I have a newbie question

[amellis2]

My usual routine is: Run on treadmill (doing C25K), Elliptical (I try to burn a total of at least 500 cal. for cardio; I am exercising for weight loss and to get healthy/fit.) Then I do strength training.  I go to the gym 5 days a week, strength train for 4 days (using machines).  If I am running/ellipitical-ling as much as I am (it winds up being about 50 minutes of cardio) should I be working on my legs?  My leg day has been presses, curls, and the hip adduction machine.  I am doing 4 sets of 12 reps with a pretty low weight (about 80lbs) 

I want to tone my whole body, but my legs are in relatively good shape (except upper-inner thighs, so I have been doing a Pilates move at home to work on that area). 

I just don't want to look like the guy in the Oatmeal cartoon.  Help, please?

(Sorry for the post that looks like a word problem.)

[Susie]

Jul 17, 2013 13:07:52 GMT -5 amellis2 said:

I just don't want to look like the guy in the Oatmeal cartoon. 

You won't.  And neither does he, IRL:





Appropriate strength training is helpful to avoid running injuries.  I would not cut it out just because you're afraid of looking like his satirical drawings

[shorewife]

And also strength training for your legs could help improve your running/elliptical-ling.

[Deleted]

You'll reduce the risk of injury if you strengthen your hamstrings, glutes, and quads!

[Wines Not Whines]

Yes, keep doing the strength training. I have to reduce the weights a little if I do leg workouts on running days, but I have to do it once a week.

[pixy0stix]

Oh my, the oatmeal guy is yummy.

... What was the question?

[joenali]

Jul 17, 2013 13:30:46 GMT -5 Susie said:

Jul 17, 2013 13:07:52 GMT -5 amellis2 said:

I just don't want to look like the guy in the Oatmeal cartoon. 

You won't.  And neither does he, IRL:





Appropriate strength training is helpful to avoid running injuries.  I would not cut it out just because you're afraid of looking like his satirical drawings

He must be a local guy! He's wearing a kit from a Seattle tri team.

[Deleted]

You should do full-body weight conditioning.

Also, how do you know you are burning 500 calories? Don't go by what the machine says. It's highly inaccurate.

[Susie]

Jul 17, 2013 15:15:36 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Oh my, the oatmeal guy is yummy.

... What was the question?

I know, right?

[blndsnbrdr]

Jul 17, 2013 15:24:02 GMT -5 Susie said:

Jul 17, 2013 15:15:36 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Oh my, the oatmeal guy is yummy.

... What was the question?

I know, right?

I didn't register it all at once...didn't connect him to the Oatmeal comics as I read and I couldn't figure out why she wouldn't want to look like him. Ha.


OP - Definitely keep up with the lower body strength, especially your quads, glutes and hamstrings. If you end up with weak hamstrings our back gets jacked. If you have weak glutes your IT band gets all pissy. Not that I know from experience of anything...

[amellis2]

Jul 17, 2013 15:21:22 GMT -5 aswartzw said:

You should do full-body weight conditioning.

Also, how do you know you are burning 500 calories? Don't go by what the machine says. It's highly inaccurate.

Yes, I am going by what the machine says.  I will get a heart monitor as soon as I can. Any recs for a budget friendly one? 

[amellis2]

Thanks for all the help. I haven't skipped any leg days, but I wasn't sure if I needed them. I will keep on keepin' on.

ETA:  I would totes meal his oats.

[hannahb]

Nothing new to add really but strength training, especially gluts and hip abduction are crucial for injury prevention.

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2013 17:38:52 GMT -5 amellis2 said:

Jul 17, 2013 15:21:22 GMT -5 aswartzw said:

You should do full-body weight conditioning.

Also, how do you know you are burning 500 calories? Don't go by what the machine says. It's highly inaccurate.

Yes, I am going by what the machine says.  I will get a heart monitor as soon as I can. Any recs for a budget friendly one? 

I don't but if you start a new post, I'm sure you'll get some recs.

[jene]

Jul 17, 2013 15:15:36 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Oh my, the oatmeal guy is yummy.

... What was the question?

My thoughts exactly

[jene]

Jul 17, 2013 15:18:49 GMT -5 joenali said:

Jul 17, 2013 13:30:46 GMT -5 Susie said:

You won't.  And neither does he, IRL:





Appropriate strength training is helpful to avoid running injuries.  I would not cut it out just because you're afraid of looking like his satirical drawings

He must be a local guy! He's wearing a kit from a Seattle tri team.

You realize you need to investigate this for all of us now.

[joenali]

Jul 17, 2013 20:13:04 GMT -5 jene said:

Jul 17, 2013 15:18:49 GMT -5 joenali said:

He must be a local guy! He's wearing a kit from a Seattle tri team.

You realize you need to investigate this for all of us now.

Yep! He's totes from Seattle! If I run I to him at a race, I'll have to get a picture!!

He also looks very familiar!!

[zoidberg]

I look like the guy in the Oatmeal cartoon.

But in fairness, that is just my body type. I'm like Barbie if you put Ken's legs on her.

[zoidberg]

Jul 17, 2013 13:30:46 GMT -5 Susie said:

Jul 17, 2013 13:07:52 GMT -5 amellis2 said:

I just don't want to look like the guy in the Oatmeal cartoon. 

You won't.  And neither does he, IRL:





Appropriate strength training is helpful to avoid running injuries.  I would not cut it out just because you're afraid of looking like his satirical drawings

And now my heart is broken, because I thought there was a kindred spirit out there. Now I know I'm just a lone freak. *runs away, slowly, sobbing*

[taratru]

Jul 17, 2013 15:15:36 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Oh my, the oatmeal guy is yummy.

... What was the question?

Yeah.  Um..HELLO there, friend.

[fdcritt76]

When my husband read the oatmeal cartoon he laughed out loud when he saw that picture. "Hey, that's you!"

[shauni27]

every post in this thread has me laughing.