Is it fashionable to go to the gym?
Discussion
Over the last couple of years, the biggest topic of conversation seems to be around people going to the gym.
I avoid the gym as I play football twice a week and ride my road bike at least 5 times a week.
What I find funny is that most of these people who claim to go to the gym still look the same(ie. overweight) 2 years on! It almost feels like a fashion statement!
Anyone experience similar?
I avoid the gym as I play football twice a week and ride my road bike at least 5 times a week.
What I find funny is that most of these people who claim to go to the gym still look the same(ie. overweight) 2 years on! It almost feels like a fashion statement!
Anyone experience similar?
Edited by Rags on Friday 1st August 10:11
Everyone I know talks about going to the gym but never does. Maybe the people that talk about going don't actually go that's why they're still the same....or they're too weak/lazy to do anything there that will benefit them.
Excuse me but I'm cranky because there's been an alarm bell ringing outside my window since I got to work.
Excuse me but I'm cranky because there's been an alarm bell ringing outside my window since I got to work.
The problem is they loose motivation. The OH pointed out that going to the gym while she knows I'm sat on the sofa with a nice cold beer wasn't exactly helpfull.
So now I have joined up so we can "do it" together. 10 years I've avoided exersize...I didn't realise how unfit I was. I used to be able to RUN over hills all day with all the stuff I'd need for the weekend on my back. Now I cant jog for 10 minutes....
Fasionable or not I think I need to keep going until I'm fit enough to get further than the corner shop.
So now I have joined up so we can "do it" together. 10 years I've avoided exersize...I didn't realise how unfit I was. I used to be able to RUN over hills all day with all the stuff I'd need for the weekend on my back. Now I cant jog for 10 minutes....
Fasionable or not I think I need to keep going until I'm fit enough to get further than the corner shop.
I would say for some it's pretty much a fashion statement. I know one guy who goes once every other week, so will probably never get a gain and another who only goes to use the pool and sauna. Some people, I do think, go just to say 'I'm a gym member'. Why I don't know.
Edited by Buzz word on Friday 1st August 10:17
You need a bit of drive to make things happen in the gym, most people go, do a bit of cardio, chat to their mates have a sit in the sauna and leave, so all they are doing is offsetting the 10 Latte's they ave had that week rather than actually getting trimmer and fitter they are just stopping themselves getting even bigger.
To get fitter, tone and build a bit of muscle requires a decent routine that focuses on different muscle groups, cardio and a good diet.
To get fitter, tone and build a bit of muscle requires a decent routine that focuses on different muscle groups, cardio and a good diet.
carter711 said:
I have been going the gym regularly over the last year and a half and really enjoy it, i'm much stronger than i used to be, before i joined the gym i couldn't lift 60kg off the rack (bench) now im doing sets of 5 on 90kg, BEEFCAKE!!
when I did my induction the lass looked me up and down and as I'm fairly slim seemed to think I was a lot stronger than I am. She put some weight on the leg press thing and said have a go at that..... Err yeah actually I cant even move that nevermind 16 reps... I can only lift 12.5 KG, the OH whos not slim is lifting 30.... 
Munter said:
carter711 said:
I have been going the gym regularly over the last year and a half and really enjoy it, i'm much stronger than i used to be, before i joined the gym i couldn't lift 60kg off the rack (bench) now im doing sets of 5 on 90kg, BEEFCAKE!!
when I did my induction the lass looked me up and down and as I'm fairly slim seemed to think I was a lot stronger than I am. She put some weight on the leg press thing and said have a go at that..... Err yeah actually I cant even move that nevermind 16 reps... I can only lift 12.5 KG, the OH whos not slim is lifting 30.... 
d"Sorry as mentioned before rather cranky today.
madrob6 said:
Munter said:
carter711 said:
I have been going the gym regularly over the last year and a half and really enjoy it, i'm much stronger than i used to be, before i joined the gym i couldn't lift 60kg off the rack (bench) now im doing sets of 5 on 90kg, BEEFCAKE!!
when I did my induction the lass looked me up and down and as I'm fairly slim seemed to think I was a lot stronger than I am. She put some weight on the leg press thing and said have a go at that..... Err yeah actually I cant even move that nevermind 16 reps... I can only lift 12.5 KG, the OH whos not slim is lifting 30.... d"Sorry as mentioned before rather cranky today.
h. If you're serious about getting fit(ter), you need targets. Goal setting is not as easy as it sounds, as they need to be attainable yet ambitious, appropriate to you, and most importantly, measurable. They can be anything; weight loss aims, running a mile in a certain time, training for a particular competition as examples. It's also important to have a range of timescales, short, medium and long term goals.
