October 03, 2012

Got Fitness Questions? Plus Gaiam Giveaway Winner

The Random Number Generator has spoken!

And the winner of the Gaiam TV subscription plus Yoga mat or other comparable accessory is...

Oh wait! A brief pause first before we get to that for Yet Another Blog Announcement!

A new feature which may or may not be called "Ask the Personal Trainer" is coming up at Cranky Fitness, which will probably run once or twice a month.  Since Crabby is decidedly NOT one of these well-informed creatures, she has recruited a panel of 3 actual Personal Trainers to answer your questions. Crabby may also contribute her thoughts, a fake question or two, some whining, a completely irrelevant picture of an adorable animal, and probably some swear words, just on general principle.

I'll wait to introduce them until we get started, but it's a fun, well-informed panel.

So if you've got a question for a Personal Trainer, either leave it in a comment below or email me (email address cleverly concealed on the schmooze page). 

And if you're a Personal Trainer yourself, we can always squeeze in more expert opinions, so feel free to inquire and we'll see if it's a good match!

OK, and NOW let's announce the Gaiam giveaway winner, who is.....





Bob Ben!

Congrats, and please email me (Schmooze page) by end of day Oct 8th with your mailing address and choice from the Gaiam catalog up to $60.

21 comments:

  1. Crabby, I'll put my thinking shoes on and see about coming up with a question.

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    1. Thinking shoes, excellent concept! I'm now awaiting a PR email telling me about a new product line to train your brain while you exercise...

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  2. I would be happy to be thought of to contribute as a trainer. Also, wondering if you have ever had to tell a completely non-dedicated, unmotivated client that you can't or are unwilling to train them anymore?

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    1. That's great Glenn, and love the question, will hang on to that!

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  3. Here's my question: "Who's your favorite blogger named 'Jack'?"

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  4. Foiled again on the prize front! Congrats Bob Ben!

    I love the idea of a PT panel and look forward to what you might be putting together as far as a fake question goes.

    If any of your people know how to work around a rotator cuff problem when doing upper body weights AND some simple exercises to strengthen protective muscles around the rotator cuff,I would love to read about that. I am also interested in knowing whether the way I point my toes when doing a leg extension changes what muscle is worked or if it only feels that way.

    Maybe the second question is dumb. I think of a lot of dumb things when doing weights. More than usual dumb thought. : )

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  5. Dear Crabby AND Munchberry -

    The late Nora Ephron is my personal source on the whole rotator cuff thing (and a few other aspects of life in general).

    She wrote that it took her two years to completely heal up from TWO rotator cuff injuries. This struck me because: 1- I love reading Nora Ephron 2- I read somewhere on the internet that it DOES take 2 years for the cuff to heal which confirmes that - 3- She was/is right! and, finally, 4 - she managed to injure BOTH rotator cuffs WHILE EXERCISING.

    Right up my alley - except I hurt mine while lugging boxes full of vinyl records wondering "What actually does happen if you pull or lift something too hard? I mean - it's not like your limb could actually be torn away from your body! Right?...."

    AFTER seeing a doctor and being told to do some exercises which DID develop the surrounding/protective muscles but did little to heal the injury - I have to say I agree with Nora. It takes two years or a little less if you leave things alone and are reasonably careful. I suppose the exercises (all involved stretchy bands of various kinds afixed to door knobs) kept things from getting worse and my shoulder finally did get some nice definition. Still....I'm thinking you need to be kinda careful and stick to things that don't pull that shoulder. Maybe try moves that have you pushing (instead of pulling)??? But, hey - who knows that THAT will do!............ Good luck :)

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    1. I love Nora too! Present tense. That love never fades.

      Arm bands at the door and two years? Oh. But a sweet group of protective muscliness? Yahoozee!

      Store those vinyls on the spines and not on their backs! Since you were so kind to give advice, that is my pittling offering.

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    2. Wow, I'm learning all about rotator cuffs and LP storage and I too was/am a Nora fan, God I love Cranky Fitness commenters. Thanks Anon and Munchberry!

      Though I've already f-cked up my old vinyl by storing it wrong, sigh... all warped but still hanging around in a box somewhere in the basement.

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  6. Looking forward to your personal training posts!!!

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  7. Im a reader not an asker.
    A lover not a fighter :-)

    ok that made no sense...but made ME LAUGH.

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  8. My questions would be more geared towards diet. I am dumbfounded how much quicker I have started losing muscle in the past couple of years if I don't actually work it. Turns out they weren't kidding on that part.

    I think how to eat for muscle and aging is always interesting stuff.

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    1. You're one step ahead of me! If all goes well with the Personal Trainer feature, I'm hoping to recruit an "Ask The Dietician/Nutrition Expert."

      Eating to build muscle and slow the effects of aging is something I'd love to know more about as well!

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    2. Whoops, meant "expert panel" as I love to get more than one perspective.

      Thanks QD!

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  9. That's a good idea about the personal trainer panel!

    One thing I was told about injuries is that lifting a lighter weight very slowly can be helpful during the recovery phase.

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  10. Having had both my rotator cuffs freeze up, I can sympathize with Munchberry & say that Anon is correct. Stretches and gentle exercises with no weights are the recommended treatment. Depending on how frozen your shoulder is (I left the first one until I could only move my elbow about two inches away from my body in any direction) indicates how few movements you can do to start. Getting to about 90% of rotation doesn't take very long, it is the last 10% that takes the longest, but, at least by then you can sleep again :) Now I just have to get over the tennis elbow - sigh.

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    1. Thanks so much for the info Reb! And will definitely ask the trainers to field a rotator cuff question, this seems to be a popular topic. Ouch!

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  11. I found this great blog about 5 weeks ago as I was getting ready for a hysterectomy and wanted some tips on rehab/exercising post-op. After a Google search, your blog on Hysterectomy Recovery was near the top of the list and Crabby, your comments on hyster recovery is right on target. I've been reading some of the older blogs and found them very entertaining, especially the first couple of days post-op while on pain meds.

    So this opportunity to ask a question or two is perfect timing as I am now 4 weeks post-op and really need/want to get things moving again.

    My first question to your expert panel - Would it be worth it to ask my Dr. to write a prescription for Physical Therapy for hysterectomy recovery? I am at a total loss as to what core/ab exercises I should even attempt at this point. And the usual "listen to your body" isn't cutting it for me.

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    1. Hey thanks so much anonymous, I really appreciate you joining us and commenting. I LOVE commenters! Am even hoping you pick a nickname and stick around.

      So great question on safe post hysterectomy ab exercises, and I'll make sure the experts get to that one. But since it may take a couple weeks, in the meantime I'll offer a quick recommendation on the first one:

      YES, definitely try to get your doctor to prescribe physical therapy!! As you've read, it's important to rebuild your core but there are right ways and wrong ways to do it and you could actually injure yourself; having a physical therapist to make sure you're recovering safely is a really, really good idea. You'll probably be wanting to strentghen the transverse abs and the multifidis muscles before putting any added pressure on the lower abdomen; for example, I was told NOT to do bicycles early on or other exercises where you lift your legs off the ground. Anyway, I'll shut up now and let you go pester your doctor for an appropriate professional referral. And we'll get our personal trainers on that one too!

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