Gym fitness vs real world fitness
Discussion
For most of my adult life since leaving higher education I have kept myself fit, either out biking or in the gym, so plenty of cardio and weights. Probably not as fit or as powerfully built as some on here, but fitter than the average white collar office dwelling bear.
For the last week, I have been doing some outdoors manual work. Oh. My. God. There is no part of me that doesn't hurt. Not only do I feel like I have been run over by a truck, but after knocking me down, the driver got out and spent some time jumping up and down on me.
Could save a fortune on gym fees by working outdoors more!
For the last week, I have been doing some outdoors manual work. Oh. My. God. There is no part of me that doesn't hurt. Not only do I feel like I have been run over by a truck, but after knocking me down, the driver got out and spent some time jumping up and down on me.
Could save a fortune on gym fees by working outdoors more!
Ken Sington said:
For most of my adult life since leaving higher education I have kept myself fit, either out biking or in the gym, so plenty of cardio and weights. Probably not as fit or as powerfully built as some on here, but fitter than the average white collar office dwelling bear.
For the last week, I have been doing some outdoors manual work. Oh. My. God. There is no part of me that doesn't hurt. Not only do I feel like I have been run over by a truck, but after knocking me down, the driver got out and spent some time jumping up and down on me.
Could save a fortune on gym fees by working outdoors more!
Haha - different sort of 'training' though. You may gain some strength doing outdoor work (depending on what it is) and you'll definitely burn a lot of calories but you won't get 'big'.For the last week, I have been doing some outdoors manual work. Oh. My. God. There is no part of me that doesn't hurt. Not only do I feel like I have been run over by a truck, but after knocking me down, the driver got out and spent some time jumping up and down on me.
Could save a fortune on gym fees by working outdoors more!
I had to knock a wall down over the space of 3 evenings and then carting a few MT of rubble. I found that my gym work helped but I did really suffer from some kind of tendon/overuse pain in my arm. I'm not sure whether it was the sledgehammer vibrating over and over causing it, maybe the jarring effect? Or possibly because I've not used my arms in that way?
So I'd see outdoor manual labour as more of a calorie burner than a strength trainer.
Aye. It's just working different muscles. Also, it's more higher rep stuff even if you're using the same muscles so you're more likely to feel it afterwards.
If you're normally a gym dweller, try gymnastics (think rings and parallel bars). Or rock climbing. Even if you've been training hard in the gym, you'll still feel it the next day.
If you're normally a gym dweller, try gymnastics (think rings and parallel bars). Or rock climbing. Even if you've been training hard in the gym, you'll still feel it the next day.
I did mainly weights and running i wasnt exactly super fit or anything but i was ok.
Then earlier this year I started doing a few circuit classes just for a bit of a change. Feck me sideways they were really hard. Not only on the cardio side of things but using muscles in a different way to.
I think you just get used to doing whatever it is you do.
Then earlier this year I started doing a few circuit classes just for a bit of a change. Feck me sideways they were really hard. Not only on the cardio side of things but using muscles in a different way to.
I think you just get used to doing whatever it is you do.
I recently invited this guy in my gym who honed his fitness in the gym and is ripped to shreds to our weekly basketball game. He thought it would be a walk in the park...
He was wheezing after about 15 mins into the game. Lifting big weights and doing low intensity cardio does not prepare you for a 5 on 5 basketball full court game non stop for 1.5 hours.
He was wheezing after about 15 mins into the game. Lifting big weights and doing low intensity cardio does not prepare you for a 5 on 5 basketball full court game non stop for 1.5 hours.
As a farm boy and sometimes gym user I've had a foot in both camps.
Got to say I'm going to talk about free weights as opposed to machines.
I think on balance weight training helps in couple of ways - it teaches you how to lift heavy things properly, - straight back, using your legs etc. Plus encourages balance, ie you train both right & left to equal strength points. This encourages / helps in a more ambidextrous approach.