For example (not my targets): By September I want to be able to run a 10k in 45mins, by Christmas a half marathon in 100mins and then the London Marathon in April in under 4 hours. That would be attainable but ambitious for many but is easily measured with definite targets.
Just going to the gym week in week out without a target rapidly becomes disheartening and will be tough to maintain.
For example (not my targets): By September I want to be able to run a 10k in 45mins, by Christmas a half marathon in 100mins and then the London Marathon in April in under 4 hours. That would be attainable but ambitious for many but is easily measured with definite targets.
Just going to the gym week in week out without a target rapidly becomes disheartening and will be tough to maintain.
I used to do gyms, but no more. The first one I would do 2x 1.5 hour sessions in the gym per week (mix of cardio/weights). Second one I hated the gym so spent the time in the pool/jacuzzi/sauna!
I now do 6 (daily) x 40 minute sessions with free weights at home. Have to be quite strict about it to keep to it. I do a muscle group per day, aiming for 2-3 times a week per muscle group.
Have put on about 6lbs too (5lbs off initial target) and muscle tone has improved dramatically, but can do much better. I'm going for more Daniel Craig than the Arnie look. (!).
I now do 6 (daily) x 40 minute sessions with free weights at home. Have to be quite strict about it to keep to it. I do a muscle group per day, aiming for 2-3 times a week per muscle group.
Have put on about 6lbs too (5lbs off initial target) and muscle tone has improved dramatically, but can do much better. I'm going for more Daniel Craig than the Arnie look. (!).
It seems to be a bit of a fashion statement, especially in some of the larger well known brand name gyms. They seem to be less like gyms and more like social clubs anyway,more about being seen there and catching up on the latest gossip.
Some people join gyms because deep down they know they should be doing something. The frustration from a trainers point of view is that you can give all the advice and tools in the world, but if they don't really want to be there, they won't achieve anything. There is a great deal of pressure on people to look good especially with the latest batch of 'celebrity' weight loss DVD's etc. The amount of people who come to the gym with completely unrealistic goals. There was a female who came in 5'2" and 15 stone. She's going on holiday in 6 weeks and wants to lose over 4 stone................yeah right! As I said to her, if she's wants to do it for her and not for other people then with a structured diet and training plan it was achievable but over a much longer, therefor safer time period. Conversely you then get the 10st wringing wet chav brigade who want to be 15 st monsters in 6 months. Again, trying to explain to these people that it is simply not going to happen, regardless of what they do (or use) in that time scale.
The bottom line is that there is no quick fix, whether you're trying to lose or whether you want to build mass. There are some great gyms out there, run by some very knowledgeable passionate people. Unfortunately there seems to be a great deal of glittery, shiny, habitat showroom type gyms/fitness centres cropping up. No disrespect to anybody who works in one of these but they do seem to attract the type of person who is there purely to go through the motions, maybe get some attention and then spend some time sipping a skinny,latte,mocha,chocca, concoction whilst discussing the latest shallow subject of the day.
All MHO of course but based on visiting many of these places.
Some people join gyms because deep down they know they should be doing something. The frustration from a trainers point of view is that you can give all the advice and tools in the world, but if they don't really want to be there, they won't achieve anything. There is a great deal of pressure on people to look good especially with the latest batch of 'celebrity' weight loss DVD's etc. The amount of people who come to the gym with completely unrealistic goals. There was a female who came in 5'2" and 15 stone. She's going on holiday in 6 weeks and wants to lose over 4 stone................yeah right! As I said to her, if she's wants to do it for her and not for other people then with a structured diet and training plan it was achievable but over a much longer, therefor safer time period. Conversely you then get the 10st wringing wet chav brigade who want to be 15 st monsters in 6 months. Again, trying to explain to these people that it is simply not going to happen, regardless of what they do (or use) in that time scale.
