Working Out

[The Owl]

Run, walk, golf. Walking a 9-hole course is the eqivalent of a 5-mile walk. I need to start a lifting program soon though.

[ks8829]

I have walked 2 miles and jogged / run 2 miles the last 5 days and I feel marvelous. I break up the walk and jog in the morning and in the afternoon 1 mile each.

I have hit about 120 balls with my PW, 9, 8, 7, 6 irons the last couple of days each day taking out only one club. This has really improve my ball striking. I played yesterday and shot 2 over in the front and 3 over in the back only because I could not get up and down or 3 putted a hole.

I am going to practice my chipping around the green and play again on Thursday with my 14 year old son and sneak out on Friday, trying to shot under par.

[jowlar]

I run 5 days a week for 3-5 miles and have noticed that I don't get as tired towards the end of a round. I have actually come to enjoy my run almost as much as a round of golf.

I would like to train for a triathlon that is held in the spring but I think the swim portion would get me and I don't have anywhere to train for swimming during the winter months.

[ks8829]

I am building up to running and currently walk a mile to warm and run a mile in the morning and sometimes also in the afternoon.

I just bought a pair of Asics Gel 1103 running shoes on ebay for just under $40 and can not wait to run in them.

[zeg]

I used to (for a couple years, up to about two years ago) pretty religiously do a weight lifting routine. Started off at 4x per week, then backed off to 2-3x, split between upper and lower body days. On off days I'd do biking or elliptical for 45 minutes to an hour. Never put on much bulk but it used to keep me in good shape. At the end I revamped my weight lifting to add some gross muscle lifts (mostly dead lift) which I really liked. Then my shoulder started hurting badly enough I had to stop-- dont' think this was related to the lifting. When that finally recovered, my arthritis had come back to the point that exercise more intense than carrying a golf bag was not really possible. Heck, a couple times even carrying the bag nearly killed me the following day.

Annoying thing is I'm only 31 and the first bout with arthritis was 10 years ago. That's way too #$@#% young for arthritis... fortunately I've got some medication that seems to be working now. Hopefully I can get back to working out again -- for a while, even swimming was too hard on my joints. Just need to figure out how to squeeze gym time back in with my PhD work, raising my kid, and trying to golf now and then...

[pxc]

Just thought I'd throw this out there - if anyone is interested in lifting, for strength and size, and is just starting out, the book "Starting Strength" by Mark Rippetoe is considered the standard for beginner weight lifters by many respected fitness and strength professionals. It isn't for everyone, and I would doubt there is a ton of carryover to golf unless you've just absolutely maxed out your technique. It is just a good way to get started if you are interested. I see so many people wasting their time with 2 hour workouts doing 8 different kinds of bicep curls, people make is so much more complicated than it has to be.

Also someone advocated the stronglifts.com 5x5 program, it's also a pretty good one to get started, very similar in principle to Starting Strength.

[Yukari]

It varies. Usually run 5 mile/day 5 days a week and switch that off with 2 mile swim/day 5 days per week or a combination of 2 mile swim/day and 5 mile run/day 5 days per week.

Of course, 18 holes of golf at least once a week (walking).

[ks8829]

I walked a mile, ran a mile, walked 18 holes, walked a mile and ran a mile in the afternoon today.

light lifting with 15 lb dumbbells.

[ks8829]

walked a mile, jogged a mile and cool down walking 2/3 of a mile.

[OnePutt]

I lift 5x a week, not really for golf more for myself to let off steam, improve body, etc. I probably lift "too heavy" for golf but like I said I lift for myself and have been doing it much longer than playing golf.

Lately I've been focusing on squats as well as abs to improve core and add driving distance. I have a 4 day split - chest/triceps, back/biceps, quads/hamstrings, and shoulders/abs. After every workout I run 3-4 miles, sometimes I'll mix it up do bike or elliptical or something. With this and a solid diet I've dropped 25lbs over the last two and a half months.

