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Porn Users Forum » Going to the Gym
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08-01-18  03:22pm - 2335 days Original Post - #1
mbaya (0)
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Posts: 891
Registered: Jul 07, '08
Location: new jersey
Going to the Gym

First, I want to tell you where I am coming from. Sixteen years ago, I suffered my second heart attack, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels. This has the name metabolic syndrome. My heart doctor scared me off from doing any exercise by constantly telling me not to do too much. I never did find out how much is too much as I was petrified to move and just became a proverbial couch potato.

Three years ago my diabetes was so bad that the doctor told me that I was beyond routine medication. Injecting insulin daily was about to become a reality.

Instead I went to the gym. The first day all I could do was 20 minutes on a treadmill. I was so exhausted that I was afraid I would pass out. Each time I went I tried do a bit more. Now I do about four hours of assorted exercise four days a week. For my most recent cardiac stress test, I was able to do as much as they could throw at me, maxing out the test. I was told that I was the best they had all this year so far. My diabetes is in the normal range and my resting heart rate is 46, about what trained athletes can do.

My insurance company pays for gym memberships, so I have four. I know many people who have more than one membership, so I know a fair bit about several more. Besides, I get a lot of junk mail about gyms.

I am a member of big chain gyms. They all have some things in common: overcrowded and dirty after work and on weekends, unconcerned staff that is constantly turning over and a lot of rude members. If you look up gym etiquette on Google, you will see what I mean. I go on weekday mornings when the gym is not crowded. If you check out a gym on Yelp, you will see the same complaints about every gym: not clean, machines that don’t work and not being able to cancel memberships. Of course the gym is not clean if you go after work or on weekends as the staff cannot keep up when it is crowded. Read the contract when you sign up so you know the rules for cancellation.

I never joined Blink, but a friend of mine loves how clean it is. On their website you see their policy is that everyone cleans. If I had to pay for a membership, I would go with Planet Fitness. They don’t have a pool, but the membership is only $10 per month. Another decent choice is the local YMCA. They are much cheaper than a traditional gym.

Every gym will try to sell you on hiring a personal trainer. Basically it is not worth it. They generally use equipment that only their clients can use, so you are not learning all that much. The going rate is about $35 per hour, but rates are not posted. This is definitely caveat emptor, let the buyer beware. They will quote you whatever they think they can get from you. Wait for a sale and you will do better. Better yet, ask a friend to workout with you. DON”T WRITE ANYTHING IN A NOTEBOOK IF YOU ARE WITH A FRIEND. Gyms will interpret that as competing with their trainers and will kick out you and your friend-PERMANENTLY.

Personal trainers are rather aggressive at selling their services in some gyms, but not all gyms are like this. Their standard advice is that you are not doing enough weight training and that they will teach you proper form.
In actuality not all advice like this should be one size fits all. If you are trying to lose weight or are basically out of shape, you should be doing mostly but not exclusively cardio. I lost 32 pounds in less than two years and it was pretty easy. If you are 25 and are in decent shape, 10% cardio is appropriate for you.

Speaking of cardio, the traditional definition of cardio is treadmill, bicycle and elliptical. If you use a weight machine, you will generally be using good form. Another benefit is that you can use it for strength training if you do 3 sets of 10 repetitions, but you can do cardio if you do 100 repetitions at a lower weight. Any pool exercises are cardio as well and feel gentle and easy. The pool is great if you have any injuries or arthritis.

There are many classes that gyms offer. I have tried a few and found them harder than they look. In an average class, I would guess that three quarters of the people are not very good at the activity. Mostly women go to classes and I found that as the rare guy they felt the need to encourage me to come back. Go figure.

I know I don’t know everything so feel free to correct me. Edited on Aug 01, 2018, 06:41pm

08-03-18  11:16am - 2333 days #2
Wittyguy (0)
Active User



Posts: 1,138
Registered: Feb 04, '08
Location: Left Coast, USA
x Edited on Apr 19, 2023, 01:09pm

08-03-18  03:26pm - 2333 days #3
mbaya (0)
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Posts: 891
Registered: Jul 07, '08
Location: new jersey
Cell phone use and rules vary. I am a member of one gym where cell phone use is a complete disaster. Everywhere you go there is someone talking on the phone or is sitting on a machine and also on the phone.

I am a member of two gyms where cell phones are forbidden, except in clearly labeled areas.Some still abuse the privilege, but do so quietly so they are not caught.

