The General Fitness Thread!

[witch]

@3s-gtech What weight do you deadlift?

[3s-gtech]

100kg or so. I'm only little! 80kg squats.

[witch]

100kg or so. I'm only little! 80kg squats.

 

Bodyrip do a good set of bar and weights. Doesnt take up too much room, but I do take your point about the gym.

 

Currently working hard on form rather than weight. I cant bear to watch people in the gym "throwing" a weight upwards - using momentum, or shoulders, just to say "look what I can curl or deadlift" I want to shout "try and do it very slowly with proper form (eg elbows against sides, not coming forward, when bicep curling) and see how much weight you can lift then! I deadlift 20kg at the moment which is quite enough when I am trying to stop my shoulders collapsing or my back rounding!

[3s-gtech]

Form is everything, especially with the risk of injury and even with just doing complete reps. Same when I deadlift - I don't just drop the bar. The exceptions to 'throwing' are cleans, clean and jerk and snatches, where the momentum of the bar is used to complete the lift.

[unixman_again]

"Time warp" curls (think pelvic thrust) annoy me. Mind you, if people want to use rubbish form and think they are strong, that's their problem.

 

I found out the other day, that I'm stronger than Brian Shaw! (Well I can do more pull-ups than he can - skip to 7:40 and place your bets!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Gf5Gmm9M

[unixman_again]

As I said, get yourself some weights - the bigger ones go up to pretty heavy - and do strength training at home!

 

Weights can take up a lot of room (1/2 my shed is weights). Another option is The Hook the worlds fastest cable loading system. The chap in the yellow vest and standing by the wooden fence lives in Cornwall. Well cut isn't he?

[Joanne]

I need to start exercising now I've got no excuses.... need to set up the equipment in the garage. I'm looking at getting an olympic bar and weights to do deadlifting and then eventually looking at a squat rack. I've got a spin bike, a speaker and disco lights for my own private spin classes

 

I need motivation though.... might just jump in the garage tonight when I get home and get something done, even if it's just 30 mins of kettlebell!

[cw222]

I'm looking at getting an olympic bar and weights to do deadlifting and then eventually looking at a squat rack. I've got a spin bike, a speaker and disco lights for my own private spin classes

 

Hack squats and Bulgarian Split Squats are great leg exercises until you get the rack!

 

I'm in the same boat with motivation, have started listening to podcasts, which I find more enjoyable than music!

[Joanne]

Was gonna get my traps up to size before doing squats then I've got good support for the bar

[3s-gtech]

Well tonight hopefully showed that the endless Winter slogs at the track and gym sessions have been worthwhile - ran my quickest ever 400m in training, even managed to stay on my feet afterwards.

 

Genuinely feels like our evil, much hated 50kg hang squat cleans are making a difference. Probably because they’re pretty much as hard as a 400!

[CHiLL]

I'm in a position now where I feel I have to start going to the gym several times because I'm not happy with my overall health/size. However I find the gym an absolute chore and the idea of going after work puts me off. I can't get up early enough (and would be too tired) to go at 6am, so that rules out before work and once I'm home I don't plan on going out again!

 

I have a wedding invite for February 2020 that I plan on using as a target to lose weight by, but it's still not helping with the motivation to actually go. Something has to change.

[3s-gtech]

Could you go straight from work, so you don’t have that post-work slump?

 

There are other, arguably more effective ways to lose weight than going to the gym. Anything that gives you a sustained workout to give a calorie deficit will help - that’s why running/biking/swimming is so effective.

[witch]

@CHiLL

So - how about getting some weights and following someone on YouTube. It might at least get you started. I'm sure you could find something that would suit you and you won't feel as if you are making a twit of yourself. In fact, you can just start with resistance training, or something simple

Yes, running, biking, swimming AND WALKING are very good but building up muscle instead of fat then you will burn even more calories.

[CHiLL]

Could you go straight from work, so you don’t have that post-work slump?

 

There are other, arguably more effective ways to lose weight than going to the gym. Anything that gives you a sustained workout to give a calorie deficit will help - that’s why running/biking/swimming is so effective.

Unfortunately I can't run because I have issues with my knees and swimming is too expensive! I do have a bike, but driving around Birmingham is scary enough, let alone cycling!

 

@CHiLL

So - how about getting some weights and following someone on YouTube. It might at least get you started. I'm sure you could find something that would suit you and you won't feel as if you are making a twit of yourself. In fact, you can just start with resistance training, or something simple

Yes, running, biking, swimming AND WALKING are very good but building up muscle instead of fat then you will burn even more calories.

If it's one of those types of aerobic videos, I don't have the coordination to do those (I've tried!).

 

I think I'll slog on with the gym and maybe try and use different machines. Maybe if I can wake myself up at 6am, go for an hour walk before work or something (at least it's not as intensive in the morning as a workout) and then go to the gym normally after work. It's just changing my mindset - I know I have to get fit, but my lack of willpower to do so has been winning for years and I'm in a bit of a rut.

