Re: Quackery

1

This sounds like the equal and opposite reaction to my college-days theory that one should instead drink and smoke even more to drown and burn the germs out..


Posted by: Ginger Yellow | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 6:23 AM
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2

I follow that first theory too! My pseudo-explanation is that when I get my heart rate up my sinuses open up a little wider to accommodate heavier breathing, which allows more space and oxygen for my immune system to operate on whatever (likely anaerobic) bug is trying to take hold in there.

I once convinced my wife, who hates and avoids exercise as a general matter, to try this approach, and it failed spectacularly. She just started coughing mid-workout and was, in all likelihood, more miserable more quickly than she would've been had she done nothing--to say nothing of normal-person preventive remedies she could've tried, like rest and hot fluids and the like. This must be ten years ago by now, and she still makes fun of me about it from time to time. So, YMMV.


Posted by: Osgood Yousbad | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 6:31 AM
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3

Oh? What should I do, then?


Posted by: E. Messily | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 7:18 AM
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4

Drink coffee, surf the web, take naps, play with the babies. Scratch the kitties.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 7:20 AM
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5

3: Visualize quantum healing chakras.

And drink some orange juice.


Posted by: AcademicLurker | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 7:21 AM
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6

4 sounds pretty good. You're hired!


Posted by: E. Messily | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 7:28 AM
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7

6: You know she is a doctor!


Posted by: peep | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 7:40 AM
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8

Question that is vaguely on on topic because exercise:

I've been powerlifting three times a week (squats, deadlifts, bench press, and so on) for the past few months. I'm not remotely strong according to strengthlevel.com, but I'm strong for me, which is pretty cool. The problem is that each workout leaves me flat out exhausted (like, want to lay in bed all day exhausted) until the day of the next workout. Besides, you know, stopping powerlifting, what's the solution? Do I need to start drinking those stupid gross-tasting shakes? I really want to squat (achievable goal X) by my high school reunion, which is only two months away!


Posted by: Chopper | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 9:24 AM
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9

Maybe you just need more time to adjust. A few months isn't very long if you haven't been doing much before.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 9:26 AM
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10

No shakes, just McDonalds.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 9:31 AM
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11

8: For me, it's the duration. For a super intense workout, if I keep it under an hour, I can still function that day. If it creeps up to 90 minutes, then I'm bushed and can't function until I have a nap.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 9:37 AM
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12

Also, I'd never heard of strengthlevel.com, but they seem to think I'm ~20th percentile for someone my size. Sounds about right.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 9:39 AM
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13

I think I'll try Charlie's solution. Off to lift!


Posted by: Chopper | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 9:43 AM
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14

I've been powerlifting three times a week (squats, deadlifts, bench press

Double overhand on those deadlifts. The surgery and recovery for a ruptured bicep tendon is annoying as hell.


Posted by: gswift | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 9:45 AM
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15

Ah, gswift, thank you for not linking to those tendon photos again!


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 9:55 AM
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16

15: The youtube videos are even better. Boing goes the tendon.


Posted by: gswift | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 9:58 AM
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17

Huh. I wonder how being able to chin myself translates into weight lifted on a bent-over row. They're roughly equivalent, sort of, but I don't actually know if I could row my bodyweight. I haven't got any idea of what I'd be able to lift on any of the rest of them.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 10:00 AM
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8

Eat a ton. Drink a ton of Gatorade. And listen to Heebie.


Posted by: F | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 10:25 AM
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19

Go to the Russian & Turkish Baths in the East Village. That is the thing that helps.


Posted by: Mister Smearcase | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 12:25 PM
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8: You might try varying time of day you work out (mornings are good for me; evenings work best for the boyfriend) and what you eat 1-2 hours before you work out. Fruit + protein is what I've heard recommended. I don't usually manage something that good, but nuts or a hardboiled egg or peanut butter as protein, maybe?

Also, my foiling a cold random supersitition is to drink a ton of fluids. My non-science-based logic says this will boost my immune system/dilute and remove viruses. I admit this is crazy.


Posted by: ydnew | Link to this comment | 04-29-16 6:31 PM
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