| Re: Leg muscle/heart rate question?
Maggie wrote:
> RonSonic wrote:
> > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 03:31:39 GMT, "chris c"
<cchris@frontiernet.net>
> wrote:
> >
> > >I am a newbie. Just got into cycling last summer (again) but did
it
> when I
> > >was younger (10 yrs. ago). I am trying to do at least 10 miles per
> day now.
> > >I did more during the summer sometimes. Schedules are so hectic of
> course. I
> > >ususally use a stationary cause of the crappy weather. I am
riding
> a
> > >comfort bike but would like to get a racer this spring. I used a
> cannondale
> > >racer in my younger days when 50 mile rides were nothing. I lost a
> lot of
> > >weight since summer which keeps me very interested and I feel
great!
> > >My first question is ... how long does it take to get some leg
> muscle
> > >definition? My legs are not muscular, but they are skinny now. I
try
> to use
> > >a harder setting on the bike sometimes. Does this increase muscle
> faster?
> > >Second question..... Can you overdo a workout by getting your
heart
> rate up
> > >too fast (ex: heart attack) ? Sometimes I push myself hard , I
think
> almost
> > >to the limit. I never get faint , but I think I get borderline
dizzy
> > >sometimes.
> >
> > How long's a string and can it be too long?
> >
> > Just how old are ya and what kinda shape are you in?
> >
> > Not that I could give you any specifics anyway, but it's good to
know
> whether
> > we're talking about a 40yo in crappy shape or a 55yo in pretty good
> shape.
> >
> > At 49 and recovering from many years off the bike there are a few
> things I can
> > tell you. First your recovery will suck compared to years ago. I
can
> get great
> > benefits from 2 intense rides a week, much more than that just
makes
> me sore
> > without any resulting strength or speed payoff. Might as well just
> whack my legs
> > with a stick for all the good it does. At least not more than two
> weeks in a
> > row.
> >
> > And it is intensity that you need to increase muscularity and
> strength. Making
> > circles with your feet, fast or slow will not do it. There's
cycling
> training
> > tips and advice all over the internet, some of it actually makes
> sense and
> > works. Google.
> >
> > When I first started back on the bike last year I had recently quit
> smoking
> > (again) and the game was having my cardio and legs take turns being
> the weaker
> > link. At one point I got into good enough shape that I needed more
> leg to work
> > the CP system hard enough to really feel it. I'm riding 4-5 times a
> week and 2
> > of those are usually some sort of high intensity work like sprints
or
> intervals.
> > I'll only do one day of intensity if I do something otherwise
> draining that week
> > like an extremely long ride. Or three days of intense work if I
know
> I won't be
> > pushing it the next week. I think that's probably the sort of
thing
> you're
> > ready for, get in some strength and speed work.
> >
> > As for heart attack risks, hell if I know. My guess is that if
you've
> been
> > pedaling hard enough to max out the heart rate and start losing
> composure
> > without dying by now you're probably okay. I do suggest that you
keep
> that sort
> > of thing on the trainer until your bike handling skills are back to
> expert.
> > That's how people get hurt, out riding their brain's oxygen supply.
> >
> > You know the standard warning "Do not begin this or any other
> exercise program
> > without the advice of a physician." Well I figure I didn't ask a
> doctor before
> > taking up chain smoking and a sedentary lifestyle, I don't figure I
> need his
> > permission to get back in shape. If I'm going to keel over from a
> heart attack
> > rather it be after a ride I enjoyed than a cardio stress test that
I
> had to pay
> > money for.
> >
> > Ron
>
>
> Hey, a nuclear cardio stress test is a great thing. My brother was a
> chain smoker all his life...he decided to go for the test and they
> found two blocked arteries. He would have had a heart attack. They
> roto rootered the blockages and now he is fine. I would never
suggest
> anyone do anything without getting a stress test first if they are
over
> 40. I have another friend who never smoked, he is active, he lives a
> decent lifestyle of exercise and diet and he had two blockages as
well.
> He is only 44 years old. He had the blockages cleared and now he is
> back to exercising. They both prevented heart attacks by getting
that
> test. It's fairly easy to go in and roto rooter a blockage to
prevent
> a heart attack down the road. Its not that easy recovering from a
> massive one. A little prevention is a good thing. Go getted Nuked
in
> that stress test. This is your Mommy speaking. Its a few hours out
of
> your life and could save your life. Now that you changed your life
> around, you want to keep living, don't you?
> Maggie.
Funny, you go get the test and they find problems and they fix them.
But where were the symptoms? There's some data coming out that all this
intervention leads to very little improvement in life expectancy but a
big improvement in the interventionists bank account.
Sure, if you have problems intervention works-but there is a lot of
evidence that the number of surgeries is more related to the number of
surgeons than to the incidence of desease. (And I hereby lump invasive
cardiologists in with the surgeon even though they are technically not)
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