For example I can use a shovel, a broom, a heavy hammer, happily in both hands, meaning when I tire, I can swap over.
Gym work does tend to develop explosive strength, and hard work is more a fitness thing.
Real world stuff however isn't usually shaped like a dumb bell / bar bell, a hundred weight sack o' corn or a oddly shaped rock are different kind of lifts.
On balance I'd say the gym is useful in making you stronger, but I'd always advise working on body balance so you don't cheat favouring one stronger limb, as in real world lifting heavy objects situations it's that imbalance that can get you into trouble.
In fact balance in terms of ypga, gymnastic type things and basic stuff like pistols squats and body strength exercises are good.
Got to say I'm going to talk about free weights as opposed to machines.
I think on balance weight training helps in couple of ways - it teaches you how to lift heavy things properly, - straight back, using your legs etc. Plus encourages balance, ie you train both right & left to equal strength points. This encourages / helps in a more ambidextrous approach.
For example I can use a shovel, a broom, a heavy hammer, happily in both hands, meaning when I tire, I can swap over.
Gym work does tend to develop explosive strength, and hard work is more a fitness thing.
Real world stuff however isn't usually shaped like a dumb bell / bar bell, a hundred weight sack o' corn or a oddly shaped rock are different kind of lifts.
On balance I'd say the gym is useful in making you stronger, but I'd always advise working on body balance so you don't cheat favouring one stronger limb, as in real world lifting heavy objects situations it's that imbalance that can get you into trouble.
In fact balance in terms of ypga, gymnastic type things and basic stuff like pistols squats and body strength exercises are good.
Interesting topic. My partner claims he is fitter than me as we have started going for walks in the evening (3-4 miles) and as soon as we come across a hill with any type of incline I start breathing quite heavily.
His job is manual labour 7-8 hrs a day (sometimes longer) and he does no other fitness activites after work.
I work in an office, however I go to fitness classes each week which include Spinning, Kettlebells, Swimming, Dance and the occasional Bootcamp and I think my fitness is of quite a good level.
I know it's hard to compare Man v's Woman but I refuse to admit he is fitter than I am!
His job is manual labour 7-8 hrs a day (sometimes longer) and he does no other fitness activites after work.
I work in an office, however I go to fitness classes each week which include Spinning, Kettlebells, Swimming, Dance and the occasional Bootcamp and I think my fitness is of quite a good level.
I know it's hard to compare Man v's Woman but I refuse to admit he is fitter than I am!
kit_kat said:
Interesting topic. My partner claims he is fitter than me as we have started going for walks in the evening (3-4 miles) and as soon as we come across a hill with any type of incline I start breathing quite heavily.
His job is manual labour 7-8 hrs a day (sometimes longer) and he does no other fitness activites after work.
I work in an office, however I go to fitness classes each week which include Spinning, Kettlebells, Swimming, Dance and the occasional Bootcamp and I think my fitness is of quite a good level.
I know it's hard to compare Man v's Woman but I refuse to admit he is fitter than I am!
Either start doing hill sprinting or lots of weighted lunges in the gym. That should improve your fitness for hillwalking.His job is manual labour 7-8 hrs a day (sometimes longer) and he does no other fitness activites after work.
I work in an office, however I go to fitness classes each week which include Spinning, Kettlebells, Swimming, Dance and the occasional Bootcamp and I think my fitness is of quite a good level.
I know it's hard to compare Man v's Woman but I refuse to admit he is fitter than I am!
Reminds me - on Saturday, I was exploring the area around Wimbledon Park (where they play tennis) and we were dragging ourselves up a really steep hill when some lass (who'd clearly done it before) ran straight past as at a decent pace... and then walked back down. Awesome.
kit_kat said:
Interesting topic. My partner claims he is fitter than me as we have started going for walks in the evening (3-4 miles) and as soon as we come across a hill with any type of incline I start breathing quite heavily.
