biceps, and your delts and traps will get some
work too. So drop some of that work. Your legs are important.

Quoted message said:

1 - Is hitting one muscle group once a week enough?

Will probably be enough to keep strength up, assuming you're not
super-strong now. It'd cause me to be sore all the time, though, whereas 2
or 3 full-body sessions a week doesn't.

Quoted message said:

2 - Is running really bad for your knees? I am defintely NOT doing any
step machine or treadmill. That drives me nuts, I've got to be on the
road to do my running. Two of my friends have given up running and
switched to biking and swimming, because they said they were worried
about their knees. My argument is that they're probably using [censored]
running shoes. I think running shoes are one of the things where you
actually get what you pay for. A $120 shoe IS worth it.

Yes, running is bad for your knees, to some extent. But good shoes will
minimise that, not being overweight will help (you don't say whether you're
185lbs of pure muscle or whether there's a bit of fat in there too, but for
a runner you are fairly heavy). In any case, if your knees aren't causing
problems now, then you probably don't need to worry now. For what it's
worth, road running (hard surface) is going to be less kind to your knees
than running on grass.

Quoted message said:

3 - Does anyone actually get the recommended 8 hours of sleep? I find
it impossible to do so in the modern world, what with 8 hour work
weeks? 5-6 hours seems much more realistic.

I try to, I usually don't manage either. If you're tired all the time, then
find a way to get more sleep.

Quoted message said:

4 - Are abs 'special' muscles that can be trained at will, or should
they be treated like any other body part and worked out in regular sets
infrequently?

You probably will get a fair bit of core work done with your squats and
deadlifts; but abs are just muscles, yes.

Quoted message said:

5 - Are hills, or speed training (i.e. intervals) anaerobic or aerobic?

Mixture. If you do short intervals with lots of rest, then it's mainly
anaerobic; if you're doing say 20s on, 2' off, then you won't work your
aerobic systems much. If you do longer intervals, or shorter rests, or both,
you will be working your aerobic systems more.

Quoted message said:

6 - Is giving up squats harmful?

Yes. :-)

Peter

Kevin J. Coolidge said:

calories burned is a moot point. It's excercises affect on your hormonal
profile that has the big effect. Endurance excercise is fine if you like it,
but short, intense excercise like sprints and weight lifting does fat loss
better

Not true, at least not at the level of generality you're stating it.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

<< Depends. If you are doing a lot of running with upperbody
weightlifting,
probably not. But its such a useful exercise, as it affects a *lot* of
muscles. Same with dead-lifts. >>

When I do deadlifts, I don't FEEL like they do anything, other than I
kind of have to concentrate on keeping balance and on form. (I do all
my reps one-two up, one-two down). Maybe I do them too light.

<< Try this workout sometime: set up two bars - one for squat/deadlift,
one
for benchpress - with about 30-40% of your max lifting weights for both

movements. Then:
set of 10 deadlifts/squats, followed *immediately* by
set of 10 benchpresses, followed by
one minute rest, then
repeat five or six times.
You may need a spotter on your last set of benchpresses. And you will
be
gasping for breath. >>

That's cool...but does it fit in with my goals?

<< One thing I've learned the hard way is that its very easy to ignore
core
back muscles. These are small muscles that run along the spine. While
we
are pushing around all these big weights with squats and presses and
such,
these little guys quietly do their work of supporting the back and
spine.
Well, quietly most of the time. >>

Isn't that the erector spinae(?)? Isn't that taken care of when doing
squats and/or deadlifts?

<< Some simple stretches (lower back and hamstring in particular), and
some weight-free
exercises (bridges, for example) is all it takes. >>

More and more according to the advice in this thread, it seems like
compound movements are the way to go. Question: Is there a difference
(in muscles worked) between a full military press* and a power clean?
I'm trying to get something that will hit my traps hard.

*Military Press in which at the end of the set, the barbell goes on the
floor. Of course you do it standing.