The other day, as I was being thrashed by a heavy lap swimmer, I once again pondered the difference between a swimmers body and a runners body. I have seen quite a few husky guys, carrying quite a bit of extra weight, who are also very good swimmers. On the other hand, you won't see runners who are carrying extra weight (unless they have just begun running). I think that there maybe a chicken-egg thing here (heavier guys tend not to go in for distance running) but I think that there are other considerations. One of them is that swimming tends to arouse appetite while running tends to suppress appetite.
Having said all that, I just can't yearn for a runners body, even though I would love to drop 5 kgs. I just do not want a body with no arms or shoulders. Also, maybe it's me, but this guy looks like an anorexic model:
profile.ak.fbcdn.net/.../41576_284212555090_8345297_n.jpg
I find myself in a strange position - seemingly defending obesity!
As a 58 year old life time recreational athlete, I find this weird. Personally I am 1.88m. tall and weigh around 93 kg. (6"2, about 205lbs.) with about 18% bf and muscular. About a year ago I consulted with a nutritionist who specializes in working with athletes. I wanted to get under 90kg. and drop to 15% bf. I was swimming and strength training 5-6 days a week before work so there was no way to add more exercise (my recovery ability, as well as my career, do not enable me to train twice a day). The nutritionist said that running would be more effective for weight loss than swimming but he realized that this was a non issue for an avid swimmer. So all the effort had to be directed to nutrition. I improved for a bit, fell off the wagon (damn those 5 star resort hotels) and am trying to get back on. Still, the nutritionist said that he can't remember seeing a more muscular guy my age. That was definitely a feel good moment.
My point is that to look like the cover guy it is not enough to exercise. You have to have the right genes and follow a strict nutritional regime. Also, it is probably not sustainable year round. It's like boxers or weightlifters dropping bw to meet weigh ins. And it is not a realistic goal for guys my age (although I'm sure that somewhere there are a few exceptions) to get ripped. I personally don't even think that it is a worthy goal, but that is only my opinion.
Peyton Manning is right !
I find myself in a strange position - seemingly defending obesity!
As a 58 year old life time recreational athlete, I find this weird. Personally I am 1.88m. tall and weigh around 93 kg. (6"2, about 205lbs.) with about 18% bf and muscular. About a year ago I consulted with a nutritionist who specializes in working with athletes. I wanted to get under 90kg. and drop to 15% bf. I was swimming and strength training 5-6 days a week before work so there was no way to add more exercise (my recovery ability, as well as my career, do not enable me to train twice a day). The nutritionist said that running would be more effective for weight loss than swimming but he realized that this was a non issue for an avid swimmer. So all the effort had to be directed to nutrition. I improved for a bit, fell off the wagon (damn those 5 star resort hotels) and am trying to get back on. Still, the nutritionist said that he can't remember seeing a more muscular guy my age. That was definitely a feel good moment.
My point is that to look like the cover guy it is not enough to exercise. You have to have the right genes and follow a strict nutritional regime. Also, it is probably not sustainable year round. It's like boxers or weightlifters dropping bw to meet weigh ins. And it is not a realistic goal for guys my age (although I'm sure that somewhere there are a few exceptions) to get ripped. I personally don't even think that it is a worthy goal, but that is only my opinion.
Peyton Manning is right !
