Okay, a question about getting into shape...

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I'm already in decent shape (don't need to lose any weight) but I want to become healthier and (call me shallow) attract better looking potential mates.

Honestly, I'm concerned with exercise that will pay off aesthetically, I don't want to be working hard and not getting any visible results...

I'm a very non-technical person and I find going to the gym overwhelming and not a lot of fun. (But I would go if it is the best way to go about it, and I had a simple plan)

What are some effective and simple exercises or some nutritional tips (protein shakes?) that I should get into?

Is it as easy as eating right and doing consistent aerobic exercise and maybe push-ups and crunches everyday?

I'm sorry if this question has been asked a thousand times.

― Colin_C., Monday, 2 April 2007 03:23 (seventeen years ago) link

drink a lot of water. it's great for muscle tone, among other things.

― get bent, Monday, 2 April 2007 03:32 (seventeen years ago) link

I tend to think the best exercises are push-ups and crunches - I think they give you the most "naturally fit" rather than "I take body sculpting classes" look. If you do that plus say run, bike, or do other regular physical activity that'll probably go a long way. Maybe get some free weights, not ridiculously heavy, and do bicep curls, tricep extensions, shoulder presses, stuff like that. Try to do a lower ab exercise too if possible.

― Hurting 2, Monday, 2 April 2007 03:32 (seventeen years ago) link

I have gotten pretty good results by walking on a treadmill at home 3 times a week (I worked up to 5 miles per session) - I usually watch movies while I do this to keep my mind off the fact that it takes a while and I'm also working hard and sweating.

I also lift weights twice a week and have worked up from 3 pound to 12 pound weights (since I'm female I will probably not go much higher than 15 pound weights, but I'm guessing you're a guy from your name). I find having a video to follow helps me stay on track; I use Kathy Smith's _Lift Weights to Lose Weight_ (even though I don't want to lose weight any more). It has a 20 minute upper body workout, a 20 minute lower body, and a 7 or 8 minute abs routine.

Food: I eat whatever I want, but I'm 35 and my metabolism has slowed down some in the last few years. Eating a handful of nuts for a snack instead of something unhealthy is what I'm trying to switch to...

Whatever you do, you have to make a committment to stick to your routine for a while to see a difference. (...and now I will shut up, because I sound like a health nut informercial.)

― Sara R-C, Monday, 2 April 2007 03:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Protein shakes are silly unless you want to really beef up. Best thing to do is maintain a reasonable calorie intake and eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Find healthy things that are tasty to you and stick to them (for me this includes grilled chicken, peanut butter, leafy greens, olive oil, garlic) Keep the meat and dairy consumption down, and avoid processed foods as much as you can. Avoid sugar. I'd recommend cutting a few things completely, even though you're not trying to lose weight - soda, french fries, fast food in general.

― Hurting 2, Monday, 2 April 2007 04:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Yoga could be good too - and it'd get you a step closer to meeting attractive mates, since those classes tend to have a lot of fit women in them and not many men.

― Hurting 2, Monday, 2 April 2007 04:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Road cycling is great for getting into shape. Even though all car drivers will automatically start hating you. That's a bit of a downer.

― Drooone, Monday, 2 April 2007 04:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Car drivers are only guaranteed to hate you if you cut them off or bang on their windows (ie, you are a bike courier).

― HI DERE, Monday, 2 April 2007 04:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Nope, even if you obey the road rules they hate you.

― Drooone, Monday, 2 April 2007 04:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Best thing to do is hire a trainer for two times a week, do cardio twice a week on top of that and one day of yoga on the weekend. You'll go for the trainer cuz you paid; the yoga will feel great. The hard part is the cardio.

― forksclovetofu, Monday, 2 April 2007 07:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Endurance sports are the best ones: swimming cycling and running (or walking). They will make you superhealthy in no time. I picked swimming because, despite it not being a very fun sport for me, it's with the least risk (as far as I know) since I'm pregnant. I intend to keep swimming until I pop my baby out. Then I'll have to wait a few weeks and then I'll go right back to it.