The bottom line is that there is no quick fix, whether you're trying to lose or whether you want to build mass. There are some great gyms out there, run by some very knowledgeable passionate people. Unfortunately there seems to be a great deal of glittery, shiny, habitat showroom type gyms/fitness centres cropping up. No disrespect to anybody who works in one of these but they do seem to attract the type of person who is there purely to go through the motions, maybe get some attention and then spend some time sipping a skinny,latte,mocha,chocca, concoction whilst discussing the latest shallow subject of the day.
All MHO of course but based on visiting many of these places.
I've been going to gym's regularly for about 7 years. I've been from spit and sawdust gyms with rusty weights to expensive health clubs. Alot of people who go to the gym look the same months down the line, and many people don't put much effort in. They seem to think just showing up will do something. I could point out a LOT of people who havn't changed one bit. Also people don't take their diet seriously (which determines 80% of how you look)
It depends how seriously you take your training, its one of those things where you need to motivate yourself and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Most people seem to workout in a comfortable fashion hardly building up a sweat.
People who work the hardest from my experience are weight lifters in backstreet gyms. Is it fashionable to go to the gym? i dont think so, its fashionable to look healthy, whether you acheive it in the gym or sports.
It depends how seriously you take your training, its one of those things where you need to motivate yourself and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Most people seem to workout in a comfortable fashion hardly building up a sweat.
People who work the hardest from my experience are weight lifters in backstreet gyms. Is it fashionable to go to the gym? i dont think so, its fashionable to look healthy, whether you acheive it in the gym or sports.
Anyone that goes to the gym to be fashionable is a of the highest order! IMHO only of course!
Stop bringing your fking mobile phone into the gym, you shouldn't have the breath to talk or energy to text!
If you're going to run on the treadmill, wear running shoes you prick, not fking plimsoles or Stan fking Smiths! And don't just run at 80-90% for 5 minutes; you will get 0 benefit and you look like a wr!
If you're going to lift weights at least know what muscles you're supposed to be working! Don't 'swing' the heaviest dumbells you can lift up to your shoulder thinking you are working your biceps you cock-jockey!
Do not wear a fking beanie hat in the gym unless you're wearing a full sweat-suit and pounding out a few miles on the treadmill (not that I can really see a benefit to that either, long term)! If you're cold, work fking harder!
And don't come to the gym, do nine tenths of fk all and then have a protein shake on the way out while chatting to your mates about the course of Creatine you've just started! 1 chicken fking dipper from KFC would provide enough protein to repair your barely worked muscles and the batter would provide the energy you've just used!
Other than that, people are free to do as they like. They pay their membership so what difference does it make.....;)
of the highest order! IMHO only of course! Stop bringing your fking mobile phone into the gym, you shouldn't have the breath to talk or energy to text! If you're going to run on the treadmill, wear running shoes you prick, not f
king plimsoles or Stan fking Smiths! And don't just run at 80-90% for 5 minutes; you will get 0 benefit and you look like a wr!If you're going to lift weights at least know what muscles you're supposed to be working! Don't 'swing' the heaviest dumbells you can lift up to your shoulder thinking you are working your biceps you cock-jockey!
Do not wear a f
king beanie hat in the gym unless you're wearing a full sweat-suit and pounding out a few miles on the treadmill (not that I can really see a benefit to that either, long term)! If you're cold, work fking harder!And don't come to the gym, do nine tenths of f
k all and then have a protein shake on the way out while chatting to your mates about the course of Creatine you've just started! 1 chicken fking dipper from KFC would provide enough protein to repair your barely worked muscles and the batter would provide the energy you've just used!Other than that, people are free to do as they like. They pay their membership so what difference does it make.....;)
roboxm3 said:
Anyone that goes to the gym to be fashionable is a of the highest order! IMHO only of course!
Stop bringing your fking mobile phone into the gym, you shouldn't have the breath to talk or energy to text!
If you're going to run on the treadmill, wear running shoes you prick, not fking plimsoles or Stan fking Smiths! And don't just run at 80-90% for 5 minutes; you will get 0 benefit and you look like a wr!
If you're going to lift weights at least know what muscles you're supposed to be working! Don't 'swing' the heaviest dumbells you can lift up to your shoulder thinking you are working your biceps you cock-jockey!
Do not wear a fking beanie hat in the gym unless you're wearing a full sweat-suit and pounding out a few miles on the treadmill (not that I can really see a benefit to that either, long term)! If you're cold, work fking harder!
