Gym/Exercise Thread

[Idoit40fans]

I'm sorry dude but I have seen first hand that the attitude you are showing is a key factor in why some people quit going to the gym. It's not the main factor. Past habits and will power play the biggest part. But the lack of friendliness from other people at the gym is usually the straw that breaks the camels back (no pun intended).

I started going to the gym in January 2008. The wife and I would get up at 4am and drive an hour to the gym by our offices to get a workout in before work. Once I heard someone behind me while I was on the treadmill. She said to her friend "Why is that fat ass even here?" to which her friend replied "I hate January at the gym. It's full of losers who don't belong here.". WTF is up with that? I didn't want to put up with that so I quit and tried to do it at home. It didn't work.

I finally found a gym in December of 2011. Friendly people and staff. They genuinely wanted people of all shapes and sizes and ages and sexes to use their facility. They helped me lose a century of pounds.

This is something that has affected me and hits close to home. Sorry if I came off as peeved at you. I didn't mean it that way. I would submit to you that you try helping these people learn how to use a gym and see what results they get and, in turn, see what results you get from helping them.

January does suck at the gym. I generally stop going to the gym at the beginning of the year. Also, anyone talking to me at all would be a negative at the gym. Ideally no one even comes near me.

[PensFanInDC]

I have no idea what I'm doing and I don't want to be embarrassed.

The first half is a legit concern, the second half, while also legit, is not as important as the first.

I understand not wanting to look like a fool. Who does?

If you really want to lift weights I suggest linking up with a trainer for at least 1 session to get the basics down so you avoid injury and your concern of "being embarrassed".

[Idoit40fans]

I understand not wanting to look like a fool. Who does?

Hi.

[KennyTheKangaroo]

count

a few words for thought:

You golf, right? How many new golfers get worried about the embarassing themselves at the first tee? Almost all of them. Then as you play more, you realize that no one other than yourself cares about how you hit the ball of the first tee.

As long as you learn the etiquette and the fundamentals at the gym, the embarassment will fade away.

[count2infinity]

Yeah, but when I started golfing I was a punk teen who didn't give a crap. Now I'm a 27 year old who kind of cares. lol

[meow]

I have no idea what I'm doing and I don't want to be embarrassed.

If you really want to lift weights I suggest linking up with a trainer for at least 1 session to get the basics down so you avoid injury and your concern of "being embarrassed".

I bet Godric has some free time to show you a thing or two.

[Idoit40fans]

Yeah, but when I started golfing I was a punk teen who didn't give a crap. Now I'm a 27 year old who kind of cares. lol

Thats how I am with golf...I didn't play either of the last 2 years, so i'm basically starting over.

[PensFanInDC]

I understand not wanting to look like a fool. Who does?

Hi.

Yeah but you don't have a choice. That's what 6,000 years of existence does to humans...

[llipgh2]

I don't mind the people who stay. good on them! what I don't like are the people who come in with no idea of how to behave in the gym. perhaps what I hate most are the ones who sweat all over a piece of equipment and then don't bother to wipe it down when they're through. I once had a guy on the treadmill next to me literally sweating all over me. how hard would it have been to put on a hat or a skull cap?
2nd place would be folks who don't re-rack weights.

This.

I have actually told people to wipe down the machines when finished, as all the signs posted around the gym say to do. I'm not sitting in your sweat, bub.

Also, we now have "Loud Weights" guy. When finished, he'll drop the weights to ensure they make a loud noise. "Yes, you lift heavy weights. No need for the drama."

Loud Weights guy told me I was using a machine wrong. Knowing I was using it correctly (as per instructions from my phyical therapist and the trainer I worked with before using it) given my injury, I looked at him and asked "Are you a phyical therapist? Are you a trainer?" He said "No, but I know what I'm doing."

I calmly rolled up my yoga pant leg to show him my scar and said "You don't know what I'm doing. Thanks, but no thanks, for the advice."

[PensFanInDC]

I calmly rolled up my yoga pant leg to show him my scar and said "You don't know what I'm doing. Thanks, but no thanks, for the advice."

HAHA! I wish I could have seen that! All trainers know that one of the first things you ask is "Do you have a medical condition that I need to know about before moving forward?". Rehab from surgery is a rather important medical condition that changes everything.

[The U]

One of my biggest fears of joining a gym is that I've never lifted a day in my life. I have no idea what I'm doing and I don't want to be embarrassed.

When you first start off you see your biggest and most dramatic results. I've been lifting/exercising about 4 times per week for 10+ years. The past few years have basically been maintenance and making sure I don't slip. Those first 6-12 months is when you can really transform yourself. Whether it is losing weight or turning "nothing" into muscle. It takes about 2-3 weeks to get addicted to the point where you feel awful if you skip a workout.

That feeling of being incredibly sore when you first start lifting is awesome. Not being able to put on your seatbelt or shampoo or whatever, just reminds you of the work you're doing.

About being embarrassed: I would absolutely recommend starting off with a handful of training sessions to get started. Maybe 3-5 sessions just to get familiar with everything. Get a routine down so you don't just enter the gym and walk around without a plan. You need a specific list of things to accomplish before you are allowed to leave. Once you get a few sessions under your belt you'll really never need a trainer or a guide ever again. Some people new to the gym are also afraid to leave the cardio area and enter the weights because that area is more intimidating and filled with "tough guys" and idiots. To get max results you need cardio and weights. Can't just hide on the elliptical for 45 minutes and then leave.

