Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"?

"Steve Freides" <steve DeleteThis @fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
news:4s68kjFtkvanU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Dave" <db5151 DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:12lq85gb6onhr16@corp.supernews.com...
>>I need to get back in shape, but don't have any room for equipment
>>(except, maybe, an exercycle.) Was looking at Matt Furey's stuff, and
>>wondering if it offers anything promising. Anyone here use it? Any
>>feedback is welcome.
>
> His approach will work for some people some of the time, but you have
> alternatives as well, e.g., my personal preference would be to use harder
> bodyweight exercises for strength in combination with a heavy kettlebell
> or dumbbell for some limit strength work. I like one-legged squats and
> one-armed pushups for limit strength (and there are other, harder
> bodyweight exercises, e.g., handstand pushups, planche progressions, etc.)
> plus kettlebell swings or snatches for conditioning. A kettlebell takes up
> very little space. Furey will have you doing lots and lots (dozens,
> hundreds) of Hindu squats and Hindu pushups.
>
> A lot of the decision as to which way to go depends, IMHO, on what your
> goals are. Steve Maxwell, who is a world champion at Brazilian Jujitsu
> (grappling) and many other people whose opinions I respect believe that
> some limit strength work is important, even when training for a sport
> where strength/endurance is probably the most important consideration. If
> you're training for general health and fitness, then again I think harder
> exercises combined with strength/endurance work is better.
>
> The best "success stories" I've read about Furey's stuff are those who
> trained mainly with weights, put the weights away for a few weeks or
> months to do Furey's approach, then went back to weights. I don't know of
> a lot of people who stay on his approach for the long haul.
>
> Just my opinions, based on my own experiences and what I've heard and
> read, and worth what you paid for them here on Usenet.
>
> -S-
> http://www.kbnj.com
>
>

Thank you, very much. I do appreciate your honest candor. And I *think*
that all I am looking for is something to help me burn calories while
improving my fundamental, day to day, life experience. Not looking to
develop great strength (like serious body-builders), just get a little more
lean and stay that way. That may not sound like much, but it is a great
improvement over the way I really used to be.

Thank you again, seriously. I do appreciate your honest feedback.

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

"Dave" <db5151 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:12lu7d54m90ame9@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Steve Freides" <steve RemoveThis @fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
> news:4s68kjFtkvanU1@mid.individual.net...
>> "Dave" <db5151 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:12lq85gb6onhr16@corp.supernews.com...
>>>I need to get back in shape, but don't have any room for equipment
>>>(except, maybe, an exercycle.) Was looking at Matt Furey's stuff,
>>>and wondering if it offers anything promising. Anyone here use it?
>>>Any feedback is welcome.
>>
>> His approach will work for some people some of the time, but you have
>> alternatives as well, e.g., my personal preference would be to use
>> harder bodyweight exercises for strength in combination with a heavy
>> kettlebell or dumbbell for some limit strength work. I like
>> one-legged squats and one-armed pushups for limit strength (and there
>> are other, harder bodyweight exercises, e.g., handstand pushups,
>> planche progressions, etc.) plus kettlebell swings or snatches for
>> conditioning. A kettlebell takes up very little space. Furey will
>> have you doing lots and lots (dozens, hundreds) of Hindu squats and
>> Hindu pushups.
>>
>> A lot of the decision as to which way to go depends, IMHO, on what
>> your goals are. Steve Maxwell, who is a world champion at Brazilian
>> Jujitsu (grappling) and many other people whose opinions I respect
>> believe that some limit strength work is important, even when
>> training for a sport where strength/endurance is probably the most
>> important consideration. If you're training for general health and
>> fitness, then again I think harder exercises combined with
>> strength/endurance work is better.
>>
>> The best "success stories" I've read about Furey's stuff are those
>> who trained mainly with weights, put the weights away for a few weeks
>> or months to do Furey's approach, then went back to weights. I don't
>> know of a lot of people who stay on his approach for the long haul.
>>
>> Just my opinions, based on my own experiences and what I've heard and
>> read, and worth what you paid for them here on Usenet.
>>
>> -S-
>> http://www.kbnj.com
>>
>>
>
> Thank you, very much. I do appreciate your honest candor.