And don't come to the gym, do nine tenths of fk all and then have a protein shake on the way out while chatting to your mates about the course of Creatine you've just started! 1 chicken fking dipper from KFC would provide enough protein to repair your barely worked muscles and the batter would provide the energy you've just used!
Other than that, people are free to do as they like. They pay their membership so what difference does it make.....;)
... er gentle suggestion.. maybe limit your anabolic steroid count to just the three units for the next couple of weeks to ease down on the tension a notch .. of the highest order! IMHO only of course! Stop bringing your fking mobile phone into the gym, you shouldn't have the breath to talk or energy to text! If you're going to run on the treadmill, wear running shoes you prick, not f
king plimsoles or Stan fking Smiths! And don't just run at 80-90% for 5 minutes; you will get 0 benefit and you look like a wr!If you're going to lift weights at least know what muscles you're supposed to be working! Don't 'swing' the heaviest dumbells you can lift up to your shoulder thinking you are working your biceps you cock-jockey!
Do not wear a f
king beanie hat in the gym unless you're wearing a full sweat-suit and pounding out a few miles on the treadmill (not that I can really see a benefit to that either, long term)! If you're cold, work fking harder!And don't come to the gym, do nine tenths of f
k all and then have a protein shake on the way out while chatting to your mates about the course of Creatine you've just started! 1 chicken fking dipper from KFC would provide enough protein to repair your barely worked muscles and the batter would provide the energy you've just used!Other than that, people are free to do as they like. They pay their membership so what difference does it make.....;)
Balls to health clubs, what with the Credit Crunch and oil prices, CYCLING is the new gym! The cycle to work scheme is about the only way you can legitimately get money back from El Gordo's evil tax regime too!
Look - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/forum.asp?h=0...
Pistonheads even has its own forum on the subject (where do you think all the people who are panic selling their GT3s and Gallardos have gone!)
Owning a bike (or three
) is a fantastic way to spend money, er, I mean get fit!
Look - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/forum.asp?h=0...
Pistonheads even has its own forum on the subject (where do you think all the people who are panic selling their GT3s and Gallardos have gone!)
Owning a bike (or three
) is a fantastic way to spend money, er, I mean get fit!YZF600R said:
I used to do gyms, but no more. The first one I would do 2x 1.5 hour sessions in the gym per week (mix of cardio/weights). Second one I hated the gym so spent the time in the pool/jacuzzi/sauna!
I now do 6 (daily) x 40 minute sessions with free weights at home. Have to be quite strict about it to keep to it. I do a muscle group per day, aiming for 2-3 times a week per muscle group.
Have put on about 6lbs too (5lbs off initial target) and muscle tone has improved dramatically, but can do much better. I'm going for more Daniel Craig than the Arnie look. (!).
2-3 times per week for each muscle group, I would say is a bit much. A lot of programmes Ive seen advise to work on each muscle group once per week. Some form of 3 day split is well regarded:I now do 6 (daily) x 40 minute sessions with free weights at home. Have to be quite strict about it to keep to it. I do a muscle group per day, aiming for 2-3 times a week per muscle group.
Have put on about 6lbs too (5lbs off initial target) and muscle tone has improved dramatically, but can do much better. I'm going for more Daniel Craig than the Arnie look. (!).
Day 1 - chest/shoulders/triceps
Day 2 - cardio
Day 3 - back/biceps
Day 4 - cardio
Day 5 - legs/abs
Day 6 - rest
Day 7 - back to start
Your body only builds muscle when its resting and has the right fuel (ie carbs and protein). 2-3 times a week may be overtraining and limiting your gains.
Not saying what your doing is wrong because you are making gains, but this is the advice I have seen and taken from forums like MyProtein / MuscleTalk etc...
drivin_me_nuts said:
roboxm3 said:
Anyone that goes to the gym to be fashionable is a of the highest order! IMHO only of course!
Stop bringing your fking mobile phone into the gym, you shouldn't have the breath to talk or energy to text!
If you're going to run on the treadmill, wear running shoes you prick, not fking plimsoles or Stan fking Smiths! And don't just run at 80-90% for 5 minutes; you will get 0 benefit and you look like a wr!
If you're going to lift weights at least know what muscles you're supposed to be working! Don't 'swing' the heaviest dumbells you can lift up to your shoulder thinking you are working your biceps you cock-jockey!
