excel_excel Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Yeah so I joined a gym for 2 years, my girlfriend joined along with me, gonna get my ass in shape! Got a great deal with a fitness program for a one off fee of €550. It seems to be a great gym, everything's sleek and they've got a weights section, swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room and a tanning bed. Pumped to be getting in shape! Any of ye go the gym regularly, got any good or bad experiences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 If you can stay on it, good! if not, welcome to the club. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantelope Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 I've been going to the gym steady for a year. I feel like I'm not really getting sexier yet though... We should start a virtual XP system for going to the gym. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorgi Duke of Frisbee Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 If by "start" you mean "use one of the hundred fitness sites that provide this service free of charge", then yes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 http://www.fitocracy.com/ via http://xkcd.com/940/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 I think everyone everyone going to a gym should post a progress photo in here once a month to incentivise them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saturnine Tenshi Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 I've never went to a paid gym before, because I don't like the "social" setting. Wouldn't pay them to surround me with people. Even going to the fitness center in my apartment complex was bothersome. Want to use this machine? TOO BAD SOMEONE ELSE IS! Why is that guy so loud? Why is there a kid here? I did my best to limit my time there, but I do wish I had something at home. I try to switch between bodyweight exercises and weighted exercises every month or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantelope Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Well, the nice thing about most paid gyms is there is so much freaking equipment you can always find one to use, at least at the LA Fitness I go to. What workouts do you people do? What has worked for you? I've been trying the 30 minutes of weight training followed by 30 minutes of cardio about 3-4 times per week. I do one muscle group per day so it's either back and biceps, chest and triceps, legs or core and then I either run or do the elliptical machine. This is supposed to work but I feel like I'm not making a ton of progress lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saturnine Tenshi Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Have you been changing your routine? If you don't continually surprise your muscles, you aren't going to improve them very much. It's good to change your routine every two weeks or so. I can't explain the anatomical mechanics behind it, but what I've read suggests it's science. What I've experienced(the important part) suggests it's right. I have the problem of getting distracted if I work out in my bedroom for too long, which is why I preferred to go to the fitness center. One hour in the fitness center + thirty minutes in the bedroom. Unfortunately, I don't have anything like that here, so I'm leaning toward two hours in the bedroom. >.> Typically do three days a week in circuit fashion, with abdominal muscles being the end of the workout(working them first reduces the output of the remaining workout). Then follow that with about twenty minutes of running. I should run more, but I hate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantelope Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Yeah, I need a new workout routine so I was wondering what you guys do. Maybe we can all swap routines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excel_excel Posted September 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) http://www.fitocracy.com/ via http://xkcd.com/940/ Yeah I'd love to use that, it is closed beta or something? checked up and its invite only BAH. EDIT: never mind got a invite on their facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Fitocracy I will be posting a pic of me and me 8 weeks later, after the 8 weeks Edited September 2, 2011 by excel_excel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterDex Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) When you get from 85% bullshit to 100% bullshit after learning to use Photoshop? I like the idea of a gym but I know I wouldn't keep it up and thus waste money for no reason. I've started cycling again. I like it. It forces me to hit my wall and because I'll hit it early in any journey I take, it also forces me to push past my wall. I've also dropped back down from a 36 waist to a 34 waist since starting to cycle again..now I just need to find a pair of jeans that fit my waist and my legs. Who knew 34-30 was a rare size?! It wasn't before! Edited September 2, 2011 by MasterDex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunFlame Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 I have weights! Hardly use them though...no time. Too tired. I used to be relatively fit when I was in England. I cycled to and from work (14 mile round trip) and did Kung Fu 3 times a week, with some weight training on top. But since my move to Hong Kong, I've stopped pretty much everything. I picked up the weights about 3-4 months ago, but I've barely touched them. I should really, I'm starting to loosen up a fair bit, plus I gain weight easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr W Phallus Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 Man I hate hate gyms. I've always found gym exercise to be unbearably inane. It's exercise for the sake of exercise, setting yourself arbitrary goals and staring at a tiny screen trying to make a certain number appear. It doesn't help that the kind of people who frequented my school gym tended to be all physical prowess, no personality. I haven't set foot inside a gym or fitness centre since leaving school. I really should though, since after a year of no exercise the sports I decided to take up were surfing and climbing - neither of which are very easy to maintain whilst at uni. