Episode #181: Why Your Back Hurts

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In this Feb 1, 2012 free audio podcast: Why Your Back Hurts.

Also: a functional obstacle course, is hot yoga good, fuelling for a mid-day race, drinking only when thirsty, how to know when to end a work out, help for nerve damage, lifting with scoliosis, and training for wilderness first aid.

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Special Announcements:

Check out this funny endurance video - in which Dave Erickson and I put a Timex Run Trainer through a torture test in a re-enactment of the John Cameron Swayze Timex commercial - "Takes A Lickin and Keeps On Tickin".

The Ben Greenfield Superhuman Food Pyramid - now available for download!

Follow Ben on Google+ - and get different info than you get from Facebook and/or Twitter.

Ben is now logging his daily diet & exercise sessions at - The Inner Circle <-- get in now for a buck!

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News Flashes:

• Here's a great image, if you've ever wondered how many carbs you need to eat to do really well at an endurance event.
• Starvation can cure type II diabetes.

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Listener Q&A:

Audio Question from Kumar: Wants to know how to solve his lower back pain.

~ In my response to Kumar, I mention www.runwithnopain.com

Audio Question from Kent: Looking for ideas for an obstacle course based on real fitness principals.

Audio Question from Megan: Wants an opinion on Bikram Yoga.

~ In my response, I link to this Huffington Post article on Yoga and Weight Loss.

Audio Question from "Nooner": Looking for fueling advice for a 70.3 that starts at noon.

Dan wrote: dr. noakes says to drink when you're thirsty. makes sense. no reason to drink more than your body needs from a hydration standpoint. but what about reducing the risk of rhabdo and acute renal failure in endurance events? i'm an ultrarunner training for the leadville 100 this summer and i'd hate to wind up in the hospital because i didn't drink enough during my race. i can see a benefit in this situation to drink beyond my basic hydration needs.

~ In my response I mention the article "Athletes: Obey Your Thirst".

Angel says: How do I know If I am working out enough or to much? Most times, when the workout video ends (The Daily Burn - where I found Ben) or I finish what I am doing, even though I am trembling, I want to do more. Is the trembling saying that's enough? Aren't I suppose to go till failure? Often if I work out that a.m. I want to work out again p.m. But I hear things about over training etc. I don't know where the line is. Should I go till I am a puddle in the floor or stop when the video stops or the written sets are done? How do other people judge?

~ In my response to Angel, I talk about Rest Wise.

Robert asks: 20 years ago, as a weightlifter, I herniated a disc and a pinched sciatic nerve resulted in severe leg nerve pain and foot drop. Surgery and PT got rid of the pain and most of the foot drop to the point where I can walk and run but not do too well moving my toes or lifting my foot against weights. Now as a triathlete, this limits me in two