Going to the gym

[victor]

I doubt many Orderites frequent a gym or any similar establishment, so I will just ask here. I've started going to the gym, mostly to g et better at martial arts. But I've never trained seriously at the gym before, only sporadically. So if anyone frequents a gym on a regular basis, I would appreciate any tips regarding training programs and such. Most of the machines seem to be for torso or leg training, with arm training left for bench pressing and dumbbells. I would also like a link to a list of good training exercises. I train pretty much every day.

 

[Jarno Mikkola]

I train pretty much every day.

This means that you are, or at least you should be trying to burn the fat around you, cause if you weren't, you would go 2-3 time a week to the gym, with regular hard routine of exercises. And of course you should know what you are eating, and even when, and the dumbest idea ever is to drink a non-light soft drink before or even after the exercise, cause your muscles just use the drinks sugar, the fat doesn't burn at all, and the protein neither can build the muscles.

 

[welsh]

I would think that if you are interested in martial arts, your goal should not be so much to build bulk but to develop a more lean body with good aerobics.

A lot of gym have martial arts classes, but from my experience- the aerobics are key- needed for the duration of a long sparing bout or even the regime of the martial art.

I would emphasize running, stretching, yoga- for flexibility.

And stay away from the old naked dudes who keep drying their scrotums with towels and try to make conversation with "you young fellas". They give me the creeps.

 

[SuAside]

i frequented the gym sporadically (about once a week), just to keep in shape. (mostly to keep the beerbelly in check)

if you want a training program, i suggest you talk to the guy in charge. you're paying for it already, why not have him draft up a schedule that suits your needs & focusses your goals?

he/she ought to know how to maximise results & training from his/her specific gear they have.

 

[SimpleMinded]

I'm spending my summer at Auburn University in the US, and they've got a pretty hefty size gym that I go to every day so I'll see if I can go through what I do.

First, don't work the same muscles every day if you're going to be going a lot as you need to give them time to rebuild. I do legs one day and upper body the next.

Second, don't forget certain parts of your body... it's easy to forget your lower/upper back and shoulders but they're good to work out as well. For lower back there's a bench thing where people do "standing sit ups" in which you lean your upper body down over the piece and then lift back up. Hard to explain it much further but that's the best I can do. Upper back can be done with pull ups and the one where you pull the bar down from above you to behind your head. And shoulders can be done with free rights by holding the weights at your side and lifting your arms up so that they are pointing directly in front of you or to your side (either way works).

The other big thing for me at least is, don't get intimidated by the big muscular guys. I know at the gym here and the Gold's Gym I went to back home, you will get these 300 pound pure muscle folks who lift about seven million times the weights you can do.

But aye, if you're more interested in getting better at martial arts, toning is probably your best bet so lower weights, higher reps. And agreed with what Welsh mentioned.

That's my 2 cents at least.

 

[Malky]

Welsh and SimpleMinded are on-point.

The most important thing is to not over-exert yourself. Give your muscles time to rest and build up - alternate days for different kinds of workouts.

If you're interested in building muscle mass, both whey and creatine can speed up the process (dunno about the legalities of creatine in other countries, though). Just make sure you keep lifting if you take either of those.

 

[victor]

Yeah, I'm not going to Ahhnold. I'm looking for something between that and what Welsh suggested. I don't do Tae Kwon do or kung fu or something that requires tons of agility and slimness, I used to do a little Shootfighting and Muay thai, which require you to pack a little more punch, kind of like boxing (no pun intended). I still have to be careful not to lose any stamina though. That's crucial.

The reason I gave up on Shootfighting was that I kept getting submitted. My problem is lack of muscles, really, which is what I need to improve.

What I do now is jog all the way to the gym, lift some weights (small weights many times is what I'm going for, while martial arts are tough, if you're too heavy you gas too easily). Tnen I try to jog back. It's about 1 km away or so (but I get to avoid taking showers with middle aged gay men), not much. I might start jogging on the side.

Thanks for the tips though, but I'd like to rephrase my original post a bit, since I didn't express myself very well.

I need to know how to divide the muscle groups of my body by about 7, assuming I go every day, so I don't tire anything out and get an even build.

