Who works out?

[4jacks]

So do you guys workout? Seems like a fit bunch we got here.

Heather and I just lowered our gym expenses budget by switching from the YMCA ($76 a month) to this new place Planet Fitness ($20 a month) So we are really happy about the cost going down. But man, this is a weenie gym. They call it the “No judgment zone” but in fact what it is, is the “We judge people who know what they are doing zone”. Basically they want to keep all the meatheads out of the gym.

They have absolutely no barbells in the whole gym. There dumbbells only go up to 65lbs. And they have this huge billboard above the dumbbells, with a big blue alarm. It says “No Lunks allowed” and then it defines a lunk as someone who wears muscles shirts, drop weights and judges others. I haven’t quite figured it out yet but the alarm will go off. Not sure how it’s triggered, but I’ve seen it, it’s loud and bright.

I think it’s just dumb. I’ve been skinny my whole life. I’ve been the guy on the bench struggling to lift just the bar. I still rather be in a gym with fit people who know what they are doing. You can learn a lot from talking to and watching people who are obviously seriously lifters.

But with that being said! It is only $20 a month for both of us! So now I have to completely figure out how to do leg workout with no squat rack and no decent leg press!

[Valor]

4jacks,

I just tried a workout program called P90X. I have been generally a fit person (can run a mile no problem) but this was the most challenging workout program I've experienced in my life. And I love it!! www.beachbody.com is where you can view more info on it.

[clydewolf]

I workout nearly every day for at least 1 hour. I have been doing this since September 2002. When I do not workout I usually go for a cardio 2 mile walk. Except for extreme cold, weather is not a big factor.

I do this is to keep my heart in shape after a heart attack July 22, 2002. I started with the Cardiac Rhab program at the hospital. I now have a membership at the local Boys and Girls Club.

The equipment is adequate, with barbells, weights, dumb bells, bicycles, treadmills, elipticals, steppers and weight machines.

I am not much on barbells and dumb bells, but I do use the weight machines, eliptical, stepper, bicycle and occassionally the treadmill.

[4jacks]

Valor,
One of my best friends is doing the P90x thing. I laughed at him when he told me about it. I think the problem is that he is skinny like me, and he thinks he is going to gain weight by doing this thing. Don't get me wrong, I know it's a hard workout program. But you just don't gain weight without lifting reletively heavy.

We actually have beach bodies' older series on vhs. My wife picked it up somewhere a long time ago. The have "best buns", "great thighs", and some other names like that. I've done them, I know that they are Hard.

Clyde,

That's pretty hardcore to work in an hour a day. I guess it helps to be retired. Sorry to hear about your heart attack. But I am really glad to hear that you are acting on it. My father had 4 splints put in, and he hasn't really made the life style changes. He walks a little on the treadmill and cleaned up his diet a little bit, but not by much. Makes me worry about him.

I think heart problems run in the family, cuase I've always had horrible cardio. Most skinny guys are good at cardio, but not me man. So I've really been working on it, now that I'm 30. I generally jog one mile on the treadmill or do two miles on the elliptical after each workout, so that's about 3 times a week.

[Valor]

4jacks,
I used to be skinny until I was 26 years old. I was a 150lbs with clothes, shoes, and keys in my pocket for years. no matter how much working out I did and no matter how many calories is sucked down, 150lbs it was. So I know my metabolism played a lot into my weight gain. I'm 6'2" and 185lbs now at 29 years old. I don't know if you are the same way I was when I was younger but heredity and age I think does play a lot into our weight gaining.

[4jacks]

Valor,

I'm about the same. I was 6'3" 140lbs in high school. I finally had a break through in college. I started on creatine and lifting weights regularly and went up to 165lbs very fast. Around 26 I started lifting very heavy (heavy for me anyway) I probably topped around 170lbs, but it was a very lean 170lbs, probably 6% body fat at the most. But I was dumb, I was lifting too heavy and tore my Labrium in my shoulder on the fly machine one day. I had to have surgery on that, and honestly I never really recovered. I didn't lift for like a year and a half, and I never got back into it as serious as I was. I've definitely noticed my metabolism slow down, and I'm starting to eat a lot healthier than I use to. Now I'm about 175lbs with 15% body fat. After turning 30 I think I'm more concerned with just getting healthy instead of getting ripped again, lol

[KrozFan]

I'm doing P90X and I'm enjoying it so far. I've never been in great shape really, always been skinny but not really in shape. I didn't play a sport in highschool or college so I just never really had that cardio endurance. It's nice for me because honestly I'm not motivated enough to get myself to a gym. If I ever went to a gym and got intimidated or made fun of by some jock muscle head I'd probably never go back either. Working out at home works well for me.