Do not wear a fking beanie hat in the gym unless you're wearing a full sweat-suit and pounding out a few miles on the treadmill (not that I can really see a benefit to that either, long term)! If you're cold, work fking harder!
And don't come to the gym, do nine tenths of fk all and then have a protein shake on the way out while chatting to your mates about the course of Creatine you've just started! 1 chicken fking dipper from KFC would provide enough protein to repair your barely worked muscles and the batter would provide the energy you've just used!
Other than that, people are free to do as they like. They pay their membership so what difference does it make.....;)
... er gentle suggestion.. maybe limit your anabolic steroid count to just the three units for the next couple of weeks to ease down on the tension a notch .. of the highest order! IMHO only of course! Stop bringing your fking mobile phone into the gym, you shouldn't have the breath to talk or energy to text! If you're going to run on the treadmill, wear running shoes you prick, not f
king plimsoles or Stan fking Smiths! And don't just run at 80-90% for 5 minutes; you will get 0 benefit and you look like a wr!If you're going to lift weights at least know what muscles you're supposed to be working! Don't 'swing' the heaviest dumbells you can lift up to your shoulder thinking you are working your biceps you cock-jockey!
Do not wear a f
king beanie hat in the gym unless you're wearing a full sweat-suit and pounding out a few miles on the treadmill (not that I can really see a benefit to that either, long term)! If you're cold, work fking harder!And don't come to the gym, do nine tenths of f
k all and then have a protein shake on the way out while chatting to your mates about the course of Creatine you've just started! 1 chicken fking dipper from KFC would provide enough protein to repair your barely worked muscles and the batter would provide the energy you've just used!Other than that, people are free to do as they like. They pay their membership so what difference does it make.....;)
I train 5 times a week most weeks and have done since i was 16/17.....im now 25 so as you can probably guess im a decent size. I find it soooo annoying when you get people turning up that are clearly there for all the wrong reaons. January 2nd tends to be a day i refuse to go to my local gym, its full of people who have set new goals for the year and wanna get fit and shed the christmas fat.....thats fine i understand that but come january 16th half of them have already quit or are comming once a week and doing a weak workout only comming to justify there monthly charge. People definetly use the gym as some kinda of cool statement.....if your not gonna work your ass off in the gym, please DON'T bother comming as you are just getting in the way of people like me who are there to "work" not chat. The amount of skinny pencil necked geeky office men that go to the weight sections to "get buff" and have no clue what they are doing is quite frankly an embarassment. They lift with all the wrong form (fu*king there backs up) grunt and scream when pushing weights (really not neccessary) and then when done with a set stand around for 10 mins talking crap to there mate beside them taking up the weight benchs etc. I even had one guy come up to me in the gym and complain i was putting the weights down to loudly? you must be stting me? try putting a 46kg dumbell down lightly when your on your own! and like a previous poster said they then stand around in the changing room discussing what protien shakes they are on and what body groups they plan to blast the next day before going home and actually acheieving nothing. Hilarious!
If you constantly talk about going to the gym, here is the free tip, go! and do your workouts properly otherwise when you look the same or even fatter in 6 months people will just look at you and think your a c*nt. :0)
tting me? try putting a 46kg dumbell down lightly when your on your own! and like a previous poster said they then stand around in the changing room discussing what protien shakes they are on and what body groups they plan to blast the next day before going home and actually acheieving nothing. Hilarious!If you constantly talk about going to the gym, here is the free tip, go! and do your workouts properly otherwise when you look the same or even fatter in 6 months people will just look at you and think your a c*nt. :0)
Munter said:
carter711 said:
I have been going the gym regularly over the last year and a half and really enjoy it, i'm much stronger than i used to be, before i joined the gym i couldn't lift 60kg off the rack (bench) now im doing sets of 5 on 90kg, BEEFCAKE!!
when I did my induction the lass looked me up and down and as I'm fairly slim seemed to think I was a lot stronger than I am. She put some weight on the leg press thing and said have a go at that..... Err yeah actually I cant even move that nevermind 16 reps... I can only lift 12.5 KG, the OH whos not slim is lifting 30.... Never thought about it being fashionable to get down the gym, but I always thought of it as being an entertaining and sociable thing to do.
But I have wondered about some people. You see a few heffers down there, and kudos to them for actually getting down the gym in the first place (can be a huge mental barrier for a lard ass to get down there), but over a period of time they rarely seem to obviously improve.
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