I'd ask the gym to get personal instruction and a basic programme, but any tips would be useful as it's like $20 for a single starter lesson. I might get that after all though, since a lot of the machines are a mystery to me.

 

[Malky]

If you have access to freeweights (which I prefer over machines), here's a great exercise that works your entire body out:

The Bear

It'll help you build muscle mass, stamina, and strength rather quickly. I highly recommend this.

Edit - there's a video on that page as well, if the description seems too confusing.

I'd ask the gym to get personal instruction and a basic programme, but any tips would be useful as it's like $20 for a single starter lesson. I might get that after all though, since a lot of the machines are a mystery to me.

This would be a wise decision.

 

[The Vault Dweller]

I've been working out every other day for the past year. I do one hour of different exercises with free weights. I'm currently have 45 pounds on it and usually do two sets of fifteen repititions for each exercise.

I'm just doing it by myself though...I've never recieved any professional advice or read any books even.

Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller

 

[Svirep]

i heard someone once say the gym is a place where homosexuals go to meet other homosexuals
not much to add really

 

[The Vault Dweller]

That's the best advice you could possibly give an Orderite about going to a gym. You may not be aware of it, but its true.

Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller

 

[c0ldst33ltrs4u]

I saw the film explaining the exercise and it looks kind of like the way the heavy lifters lift the weights during a contest; but it's a bit more complicated...
Anyway good luck with your training and if you ever have to take a shower at the gym do not drop the soap .

 

[Malky]

I saw the film explaining the exercise and it looks kind of like the way the heavy lifters lift the weights during a contest; but it's a bit more complicated...

Yeah, sort've. Like I said, it's a great exercise if you only have a little bit of time and want to take care of everything, or if you're just looking to gain a lot of mass and strength over a short period of time.

 

[Paladin Solo]

I'd say the worst workout (mentally) are squats. Though it's really good for you (physically), I fucking hate doing them with a passion.

As for creatine, my friend (Irish, as I call him) took it in high-school during football training. The hair on his back and shoulders grew in pretty thick as a result.

If you're interested in building muscle, take lots of protein suplements and eat a balanced diet with plenty of protein. Just don't over-do it. Always increase the weight on your lifts by small amounts every time you lift, or increase your reps. And don't forget your vitamins. Lifting, or not.

 

[Malky]

I'd say the worst workout (mentally) are squats. Though it's really good for you (physically), I fucking hate doing them with a passion.

Agreed, I despise squats. That's why I do the bear, because I know I won't do squats on my own.

As for creatine, my friend (Irish, as I call him) took it in high-school during football training. The hair on his back and shoulders grew in pretty thick as a result.

Meh, different side-effects for different people. I've never had an issue with it, though my friend developed some pretty severe mood swings as a result.

If you're interested in building muscle, take lots of protein suplements and eat a balanced diet with plenty of protein. Just don't over-do it. Always increase the weight on your lifts by small amounts every time you lift, or increase your reps. And don't forget your vitamins. Lifting, or not.

Good points, especially about increasing weight. Just make sure you build up to it, and don't try to go all out on your first set.

 

[Lord 342]

This was quite some time ago:

Pfft pay for a gym. Idiot. You can run in the street, do press-ups anywhere*, and make dumbells out of soup tins. Or wheel axels.



*I do not condone pressing-up in supermarkets. One tends to get a little banned.

Ha! Ha! Heh heh hee! Ho ho ha

Too true, too true. Perhaps the only thing dumber han paying for the gym is to buy on of those stair-step things.... like you have neither stairs in your house nor stoop out front? Not to mention no sturdy opjects about 6" high?

 

[Malky]

'Kay, but running, doing pushups, and using dumbells can only do so much for you. A gym creates an environment that is condusive to working out, and provides equipment to do whatever you wish.

You're only going to get so big/strong doing pushups and lifting "soup tins."

 

[Paladin Solo]

I go to the gym on the Air Force base nearby, for FREE! Has a free swimming pool too. Suckas...

 

[victor]

You only really get motivated to do those things on a regular basis at the gym, though.

 

[SimpleMinded]

Even with a gym it's hard to stay motivated. I find I need to keep up with a routine at the gym for as soon as it stops, I no longer keep going until someone lures me back in again.