Protein shakes and a protein diet is a bit silly if you don't really want to lose weight. They recommend a protein diet because it makes you lose fat and replace it with muscle (or something, sure someone will be able to correct me). They are opponents but I think it's not such a crap diet. I mean, they suggest you cut out carbs and eat a lot of protein and veggies. (That said, I think they say you have to cut down on fruits?!?)

Yoga is a lot less about losing weight, more about toning, right?

Sadly my eating habits are crap due to extreme morning sickness. I feel awful and *comfort food sprt of helps. :-(

― nathalie, Monday, 2 April 2007 07:16 (seventeen years ago) link

I bike commute to work everyday. That way, I get a daily workout no matter what. I used to go to the gym once a week as well, but I stopped that. The gym can work well, but I've found it too easy to blow off. As everyone always says, it's most important that you make exercise part of your routine. That's why I recommend biking to work. It'll save you money and do a little good for the world too.

― Super Cub, Monday, 2 April 2007 08:33 (seventeen years ago) link

strongo's ex-treme workoutz

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 2 April 2007 08:34 (seventeen years ago) link

wow, that didn't work at all

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 2 April 2007 08:35 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.ilxor.com:8080/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=40&threadid=52645

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 2 April 2007 08:35 (seventeen years ago) link

I actually cycle to my swimming class. My husband roffled that I should jog back home after it so I'm doing an amateurish triathlon. heh. It takes me about 30 minutes to get to the pool.

― nathalie, Monday, 2 April 2007 08:40 (seventeen years ago) link

go swimming...

since I've been swimming regularly, people (mainly aunties, sister, gf) say "you look great!". then I think "yes and I feel absolutely SHIT".

― Ronan, Monday, 2 April 2007 10:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Bloody stupid bike keeps getting a puncture and I'm too bloody busy at work to go get it fixed :-( :-(

― the next grozart, Monday, 2 April 2007 10:51 (seventeen years ago) link

(not that I can't fix the puncture, but 4 of the fuckers on the same wheel in two weeks is taking the piss).

― the next grozart, Monday, 2 April 2007 10:51 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah, i thought exercising was supposed to make you feel good, instead i am sore and achey all over

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 2 April 2007 11:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Wah? I feel GREBT when I've been swimming. Sure, I'm sore the next couple of days but a couple hours after the swim I feel on top of the world.

― nathalie, Monday, 2 April 2007 11:46 (seventeen years ago) link

yes I think this is usually the case. it doesn't cure medical conditions though.

― Ronan, Monday, 2 April 2007 11:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Brisk walks in a beautiful place, preferably with a dog. If you don't have a dog surely a neighbor would welcome you walking THEIR dog. Puppies especially attact women. Plus the things you notice on your walks will entertain you and give you something to talk about to all the women thus reeled in by the doggy.

― Beth Parker, Monday, 2 April 2007 11:58 (seventeen years ago) link

since I'm female I will probably not go much higher than 15 pound weights, but I'm guessing you're a guy from your name

please don't think this, okay? you can totally go over 15 lbs, any woman can. it won't cause "bulking" - it takes A LOT of really hard work and nutritional maintenance for anyone to get massive let alone for women to get bulked/'masculine'-looking. if the focus is on maintaining muscle strength and endurance rather than getting hueg, one can still lift a lot to challenge the muscles. i mean, i lift weights and do pushups and things (and am not in the gym all the time either, at all) so i can, y'know, carry big things of cat litter in my backpack and help people move and stuff. but hey, it also makes you look good and protects your bones.)

anyway, i get ranty about this kind of thing. here is a really good site, aimed at women but still good for men to read: http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/index.php

so yeah, i echo the advice that if you're into aesthetics and already slim, to focus on resistance work, that is, weights (do mostly compound exercises - squats, deadlifts, chest press, cleans - which you can do with a simple bar or dumbbells at home) and pushups, ab & back work, challenging yoga - and do whatever cardio you enjoy (b/c cardio endurance is some good stuff to have in yr back pocket, y'know, for when the zombies come)

― rrrobyn, Monday, 2 April 2007 14:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Yoga is a lot less about losing weight, more about toning, right?

yoga is actually about balance and endurance and focus (in all senses, mind, body, spirit, etc)

(sorry abt being a bit of an asshole this morning but y'know...)

