What have I gotten myself into?

[ocnblu]

I just joined a gym, literally 5 minutes ago, online. It's only like 3 miles from my house. I stopped by there this morning and took a tour, led by a perky young lady. The place seems very low key, and I'm hoping it will help me keep fit over the winter. My biggest fear is looking like a complete doofus. Will the treadmill throw me off the back? Will I strangle myself when I drop the 25 pound barbell on my neck?

I've never done anything like this before. I'm hoping it will be a good move.

Does anyone else here belong to a gym? Do you have any funny or odd experiences you can share?

[regfootball]

i should join. but i don't

be sure to watch the friends episode where Ross joins the gym and then everyone tells him, 'you can never quit the gym'. funny stuff, and true, from what I hear.

[Northstar]

Well I know my brother who is a pretty good athlete was doing this class to gain speed and jumping ability and he fell off the treadmill, but it was also because they had it set to see how long he could run 19mph for.

Also, a normal barbell is 45lbs

I'm taking weight training and conditioning next semester.

[Variance]

I've been going to the local gym recently for the past month or so. It's not a real large place about a mile or so from my house. Maybe it's because I go so often but I notice they play the same dang soundtrack almost everytime I go there.

The thing about going to the gym for me is, once you make it a regular routine, you feel like a lazy bum when you don't go.

[CARBIZ]

I have been going to a gym fairly religiously for about 7 years now. I had ballooned up to 205 lbs back in 1998 ( I am 6'2", so it isn't as bad as it sounds) and was determined not to look like my father.

Now, I am 45 weight 179 lbs. (probably a little light) and look better than I have in decades. But it ain't easy. I spend about an hour in the gym (actually working out, not adjusting the weights, playing with my iPod, making notes in my work out book) two or three mornings a week. I used to jog two or three times a week, but since I came back from Brazil last year and fell off that wagon, it has been very difficult to climb back on.

My partner told me the other day that my ass is starting to sag, so I guess I will be jogging very soon again! LOL.

OCN, what kind of gym is this, because there are two concerns:

1) if it is filled by gym bunnies that are all young and buff, you may feel foolish, plus it is too distracting OR

2) you could go to my gym which is in the basement of a 54 storey luxury apartment tower that a lot of OLD white people rent in and I am the youngest person in the gym by 25 years. Not much to look at, but it is more inspiring because I DON'T want to look like them!!!!

[Enzora]

Meet with a personal trainer who can help you establish some solid, attainable goals, and a schedule that will help you reach them.

[z28luvr01]

Ocn, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Believe it or not, most people there are so concerned with their own workouts that they don't really notice you that much. I've been going to a local, smallish gym for a year and a few months, and I had the exact same fear. Most people honestly just aren't paying attention to you, unless they need to use the machine you're on. If that's the case, they'll usually ask 'How many sets you got left?' and either wait, use another machine, or offer to share it with you.

[ocnblu]

It's called "Planet Fitness", and the people I saw there today seemed like regular folk. There were some young, fit people there, but also some folks just wandering around listlessly wondering what to do next.

The deal was too good to pass up... $59 to start and $10/month, guaranteed for at least 3 years, with no contracts. Unlimited access, and if I want to use the tanning beds, it's an extra 5 bucks a month.

They have a personal trainer available for $60/hour, or $35/half hour. My goals are to work on muscle tone all over and work on cardio. It should also be good for me socially as well, as I am shy around people, believe it or not.

[ocnblu]

Uh, thanks for the link there, Wildman.

No "Reno 911" shorts for me. Just supersexy sweatpants and a t-shirt.

[NDL]

My biggest fear is looking like a complete doofus.  Will the treadmill throw me off the back?  Will I strangle myself when I drop the 25 pound barbell on my neck? 

I've never done anything like this before.  I'm hoping it will be a good move.

Don't think about it that way. Why? Remember that *every* person who's using the equipment was, at one point, a new member, with their own 'newbie' behavior.

Though you wouldn't know it by looking at me , I joined a gym a while ago, and most of the people there, were very helpful...

Let me know how your experience works out (no pun intended), because I am thinking of joining a place near my house.