About being embarrassed (again): There is somewhat of a brotherhood or mutual respect for everyone in the gym. If you are there, it is because you are trying to better yourself, get stronger, lose weight, look better, get healthy, etc....Everyone there is after the same goal. There is (or at least should be) a respect between the guy that is 210lbs and ripped, trying to get ready for beach season and the guy that is 400lbs trying to turn his life around. Everyone in there is paying the price or working hard to accomplish something. Everyone there is going out of their way to go to the gym and make it part of their day. We can all respect the time and dedication that takes.

Also, there are so many different workouts these days that nobody is really looking at how much weight you are lifting and making judgments. There are guys on the bench press doing 300lbs 1 time. That same guy might go back to the gym 3 days later and bench 175lbs 20 times. Is he going to be embarrassed if he's "caught" only doing 175? There are also people doing variations of P90x and other workouts that value reps and quantity over heavy weight. Also, on most machines you cant tell how much weight a person is lifting. Nobody will know if you are using 200lbs or 40lbs.

Sorry for rambling...

[shafnutz05]

If you want to fit in at the gym, just constantly offer to spot people as they are lifting. It shows you are a helpful, friendly person, and it will endear you to other gym members quickly.

[tifosi77]

I've found that it is generally frowned upon to wear sunglasses in the gym and sit directly across from the adductor machine when a hottie in yoga pants is using it. Pft.

[shafnutz05]

I thought the only reason they even installed abductor machines was to check out the babes using them

[shoeshine boy]

Also, we now have "Loud Weights" guy. When finished, he'll drop the weights to ensure they make a loud noise. "Yes, you lift heavy weights. No need for the drama."

this is one of the things I like about Planet Fitness. if you drop weights like that they will kick you out.

[pensfan1989]

I'm progressing in training for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. Ran 10 miles tonight. Possibly the hardest thing I've ever done.

[dodint]

Did you build up to it or just lace up and run 10 miles out of the blue? If the latter, both impressive and incredibly dumb.

[pensfan1989]

Did you build up to it or just lace up and run 10 miles out of the blue? If the latter, both impressive and incredibly dumb.

I've been building up to it. Did 8 miles last weekend, 6 the weekend before that. Usually run 3-5 miles 3 days during the week.

[dodint]

Congrats, then. A buddy of mine did the Pittsburgh run and it's a workout. I was fortunate enough to do all my long races on flat terrain.

Keep running.

[pensfan1989]

Congrats, then. A buddy of mine did the Pittsburgh run and it's a workout. I was fortunate enough to do all my long races on flat terrain.

Keep running.

The half is relatively flat from what I've seen on the map except for the part through Duquesne around mile 12. The full marathon back end looks brutal with having to run through Oakland, Shadyside, etc.

[dodint]

In 2011 I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in Afghanistan while my wife ran it in DC at the same time. Mine was five laps around the base we were on, a perfectly flat grid. For her, it snowed in DC that day and the end of the MCM there is famous for ending with a significant incline.

She still beat me by 15 minutes, but she ran on scholarship in college and was hoping to qualify for Boston whereas I'm just a fat guy that could run far.

Best of luck and I hope it goes well for you. Pittsburgh is on our list of races to run once I get back in endurance shape and she finishes beating cancer. Though she is running the 10K and Half Marathon at Disney this coming weekend.

[BurghersAndDogsSports]

Touching on a bunch of topics here:

1. I see both sides of the "be nice to new folks argument". There is no need to push people out who are new. Or belittle them. Its pretty messed up to do that. in fact i love when i see people there who are trying and stick it out.

At the same time if you are new buck up and pay for at least 3 personal sessions. If you have no idea about certain rules like wiping down the equipment, racking weights, basic workouts or how to use equipment it can bother others and interrupt routines.

I recently had a what i assume was a newbie ask to work in on an incline bench. Not a machine, but a regular bench. I had 2 45lb plates on each side. He emptied them and put 2 25 pound plates. And then got up and expected me to redo for mine.

There are two things wrong with that and one involves simple math. So, yeah it can become annoying.
I require higher intensity workouts and really clean nutrition to maintain weight let alone lose it. And I travel a lot and work hard at keeping healthy food available and working in cardio, weights when i can. So when I'm home and want a really good lift, maybe some cardio and someone turns a few sets of something into a 25 minute ordeal it's very annoying. I can see others getting upset.

2. Like i said I require a lot of cardio and nutrition to maintain weight, let alone lose it. I only use the elliptical on "off" days almost like folks going on a walk. Just loosens me up really and I like it if there is a hockey game on. I see a value in it for people with smaller frames I guess. But for me other than putting the incline to work calves and glutes, it's just nothing more than a light walk for me. I can't get into enough to put the settings higher for a good burn. I would rather do a class, goes by quicker and typically really nice backsides in tiny shorts make the time go by faster.

Plus, if the class has enough people and you go enough it becomes like a sweaty match.com unlike the creepiness on the weight room and cardio machine floors. You bond in boot camps (that's a tip kids, write it down).

3. Any advice from anyone to keep muscle mass up with on again off again sore shoulders? Old glorious sports injuries have hampered me occasionally. No real damage have been to the doctors, but I strain them pretty easily these days. I'm not a really big guy, pretty strong and defined enough but not ripped or anything. Just feel as I keep getting older its going to be an issue.

[Idoit40fans]

It never even occurred to me to use an elliptical for calves...i have never been on one.

[BurghersAndDogsSports]

It never even occurred to me to use an elliptical for calves...i have never been on one.

You have to put the incline of it to a higher setting, but it works. The overall workout is meh for me like I said its too boring for me to make it high intensity. But instead of walking if you set it higher it does work those muscles which I like.

[Idoit40fans]

I really hate calf workouts in general, i need something interesting. This does not seem like my solution.