― rrrobyn, Monday, 2 April 2007 14:50 (seventeen years ago) link

i mean, but yeah, yoga is also good for weight loss as well as toning

― rrrobyn, Monday, 2 April 2007 14:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Grrrrrobyn, don't worry, I can take it. ;-) I meant, in comparison to for example aerobics. I am very tempted to do some yoga. Seems to be good if you're *preggers*. heh

― nathalie, Monday, 2 April 2007 14:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Arbyn, smacking us with some science!

― Laurel, Monday, 2 April 2007 14:53 (seventeen years ago) link

haha

yeah, do a prenatal yoga class, nat! i hear they are v gentle and relaxing.
i can't wait to be pregnant and swimming.

― rrrobyn, Monday, 2 April 2007 15:05 (seventeen years ago) link

please don't think this, okay? you can totally go over 15 lbs, any woman can. it won't cause "bulking"

No, no - I'm not worried about getting bulky (and if you saw my pathetic little muscles you'd know why); it's two things - 1. the more weight I lift, the slower I seem to go (which I know would speed up eventually, but right now I'm in school) and 2. I'm really lazy and still find the 12 pound weights awfully heavy for some lifts. I kind of wish my arms would bulk a bit more... they look okay, but I think they would look better with more definition. (I suppose tanning would help the appearance some, but that doesn't work well when you're clown white.)

I also wish my abs looked better, but I can't find a way to work in more workout time during the week because of school and family. (Abs don't look that bad, but after two kids, lower abs have an annoying "pooch" of flab...)

― Sara R-C, Monday, 2 April 2007 15:16 (seventeen years ago) link

I hate going to the gym too, but I go for classes because I find it easier to get motivated than trying to build up the will to plod away on a treadmill. The keys to success for me have been:

Gym two minutes from work
Lunchtime classes (so no precious post-work time is taken up)
Non-sweaty exercise - yoga and pilates - so I don't have to shower before going back to work
Going with a friend from work, which means it's more fun and we give each other a shove when laziness sets in
Classes I enjoy and got better at pretty quickly

I walk home from work as fast as I can and that sorts out my aerobic needs. It takes the same amount of time as waiting for and then sitting on the bus.

Thing is, what works for me isn't necessarily going to work for anyone else. Trial and error, innit? Unfortunately it took me 31 years to find an exercise regime I'm happy with.

― Madchen, Monday, 2 April 2007 15:44 (seventeen years ago) link

yoga man roll call

― river wolf, Monday, 2 April 2007 15:50 (seventeen years ago) link

rock climbing is also A+++ if you have access to it (which, admittedly, most ppl don't). much like yoga in terms of balance (technique gets you further than brute strength, with the added benefits of doing fun shit outside. also: approach hikes with 30+ lb packs are good cardio.

― river wolf, Monday, 2 April 2007 15:53 (seventeen years ago) link

but yeah: do yoga and ride a bike and go swimming sometimes. that should really do it for *health*. if you want fabulous muscles, then do freeweights.

