Local paper has a front page piece today on the phenomenon–people who sign up for gym membership, go once or twice–or not at all.
Four out of five people who have a gym membership don't use it, according to the article.
Four out of five.
I find that fascinating, though not surprising. Back when I was teaching martial arts, it was commonly known that the white belts paid the freight. People who sign up, get a uniform, last maybe a month, sometimes two or three, then quit.
What I find really funny is the lack of focus from the noobs who do show up. This morning, I went down to the aerobics room to use the back hyperextension rack, and the bikes and walkers and stairclimbers were all full. But the intent isn't there. They don't want to work out as much as they want to be able to say they worked out.
I'm sorry, but a guy pedaling lackadaisically on the stationary bike, listening to music on his iPod while reading a copy of The Ladies Home Journal? He's not going himself much good, and not nearly as much as he would if he concentrated on working up a sweat instead of just passing the time ...
6 comments:
No, but that guy knows more about getting fit for the perfect bra than you do, Steve.
Thankfully, my gym hasn't been any more crazy this week.
With the first of the year and a fed holiday, I'm told that yesterday was crazy. I usually work out in the late morning, and it wasn't anything unusual today. A few new faces, a few of which led to some smirks and snickering (Guys should not wear spandex -- unless they already have a body that doesn't need to go to the gym. And definitely not if they have grey hair...)
First couple weeks and months always lead to new faces. Some stick around, some don't. And I get amused by the guys who spend spend more time walking around talking than using anything heavier than a water bottle or towel. Or the women who never progress beyond a 5 lb dumbbell...
I went through my spandex phase when I was forty. Got a bike, rode it everywhere, but I had to carry a pair of cut-off jeans to slip on over the thinskins when I went into a public place.
I still have a couple sets in a drawer I put on once in a while and take pictures of, mostly to freak out some of my friends, but I wear sweats and T-shirts to the gym, and we go to a parks & rec center weight room that isn't L.A. Fitness by a long, long way ...
"Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Work Out":
What does your workout look like? Do you log it or go by feel?
Always curious what "real ppl" actually do in the gym."
Well, I'm only getting there twice a week, and at my age, recovery is such that two sessions is enough. So I don't do push-pull or legs/upper body, I just do full-body workouts, usually followed by a set of djurus down in the aerobics room.
The routine varies a little, but mostly it's big muscles first, then little ones. I used to log everything, but now it's by feel.
I stretch, do a set of a dozen chins or so, then use the leg-press sled and the supine leg press machines for a couple-three sets. Bent-over dumbbell rows, then military presses, bench-press/pectoral flyes, on the machines. Dumbbell shrugs. Triceps pressdowns, alternating with curls, two or three sets to failure. Lat pulldowns. Twenty, thirty minutes is all, then the back hyperextension rack and djurus.
Not a killer routine, but it does get the blood flowing and a burn here and there ...
Very good. Reps per set? Weight used? Relative to body weight\prior (lifetime) numbers?
Not as strong now as I was at forty. That year, I logged every rep of every exercise in a journal, and in the twenty-four years since, I've eased off across the board.
Sets are eight-ten reps each, all weight in pounds.
I'm doing ten plates on the incline leg-press, 450, two sets, calf flexes at the end. My bodyweight is a hair under 200, and the supine leg press is a set or two of that, plus toe raises.
Dumbbell rows are 95s, one set each arm. Military press on the machine, 125, one set, 100 one set. Bench is 100 to warm up, one set, then 200 one set. Pec flies, usually two sets on the machine, 90, then 120.
Triceps pressdowns are with the stack for one set, then dropping twenty pounds each for subsequent sets. Alternating with curls.
Three or four sets and the burn stops that.
Alternating dumbbell curls -- I supinate/pronate each rep -- and concentration curls are with 35s. One set each.
Dumbbell shrugs, one set, 70s.
Lat pulldowns, 180 or 200, depending on how much steam I have left by then, wide-grip, front of neck, one set and usually I don't make it to eight ...
Hyperextensions, two sets.
Now and then I add weight, but mostly just another set. I'm not looking to be able to squat a Volvo, and I'm as powerful as I need to be to run a word processor ...
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