tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post4934110178858178657..comments2024-01-09T14:09:20.170-06:00Comments on Squat Rx: "Ah-Ha" Moments From Mel SiffBorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13965125392095147170noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-11105412155075597792008-04-02T09:50:00.000-05:002008-04-02T09:50:00.000-05:00Yes, his PACE idea is more or less HIIT.I agree wi...Yes, his PACE idea is more or less HIIT.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you - some of his stuff is, IMHO, a little <I>out there</I>, but interesting nonetheless.Borishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13965125392095147170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-11021250961812398072008-04-02T06:18:00.000-05:002008-04-02T06:18:00.000-05:00Well, just from what he has on line is a little di...Well, just from what he has on line is a little difficult to understand all his ideas, but you can certainly get the drift. I think you summarize it well with what you say about a certain amount of hyperbole with some interesting points. There's a bit too much suggestion of conspiracy theory for my tastes, as in the comments about the FDA. I take it that his PACE is a HIIT sort of program. I'm interested in the concept; it seems to have quite a bit of support.Andy and Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13653596857524214714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-33853272548662934842008-03-31T15:14:00.000-05:002008-03-31T15:14:00.000-05:00Thanks Andy. Let me know what you think of his wor...Thanks Andy. Let me know what you think of his work - good or bad, I'd be curious to know. Hyperbole certainly seems to be part and parcel of most S&C writing these days and Al Sears is probably guilty of that, but interesting points are made.Borishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13965125392095147170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-39900395214372060222008-03-30T09:01:00.000-05:002008-03-30T09:01:00.000-05:00You're right. I re-read everything, and I did mis...You're right. I re-read everything, and I did misread it before. And yes, I'll read more of Al Sears' work.Andy and Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13653596857524214714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-85757013723708568762008-03-29T19:34:00.000-05:002008-03-29T19:34:00.000-05:00Andy,You should probably read more of Al Sears' wo...Andy,<BR/><BR/>You should probably read more of Al Sears' work to make a complete judgement. Of course it's a gross exaggeration to say that all heart attacks are caused by X, but, from what I've heard, he has had a lot of success in reversing heart issues with his patients. I know I am picking straw-man arguments also here, but Al is not saying that more is not better, he is saying that "more of A" is not necessarily the same or even close to "more of B". Is he right? I don't know, but I, personally, will never be the marathoner or triathlete type and any chance of cardio-fitness will have to be as a result of interval work in the weight room with weights. It goes without saying that different people will have different needs.<BR/><BR/>In any case, I definately did NOT mean to downplay the importance of cardiovascular fitness (and I don't think that Alwyn was either) - certainly NOT "unimportant or irrelevant" and I don't know how you read that into my posts. Simply pointing out that muscular endurance/adaptations was/are underemphasized in many training circles.Borishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13965125392095147170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-39638722853869018582008-03-29T17:45:00.000-05:002008-03-29T17:45:00.000-05:00That quote contains several concepts that are hard...That quote contains several concepts that are hard for me to accept, and that I have never encountered in the medical literature. I don't know that they are wrong, but they are at least new ideas to me. In particular, I question the opening statement: "Forced, continuous, endurance exercise induces your heart and lungs to 'downsize'...." I wish he would have cited research evidence for this. He also makes the assumption that size correlates to functional capacity, and I don't believe that it does. He doesn't explain how "increasing durational capacity...robs [the heart] of vital reserve capacity" or cite research evidence that it does.<BR/><BR/>My biggest problem is with the last paragraph that you quote. "Heart attacks don't occur because of a lack of endurance." True. "They occur when there is a sudden increase in cardiac demand that exceeds your heart's capacity." Not true. <BR/><BR/>Heart attacks occur when an atherosclerotic plaque in a coronary artery ruptures, triggering the formation of a blood clot within the artery, which decreases blood flow through that artery to the extent that part of the heart muscle no longer has adequate blood supply to keep it alive. The chances of the sequence of events that comprise a heart attack will occur, are decreased by exercise. It is pretty well-established that moderate aerobic activity decreases the incidence of heart attack. Here is a link to the position paper of the American Heart Association on the subject:<BR/><BR/>http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/reprint/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.185649<BR/><BR/>The natural assumption is that if a little “moderate” aerobic exercise is good, more must be better. That is what I have assumed, and still do. The AHA thinks more is better—look at the last sentence of the “Primary Recommendations” section of the intro in the article I linked. It says “Because of the dose-response relation between physical activity and health, persons who wish to further improve their personal fitness, reduce their risk for chronic diseases and disabilities or prevent unhealthy weight gain may benefit by exceeding the minimum recommended amounts of physical activity. [I (A)] (Circulation. 