4Jacks, your friend won't gain much muscle by doing P90X, it's meant for fitness not bulk. I've seen a modified schedule on one of the P90X newsletters to gain mass. If your friend is really interested he may want to check it out.

[4jacks]

If I ever went to a gym and got intimidated or made fun of by some jock muscle head I'd probably never go back either. Working out at home works well for me.

Honestly Kroz, most all of the meat heads at the gym are really pretty cool. The gym is like a little social club, and generally if you are there on a regular basis, the other regulars will know and be real cool. But the regulars do have a tendency to get annoyed at the fly by nighters who show up at the gym, take up space and then are going. Especially at the beggining of the year, when there are so many.

4Jacks, your friend won't gain much muscle by doing P90X, it's meant for fitness not bulk. I've seen a modified schedule on one of the P90X newsletters to gain mass. If your friend is really interested he may want to check it out.

That's cool. I haven't checked in with that friend in a while, I'll have to ask him about it. Honestly I'm really glad he's just getting healthy and doing it. He was under the misconception that he would bulk up, but I don't think it matters, last I checked, he liked it and was see'ing results. So if it's something he keeps up then that's awesome.

Some people work better at home, some do better in the gym.

[bob]

I am skinny, but a terribly out of shape desk-jockey, so I started running a few weeks ago. I have these distant memories of enjoying running. Hopefully if I just stick with it long enough I will get back there. I am not there yet.

[cwgrl2b]

I'm doing P90X and I'm enjoying it so far. I've never been in great shape really, always been skinny but not really in shape. I didn't play a sport in highschool or college so I just never really had that cardio endurance. It's nice for me because honestly I'm not motivated enough to get myself to a gym. If I ever went to a gym and got intimidated or made fun of by some jock muscle head I'd probably never go back either. Working out at home works well for me.

I started the P90X but once you stop for some reason it is so hard to get back into the groove. A friend and I decided that smaller jeans were in our future so we are challenging each other!

[Tristan]

Since we live so close to each other, Bob and I started playing tennis a couple of weeks ago. Man, I'm terrible at it! But it's a much better workout than I originally thought it would be!

[harbinger581]

My uncle goes to a Planet Fitness and I joined him a few times. That one actually had lots of barbells and heavy equipment but they still said it was a "no judgement zone." Its a good deal for the price though, maybe each one is different. Here in Milwaukee, there is a gym called the Animal House, it's hardcore and everyone is very friendly and accepting of people of all fitness levels but it's definitely a hardcore bodybuilding gym. Love it!

[4jacks]

yeah, from what I've heard Planet Fitness' are individually owned, so I guess some owners can be extreme on it and other not so much.

[Joseph Nally]

Just started the one hundred pushups in 6 weeks plan, along with the 200 squats and 200 sit-ups in 6 weeks plan. Check them out by searching for 'one hundred pushups'. I'm a desk-jocky too but I'm on week three and it works. I'm becoming a 100 pushups evangelist to all my unfit friends.

[4jacks]

Just started the one hundred pushups in 6 weeks plan, along with the 200 squats and 200 sit-ups in 6 weeks plan. Check them out by searching for 'one hundred pushups'. I'm a desk-jocky too but I'm on week three and it works. I'm becoming a 100 pushups evangelist to all my unfit friends.

Hundred Push Ups

interesting, I'm going to check it out. I have been doing pushups for a while. I've slacked off since these sememster started but I built my way up to doing 35 pushups a night and that was kind of a plataue (sp?) for me.

[Tristan]

I started the 100 push ups 6 week plan this week! (boy, am I out of shape!) I'm a desk jockey as well, and 2 of my colleagues are doing the program with me. It's so quick that it's hard to not do it...literally takes only 30 minutes each week.

[Aueloks]

I exercise at least 60 minutes a day. It is my sanity, my "me" time, and my prayer time all in one. I love running, especially distance running and recently read the book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. It was an amazing book that goes a long way toward explaining what so many of us have found for ourselves - humans were made to move! It's when we stop that things start going wrong.

[4jacks]

Interesting concept Aueloks. I will ponder that, but I doubt I'll ever start running, I hate running, I run/jog a mile for cardio (try for 3 times a week, but recently it's been about once a week) but I hate it.

I think I will start the push up program with you guys (Tristian and Joe)
What week are you guys on?
It says I can jump in on week three but that seems pretty intense.

[Tristan]

My coworkers and I tested into week 3, but we started with week 1 (column 3)...actually just finished week 1. My pushupslogger.com login name is Stryde.

[4jacks]

Hmmm, I did the initial test yesterday and managed to eek out 50 pushups. I was quite impressed with myself. (Which also puts me in week 3 to start)
Did you find week 1 challenging? Or was it too easy?

