Anybody SPIN?

[edgecrusher]

Here is a quote from the article. So I guess *targeted* fat lose is possible according to Mr. Poliquin, or am I just reading this wrong?

"In spinning exercise, the body adapts by storing both intra-muscular and subcutaneous fat in the thigh and hip areas to provide a more readily available source of fuel for the aerobic recovery periods. The body figures out, if I store fat there it reduces the time to get to the muscles to provide the energy source. Result: Kobe beef thighs and butt, all plump and marbled with fat inside."

In actuality, Charles does not feel that spot reduction is possible. Fat deposition is partly due to hormonal output, as he mentions the article.

However, it has been shown over the years that individuals can accelerate fat loss from certain areas, but this generally takes the appliance of a topical or injectable product.

 

[edgecrusher]

As far as Poliquin, he should look at the Tour de France field if he feels cycling creates fat thighs, I could fit my hand around the entire field's thighs. The reason he sees so many overweight women in spinning classes is because they go once or twice a week or whatever, they use a very low intensity, then they continue to eat in a very poor manner. If you eat like shit, it doesn't matter how you train, you will be fat, I am sure Poliquin knows that, but he had to spout off anyway. Possibly the diet of the girl he trained changed and thats why her BF dropped, besides, 9% bf on a woman can't be too good, and why it is attainable, I can't see how a girl could hold that for more than a day, but that is Poliquin, just like all his clients run a 3.2 forty and bench 900lbs at 0.1% bodyfat because of the use of such miracles of training as the swiss ball.

Most of these athletes are built similar to marathon runners. although there bf% is low, they still have high fat stores in certain areas.

 

[DieselFueled]

The point I am trying to make is that Poliquin is using an example of the average American woman who goes to spinning classes. I KNOW the average person who trains does so with a low intensity, barely breaks a sweat, and eats total garbage at all the wrong times. I just think he used a poor example to bash a method of training because the people who spin hard and cycle hard and eat right are not by any means fat asses, although they may not use other methods to tone muscles, they are not fat.

The elite athletes who spin/cycle do have low bodyfat % and that is what is important for their sport, everybody is gonna have deposits of unwanted weight somewhere unless you're a precontest bodybuilder using all sorts of drugs and starvation tactics to get rid of every last ounce, creating an unhealthy state that you can only hold on to for a few hours at best (9% bf on a woman, roughly speaking)

But all things aside, I think the image being created was that no matter who you are, if you spin, you will be a 300lb lard ass in spandex peddling around pointlessly not breaking a sweat, and that just isn't true.

As far as release of hormones, I understand the point, but in that case, people should only deadlift, squat, and do olympic movements in sessions not lasting longer than 45 minutes if you only want optimal hormone release. While I like to train in this manner, I am sure you agree that it is not necessary or even optimal for a lot of athletes (endurance in particular) to train this way, nor is it necessary for the average American looking to shed some pounds and be a little healthier.

 

[Nonerz]

From the article:

Would they improve significantly in terms of conditioning. NO. Why? Because the resistance is not high enough to elicit the hormonal response needed to create adaptive response that would bring about positive body composition changes.

Well, that brings me back to my earlier point about spin...

It's up to you to challenge yourself and get the most of your workout. That's why some people don't like it and why some people love it. They get out exactly what they put in.

In the classes they offer at my gym, the bikes all have a resistance knob that you turn up and down, depending on whatever drill you are doing. Sometimes you have the tension set very low and you are in a sprint...other times the tension is cranked up and you are fighting your way up a hill.

Personally, I use resistance and I don't see the point of not using resistance (at least in intervals). Maybe that is the difference.

 

[JKurz1]

Hey, spinning isn't going to change your f-ing diet.......I got down to a tad under 6% bf from my DIET, but spinning 3-4x week assisted in the process...now I do it once, maybe twice a week to maintain my certificate........tis all I was saying....if you are looking for a solid, intense cardio wo, try it..........if you are looking for a change of lifestyle, then re-evaluate what you do the other 23 hours of the day......

 

[RottenWillow]

It pumped the crap out my thighs and butt. Felt like I was walking on stilts when I got off the bike. I did it 3x in one week and my thighs held like a .75" pump.

 

[edgecrusher]

There is a point here most people are missing. Now, I am making the assumption that most people here are BBers, or fitness enthusiests who are looking to get leaner and look better. That being said, all I am attempting to do, is offer information that may lead them to an optimal path. Now, Science is beginning to show that intense cardio is the way to go to get lean. (Look at a sprinter vs. a marathon runner.) If you are performing a class that lasts for 1 hour, it can not be considered intense.

Before I got into S&C coaching, I was a personal trainer, who worked a lot w/ pre contest bbers. None of my individual did more then 20 minutes of cardio, and all got to single digit bf%. Basically, what I'm saying is Dpin if you want to, but there are better ways. I hope that clears everything up. Good luck to all, and thak you for the discussion.

 

[bignate73]

i know what you are saying edgecrusher.

 

[Nonerz]

Not a flame, but I just don't get your point. I assume that we are all into fitness, one way or another, but have specific personal goals.

The class I take is actually 40 minutes, including the warm up and cool down/stretching. Believe you me...it IS intense!

20 minutes of cardio may work for most people, but I'm just beyond warmed up at that point, ready to push myself...not stop. Then again, diet is probably the bigger factor with your pre contest BB'ers...not the fact that they only did 20 minutes of cardio!

So did you have a bad experience or was it the article that put the bad taste in your mouth? What is the better way? I'm feeling adventurous now!

 

[bignate73]

what he is saying is (as i understand it):

-20 minutes of high intensity cardio is all that was needed (and more productive) IF....

-diet is met.

a 40 minute spin class is probably 20 minutes of the high intensity stuff, with warmup/cooldown and stretching added in.

think of it like when we drag the sled, we are already warmed up, go out get the job done and come back in. that usually takes 30 minutes for both of us (alternating). and we are working on technique. imagine just setting up a medley and doing that for 15-20 minutes straight, it would be akin to the intervals/high portion of spin.

high intensity cardio burning more absolute calories and increasing your afterburn post workout is very efficient and effective.