No problem.

> And I *think* that all I am looking for is something to help me burn
> calories while improving my fundamental, day to day, life experience.
> Not looking to develop great strength (like serious body-builders),
> just get a little more lean and stay that way. That may not sound
> like much, but it is a great improvement over the way I really used to
> be.

Just to clear up a misconception you may have, bodybuilders train for
size and physique while powerlifters, Olympic lifters, and others train
for strength and/or power. My experience has been that training for
strength works better than anything else when it comes to being fit for
one's life and healthy, and looking good is a by-product of that. I
also feel that, as one gets older, strength training becomes
increasingly more important, if for no other reason than we tend to lose
muscle as we get older (a well-documented thing that resistance training
can help ameliorate). To focus on burning calories is, IMHO, to miss
the point. Become active at something you enjoy, whether that's lifting
weights or playing soccer or anything else, and the rest should follow -
try to burn calories and the most likely result is that you'll burn out
instead.

> Thank you again, seriously. I do appreciate your honest feedback.

Just my opinions, best of luck to you, more about me at the web site
below if you're interested. At 51, I'm in the best shape of my life and
I credit strength training for it.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com


> Dave
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

In article <12lu7d54m90ame9 RemoveThis @corp.supernews.com>,
"Dave" <db5151 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:

> And I *think*
> that all I am looking for is something to help me burn calories while
> improving my fundamental, day to day, life experience.

Then all you really have to do is pick an activity you *will* do from
one day to the next. Simply picking a system will not do anything for
your fitness unless you follow it, and then pretty much any "system" of
increased physical activity is going to show a benefit.

So if you don't have room for much besides an stationary bike, I say buy
a real bike and get outdoors. The added bonus is that you can also use
it for transportation, leading to all sorts of societal benefits beyond
just your personal health.

--
My personal UDP list: 127.0.0.1, 4ax.com, buzzardnews.com, googlegroups.com,
heapnode.com, localhost, x-privat.org
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

