The ego has landed

I've always heard that heavy weights build muscle best. Why does MEN'S FITNESS often recommend using lighter weight?

--T.H., MANHATTAN, NY

Essentially you should focus on using the heaviest weight that still allows you to use correct form, says Tom Seabourne, who holds a doctorate in exercise science. However, too many guys sacrifice form just to lift a little more weight. "Doing different exercises incorrectly over and over again generates a cumulative effect that sooner or later results in injury," Seabourne says. "Once you're injured, the muscle atrophies, and that leads to other injuries, creating a vicious cycle that discourages many people from continuing their weight-training efforts."

Form deviation results because men tend to use poundage as the measure of progress. That's ego training, not muscle building. And, as Seabourne points out, "that's a disconnect from the actual goal of building muscle mass. Who cares if you can lift five more pounds? If bad form is preventing you from working your targeted muscle, then you're working against your goal. If you're using your traps to cheat for biceps curls, or bouncing weight off your chest, then it doesn't matter how much weight you have on the bar. It's how much work the target muscle is doing, not how much weight is on the bar. By lightening the weight, you can really feel the movement and get the benefits without injuries."

SKIN SENSE

My doctor told me I have fatty tumors. She didn't seem very concerned about them and sent me on my way. Now, a week later, I'm wondering if there's anything I should do about them.

--P.S., PERTH AMBOY, NJ

If there are any two words you don't want strung together in a reference to your body, fatty and tumor have to be near the top of the list. As it turns out, though, fatty tumors are a fairly benign condition, hence your doctor's nonchalant attitude.

"When you have any skin problem, the first thing to do is to get it diagnosed," recommends Joyce Fox, M.D., clinical professor at the University of Southern California and assistant clinical professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. "If it's a serious condition, early detection can be crucial. Now that your doctor has determined that what you have is fatty tumors, or lipomas, you can either leave them alone or have them excised."

Lipomas, Fox explains, are merely a clump of fat cells under your skin that are sometimes visible but not harmful. "Often, a doctor can remove them without leaving a large scar. By making a small incision, the lipoma can be squeezed out." However, Fox points out that this is typically considered a "cosmetic" treatment and is often not covered by health insurance.

Unfortunately, there's little you can do to avoid getting fatty tumors in the first place. "Some people are just predisposed to them," Fox says. "They're not related to body-fat stores, obesity or diet. They're a condition we rarely see in children. Lipomas are simply a minor nuisance that develops in some adults."

[H.sub.2]O LOGIC

I like to drink refrigerated water, especially after a workout. But I've heard that drinking room-temperature water is better for you than cold water. True or false?

--J.C., AMARILLO, TX

"That's an old wives' tale," says Nicholas A. DiNubile, M.D., spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. "Water is pretty much water, and you should drink what you're comfortable with. Some people may not tolerate really cold water, or may not be able to take it in as quickly as room-temperature water. Others may only want to drink cold water.

"It's possible that warmer water is absorbed by the stomach more quickly than cold water, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you shouldn't drink cold water," he adds. In fact, drinking cold water can help control minor hunger pangs; it also burns a few more calories than room-temp water.

Ultimately, DiNubile stresses that the amount of water you consume each day is more important than its degree of coolness. Strive to take in eight eight-ounce glasses, and drink more when you exercise or when you're under stress.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning