The Workout Thread

[RockRaines]

I have heard swimming is a dynamite workout, but 1) I suck at swimming and 2) I've never been a water person. I wish I was though, cause then I would try some triathlons.

It might be a better workout because you arent a good swimmer. Most good swimmers move at maximum efficiency which helps them turn more laps with less effort. You might swim a mile and burn twice as many calories. I would recommend it to everyone. I am not a great swimmer but will supplement my cardio with the occasional couple mile swim and it just drains me.

[BigSqwert]

I try work out every other day. Sometimes there are two days off in between, but the rotation stays the same:

 

Mon- chest and triceps

Wed- Back and biceps

Fri- Legs

Sun-Shoulders

Repeat

Tues- chest and triceps....

 

All free weights.

3 different exercises per large muscle group, 2 exercises for smaller groups.

3 sets per exercise, more weight and less reps for each set.

 

I do 10 mins of stretching in the hot box before I hit the iron. My muscles are loose and my body is warm..quickly. Rarely do any cardio.

 

At my old age I've been taking a slower approach to weight lifting. I used to pair 2 muscle groups each day but now focus on one and mix in 20-30 minutes of cardio afterwards.

 

Current cycle is:

 

Mon- Chest

Tues- Shoulders

Wed- Legs

Thurs- Back

Fri- Biceps & triceps

Sat- Yoga

 

Mixture of free weights and universal (back in the day it was 90% free weight)

3-5 diff exercises per muscle group

4 sets per exercise

[NorthSideSox72]

It might be a better workout because you arent a good swimmer. Most good swimmers move at maximum efficiency which helps them turn more laps with less effort. You might swim a mile and burn twice as many calories. I would recommend it to everyone. I am not a great swimmer but will supplement my cardio with the occasional couple mile swim and it just drains me.

Yeah, if you aren't a big time swimmer, swimming uses a bunch of muscles you may not otherwise get much work on. Its a great addition.

 

[RockRaines]

Yeah, if you aren't a big time swimmer, swimming uses a bunch of muscles you may not otherwise get much work on. Its a great addition.

Another positive is that just about everyone at my gym is afraid to get into the pool since the entire Gym looks down on it so you can always grab a lane at any time of the day.

[Disco72]

Another positive is that just about everyone at my gym is afraid to get into the pool since the entire Gym looks down on it so you can always grab a lane at any time of the day.

 

The hardest thing most people have with swimming is the breathing which takes them out of rhythm. Don't be afraid to use a snorkel or throw some fins on to keep you moving. It's better than thrashing around and spending 90% of your time sitting on the wall resting (this isn't directed at you, Rock, just the notion that people are afraid to look dumb in the pool).

[shipps]

I dont want to swim in a pool that has atleast 100 strangers a day swimming in there. I know there are alot of chemicals put in the water to protect you from germs and bacteria but its still pretty disgusting if you ask me.

[LosMediasBlancas]

At my old age I've been taking a slower approach to weight lifting. I used to pair 2 muscle groups each day but now focus on one and mix in 20-30 minutes of cardio afterwards.

 

Current cycle is:

 

Mon- Chest

Tues- Shoulders

Wed- Legs

Thurs- Back

Fri- Biceps & triceps

Sat- Yoga

 

Mixture of free weights and universal (back in the day it was 90% free weight)

3-5 diff exercises per muscle group

4 sets per exercise

 

WOW. How can you do shoulders the day after chest and biceps the day after back? Your shoulders do a lot of pushing when you do chest and your biceps do a lot of pulling when you do back. But hey, if you get results, keep doing it.

 

 

 

 

 

[BigSqwert]

How can you do shoulders the day after chest and biceps the day after back?

 

I am incredibly strong.

[LosMediasBlancas]

I am incredibly strong.

 

LOL.

I've always heard that you should allow 48 hours of rest before hitting the same muscle group again, but like I said, if you get results, more power to you.

[BigSqwert]

LOL.

I've always heard that you should allow 48 hours of rest before hitting the same muscle group again, but like I said, if you get results, more power to you.

I don't do any power lifting anymore. It's mostly toning.

[shipps]

You know what I find hilarious?...The guy that seems to have a fixation on one muscle group and pretty much only works that out. The guy that works nothing but biceps is the most common.

[Reddy]

so on top of the actual exercise, billiards threw his diet up there and that inspired me to ask the question - what about diet? i'm 22, and skinny as hell. though i will say i think my metabolism is slooowly starting to slow down cuz those abs aren't quite as apparent as they used to be.

 

but, point is, i've wanted to put on weight/muscle, and i'm wondering if anyone else has a diet plan that they've used.

[T R U]

You know what I find hilarious?...The guy that seems to have a fixation on one muscle group and pretty much only works that out. The guy that works nothing but biceps is the most common.

 

Curls for the Girls

[Marky Mark]

so on top of the actual exercise, billiards threw his diet up there and that inspired me to ask the question - what about diet? i'm 22, and skinny as hell. though i will say i think my metabolism is slooowly starting to slow down cuz those abs aren't quite as apparent as they used to be.

 

but, point is, i've wanted to put on weight/muscle, and i'm wondering if anyone else has a diet plan that they've used.