― river wolf, Monday, 2 April 2007 15:54 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah, i was thinking that if you're doing the kathy smith workout, you're probably doing high repetitions? in which case, it's takes a long time to move on to lifting heavier and heavier weights (which are more ideal for the 6-10 rep range). i mean, as long as you're actually lifting weights! a lot of people don't do it in the first place!

i do lower reps and heavier weights and compound exercises (+ biceps/triceps/calves) pretty much b/c i want my workout done in 45 min (incl abs/lower back, which i do before everything else) - i do some of these http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/meriam/ + some other lower ab ones, vary it up.

ok and srsly, if you want nice arms and shoulders and yes, abs, do full pushups - when i started i could srsly only do 1, but now i can do 8-10 in a row (ooh haha i know - but you can't fight centre of gravity/hips) - it's good to start building strength and balance for pushups by doing just the lowering part of the pushup, focusing on holding your 'core'/abs tight - like, make a plank with your body (which is also a good exercise in itself) and then lower yourself down.

xpostland of rants

hiking uphill in forest with heavy pack is totally ideal to me but i am not west coast or mtn livin anymore :(

― rrrobyn, Monday, 2 April 2007 15:56 (seventeen years ago) link

oh the plank one is great. just make a little triangle on the floor with yr forearms, stretch out(push back through yr heels) and try to hang out for as long as possible

― river wolf, Monday, 2 April 2007 15:58 (seventeen years ago) link

definitely try the yoga/cardio combo. i do a 90 minute hatha vinyasa class a few times a week, and i feel like it's a great balance for the running i do the rest of the time. if you want to move more quicly, try an ashtanga class.

― lauren, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:02 (seventeen years ago) link

I started doing machine weights at the gym awhile back, I don't think I actually expected to see much difference but after a few months I was like "holy shit, muscles?". I just do that and running/elliptical and it works for me.

― Jordan, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:02 (seventeen years ago) link

good to do it sideways in front of a mirror to, to make sure body is actually plank-like and bum is not sticking up. if in a yoga class, e.g., the instructor will point this out 'lower your bum!'. which is fun. so yeah, better to get it solid before that happens.
xpost to plank

― rrrobyn, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:02 (seventeen years ago) link

OMG I forgot about that pose, you recommended it like a year ago. I will do tonight while falling asleep, I mean, watching tv.

― Laurel, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:02 (seventeen years ago) link

i need to concentrate more on my upper body strength -- i don't spend enough time per week in the weight room. my gym workouts are always some combination of treadmill/bike/elliptical, but there's a limited amount of machines for upper-body/chest/back/ab stuff, and i feel self-conscious using the free weights at the gym when everyone else looks so toned and athletic. push-ups and sit-ups are hard for me; i have boobs.

― get bent, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:09 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost to rrrobyn/ everyone talking about push-ups -

Yes, I am doing high reps, lower weights; just trying to get more toned. Also I do it because I broke my wrist and shattered my elbow in 2002 and I'm trying to keep my arm in better shape. I'm actually considering piano lessons to improve strenght and dexterity in my left hand.

Wrt pushups, I'm so slowly building up to full ones; I used to push against a wall at an angle, so at least now I'm down on the floor - but with knees up. I think I overcompensate for the weirdness in my left elbow by tensing up my right shoulder while doing push-ups, which is probably part of why I always have a stiff neck.

I'm so envious of everyone doing yoga!

― Sara R-C, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:15 (seventeen years ago) link

whoa, i broke my wrist in 2002! (but not elbow, whoa.) it did not help in being able to do pushups, that's for sure. piano lessons or even guitar, totally good idea!

jbr - do you know anyone who could be your gym partner for weights stuff? having a partner shifts really helps if you're feeling self-conscious and/or if gym is full of grunting guys.
i am all about the free weights, but can be convinced of the uses of certain machines, e.g., lat pulldown.
i still say, from one boobed person to another, try the push-ups/plank.

― rrrobyn, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:18 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm kind of scared of free weights, just because I don't feel like I know the right exercises to do and I fucked up my neck/back once doing them.

― Jordan, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:22 (seventeen years ago) link

rrrobyn - yes, the broken bones sucked; plus I was 7 months pregnant at the time! (Someday I'll post a pretty picture of this; I looked so ridiculous).

Jordan - could you hire a personal trainer to help you, even just for a couple of sessions?