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saturnine Tenshi Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 Yeah, I need a new workout routine so I was wondering what you guys do. Maybe we can all swap routines. Well, I'm still working my way into the new apartment. Right now I've settled into the purely bodyweight routine I used two years ago. I don't like it. It works, but I don't like it. Grows monotonous. Circuit of six or seven pushup variations. Inclined calf-raises. Pull-ups x3 Circuit of six or seven torso varations. x3 Run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterDex Posted September 13, 2011 Report Share Posted September 13, 2011 When I was in the habit of exercising, I used to set myself a number and countdown with three different exercises - push-ups, sit-ups and crunches. So if I set 10 as my number, I'd do 10, 10, 10 followed by 9, 9, 9 and so on. I find it the best way to do basic exercises in large number as it breaks the monotony and eases the muscles in between shifts. The countdown (rather than having a countup) acts as a carrot on a stick when you're nearing the end of the routine. You have 5 of each left, then 4, then 3, just 2 more and a quick finish! It was my old boxing coach that thought me that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantelope Posted September 13, 2011 Report Share Posted September 13, 2011 That's good advice. I started a muscle confusion routine last week. I think it's working as I'm sore again. I've been doing one exercise from each group every day as opposed to doing one group every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllYourGame Nick Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 I'm actually very big into fitness. I've been going to the gym for the past 7 years religiously (4+ times per week) in order to build strength and muscle. If you guys need any advice or tips, I love helping people out. In fact, we should start a group here specifically for helping and motivating each other. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saturnine Tenshi Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 Changed routine to six days a week to coincide with fiancee's overtime schedule and studying. : \ More work overall, but it opens an hour a day for studying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantelope Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 Do you guys eat before or after your workouts? I read that it's good get some protein right after your workout to replenish your muscles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saturnine Tenshi Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 After, but I've read that eating both before and after is plausible. I don't want to risk throwing up, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr W Phallus Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 Do you guys eat before or after your workouts? I read that it's good get some protein right after your workout to replenish your muscles. Yeh get some protein in you after a work out if you want to build up your muscles. You're supposed to eat within about half an hour of exercise, otherwise your body will start digesting your own muscles for energy. Or something. Depends how intensive your work out is obviously, I'm no expert either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantelope Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 Interesting, I picked up some protein shake mix to put in some skim milk to drink after my workout. I'm going to see if that makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllYourGame Nick Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 You'll want to eat protein sources periodically throughout the day. With regards to your workout, it can help to take a protein shake before and after your workout (or if you only want to take 1 scoop, you can just split it in half). What Mr W Phallus said is correct - your body will go into what is called a 'catabolic' state and it will consume muscle and store fat. By providing protein sources, you can keep your body 'anabolic' which is a state of muscle building/recovery and fat burning. Some simple tips regarding protein: If you are trying to build muscle, try to take in 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. For example, I weigh 190lbs. - this would mean that I'd need to take in 190 grams of protein throughout the day. Try not to go too long without some sort of protein intake. The longest period of time between meals will likely be when you're sleeping, so to compensate for this you should try to get in 30 grams of protein upon waking up (a scoop of protein powder is typically around 24 grams, while a glass of milk is around 6 or 7). Before bedtime, you can try using a slow digesting protein such as milk so that your body has nutrients to last you through the night. When you go too long without protein, your body will enter that 'catabolic' state. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantelope Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 That is a crapton of protein. How do you get 200+ grams of protein without chugging shakes all day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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