swmtnbackpacker
Trail Wise!
Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
Posts: 4,886
|
Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jun 3, 2018 6:04:48 GMT -8
The essay is most people get tired of their gym and the human body adjusts to weights (maybe cardio) anyways so variety is needed. Obviously gym rats and pro athletes probably have some sort of periodization schedule ... but for regular Joe's/Jane's that may be a bit much. I'm torn between finding a comprehensive fitness center (various weights, cardio, and lane swimming) and doing it ala carte through a recreation center (a factor in my next move probably still in the desert Southwest). free.vice.com/en_us/article/evkdp7/dont-buy-this-your-annual-gym-membership-is-a-waste-of-money |
|
walkswithblackflies
Trail Wise!
Resident terrorist-supporting eco-freak bootlicker
Posts: 6,931 
|
Post by walkswithblackflies on Jun 8, 2018 6:01:52 GMT -8
I have a membership to the local Y. It isn't the best gym I've belonged to but it is adequate. My problem is just finding the time to go. I try to go during lunchtime at work, but work often gets in the way of that plan.
To me, a treadmill is nothing but a torture device. My area has a multitude of great trail running areas. That's how I get my cardio.
I have two army-style duffel bags. Into each I placed a 70-lb tube of sand. Endless fun. My workout partners named them "Pain" and "Suffering".
I also have climbing ropes, and a hoist bag that I can fill with various amounts of weight.
Heavy yard work (cutting trees, splitting wood, landscaping) helps build that "old man strength".
A neighbor has all the P90X and Insanity DVDs. It seems we're too busy with kid events during the spring and fall, but we will do those workouts together a couple times a week in the winter and summer. They are killer.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667 
|
Post by rebeccad on Jun 8, 2018 19:14:34 GMT -8
I like my gym membership. It allows me to swim laps twice a week, and to lift weights, without investing in weights at home. Besides, I find that when I say I'm going to do the routines at home, I don't. When I have to think and plan and say "I'm going to the gym this afternoon," I actually do.
All of that is just a supplement to the biking and hiking (used to be running) that are the core of my aerobic fitness.
We've just started doing some classes, to mix things up and to work our cores better--a pilates-yoga hybrid (thus addressing deficiencies in core strength and flexibility), and my husband tried a "Body Pump" class (on his brother's recommendation) and thinks it will be good. I'm less enthused because I don't like driving music and all that, but I'll probably try it.
|
|
|
|
Post by k9education on Jun 9, 2018 12:57:31 GMT -8
I did the gym thing for 8 years and then got sick. Now that I'm ready to return, I don't really want to go back to a commercial gym. Trying to superset when the gym is busy is a pain and some inconsiderate **** always ends up taking your spot. Going after midnight worked for a little while, but other commitments started to get in the way of going at that hour. Now. that I am ready to return, I am thinking of just having a basement gym. A cable crossover, power rack, and free weights is really all I need. Cardio comes from the hiking.
|
|
|
|
Post by georgeofthej on Jun 10, 2018 10:30:31 GMT -8
I love hiking in the hills on the outskirts of town. My neighborhood has some steep streets, so taking a walk is also good---much more enjoyable than a treadmill.
Recently, I got into pickleball. It's good exercise and super fun. Only problem is I messed up my Achilles (tendonitis) playing it and now I can't hike or play pickleball for a while.
|
|
BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 12,922
Member is Online
|
Post by BigLoad on Jun 10, 2018 16:48:32 GMT -8
Despite my occasional observations in the bpbasecamp.freeforums.net/thread/753/gym-etiquette-rant-thread, I like my gym. I don't pay anywhere close to what the article mentions and don't usually skip too many days. Even so, I acknowledge that it doesn't work for many people. There is plenty of distraction and better air conditioning than a lot of place I might go. |
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667
|
Post by rebeccad on Jun 10, 2018 18:24:23 GMT -8
don't pay anywhere close to what the article mentions Sadly, we do. But the Y also gives discounted access to seniors and people with limited income, so we are subsidizing those, to some degree. If I didn't want a pool, I'd join a $10-a-month place to lift. We are getting smarter and are adding a couple of different classes for the summer (rather than just weights), and change up the aerobic activities by season (outdoors on our own time). |
|
BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 12,922
Member is Online
|
Post by BigLoad on Jun 10, 2018 19:11:16 GMT -8
If I didn't want a pool, I'd join a $10-a-month place to lift. A pool is a tough requirement around here. The Y is probably the only place with reasonable prices. The two nearest gyms with pools are over $100/mo just for base membership. On a side note, I've bought day passes at a few premium gyms on business travel. The luxury is nice, but I can't shake the feeling that it's excessive. |
|
toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
|
Post by toejam on Jun 11, 2018 7:38:40 GMT -8
"...but that's not how motivation works."  I happily pay something close to that even though my motivation in the gym is telling myself it will be over in 15 minutes. Going to the gym actually does get me up and out of the house and I give a much better effort when I'm there than exercising at home. The best thing about my gym is it's 2 blocks from one of the best running beaches on the planet. So I usually give a good 15 minutes of effort and run on the beach. Hardly seems like a workout, but is effective when done regularly. |
|
davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
Posts: 1,710
|
Post by davesenesac on Jun 28, 2018 9:09:21 GMT -8
Well some of we urban folks can obviously maintain reasonably good fitness without going to gyms or setting one up at homes. Our recent ancestors of course didn't go to gyms and many of them were quite fit by occupation necessity. However in the modern era that may not be a general option for the wide range of body types, genetics, and lifestyles. In my own case although I did get a couple gym memberships decades ago, hardly used them because I disliked the strong body odor weight room odors and in those days did not like the aggressive social scene vibe. That noted, recently as I stopped at a traffic signal on a local boulevard by an ongoing local yoga class with its full glass windows, I noticed a room full of lively attractive young women. That had me checking out class rates online haha.