"Steve Freides" <steve.DeleteThis@fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
news:4s8vbnFuiao9U1@mid.individual.net...
> "Dave" <db5151.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:12lu7d54m90ame9@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>> "Steve Freides" <steve.DeleteThis@fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
>> news:4s68kjFtkvanU1@mid.individual.net...
>>> "Dave" <db5151.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:12lq85gb6onhr16@corp.supernews.com...
>>>>I need to get back in shape, but don't have any room for equipment
>>>>(except, maybe, an exercycle.) Was looking at Matt Furey's stuff, and
>>>>wondering if it offers anything promising. Anyone here use it? Any
>>>>feedback is welcome.
>>>
>>> His approach will work for some people some of the time, but you have
>>> alternatives as well, e.g., my personal preference would be to use
>>> harder bodyweight exercises for strength in combination with a heavy
>>> kettlebell or dumbbell for some limit strength work. I like one-legged
>>> squats and one-armed pushups for limit strength (and there are other,
>>> harder bodyweight exercises, e.g., handstand pushups, planche
>>> progressions, etc.) plus kettlebell swings or snatches for conditioning.
>>> A kettlebell takes up very little space. Furey will have you doing lots
>>> and lots (dozens, hundreds) of Hindu squats and Hindu pushups.
>>>
>>> A lot of the decision as to which way to go depends, IMHO, on what your
>>> goals are. Steve Maxwell, who is a world champion at Brazilian Jujitsu
>>> (grappling) and many other people whose opinions I respect believe that
>>> some limit strength work is important, even when training for a sport
>>> where strength/endurance is probably the most important consideration.
>>> If you're training for general health and fitness, then again I think
>>> harder exercises combined with strength/endurance work is better.
>>>
>>> The best "success stories" I've read about Furey's stuff are those who
>>> trained mainly with weights, put the weights away for a few weeks or
>>> months to do Furey's approach, then went back to weights. I don't know
>>> of a lot of people who stay on his approach for the long haul.
>>>
>>> Just my opinions, based on my own experiences and what I've heard and
>>> read, and worth what you paid for them here on Usenet.
>>>
>>> -S-
>>> http://www.kbnj.com
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Thank you, very much. I do appreciate your honest candor.
>
> No problem.
>
>> And I *think* that all I am looking for is something to help me burn
>> calories while improving my fundamental, day to day, life experience. Not
>> looking to develop great strength (like serious body-builders), just get
>> a little more lean and stay that way. That may not sound like much, but
>> it is a great improvement over the way I really used to be.
>
> Just to clear up a misconception you may have, bodybuilders train for size
> and physique while powerlifters, Olympic lifters, and others train for
> strength and/or power. My experience has been that training for strength
> works better than anything else when it comes to being fit for one's life
> and healthy, and looking good is a by-product of that. I also feel that,
> as one gets older, strength training becomes increasingly more important,
> if for no other reason than we tend to lose muscle as we get older (a
> well-documented thing that resistance training can help ameliorate). To
> focus on burning calories is, IMHO, to miss the point. Become active at
> something you enjoy, whether that's lifting weights or playing soccer or
> anything else, and the rest should follow - try to burn calories and the
> most likely result is that you'll burn out instead.
>
>> Thank you again, seriously. I do appreciate your honest feedback.
>
> Just my opinions, best of luck to you, more about me at the web site below
> if you're interested. At 51, I'm in the best shape of my life and I
> credit strength training for it.
>
> -S-
> http://www.kbnj.com
>
>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>
>

Wow. Thank you for your reply, and the link you gave. I had no idea,
seriously. Still trying to digest it all, and not doing very well..

Briefly, when I said I wanted to burn some calories, I was thinking about
trying to get back into some semblance of "shape." Only I am working with
some limitations. A sleep disorder which severely limits the time I can
dedicate to anything, and a body I have allowed to go to pot. I am trying
to lose some weight (currently 5'11" and 225 lbs) and regain some muscular
strength (able to move things about okay, but unable to do even one push-up
or more than a few sit-ups/several squats). *Thought* I was okay until I
tried these. I seem to lay other people in the shade with what I am
willing/able to do, but obviously couldnt compete if I had to. Honestly
ashamed to admit to my starting point, but wanting to change things and
serious about getting to a different place.

Your views (analysis? Plain old knowledge?) about strength training and
martial arts are the big bites I am chewing on currently. I imagine we are
into different martial arts with different goals in mind, but I cannot deny
your grasp of the subject. And I see a lot I would like to copy.

I don't know what else to say. But I am certainly impressed.

Perhaps after a little more time, I might be able to learn something here.
I hope so, at least.

Thank you again for your reply, and the link.

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

"Doc O'Leary" <droleary.usenet.TakeThisOut@4q2006.subsume.com> wrote in message
news:droleary.usenet-EF1934.08460419112006@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net...
> In article <12lu7d54m90ame9.TakeThisOut@corp.supernews.com>,
> "Dave" <db5151.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> And I *think*
>> that all I am looking for is something to help me burn calories while
>> improving my fundamental, day to day, life experience.
>
> Then all you really have to do is pick an activity you *will* do from
> one day to the next. Simply picking a system will not do anything for
> your fitness unless you follow it, and then pretty much any "system" of
> increased physical activity is going to show a benefit.
>
> So if you don't have room for much besides an stationary bike, I say buy
> a real bike and get outdoors. The added bonus is that you can also use
> it for transportation, leading to all sorts of societal benefits beyond
> just your personal health.
>
> --
> My personal UDP list: 127.0.0.1, 4ax.com, buzzardnews.com,
> googlegroups.com,
> heapnode.com, localhost, x-privat.org

