Hi Guys,

I have a problem: I have developed achilles tendonitis in both of my achilles tendons, and I need to rest them, probably for about a month. Even excercising on a bike/eliptical (which doesn't strain the achilles too much) has aggravated the injury and I need to simply stop this behaviour until it is better. :)

I basically am going to be restricted to lifting only, for this period, which is a bit of a downer, as I was doing quite well.

So, assuming I'm doing weights properly (it will be 4 MAX-OT sessions a week, in the evenings, targeting everything but the calf/achilles complex) what affect do you guys predict this will have?

Any suggestions as for what else I can change/do in this period?

I'm thinking I might try rowing machines in a fortnight, after some good leg rest...

go swim!!! Almost no strain what so ever!!!

I've also seen mentioned around here cardio machines for the upper body... Something like biking, but using the arms on the pedals...

I know that I didn't help so much, but maybe someone else will chime in with the more technical terms.

Jeff.

Answer, yes. I started at 235 and went down to 201 in 9 weeks. Only the first 3 weeks I did treadmill 2 miles 3 times a week then I stopped doing running for the balance.

I did notice muscles in the front of my lower leg that I did not see before as I had never done 2 mile runs before so I plan to do more running as an overall leg muscle toner but as far as I can tell diet is 90% of fat loss anyway. So make that heart beat lifting weights I don't think there is any difference as far as how many lbs of fat you can lose per week as my average was around 3 lbs per week and that's about the maximum I have seen using John's data for example and he did lots of cardio.

I will try and update the chart later today on my weight loss vs Johns over that 9 weeks and I don't think you will see any difference in the first 3 weeks vs the last 6 weeks.

The chart: Daily chart, Blue line is Johns weight loss, pink line is mine for 41 days. You will see the first week is very erratic as the data is a 7 day average number, see how Johns finally dipped below 3 lbs per day average after about 113 days. Ill try and update it later today.

If you need to rest your achillles....You can still do all sorts of upper body free weight resistance training. I do dumbell circuit training for example. Pick 5 dumbell exercises for your upper body that work different muscle groups. (biceps, shoulders, triceps, lats, chest).... Do a set of each with about 60 percent of your max....with little rest in between. At the end of the 5th exercise....rest for a few minutes...and repeat the circuit 3 or 4 times....It'll keep your heart rate up to aerobic levels....