2007;116:1081-1093.).” Note the “[I(a)]” at the end of that sentence. That means that the statement is based on type I(A) evidence, the highest-quality medical research, a prospective, randomized trial, very strong evidence, indeed.<BR/><BR/>But Al Sears seems to be saying that more is harmful, but he doesn't cite any evidence at all.<BR/><BR/>On a personal level, my question is slightly different. My question, as a non-aerobic exerciser, is “how much can weight-lifting benefit my cardiovascular health?” The AHA recommendations do address resistance exercise, stating “Evidence supporting the health benefits of activities that increase muscular strength and endurance in non-elderly populations has accumulated rapidly in recent years.” However they discuss benefits other than the prevention of heart attacks and strokes.<BR/><BR/>I need to stop rambling and finish for the benefit of the few who have had the patience to read through this. Back to the point, which is your and Alwyn Cosgrove's Ah-Ha moments and the realization that "cardiovascular programming is an ass-backward concept." It sounds like you and Alwyn are saying that cardiovascular exercise in unimportant or irrelevant. I wish that were true, but I fear that it's not. Al Sears claims that it's outright dangerous. I don't believe that it is. We all need it for our general health, as well as for the ability to sustain whatever activities we've chosen for ourselves. I'm thinking that maybe I'd better climb on the stationary once in a while. Yuck.Andy and Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13653596857524214714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-45687364738198218802008-03-29T11:24:00.000-05:002008-03-29T11:24:00.000-05:00Thank you Catherine! That makes perfect sense. The...Thank you Catherine! That makes perfect sense. The descent definately needs work. Thanks again.Borishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13965125392095147170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-90015760945797844932008-03-29T08:32:00.000-05:002008-03-29T08:32:00.000-05:00Watched your Jerk video.Couple of observations. O...Watched your Jerk video.<BR/><BR/>Couple of observations. One bump (first bump)with your hips. It's a very explosive "hip bump". That's why you get the elbows over your hip..so, you can transfer the power. You're squatting a bit to much on the first movement. What happens is your elbows (and arms) become disconnected from your body when you drop too low.<BR/><BR/>Two, drop under the bells a little faster. This will come with time. I can tell your arms and shoulders are still doing too much of the work. But, all in all, they look good.<BR/><BR/>CICIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11148471167987620388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-73601679880931437052008-03-28T20:34:00.000-05:002008-03-28T20:34:00.000-05:00Andy,It's interesting that you mention these thing...Andy,<BR/><BR/>It's interesting that you mention these things. I posted an Al Sears quote a while back - I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it.<BR/><BR/>It is here: http://squatrx.blogspot.com/2008/02/words-of-wisdom-al-sears-md.htmlBorishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13965125392095147170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040363452505236063.post-11503507400370323172008-03-28T20:07:00.000-05:002008-03-28T20:07:00.000-05:00I enjoyed this column as well at Alwyn Cosgrove's ...I enjoyed this column as well at Alwyn Cosgrove's article that you linked, particularly the discussions of "cardio" training. I don't do any activity simply for its cardiovascular training value, but only because I don't like running, cycling, treadmills, elipticals, etc., etc., and not because of any belief or training philosophy. In fact, I feel guilty about not doing it. Most of my friends spend a significant part of their work-out time on the eliptical or stationary cycle--I don't.<BR/><BR/>Most of what I read in "weight training" and "body-building" websites, blogs and forums seems to ignore the reason that many people who are not "weight lifters", "body builders", or athletes per se, do cardiovascular exercise, which is to decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke, and to lower blood pressure. As a physician I have often encouraged patients to walk, jog, cycle or to engage in sports with that end in mind. I have always tended to think that the more "aerobic" of these activities were better for this purpose, but is that true? Perhaps ANY form of exercise is equivalent for this purpose. I honestly know of no evidence one way or the other. I believe in the benefits of strength training. Maybe all these years it would have been better for me to tell my patients to deadlift, rather than walk or jog. I don't know.Andy and Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13653596857524214714noreply@blogger.com