The History Book Club discussion

This is a thread to discuss EXERCISE - the history of it, how the concept of exercise has changed through the years, how much you exercise or not, what you consider a good exercise routine, books on exercise (non-fiction) or books which cite various forms or exercise (fiction or historical fiction - if there are any).

We can also add links to great exercise or fitness sites. Just remember there is no self promotion so try to add a link to your own personal site for example.

Look forward to seeing some great adds here.

Benley

Bentley wrote: "This is a thread to discuss EXERCISE - the history of it, how the concept of exercise has changed through the years, how much you exercise or not, what you consider a good exercise routine, books o..."

Bentley are you still waiting for great adds - or great abs.

Just though I would see how this looked

This might give some insight into the 1920's perspective on diet and exercise...

Health and Diets

Good luck trying to find a copy...it's a fab read.

GardenSinger, thanks for the suggestion. When you post a book like this that has no cover you can post the book link with 'no cover' in parens, or what you did is okay too. Don't forget to add the author link however.
Health and Diets(no cover) by Mary A. Wilson (no photo)

by Mark Adams (no photo)

This is a biography of the physical culture guru, Bernarr Macfadden who, although branded as a "kook" by many in the medical community, developed a exercise and diet regime that was very popular back in the day.

Alisa wrote: "GardenSinger, thanks for the suggestion. When you post a book like this that has no cover you can post the book link with 'no cover' in parens, or what you did is okay too. Don't forget to add th..."

I'm pretty sure that's a different Mary A. Wilson based on the publish date of her books, that's why I didn't post it. I did a quick google search...not too much out there.

GardenSinger wrote: "Alisa wrote: "GardenSinger, thanks for the suggestion. When you post a book like this that has no cover you can post the book link with 'no cover' in parens, or what you did is okay too. Don't fo..."

It was the one associated with the book you posted, but the info is as goodreads has it catalogued. Ah well, if we learn differently at some point we can figure out how to ask them to correct it. Nonetheless, thanks for posting the book and the info.

Vince wrote: "Bentley wrote: "This is a thread to discuss EXERCISE - the history of it, how the concept of exercise has changed through the years, how much you exercise or not, what you consider a good exercise ..."

Vince, I just saw your post - very funny. I guess I am looking for both.
(smile)

Just back on Wednesday from a couple of weeks mostly hiking in Tuscany and Cinque Terre.

Tuscany was four days average about 8 miles and about 1300 feet of elevation. Cinque Terre was five days of walking average 9 or 10 miles and about 1850 feet of elevation - mostly of these were equal up and down.

Great healthy and enjoyable exercise. Feel better and stronger (half an hour after the ups) - pasta every day - three to five course dinners every evening - gelato and or dessert every day.

Lost a couple of pounds but my wife insists that pasta is over for chubby me for the rest of the year.

Was done with HF Holidays out of England - have also walked with Ramblers out of England -

If you are into exercise vacations you might want to look at these - I can provide web sites if anyone wants

Both of these sound terrific Vince - have you ever walked or hiked with the AVA or the International Volksporting Organization? Although it sounds as if you are doing some heavy duty hiking.

While in Tuscany, I would eat pasta every day too (smile).

Thanks Bentley - I have hiked/walked mostly with AMC (both in States & Europe) Sierra Club (in western states - mostly backpacks) and then really only Ramblers & HF out of England - I would like one day to hike with a French group to improve my French but first I ahve to improve it - that is a goal for 2013 - 2012 I am scheduled to walk the Wainwright Coast to Coast with the New York State based Adirondack Mountain Club of which I am a member but have only day hiked with a few times.
I don;t know the two you mentioned but I will check them out. It is not any longer heavy duty - it is slow but (mostly) steady.

Thanks

Does anyone know the history of dumbbells? I had to take a history class in school on exercise and athletics and had several guest speakers in class. The first one was on dumbbells. The speaker brought in old wooden "beauty bells" as he called them. They did not weight very much and became popular with females, and that's where the nickname came from. Dumbbells go all the way back to ancient Greece. Not only were they for lifting but as a requirement for performing a long jump during the Olympics.