Occasionally when I've gone in for medical physical exams, I've received questionaires about how much I regularly exercise each week. And I usually complain such questions don't fit my lifestyle as long term, my activities vary too much season to season and that I only set up regular exercise occasionally.
My primary physical activities each year tend to be hiking, backpacking, skiing, d, and walking. I'll supplement that with modest in home exercising say before a backpacking trip or before a ski season begins, but after that tend to lazily veg between activity episodes except for a lot of walking. Of course experts don't believe such a lack of exercise regularity works. But then I do some extraordinary things for someone my age like mogul skiing and carrying 40% to 50% of my body weight backpacking. Things experts expect is a formula for an early retirement to one's couch. But then it could be by allowing extra days between strenuous activity over decades, one's body adapts to more thorough and healthy tissue recovery.
As little me at 5'6" 137# BMI 22, was over several hours of heavy breathing, lugging over 60 pounds, monkeying through obstacles, continually adjusting my balance like a gymnast, across some of the most unpleasant metamorphic loose rock footing cross country terrain that dominates the Glen Alpine Creek basin I backpacked into last week, I considered how much better what I was doing towards all body conditioning and coordination than anything else I could imagine.
|
|
|
|
Post by k9education on Jun 28, 2018 14:56:47 GMT -8
If I didn't want a pool, I'd join a $10-a-month place to lift. A pool is a tough requirement around here. The Y is probably the only place with reasonable prices. The two nearest gyms with pools are over $100/mo just for base membership. On a side note, I've bought day passes at a few premium gyms on business travel. The luxury is nice, but I can't shake the feeling that it's excessive. $100/mth.  I was paying $35/mth for nationwide access at LA Fitness. Since I canceled they routinely send me invites for $25/mth single club access or $30/mth multi-club access. The 2 LAFs here both have a pool and they are small city clubs (27K / 120K population respectively). |
|
|
|
Post by msdoolittle on Jun 29, 2018 11:07:16 GMT -8
I'm lucky in that being able to get a Boulder Residency rate to the community centers, I now have access to 3 recreation/community centers, all with lap pools, 2 outdoor pools (one being a 50 meter, but good luck getting in there for a lap swim!), and the Boulder Reservoir. This is all for $51 a month.
Next year, if funds hold out, I'm thinking of joining the Boulder Aquatics Masters program, which gives me coaching and access to all the community centers. We'll see.
|
|
|
|
Post by comewithme on Jul 4, 2018 10:45:08 GMT -8
I have a YMCA membership because my children take swim, karate and dance lessons there. I figure I can get a workout in while they are doing their thing.
However, my wife is lazy and doesnt have motivation to work out on her own unless someone is yelling at her. I cant really workout with her because I love working out my traps and chest and its not the look shes going for.
We got a crossfit membership and have been going there as well. When she doesnt want to work out I just head to the YMCA by myself.
The styles are different, and although I love to powerlift at the YMCA I do see the benefits of the crossfit lifestyle.
I used to go LA fitness when I worked in the afternoons and could go in the mornings and loved it, however, my clock in time has changed and going in the afternoons to a commercial GYM is totally horrible.
|
|
|
|
Post by revorunner on Aug 1, 2018 6:29:35 GMT -8
I prefer to do my weight training from home and cardio with cycling or running. I think eventually I'll rejoin a gym to get a wider range of equipment and options. I think motivation is the key for any person. If they're motivated enough then they'll find their groove regardless of what is available.
|
|
I was paying $35/mth for nationwide access at LA Fitness. Since I canceled they routinely send me invites for $25/mth single club access or $30/mth multi-club access. The 2 LAFs here both have a pool and they are small city clubs (27K / 120K population respectively).