― Sara R-C, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:28 (seventeen years ago) link

jordan: free weights are actually safer, in the long run, because they recruit other muscle groups for balance, etc., instead of just working specific areas. start with really small ones and fuck the haters

― river wolf, Monday, 2 April 2007 18:27 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm kind of scared of free weights, just because I don't feel like I know the right exercises to do and I fucked up my neck/back once doing them

yup: reason #243 to have someone sort you out with a proper gym programme, even if it's only once every six months. any half-decent gym should have staff who can do this at no extra charge.

doing this sorted out all the issues i had with, as colin puts it, being overwhelmed by the gym and not finding it fun: in the first instance it gave me confidence (seriously: it's a big boost both mentally and physically to know that, even if you're lifting a pissy little weight, your technique's good) and in the second it gave me proper goals, rather than just turning up and going: "arse, how do i get fit?"

also, you learn a shitload of cool exercises that you're never gonna think of yourself, esp with the smith press/cable press/etc.

obviously, YMMV - and yeh, it's gonna depend on what the staff are like at your gym. but i know that if i hadn't been following programmes, i'd have given up years ago. as it stands, i actively enjoy going to the gym and have done for more than five years now.

― grimly fiendish, Monday, 2 April 2007 22:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, you guys are right, I bought my gym membership off someone else and never got my free trainer dingus. I bet they would do it if I asked.

― Jordan, Monday, 2 April 2007 22:29 (seventeen years ago) link

I like to put in a recommendation for a mostly cardio workout. I think its too silly to suggest that the only thing that attacts potential mates is a sculpted body. With a sculted body, what you'll probably attact are potential mates who are more overtly concerned with that. A mostly-cardio workout (and yes, get yourself to the point of sweating!) will give you a lot more energy, a "fit-looking" body, and a more positive mental outlook, which then helps attacts potential mates (or in my case, "mate") who are more interested in these types of things.

Also, if you are looking for noticeable results in, say, 3 weeks or so, get plastic surgery.

― peepee, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 00:46 (seventeen years ago) link

i just think you should do what suits your body - some people benefit more from cardio, some from weights - similar to foods - some people are fine with high-carb, some people not at all. gotta try things and see.
of course, i vote for a balance btwn all things, that's me though.

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 00:52 (seventeen years ago) link

I agree with rrobyn.

I joined a gym about a month ago - first time ever - and it's one of the BEST decisions I've made. I did it mainly to lose excess weight and tone up. I've cut out bread and most "bad" carbs, eat lots of protein and it's made a difference. Along with lots of cardio and three days of weights the excess fat's disappearing and I feel years younger.

― Capitaine Jay Vee, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 01:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Just here to agree with a few things:

-Trainer. If you are brand new to the gym experience, then a trainer is nigh indispensible in getting started. You could learn some things on your own, but it's as likely as not to end in frustration, poor form, injury, and giving up. You don't have to keep a trainer forever, but getting a package deal of...maybe 5 sessions or so would help you way more out of your efforts.

-Yoga. Great for everything. You feel all stretchy and supple, physically, and mentally you feel just plain better somehow. Plus, yes, it tones and strengthens and stretches, which is a boon for cardio and weights.

-Free weights are worth learning to use. Not only because in perfecting your form you more thoroughly work the muscle groups, but because barbells and dumbells are cheap and you can use them at home. Free weights give you some independence from the gym, so you can take a jog, and then fit in a couple of quick reps on days when you can't make it to the gym, or just don't wanna.

― Jesse, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 04:01 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I just gave myself a pep talk.

― Jesse, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 04:02 (seventeen years ago) link

How do you all find time to do the gym thing? I mean, getting there, getting changed, doing an actual serious workout, showering, getting changed again, getting back...that takes hours, doesn't it? Several times a week?

I should be doing a lot more than just running, especially because I'm gaining weight lately despite the running, but it just seems so time consuming for something that's not even enjoyable.