When the gym is not crowded e.g. weekday mornings, it is actually quite easy to make friends with those who are not phone addicts. People are wiling to talk and share tips, but hitting on the women is frowned upon.

I realize that I made a mistake in personal trainer prices. It should be $35 for a half hour or sometimes even for a mere twenty minutes. when i first started I used a PT, but it really was not worth it. Not only that, but they lied to me that they were giving me a discount. In reality I paid more than the rate for a Master Trainer. Edited on Aug 03, 2018, 04:34pm

08-16-18  07:49pm - 2319 days #4
MikeC
PornUsers Staff




Posts: 102
Registered: Jul 03, '15
Well said, though I would say it can be beneficial to see a trainer. I worked at a gym for many years and while some trainers are only looking for an upsell to supplements or more sessions, there are many who are passionate about health and fitness and really want to improve people's lives. Buying a 5-6 session block from a trainer with an expressed request to only learn the proper form on the basic lifts (bench/squat/deadlift) is well worth the investment. Also, many gyms offer seminars on just those lifts. The 200-300 you spend to learn proper form will save your body and your pocket book for years to come.

An essential book to learn the basics is Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe


Originally Posted by Wittyguy:


I started working out when I was in my teens and have been going to the gym on and off for decades now. My two cent take on gyms is this:

1. Unless you have no clue where to start or have great difficulty motivating yourself skip the personal trainer. They're expensive and most of them aren't as knowledgeable as they let on. I equate personal trainers with the diet industry: they'll show the current fads and general fitness but it's ultimately up to you to identify your workout goals (cardio, body building, general fitness, etc.) and how to stay motivated. If you do use a personal trainer and you're still doing the same workout they showed you months/years ago then recognize that your workout has stalled. There are lots of good workout channels on Youtube (and even more bad ones) so learning how to do things right or how to change your routine isn't that hard once you know the basics.
2. I go to a cheap ass gym because I could care less about classes, ball courts and pools. If you have a family that's into that stuff then spend the money. I only want some basic cardio options and plenty of iron. Avoid the 4 – 7 p.m. time slot if at all possible because every gym is jam packed then. If that's the only time you can go then just realize you have to endure this circle of hell you've put yourself into.
3. PUT YOUR FUCKING PHONE AWAY!!!!!! This is the numero uno workout killer. I see people spend more time messing with their play lists, texting, Facebooking, etc. then actually doing anything gym related. You can get a bad ass workout in about 30 minutes if you have a well executed plan and can maintain some intensity. Nothing sucks more than when you're trying to get a workout in and some knucklehead is sitting on the piece of equipment you want with their ear pieces blaring while they scroll through their phone for 10 minutes straight. With everyone walking around plugged into their own little world I also find that hardly anyone talks to each other and civility gets taken down a notch. Sad really.
4. Know basic gym etiquette: Don't hog a piece of equipment, offer to share. Rerack your weights when you're done. If you're a sweaty mess, wipe down the equipment. Don't stand in the way of someone else. Basically, be self aware and remember that your mamma ain't there to pick up your crap.
5. Shitty form and lack of a plan are what plague people the most. Improper posture, grip and foot placement coupled with improper range of motion = increased risk of injury and lack of results. You can get better results from lighter loads and fewer reps with good form than just picking something up and doing an exercise. If going to the gym is difficult for you then remember that lack of results is a motivational killer so take the time to learn and think about your form for each exercise. Also, if you don't know what exercises you're going to do before you walk into the gym that day you're toast in the long term. Having some type of master plan keeps the results coming.
Edited on Aug 17, 2018, 11:26am

08-17-18  03:27pm - 2319 days #5
LPee23 (0)
Active User



Posts: 399
Registered: Jul 14, '13
Location: USA
I'm going to the gym six days a week now, just picked it up again over the summer. I used to lift a lot in college. I wasn't a bodybuilder by any measure, but I learned most of my routine from Arnold Schwarzenegger's Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding. Some good advice in there, although I'm sure there are many more up to date sources. I coasted and slacked off for years after that, and while I can't say I got badly out of shape, I wasn't in shape either. Now I'm hooked on working out again. I love going back and being able to do a little more every day, even if it's just an extra rep or two. I agree that form is everything. Go slow, don't cheat, and it's better to max out and not finish than to break form to get an extra rep. Better to be pissed on, than to be pissed off.

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