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The Top Ten Questions of
the Week
This week, I had some great emails from
you. Here are the ones I considered my Top Ten. They range in subject but
are relevant to fitness and health. Feel free to email if you have some
questions at
stew@stewsmith.com
1)
Should I lift the weights as fast
as possible? Of course, I know to lower them slower, but on the positive
portion of the exercise, I am unsure.
If you are lifting weights to prepare for
the PFT or Bootcamp then you can stop lifting as much. You should see the
article in the archive called
There are No Weights at Bootcamp.
Otherwise, I like to lift slow on the down (should take about 2-3 seconds)
and explode on the up to build explosive power. There are some workouts I
like to do occasionally where you do a 20 second rep 10 seconds down and 10
seconds up. Give that a try on your workouts once a week.
But also read
this article as it depends on your
fitness history.
2) How can I pass the Navy PFT swim
portion with a better score?
In the Navy, its
bi-annual PFT consists of a 1.5 mile run or 500m swim usually the swim is a
great running substitute for people with bad knees or lower back. I would
consider taking lessons or watch a swim team practice. Some times a picture
is worth 1000 words and you can pick up the techniques you need by watching
swimmers swim. Go to
www.totalimmersion.net to
learn
the
Total Immersion technique for swimming. It is amazing how they teach you
balance in the water, form etc.
3) Also, I know that I can do the ab
routine daily, but what about the pushups/ab superset? I don't want to
stunt my muscle growth, by doing pushups too often. Is it okay to do
pushups daily?
I would not do pushups daily give
yourself a day off in between big pushup workouts (over 100-200 pushups in a
workout). As far as abs back to back they are muscles so they need rest too
but they can function on less rest than major muscle groups. Do abs the
same way you can run. I like to run Monday, Tuesday, Rest Wednesday,
Thursday Friday, Saturday, Rest Sunday.
4) What do you consider a rest day? Is
it a day without weights? cardio? or both? I consider rest
nothing more physically exerting than chores around the house or walking.
5) Can you further explain the double
crunch?
As pictured in the crunches articles in
the archive and eBooks it is a mix of a reverse crunch and regular crunch at
the same time so you lift your shoulders and hips off the floor
simultaneously the only thing touching the floor is your middle back.
6) With the reverse pushups, am I
literally raising my arms/hands off of the ground? Yes from the
down pushup position lift the hands off the floor and pinch your shoulder
blades together. This is a great upper back exercise helps with posture and
stretches the chest.
7) Is it
better to do Cardio before or after lifting weights?
I like to warmup with cardio for about 10 minutes /
stretch then lift weights, but then I go for my run or swim or bike for
30-40 minutes after lifting. I find that if I lift after running or other
cardio I do not have the power I had than if I lifted first. It is really
up to you though. To burn more calories, I would lift first, run second.
8) Can or should I add anything to the
supplemental Weightlifting routine? I am concerned about muscle gain,
retention, and definition?
You can do what ever you like the
supplemental weight program in the 45 Day workouts are just that, ideas for
you to push yourself a little more than in the 45 Day plan.
9) Also, if I do everything correctly,
to the letter, and also do the supplemental PT, weight routine, and ab
routines, how much weight should I expect to lose? I am 5'9'' 175lbs. and
out of shape.
It is different with everyone.
Drinking water is a major factor to your weight loss too. You must drink
lots of water, up to ½ to a gallon a day. I have seen people just add more
water to their diet and lose a lot of retained water weight fast up to 20
lbs in one week but they were seriously bloated. Usually expect to lose
2-3 lbs a week.
10) Should I do the weights and pt
exercises on different days, consecutive days, with a day of rest in
between, or on the same day?
I like to do them on the same day if I
have a choice. It is OK to do one but you do not want to do the other
involving the same muscle the next day (ie pushups on Monday and Bench press
on Tuesday) Think about the muscle you are using when lifting and give them
a rest for 48 hours before seriously challenging them again.
Good luck with your fitness program
if you need any help deciding what you should do please send me an email
with your situation and I will help direct you some ideas for getting
started, pushing harder, or joining the military too.
Thanks for the
opportunity to serve - Stew
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Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author
certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National
Strength and Conditioning Association. If you are interested in starting a
workout program to create a healthy lifestyle - check out the StewSmith.com
Fitness eBook store and the
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