Thank you very much for your interest and reply. I tried the bicycle route,
but crashed on a curb and broke my collarbone. That coupled with the fact
that I have seriously fallen four times this year convinced the wife that I
am not safe off of a leash, and I am beginning to wonder myself. The last
time I fell it was trying to get out of the way of a pickup truck, and I
split my right temple open like a bad mellon. Now seems that ordinary
walking is more like my safest speed and modality of motion. Hate to sound
like a wuss, but...

Please be patient with me. I don't mean to be incompetant. That's just
where I find myself at the age of (nearly) 47.

Thanks again,

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

On Sat, 18 Nov 2006 12:46:15 -0500, "Steve Freides"
<steve.TakeThisOut@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:

>y experience has been that training for
>strength works better than anything else when it comes to being fit for
>one's life and healthy, and looking good is a by-product of that.

What do you think of aerobic training?

Amy
williamson.TakeThisOut@shaklee.net
Nature and Science in Harmony
www.shaklee.net/williamson/
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:01:10 -0600, "Dave" <db5151 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:

> I don't mean to be incompetant. That's just
>where I find myself at the age of (nearly) 47.

Thanks for sharing that. Now I don't feel so bad. I broke my
ankle last year, at 49. I've jogged/walked for over 21 years, so that
just broke my heart. Then my ankle hurt for MONTHS after that.

Amy
williamson RemoveThis @shaklee.net
Nature and Science in Harmony
www.shaklee.net/williamson/
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

"AWilliamson" <see_address_in_reply.TakeThisOut@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:5pmrm2pao3fcccbcqnq0o1qm7eo4l1085b@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 18 Nov 2006 12:46:15 -0500, "Steve Freides"
> <steve.TakeThisOut@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:
>
>>y experience has been that training for
>>strength works better than anything else when it comes to being fit
>>for
>>one's life and healthy, and looking good is a by-product of that.
>
> What do you think of aerobic training?

I was a big run, bike, swim guy until my early 40's, but I strength
train almost exclusively now, and my resting pulse is lower than when I
did all that endurance exercise, not to mention that I'm stronger, look
better although my bodyweight is still the same, and my once seriously
injured back has recovered enough that I hold a few world records as an
age-group lifter in the AAU. I think that the older we get, the more
important strength training becomes, and I find that one can do
strength/endurance training to take care of cardiovascular needs.

This is just how it works for me and I do not mean to suggest everyone
do what I do, but I am convinced for myself that my current approach is
much better than what I was doing 10 years ago which was primarily
aerobic training.

If you look at the site in my sig, you'll find out more about how I
train and why, and there are links to other sites and articles as well -
if you're interested.

-S-

> Amy
> williamson.TakeThisOut@shaklee.net
> Nature and Science in Harmony
> www.shaklee.net/williamson/
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

"AWilliamson" <see_address_in_reply RemoveThis @invalid.com> wrote in message
news:mrmrm21e1807jf2buor8cp7s99gnnep2a0@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:01:10 -0600, "Dave" <db5151 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I don't mean to be incompetant. That's just
>>where I find myself at the age of (nearly) 47.
>
> Thanks for sharing that. Now I don't feel so bad. I broke my
> ankle last year, at 49. I've jogged/walked for over 21 years, so that
> just broke my heart. Then my ankle hurt for MONTHS after that.
>
> Amy
> williamson RemoveThis @shaklee.net
> Nature and Science in Harmony
> www.shaklee.net/williamson/

Well, you're certainly welcome. If it makes you feel any better, the first
time I fell it was while walking the dog, and I simply stumbled over some
uneven pavement and fell smack on my right temple, knocking myself out for a
few seconds. I know it wasn't long because I was trying to get through in
time to catch a bus, and when I came to I still had time to spare. I was
definetly out though. Got a concussion from that one. Clumsy.