[Knockglock]

Right now, standing for 9 hours at work, and then golf. Its not helping, but keeping me level. I'm going to start some MMA training with a friend within a few months, so hopefully this winter I can get back to my athletics form. I'm about 255 right now and would like to see 215 or so by the end of winter.

Ha, nice man. MMA training seems to be all the rage now a days. It has me kind of intruiged.

Personally, I work out about 3 times a week. Usually I do chest, shoulders, and triceps (3 exercises for each) and then abs on monday, biceps, back, and legs (3 exercises for each. I know i should probably do more legs but I try and take it easy on my knees) on thursday. I just give myself 2 days in between workouts to let my muscles fully recover, plus it keeps me from getting burned out. So my workout schedule always changes, monday thursday sunday one week, wednesday saturday tuesday, then friday monday thursday, and just keeps goign like that. Kind of confusing ha, but it seems to be a decent amount for me. Enough working out to get stronger but not too much to get burned out, injured, overworked, etc.

[Knockglock]

I'm so looking forward to my gym opening back up. Had to take time off for hernia surgery then moved away. They're building a new location about 2 mins from where I live.

Haha, thats funny. Its the same way for me. It's hard to get as much protein as I should! I eat usually like 2 turkey sandwiches a day, maybe some chicken, and of course a couple protein shakes :)

[Saint]

if you want to add distance to your drives, focus alot on your lower body. Running keeps you toned well, but squats and leg extensions will really help you out.

[Ben]

if you want to add distance to your drives, focus alot on your lower body. Running keeps you toned well, but squats and leg extensions will really help you out.

Yeah but squats and lunges suck!!! Oh, wait a pain for the next few days! I'm so pissed that I have to do them. But you're right, they are a necessary evil.

[Saint]

pain is gain.

[pxc]

Squats only hurt when you first start doing them, or if you overdo them. There was a time when I was consistently squatting heavy 3x a week. Eventually I had to change that because my hips were starting to suffer, but actual muscle soreness went away after about a week.

[whetstone]

+1 on this, if you're interested in working out with a purpose instead of just fumbling around the gym.

Just thought I'd throw this out there - if anyone is interested in lifting, for strength and size, and is just starting out, the book "Starting Strength" by Mark Rippetoe is considered the standard for beginner weight lifters by many respected fitness and strength professionals. It isn't for everyone, and I would doubt there is a ton of carryover to golf unless you've just absolutely maxed out your technique. It is just a good way to get started if you are interested. I see so many people wasting their time with 2 hour workouts doing 8 different kinds of bicep curls, people make is so much more complicated than it has to be.

[Shanks]

Exercising definitely makes me feel good, it keeps up my metabolism and relieves stress. I've also discovered that eating healthy is just as, if not more effective at keeping my energy level high and fatigue/laziness low. I use a lot of healthy eating tips from Men's Health books and the magazine. There are too many diet plans out there. But a lot of people fail to realize you don't need to go on a diet, you can eat as much as you want as long as you're eating the right foods. I've never been overweight, though in the past I've not had proper eating habits. I read a lot about nutrition in the "Abs Diet" book series. Even though 'diet' is in the title it really just explains the healthy natural foods that you should eat a lot of, and why processed/fast-foods are so bad for you. The most basic rule for a food is you should be able to trace it to something natural (eggs, lean meat, fruits/veggies, low-fat dairy, whole-grain wheats)

As for exercising, I lift weights at least 3X a week with just-cardio days 2X a week. A strong core (abs, lower back) is critical in really any sport out there, because it provides stabilization and balance. To increase your metabolism it is wise to KEEP EATING throughout the day, small meals in between breakfast/lunch/dinner. You can never eat too many veggies/fruits, they are great snacks, so are simple things like natural trail mix with nuts and dried fruits. And drink a lot of water, often times you can mistake thirst for hunger.