Gym/Exercise Thread

[DudeMan2766]

This is going to be awesome

[yubb]

Agreed.
Was going to go in just shorts, long sleeved under armour and short sleeve under armour, but I fear that may be a mistake. I don't want to drop a bunch of money on those running tights, though.

[DudeMan2766]

I picked up some gear last night. 2 Tek-Gear long sleeves, both say water wicking. One is more like a thermal, and the other is tighter like a compression shirt or shorts...and I have some tek-gear long pants, but im going to see what my friends are doing for those. Was thinking a pair of thermals under those. Not sure, and gloves.

[yubb]

WOW! That was cold. Great race, though.

[DudeMan2766]

Yubb did u do the pond? The second I stepped out it felt like my legs were in 2 blocks of ice. Resting back at the cabin comfortably, warm watching football and beers in hand. Congrats on ur finish

[JS©]

Congrats to both of you.

Found out more about my knee. Knee sprain/bone bruise along with piece of cartilage that causing my knees to click and pop. Injections and surgery have been mentioned and not ruled out. Considering how long I've skateboarded, skied, snowboarded, ran, and played hockey, it's probably lucky that I've made it this long without any type of surgeries.

[yubb]

Yeah, I did the pond. My knees and hands were the coldest. The tip of my dingy also after the Tahoe Trot. WOW!

[shafnutz05]

Question:

I am down to about 180 (I'm 5' 11"), so I am very close to the zone I want to be in. Ideally, in the 170-180 range. At this point, I want to start really working on muscle tone, but also while doing some cardio for the health benefit and also for fat burn (primarily in da gut).

Is 3 days of lifting/3 days of cardio (alternating) with an off day a reasonable approach? I won't be doing as intense cardio since I want to build muscle, so maybe like a 2 mile run on the cardio days. For my strength workouts, I try to shoot for like 35-40 minutes of pretty intense training (short breaks, etc), with whey protein for recovery after. TIA.

BTW, I am also going to be doing a whole body strength workout for the first six-twelve months. After that, maybe a lower body/upper body split four days a week.

[yubb]

I'd have a hard time getting out six days a week. There's nothing wrong with going for a two mile run after your workout.

I would normally do no less than 45 minutes in the gym. I like to leave feeling tired/depleted. And to do that in 30 minutes is difficult for me.

I don't know the benefits of protein over regular food. I take Optimum Nutrition after workouts mixed with yogurt (Activia), milk, chia seed, flax seed and frozen fruit. Or, if I'm hungry I just eat a meal. It's hard to get full on the shakes afterward, so you can end up eating more to satiate your hunger.

In general, I don't worry about cardio affecting my muscle building. That may be why I'm not bigger, but I still see gains.

I think it's a great idea to start with a circuit. Then, when you get tired of that or just don't feel like you're making gains, switching to a split routine is a good idea, like you have planned. I usually throw in one or two leg workouts every day I go to the gym in lieu of doing a "leg day". 1) It's way easier to skip going to the gym on leg day cuz I hate it. 2) It keeps your from dessimating your muscles, which is easy to do with legs, and affecting other activities (sports).

Also, as you start to add muscle and do weight training you'll lose fat. I think weight training is just as good as some cardio for burning fat.

Good luck.

[shafnutz05]

Thanks yubb. I've heard good things about doing cardio after strength training. Plus it would limit the days I have to be there :)

[PensFanInDC]

Try to make the cardio part of your strength training. With where you are in relation to your goals I think you would benefit greatly from calisthenics over weight lifting and cardio. A circuit of burpees, push ups, crunches, flutter kicks, bear crawls, jumping jacks, etc. will give you all you need. 8 stations, 2 minutes a piece, 3 rounds. After each round do a ladder of 40 yard sprints and 10 burpees or pushups. 1st sprint, 10 pushups. 2nd sprint, 9 pushups. And so on down to 1 pushup or burpee.

PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN especially after workouts to help build muscle.

[Rylan]

Do TRX. That will be cardio+strength training if done right.

[PensFanInDC]

Do TRX. That will be cardio+strength training if done right.

I was going to suggest TRX but there aren't too many places that offer it. Thanfully the new SoldierFit location is going to have an entire wall dedicated to it.

Personally, I only do cardio 3-4 days a week during SoldierFit classes and even then it's just a 5 minute jog and calisthenics with some wind sprints or suicides. My other workouts are nothing more than deadlifting, pull ups, squats, and pushups.

[Rylan]

My sister is trying TRX for the first time tomorrow. And as a trainer I will be curious to hear her thoughts on it.

I just know it made me go from slender build with a little definition into an average build with distinct definition.

[PensFanInDC]

Some love it, some hate it. Basically it's the same as all other methods when it comes to trainer's opinions. They either love it and use it all the time, or hate it and never touch it.

[Rylan]

True enough. Just interested to hear her thoughts either way.

I can't wait to get back into working out. I miss it.

[MRandall25]

Can anyone recommend something that increases strength without me having to leave my apartment, preferably body weight stuff?

[Godric]

True enough. Just interested to hear her thoughts either way.

I can't wait to get back into working out. I miss it.

Truth be told I've barely worked out myself since I got **** up when I had to lay down a bike and that was in like June.

I've noticbly gained some pudge but I'll drop this in a week in a half once I get back on my grind

[Rylan]

TRX

Do the Herschel Walker training. Push ups and sit-ups during commercials.

[Rylan]

True enough. Just interested to hear her thoughts either way.

I can't wait to get back into working out. I miss it.

Truth be told I've barely worked out myself since I got **** up when I had to lay down a bike and that was in like June.

I've noticbly gained some pudge but I'll drop this in a week in a half once I get back on my grind

Yea, I noticed today that I was pudgey and I don't like it.

[PensFanInDC]

Can anyone recommend something that increases strength without me having to leave my apartment, preferably body weight stuff?

What floor do you live on? Can you do any jumping? Do you/can you have access to a stability ball? Are you totally opposed to all equipment or would some kettle bells or dumbells or resistance bands be OK?

[MRandall25]

TRX

Do the Herschel Walker training. Push ups and sit-ups during commercials.

You need those things for the door.

I watch Netflix.

[Rylan]

Well calisthenics would work either way.

TRX things for the door is a sand bag (more or less) and you can make the bands for >30 bucks.

Anyways...
Just condition yourself to do 100+ push ups and 100+ situps per day. I would add probably 100+ squats and maybe something for calves.

[Godric]

TRX

Do the Herschel Walker training. Push ups and sit-ups during commercials.

You need those things for the door.

I watch Netflix.

are you opposed to exercising outside?

I'm a big fan of dips/pullups and other bar exercises in combination with basic calisthenics

[JS©]

any cardio that you could suggest for somebody with a gimpy knee?

I'm not quite sure where I am as far as running yet. Steps still causing some pain when trying to run up them, and even the most minimal distance (anything more than a block or two) starts getting painful. Mentioned upthread is that the docs caught a bone bruise/ligament sprain along with some other stuff a few weeks back thanks to an xray and an MRI.

Or as awkward as this sounds in this thread, is rest the best thing for me right now? Just losing my mind at this point since I can't run or skate.