Hope your ankle feels better...

Take it easy,

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

You may find that a short-term commercial gym membership would do you good.
Not always the deepest font of knowledge over there, but there is some
experience, plus you get to watch a whole bunch of other people, in varying
degrees of effective strategies.
A free weight room would be helpful as well, as the people in there are
usually a little more knowledgeable.

You might find Leonard Schwartz' book and method, HeavyHands, very
interesting, very versatile, can be done walking, running, or even standing
in place. Takes a little coordination, intuition, but a powerful method of
overall conditioning.

As far as the Furey thing goes, and others like him, just too much drama,
dude, too goddamm complicated, too much mind-stuff.
I got enough things on my mind without some combat guerilla tryna re-mold my
entire being....

If you understand principles, things become simpler.
HeavyHands is great.
Or,
Consider a $39 set of free weights, and with *one* exercise, you can
accomplish more than 99.99% of people now exercising--which in itself is not
that large of a number.

That one exercise consists of lifting a barbell off the ground to your
thighs, from your thighs to your chest, and from your chest to overhead, and
then the reverse. A modified clean and jerk-type lift.
Start w/ the bar, for 20 reps, as a warmup.
Add 10-20 lbs, 10 reps.
Add another 10-20 lbs, mebbe 8-10 reps
Add another 10-20 lbs, 6-8 reps....
Or to your own taste, as strength/fatigue/exertion allows.
Then, if you can, descend, experimenting w/ reps.
This is one of THE single best exercises you can perform, and it will, over
time, turn you into a superman, and at moderate weights can be surprisingly
"aerobic".
Steve's points overall are very good, as is his mention of "limit strength",
which I presume to mean testing your maximum.
At your level, I wouldn't push any weight I couldn't lift 3-5 reps.

Not saying this is the ONLY exercise you should do, but if you were to do
this one thing, you'll be a superman in pert near a year.

HeavyHands, properly done, can also turn you into a superman, but the
problem is, 1 in 1,000 do it correctly.

Season to taste.
--
------
Mr. P.V.'d (formerly Droll Troll), Yonkers, NY

Stop Corruption in Congress & Send the Ultimate Message:
Absolutely Vote, but NOT for a Democrat or a Republican.
Ending Corruption in Congress is the *Single Best Way*
to Materially Improve Your Family's Life.
The Solution is so simple--and inexpensive!

entropic3.14decay at optonline2.718 dot net; remove pi and e to reply--ie,
all d'numbuhs

"Dave" <db5151.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:12lq85gb6onhr16@corp.supernews.com...
>I need to get back in shape, but don't have any room for equipment (except,
>maybe, an exercycle.) Was looking at Matt Furey's stuff, and wondering if
>it offers anything promising. Anyone here use it? Any feedback is
>welcome.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"? 

Dave wrote:

> Briefly, when I said I wanted to burn some calories, I was thinking about
> trying to get back into some semblance of "shape." Only I am working with
> some limitations. A sleep disorder which severely limits the time I can
> dedicate to anything, and a body I have allowed to go to pot.

I also train at the gym and at home for strength training. There are
times that I am time pressed and activity pressed. I then do a 4
minute workout that can be adapted in various ways.

Check the Soloflex Rockit with the Tabata Interval Method (TIM)

The current rage in fitness is the 4 minute workout. Initially, I
heard of this many years ago. The ROM machine from Romfab would give
people like Tom Cruise and Anthony Robbins a complete workout in 4
minutes. I called ROM and requested the video on this machine.

Continue reading "Soloflex Rockit with the Tabata Interval Method (TIM)
" »
http://soloflexvideo.com/2006/11/soloflex_rockit.html


Rocky Romero

www.SoloflexVideo.com
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone here use Matt Furey's "system"?