His job is manual labour 7-8 hrs a day (sometimes longer) and he does no other fitness activites after work.
I work in an office, however I go to fitness classes each week which include Spinning, Kettlebells, Swimming, Dance and the occasional Bootcamp and I think my fitness is of quite a good level.
I know it's hard to compare Man v's Woman but I refuse to admit he is fitter than I am!
It comes back to "Fit for what?". You'll probably perform better than him at the activities you do at the gym. He'll perform better than you at manual labour. "Fitness" isn't a linear scale, it's very much activity specific.His job is manual labour 7-8 hrs a day (sometimes longer) and he does no other fitness activites after work.
I work in an office, however I go to fitness classes each week which include Spinning, Kettlebells, Swimming, Dance and the occasional Bootcamp and I think my fitness is of quite a good level.
I know it's hard to compare Man v's Woman but I refuse to admit he is fitter than I am!
For example, I'm a competitive runner but get me doing gym-work and I'm rubbish. I'm "fit for distance running".
ewenm said:
kit_kat said:
Interesting topic. My partner claims he is fitter than me as we have started going for walks in the evening (3-4 miles) and as soon as we come across a hill with any type of incline I start breathing quite heavily.
His job is manual labour 7-8 hrs a day (sometimes longer) and he does no other fitness activites after work.
I work in an office, however I go to fitness classes each week which include Spinning, Kettlebells, Swimming, Dance and the occasional Bootcamp and I think my fitness is of quite a good level.
I know it's hard to compare Man v's Woman but I refuse to admit he is fitter than I am!
It comes back to "Fit for what?". You'll probably perform better than him at the activities you do at the gym. He'll perform better than you at manual labour. "Fitness" isn't a linear scale, it's very much activity specific.His job is manual labour 7-8 hrs a day (sometimes longer) and he does no other fitness activites after work.
I work in an office, however I go to fitness classes each week which include Spinning, Kettlebells, Swimming, Dance and the occasional Bootcamp and I think my fitness is of quite a good level.
I know it's hard to compare Man v's Woman but I refuse to admit he is fitter than I am!
For example, I'm a competitive runner but get me doing gym-work and I'm rubbish. I'm "fit for distance running".
Likewise, I'd get out of puff running for the bus but indoor climbing sessions last 4-6 hours.BettySwollocks2 said:
its just cos its different, as most have mentioned.
Ive been weight training and running 15k a week for whole of winter then played tennis last night for the first time this year, man does my entire right arm hurt! even tho its used to lifting weight 3 to 4 times a week
except it's not, it's just circuit training with weight lifting included but well marketed Ive been weight training and running 15k a week for whole of winter then played tennis last night for the first time this year, man does my entire right arm hurt! even tho its used to lifting weight 3 to 4 times a week
Machines are a problem because they limit and control the weights movements, where free weights mean *you* have to control it, which is closer to real world, as is using them in conjunction with body weight, balance and flexibility exercise.
Also if you can work individual limbs individually you'll get more useful results.
Also if you can work individual limbs individually you'll get more useful results.
egor110 said:
There's no consistency though, if i go to the gym and run on a treadmill up a hill and increase the elevation i'd be better at the end of the month.
If i go to crossfit, i might run only twice in a month.
Good crossfitters are well rounded strength/endurance athletes, I think most underestimate them and take the piss. But at the end of the day, they usually look better, are stronger and fitter than most other gym goers.If i go to crossfit, i might run only twice in a month.
didelydoo said:
Good crossfitters are well rounded strength/endurance athletes, I think most underestimate them and take the piss. But at the end of the day, they usually look better, are stronger and fitter than most other gym goers.
But how many of them got that way just doing crossfit?A family member teaches at a crossfit box and they all look fit and healthy, yet they all looked like that before they started.
I'm not taking the piss i just don't get how having no consistency allows you to get bigger? Even like just doing squats for a month 3 times a week you'd improve but you'd never get to do it that regularly at crossfit.
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