Which is best?

[Sharla]

Right although my chiro is a legend I have come to the conclusion that I might need some more help/instruction on stretching and strengthening muscles which support my back - so I guess my core.

She is always able to put things ack in place and treat them and makes me feela whole lot better but the problems that she finds seem to recur every couple of months so I'm thinking her treatment alone is not enough.

My back is just too weak and prone to causing problems with the rest of me too easily and needs perhaps more than average maitenance to keep me active.

I don't really want to spend a year or two and a whole heap of money trying to figure out what the best option is so I was hoping to get a few opinions here.

Which is my best bet to try first:

1) pilates
2) yoga
3) other suggestions?

[donnydarkoIRL]

Well I've done yoga before, for stretching and flexibility, I'm not a regular but it gave me some marvellous ideas for stretching and warming up so I'd reccomend it to anyone.

I don't know a lot about pilates really, but Luis Collazo swears by it for boxing training.

I think swimming could be beneficial as it strengthens all muscles in the body collectively. But already swim a lot, don't you?

[Sharla]

Yeah I swim often enough I think - i stopped for a while because it was getting expensive but I've picked up a little cash in hand work cleaning on the weekend which has inspired me to start again.

I just think I might need to go extreme with core strengthening work now since my back just seems to have no tolerance at all for exercise these days.

I could decide I'm just getting too old for all this exercise stuff but then my mum would win the craziest exerciser in the family award permanently and I just can't have that!

Plus i think often when you have problems it really means it's more important for you to exercise because if you don't it will all just go down hill from there!

[donnydarkoIRL]

Hmm...

I strengthened my abs using a pulley system.
The opposite exercise I used for my back was a hyper extension bench.
I didn't actually add any weight at all, I just did a lot of reps.
You've told me before you've done them haven't you?

On the floor you could raise the left-leg and right-arm together, then right-leg, left-arm. A few well performed reps of these work well.

This is just something I googled before, we all know the benefits of good posture for the back, but this sounds good;
Establish Core Support for Good Posture

And a related article gives some suprisingly common workout techniques.
Understanding and Enhancing Your Core Strength

[Sharla]

Awesome thanks Donny!

I'll have a look at those articles now.

My upper back muscles I can work until the cows come home but hyperextension exercises for my lower back I tend to avoid.

It just seems to make it cramp up immediately. Perhaps this is something I should have persisted with though. Maybe doing a very light version of the exercise would be good?

You have me thinking now!

[Scrap]

I think it important you drop by when you are over here .

[Sharla]

Thanks Scrap! I appreciate it!

I might have to bring you some vegemite (the food of gods ) or something as an Aussie thankyou pressie!

[donnydarkoIRL]

Awesome thanks Donny!

I'll have a look at those articles now.

My upper back muscles I can work until the cows come home but hyperextension exercises for my lower back I tend to avoid.

It just seems to make it cramp up immediately. Perhaps this is something I should have persisted with though. Maybe doing a very light version of the exercise would be good?

You have me thinking now!

Remeber I used to complain about my calves and all the problems I had with them?

I used to find they cramped when I tried to exercise them too, maeaning I couldn't improve on them at all.
So I took some whey protein and got my legs in better condition with heaps of skippoing and running. I then did a lot of stretching and I camn now works my calves a lot more.

I don't know how to relate this to the back - if you lived near me I'd take you to the sauna-yoga class that takes away all stiffness....


Or hang about.....that Polish supplement.....its designed for healing injuries and aiding flexibity....
I can't think of the name right now....

[donnydarkoIRL]

Do not bring vegemite anywhere near this side of Europe!
That stuff is awful!

[Bomp]

Do not bring vegemite anywhere near this side of Europe!
That stuff is awful!

Is it the same as marmite? cos that's awful.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Do not bring vegemite anywhere near this side of Europe!
That stuff is awful!

Is it the same as marmite? cos that's awful.

Its similar to marmite.
Marmite is beef extract, vegemite has less meat in it.
The same salty taste.

[Scrap]

Hate the Stuff

[Sharla]

Vegemite is sooooo much better than any of the cheap immitations out there and the richest known source of vitamin B something too!

I shall smuggle some through but I won't force it on Scrap.

I don't think vegemite has any meat in it - made out of yeast.

Thanks for the ideas Donny - I have protein power but don't often make up shakes - slack - i'll have to start

[donnydarkoIRL]

Vegemite is sooooo much more acidic than any of the cheap immitations out there and the foulest known source of vitamin B something too!

I shall smuggle some through, because of its evil nature but I won't force it on Scrap.

I don't think vegemite has any meat in it - made out of Pure unadulterated evil.

Thanks for the ideas Donny - I have protein power but don't often make up shakes - slack - i'll have to start

Yeah Protein shakes, I admit, I underrated.
I've got one now made by Animal.
Its got a little Creatine and Argeneine added.
Fantastic for contact sports and weights too.

[Salty]

What is wrong with you people? Vegemite on toast is nearly the best tasting breakfast/snack in this world.