[ocnblu]

Well, I went in this morning. I touched my toes for 30 seconds, then jumped on the treadmill for a half hour, 5% incline, 3.8 mph. Then I went upstairs and stared at the equipment for a while before taking the plunge. I got on the upper ab thing, the buttbuster thing, the thing with the bar that you pull down and the leg curl thing. I curled some dumbells. Then when I went to get dressed in the locker room, some dude with plucked eyebrows walked in and saw my pecker. I had to quick turn my back and put my jeans on.

I felt fantastic afterward. I knew if I overdid it I might hurt tomorrow, but I think I'll be aiight. I'm glad I joined!

[loki]

for treadmill expertise watch this clip closely, and enjoy the music!

Windows format

[ocnblu]

loki, that was fantastic! I'm going to try that next time.

(Paramedics, stand by.)

[HarleyEarl]

This just in....much public speculation about Blu joining a gym....what's going on?....why now?...what started this obsession with his body, this obsession to chisel it into a human art piece? Why didn't he just get some old Jane Fonda fitness videos? What about Pilates? The debate rages on. Rumor has it, he's been seen having lunch with Arnold.

[ocnblu]

Arnold? The pig from Green Acres?

Sweatin' to the Oldies just wasn't cuttin' it anymore. :AH-HA_wink:

[HarleyEarl]

Hilarious!

Green Acres is the place for me....I enjoy a penthouse view...

[frogger]

Good deal you got there. You're making me feel lazy, I should get back into it.

There is something about the first 6-12 months of going to a gym and the quick progress made during that time that makes it really enjoyable. Its keeping it fresh and continuing to go after progress seems to slow a bit thats tough.

[capriceman]

you mean a tv remote and opening beer isnt consdiered a work out?

Why gyms. I will take my bike out in the winter i love cold. plus i really dont like to work out just for working out. I need a purpose like picking up scrap metal throwing it in a bed of a truck and unloading it some where else. to lift wiehgts in a conmtroled environment doesnt make sense to me. jog with the dog around the block in the winter is good enough. i dont need a tredmill.

[MyerShift]

Gee, I was planning on attending the "fitness activities area" at my college (CCS in Detroit) because it would be good for me, but, I seem to attract enough "unwanted attention" from BOTH parties, if you catch my drift.

[HarleyEarl]

Can't we all just be happy like Homer?

Life is short.

Enjoy.

[trinacriabob]

I belong to 24-Hour Fitness. When I lived in the Pac. N.W., I belonged to Bally's. I still keep the Bally's membership (real, real cheap at this point) in case of a relocation so I don't have to pay the initiation dues. Also, if I visit my Mom up north or go to So. Cal., I can still use Bally's.

Going to the gym is the greatest thing. Am I going now? No. With my work schedule and with night classes, good luck. At any rate, 24-Hour Fitness can be a little intense with its music, neon lighting and college-kid atmosphere. I prefer a quieter gym but the one I looked at that fit the criteria was $ 64 a month and did not have "chain" privileges. Also, most 24-Hour Fitnesses really are open 24 hours-- some are not because they can't afford to be. I'm sure a lot of the West Coast people on the board belong to 24-Hour Fitness.

I guess I should consider myself fortunate that, given my leanings toward restaurants and drive-throughs, I am only 12 to 15 above my ideal weight. When I get back into it, I can drop that in about 1.5 to 2 months.

Seriously, if you can go 6 days a week, do the following:

Alternate 3 days - upper body on machines, about 25 to 30 minutes on the elliptical or similar

Alternate 3 days - lower body on machines, ditto on elliptical or similar

Take one day off and veg / pig out

I do not like free weights - the machines offer more discipline from incorrect movements

There is a lot of truth about endorphins and what that does to keep you chipper and out of a depressive mode. I feel great and upbeat when I go to the gym regularly, unfortunately there is no way I can squeeze all this in without having a meltdown. I will resume in mid-December.

JUST DO IT.

Edited November 13, 2006 by trinacriabob

[Sixty8panther]

Good luck with that... I'm not the gym type. I'd rather

do stuff outside versus driving to a big building and

walking in place on a rubber conveyor belt.

[trinacriabob]

Good luck with that... I'm not the gym type. I'd rather

do stuff outside versus driving to a big building and

walking in place on a rubber conveyor belt.

215142[/snapback]

I agree. But it is efficient. And during cold weather, it is especially efficient. During summer, especially out West with the dry heat, doing stuff outside to stay healthy and in shape is awesome. If I recall living in the East, this is tougher when it's real humid.

Pantho, where have you been? Your posting isn't as constant. Everything cool?