 

 

Eat protein protein protein. Going from skinny to big is way more about diet than lifting. Its eating which is the hardest commitment to stick with, but makes the biggest difference, especially for the ectomorphic body.

 

If you can eat 6 meals a day getting in 40-60 grams of protein each meal you will gain muscle when your lifting. The thing is, you need to eat like this every day without missing a beat.

 

A couple of other things that can prevent you from gaining muscle is working out too much. If you just want to bulk up don't work out more than 3 times a week and don't work out for more than 50 minutes, keep it quick. Doing the same muscle group at the gym in the form of 4 different exercises doesn't build muscle any better than working the muscle with 1-2 different lifts. Stick to free weights over machines, drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep.

 

Right out of college at 6'0" I went from 160 to 200LBS in about 4 months and I completely attribute it to the diet. I then got lazy after getting married and lost 20 pounds almost as quickly because I didn't have the protein intake even though I was still lifting.

 

 

[dasox24]

The hardest thing most people have with swimming is the breathing which takes them out of rhythm. Don't be afraid to use a snorkel or throw some fins on to keep you moving. It's better than thrashing around and spending 90% of your time sitting on the wall resting (this isn't directed at you, Rock, just the notion that people are afraid to look dumb in the pool).

That's funny that you mention that b/c just today I was at the gym, and I ran into a girl who said she wanted to finish her workout with by swimming laps but was nervous about looking dumb b/c she's not a great swimmer. I feel the same way, though, so I can understand it. I'm not a fast swimmer, so I think I'll look stupid, especially when I lose rhythm with my breathing and have to stop for air.

[LosMediasBlancas]

Also, skip the trainer. You can learn proper lifting form and proper diet by reading books and watching others. Trainers are just trying to make money and they prey on people who don't know much about getting fit.

[Marky Mark]

Also, skip the trainer. You can learn proper lifting form and proper diet by reading books and watching others. Trainers are just trying to make money and they prey on people who don't know much about getting fit.

 

Very true. The internet is smarter and cheaper than your trainer.

[LosMediasBlancas]

Very true. The internet is smarter and cheaper than your trainer.

 

It seems like the trainers at the gym I go to just make up exercises and routines. The new trend seems to be trying to combine two or three different lifts into one. I see people doing a dead lift and throwing in a calf press at the end of it. I see people doing curls, then turning the dumbell around when it's near their shoulder and turning it into a military press. WTF is that all about?

[NorthSideSox72]

It seems like the trainers at the gym I go to just make up exercises and routines. The new trend seems to be trying to combine two or three different lifts into one. I see people doing a dead lift and throwing in a calf press at the end of it. I see people doing curls, then turning the dumbell around when it's near their shoulder and turning it into a military press. WTF is that all about?

Better than a trainer is a workout partner. That gives you the motivatinal factor while you work out, you can talk about results and techniques, and you are less likely to skip a day if you know someone is waiting for you.

 

Though, I will say that if you are a true novice at weights, its good to have some time with someone to show you good technique. Its pretty easy to injure yourself if you are doing stuff wrong.

 

[RockRaines]

It seems like the trainers at the gym I go to just make up exercises and routines. The new trend seems to be trying to combine two or three different lifts into one. I see people doing a dead lift and throwing in a calf press at the end of it. I see people doing curls, then turning the dumbell around when it's near their shoulder and turning it into a military press. WTF is that all about?

I also find that every trainer at my gym is hilariously overweight. Why would I take your advice when its clear you have no idea what a diet and workout routine should be anyway.

[BigSqwert]

I also find that every trainer at my gym is hilariously overweight. Why would I take your advice when its clear you have no idea what a diet and workout routine should be anyway.

^^^^

[LosMediasBlancas]

I also find that every trainer at my gym is hilariously overweight. Why would I take your advice when its clear you have no idea what a diet and workout routine should be anyway.

 

The female trainers at my gym look fantastic, you look at them and you know they're trainers. The men, on the other hand, look like average guys.

NS72, you're right about the injury factor. Most people at gyms are pretty nice and will show you proper form if you ask. I'll even offer advice if I see someone doing something dangerous.

[Brian]

The female trainers at my gym look fantastic, you look at them and you know they're trainers. The men, on the other hand, look like average guys.

NS72, you're right about the injury factor. Most people at gyms are pretty nice and will show you proper form if you ask. I'll even offer advice if I see someone doing something dangerous.

 

Male and female trainers at my gym are all in great shape.

[daa84]

college did a number on my body, and now that I'm a year and a half removed i've been trying to make up for 4 years of horrendously unhealthy living. I'm not too concerned with strength training, but am trying to lose weight, so naturally I'm looking for cardio. Right now, I don't belong to a gym, but have a treadmill and bike in the basement. I just bought a jump rope also. Anyone got any good cardio workouts that can be done indoors during the winter (outside of the bike, treadmill, and jump rope)?

[RockRaines]

The female trainers at my gym look fantastic, you look at them and you know they're trainers. The men, on the other hand, look like average guys.

NS72, you're right about the injury factor. Most people at gyms are pretty nice and will show you proper form if you ask. I'll even offer advice if I see someone doing something dangerous.

Yeah, I dont know what it is about every gym Ive been to. I know the Xsport on ashland is pretty good for that, but the Bally's and now WAC gym that I've been too have all had bad ones.