Here is a little information I took from www.wikipedia.com:
The forerunner of the dumbbell, halteres, were used in ancient Greece as lifting weights and also as weights in the ancient Greek version of the long jump. A kind of dumbbell was also used in India for more than a millennium, shaped like a club – so it was named Indian club. The design of the "Nal", as the equipment was referred to, can be seen as a halfway point between a barbell and a dumbbell. It was generally used in pairs, in workouts by wrestlers, bodybuilders, sports players, and others wishing to increase strength and muscle size.

"Dumbbells" as a word originated in Tudor England – referring to equipment simulating the action of a bell rope for the purpose of developing technique, and especially strength, for the purpose of practicing English bellringing, but without making a noise (hence dumb). When strongmen started to make their own equipment, they kept the name, even though the shape and form changed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbbell

That is very interesting Suburbanrockdoll.

I think I should mention the text used in this class. It was very informative on athletes and sports for nearly all of the Olympic events held since Pierre de Coubertin got the Olympics going again....

Pierre de Coubertin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_d...

The text is not found on Goodreads.com, but the title is:
A History and Philosophy of Sport and Physical Education: From Ancient Civilizations to the Modern World by Robert Mechikoff (2009)

Bentley wrote: "That is very interesting Suburbanrockdoll."

Thank you, Bentley. Many of the classes I took for my major, kinesiology, were very interesting! I will have to go back through my notes to post more interesting facts about some of the common and not so common exercise equipment used throughout history.

Suburbanrockdoll wrote: "Bentley wrote: "That is very interesting Suburbanrockdoll."

Thank you, Bentley. Many of the classes I took for my major, kinesiology, were very interesting! I will have to go back through my notes..."

That is fun stuff SRD......I'm looking forward to further little known facts about exercise and its history.

An upcoming book:
Release date: November 1, 2013

Making the American Body: The Remarkable Saga of the Men and Women Whose Feats, Feuds, and Passions Shaped Fitness History

by Jonathan Black

Synopsis:

If you thought the fitness craze was about being healthy, think again. Although Charles Atlas, Jack LaLanne, Jim Fixx, Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons, and Jillian Michaels might well point the way to a better body, they have done so only if their brands brought in profits. In the first book to tell the full story of the American obsession with fitness and how we got to where we are today, Jonathan Black gives us a backstage look at an industry and the people that have left an indelible mark on the American body and the consciousness it houses.

Spanning the nation’s fitness obsession from Atlas to Arnold, from Spinning to Zumba, and featuring an outrageous cast of characters bent on whipping us into shape while simultaneously shaping the way we view our bodies, Black tells the story of an outsized but little-examined aspect of our culture. With insights drawn from more than fifty interviews and attention to key developments in bodybuilding, aerobics, equipment, health clubs, running, sports medicine, group exercise, Pilates, and yoga, Making the American Body reveals how a focus on fitness has shaped not only our physiques but also, and more profoundly, American ideas of what “fitness” is.

My fitness regime works well. I take great pleasure in walking my dog - very briskly - every day. I am not overweight, and have no particular health problems - so I guess it works.

Having a dog - I know they force you to exercise and that is a good thing for both the dog and the owner.

I'll second this - my dog is the best walking companion I've ever had. When I get home from work he is at the top of the stairs with a look on his face saying, "WHY aren't you changed yet?". If I take took long getting out the door, he'll come at put his head in my lap with those big eyes doing his very best to guilt me out the door :)

FTR I walk with him every day, 5 to 6 miles and on Saturdays sometimes we'll go 9 or 10 depending on time and the weather

I'm diabetic and it keeps me off meds:)

Good for you and good for the dog keeping you going and doing the best for both of you.

From the pen of the author of the popular NY Times column, "Phys Ed".

The First 20 Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer

by Gretchen Reynolds (no photo)

Synopsis

At one point or another, nearly every person who works out wonders: Am I doing this right? Which class is best? Do I work out enough? Answering those questions and more, The First 20 Minutes helps both weekend warriors dedicated to their performance and readers who simply want to get and stay fit gain the most from any workout.

With the latest findings about the mental and physical benefits of exercise, personal stories from scientists and laypeople alike, as well as researched-based prescriptions for readers, Gretchen Reynolds shows what kind of exercise—and how much—is necessary to stay healthy, get fit, and attain a smaller jeans size. Inspired by Reynolds's wildly popular “Phys Ed” column for The New York Times, this book explains how exercise affects the body in distinct ways and provides the tools readers need to achieve their fitness goals, whether that's a faster 5K or staying trim.