[Tristan]

Well, your arms/chest are in better shape than mine. Week 1 was not challenging...it's just where my co-workers and I decided to start. I had a terrible start to week 2.

[4jacks]

I decided to start on week 2, (did day one yesterday) Week 3 seemed a little intimidating.

[Joseph Nally]

In the beginning I started at week one column 3. After two weeks I went to column 2. I got to week four then I got the flu and didn't exercise for a week. When I got well I started back at the beginning of week 3 column 2.
All this time though I'm also doing the sit-ups and squats. Honestly, this is working very well for me. Two things though: My upper chest still needs work, I think I do my push ups with my arms spread too far apart - pull-ups will fix this I think. And the further along in weeks you get the longer it takes to do the exercise. This is obvious but it crept up on me. I know have to allow more time for my morning exercise routine.

[4jacks]

This workout has been the greatest thing!! Thanks for telling me about it.
I just finished week 6 day 3, so either Sunday or Monday I will go for my Final Test, and I think I have a really good shot at the 100 consecutive pushups. Today I did 284 push ups total in 9 sets, however my last set I got to 70! I was able to stay on column 3 for all five weeks (started on week 2)

But it's not like all my progress came in 5 weeks. Like I said I've been doing pushups for a few months before this. But this work out has really focused it and help me improve and have a goal. When I first started I had trouble doing 10 pushups a night.

I will definitely start on the squats next week.

[Tristan]

Holy cow! Nice work, Patrick! Unfortunately, I lapsed and neglected to do my pushups the past few weeks. I'm starting over at week 2 today.

[Virdell1]

Well, I workout with my Wii at home. It's fun! I can bike around Wii Island and burn calories. I also setup my own workout program on the Wii Plus and it takes me 30 minutes to do the routine. O.K., it's not the gym, but it's better than nothing!!

[4jacks]

I completely bombed my final test and did not get 100 pushups. I tried once and only got to 52. I knew I wasn't going to make it so I stopped to rest. I tried a few hours later and got to 80 before complete exhaustion. I am very upset I didn't make it. I blame poor eating and lots of halloween candy. I will try again tommorow.

[Tristan]

Still way better than me right now!

[4jacks]

I was able to get the 100 pushups yesterday afterwork. It was very ugly especially towards the end. I basically had nothing left after 80 and just will powered through it. I collapsed after 100.

It's a very cool thing to meet a goal. I've never really set or met a fitness goal before.

[Tristan]

Way to go, dude. That's really good!

[Moritia]

Gym keeps one busy ... And make one fit to live a healthy life! One should make it a habit to spend more of his or her time to the gym than he thinks he is spending now... As in anyway this is good for health ultimately!!!

[Gary Barzel]

I try to work out at home 4-5 times a week doing push-ups and situps. When I do work out I feel the benefits as it helps me concentrate better, and sleep better at nights. The problem is though once I slack off and miss a day or two, I run into the habit of not working out, so I made it part of my schedule every morning and so far it's going great. I get up an hour earlier because of this and it really makes my day much better off.

[AFullDay]

I DON’T LIKE EXERCISE!

Okay, now that I have that out of my system, I can continue. LOL I know it’s good for me. I even like how I feel after. And with the consistancy, comes pretty cool results. It’s just getting to it. However, I am really trying to stay consistant. My reasons are few but important.

•I want to keep the body God gave me healthy. My goodness, my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I can’t have it breaking down.
•I want to be healthy for my Shuga Dumplin’. Translation, “I want to be healthy for my husband“. I want to live a long healthy life with him.
•I want to be healthy for my future children. I want to enjoy as many years with them as I can.
So as much as I don’t like exercise, I will be trying to partake in some kind at least twice a week. Okay? Okay



Oh yeah, I love Walk At Home with Leslie Sansone. I don’t get a penny for this recommendation. Just wanted you to know about her. Her workouts are great and not in the least bit intimidating.

[bittersweetfitness]

I work out! I love it. Have been working out for 10 years!

I heard good things about Planet Fitness. However, I thought it was only $10 per month? That's what my Dad was paying in Florida.

www.bittersweetfitness.com

[Uncle Lex]

I'm one of those Lunks in the gym - lol. I'm not a bodybuilder, but an avid lifter. 4jacks is right about the "meatheads". For the most part, they're pretty cool. Usually they come across as aloof because they see so many people show up and disappear within a few weeks, that it's not worth it to get to know the new guy. Once you establish yourself as a regular, it is a social club and they'll go out of their way to help you out.

If you are going to start using a gym, I would ask someone to explain Gym Etiquette to you. It's not written anywhere, but will help you make friends a lot quicker.