[fredbayker]

Unfortunately I can't run because I have issues with my knees and swimming is too expensive! I do have a bike, but driving around Birmingham is scary enough, let alone cycling!

 

 

If it's one of those types of aerobic videos, I don't have the coordination to do those (I've tried!).

 

I think I'll slog on with the gym and maybe try and use different machines. Maybe if I can wake myself up at 6am, go for an hour walk before work or something (at least it's not as intensive in the morning as a workout) and then go to the gym normally after work. It's just changing my mindset - I know I have to get fit, but my lack of willpower to do so has been winning for years and I'm in a bit of a rut.

 

Re: going to the gym in the morning. It’s just mindset mate. I used to think I would be too achy and stiff to be able to work out that early but actually a five-minute run or other warmup will loosen you up and it’s fine after that. Plus you’re fresher in body and mind in the morning which makes for a very productive workout. Give it a shot, I loved it but my current gym doesn’t open early enough for me to be able to go in the mornings anymore.

[fredbayker]

Also anyone wanting to concentrate on form etc should check out Athlean-X on YouTube.

[witch]

Unfortunately I can't run because I have issues with my knees and swimming is too expensive! I do have a bike, but driving around Birmingham is scary enough, let alone cycling!

 

 

If it's one of those types of aerobic videos, I don't have the coordination to do those (I've tried!).

 

.

 

@CHiLL No, there's loads of training-type videos - circuit training-type stuff - situps, crunches, knee lifts, squats, tricep dips, bicep curls - you name it. (you can use a tin as a weight to begin with), the lot. You just have to find a trainer that you like

[CHiLL]

@CHiLL No, there's loads of training-type videos - circuit training-type stuff - situps, crunches, knee lifts, squats, tricep dips, bicep curls - you name it. (you can use a tin as a weight to begin with), the lot. You just have to find a trainer that you like

That sounds good, especially for days that I'd rather not go out of my way to get to the gym.

[atcoates]

I'm in a position now where I feel I have to start going to the gym several times because I'm not happy with my overall health/size. However I find the gym an absolute chore and the idea of going after work puts me off. I can't get up early enough (and would be too tired) to go at 6am, so that rules out before work and once I'm home I don't plan on going out again!

 

I have a wedding invite for February 2020 that I plan on using as a target to lose weight by, but it's still not helping with the motivation to actually go. Something has to change.

 

I am in the same boat time wise but have been getting to the Gym at 4.55 and doing an hour. It has meant going to bed an 9 in the evening. If they have showering facilities there you could probably go straight to work? I forget I've been most days..other than the aches and pains. I go Tues-Thurs and road cycling at the weekend.

[unixman_again]

Unfortunately I can't run because I have issues with my knees and swimming is too expensive! I do have a bike, but driving around Birmingham is scary enough, let alone cycling!

 

Yep! On the other hand, the endless canals are a joy to cycle on - not the canal obviously, but the tow path

 

I am in the same boat time wise but have been getting to the Gym at 4.55 and doing an hour. It has meant going to bed an 9 in the evening. If they have showering facilities there you could probably go straight to work? I forget I've been most days..other than the aches and pains. I go Tues-Thurs and road cycling at the weekend.

 

One place I worked, the hours were 10:00 to 18:00, so I could be in the gym when it opened at 7:30. Trouble is I was nodding off at my desk by lunchtime, so I had to stop the early sessions.

[witch]

@CHiLL There are loads of great youtube videos out there but I watch https://www.fitnessblender.com/

You can choose what you want to do - and choose your trainer as some are Daniel, some Kelli, and some both.

All videos are free unless you want to purchase a set they have put together which will cover all bases - you can choose strength, fitness, flexibility, whatever and they are $9.99 I think - yours for life once purchased, you can do them over and over again.

I have three at the moment - one for doing three or so times a week alongside your other exercise routines, one that is only 30mins per workout, and one that is their signature "bored easily" format where exercises are not repeated (muscles are targeted more than once but with different exercises). I never thought I would have the discipline to follow something like this but I have been doing it for over a year and a half. I like Daniel and Kelli because whilst they are very fit, they arent all muscles and posing - they look like real people and they are so helpful and friendly

[mrcumming]

Joe Wicks - up to 40 press ups in a minute does that count?

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Still awful at burpees though!

[hardtailstar]

Getting back on this fitness train. Im now heavier than I was before my accident so light exercise is starting.

[Davit2005]

Keep getting running injuries, getting old I guess. Cannot wait for swimming pools to be open but may just try and get my mountain bike fixed and start cross training.

 

Roll on summer, getting fed up of running in dark, wading through huge puddles or sliding on mud but in summer I will be complaining about the heat so I cannot win.

[witch]

I have kept up with my 5 day a week Fitness Blender routines. Currently just finishing a 4 week strength training program. Don't know if it is my mental health or what but in the last few weeks my fitness seems to have gone down a bit - did a hard HIIT yesterday and even with lots of breaks I nearly expired on the carpet!