― Maria, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 04:31 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I've figured out what will work for me:

Skateboarding, and possibly going to my school's breakdancing association

Also, push-ups and crunches everyday

Occassional walks/hikes in the mountains and trips to the gym once in a while

(Basically, keep it fun)

I just remembered, I've been told that the younger you are the more cardio you should do and the older the more weights you should do...

― Colin_C., Tuesday, 3 April 2007 06:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Maria, hours? Hardly. Well, it takes me about two and half hours to go to the pool, swim and get back. Yoga would take less time. Or maybe the same amount of time. One needs to *invest* some time in health, y'know. ;-)

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 06:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Gosh, two and a half hours translates into, well, hours, doesn't it?

I used to sometimes nip in for a swim on my way to work, and will get back into this routine when I get back into a settled work routine. Nowadays I tend to go later in the evening, or straight after work, or in the mornings at weekends - some times when I can spare a little bit of time. Going little and often can work as well as taking a huge big chunk out of a day.

My gym is five minutes away from my house on the main road to most places that aren't my house, so I don't have to really factor in the travelling time. Choose somewhere local (if you have such a place).

― ailsa, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 07:28 (seventeen years ago) link

My gym is five mins away from my house too, but I still agree with Maria. By the time I've been and come back (including the time it takes to get my gym stuff together) it literally is at least two hours. A small price to pay? Maybe, but considering I tend to get home from work at 6pm, that's my whole evening gone, and I'm pretty busy as it is. As it happens I end up going in drips and drabs, one week in three I'll go four times a week and then not go for ages, which is rubbish really.

― the next grozart, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 08:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Gosh, two and a half hours translates into, well, hours, doesn't it?

Yes, I can do maths. I was tempted to swim in my bath but I can't get ahead as well in there compared to the pool. I like to do some cycling as well to up the amount of sports I do. Otherwise I'd just do half an hour and that's it. Not enough.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 08:56 (seventeen years ago) link

WTF @ baths in Belgium!

I take about an hour and a half for about 45 mins worth of exercise (including hair washing when necessary) - getting changed etc always seems to take way much longer than it should do, but I suppose leaving my office building, entering gym takes longer than expected as well. I generally go at lunchtimes, but if I can't I sometimes go after work. Now it's lighter it won't be so blah! Gym near my house is a nice idea, but I know that I wouldn't go regularly in the mornings, and once I've fought my way back through the journey home I would be in no mood to take up further time with the gym.

I second all the free weights recommendations btw. I haven't done any myself since I've started running though :( Once I get a bit better at running I might run twice a week and do weights once a week instead of run x3. When I was doing a full weights session though I'd usually be doing about 45 mins three times a week. BEEFCAKE. Although frankly I need to get rid of bodyfat as just a high priority as beefcaking.

― Sarah, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 09:39 (seventeen years ago) link

oh hey, i don't think i mentioned teh awesomeness and less-awesome pain of intervals esp if you're trying to lose body fat. they cut your cardio time down, if you don't have the time for it too. it's recommended that you still do a couple of long cardio sessions a week (like, even a long pleasant bike ride on the weekend) - i'm liking the longer runs so am going to keep that up. but yeah, so do 2 to 4 interval sessions a week.
this guy lays it out really well:
http://www.alwyncosgrove.com/Energy-System-Training.html

it is really hard though. i did a 20 min session this morning on the bike and was a sweaty mess, as if i'd run for 40 min. rad.

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:15 (seventeen years ago) link

sort of a similar idea is employed in some spinning and aerobics classes, esp the tae-bo inspired ones

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:17 (seventeen years ago) link

The gym needn't take hours. Once you get comfortable with it, you can do 20 min of cardio, and get all the weights done in another 20.

― Jesse, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:18 (seventeen years ago) link

I used to go to a Tread-Train class. It was BRUTAL, but in a good way. 20 minutes of intense guided treadmill. It was 1000x harder than I would ever work myself.

I was talking to a couple of co-workers about their gyms, and 1 guy said that his personal trainer said that if you don't throw up (or feel like it) after doing abs, you're not working hard enough. Another said that there was a gym in Seattle that for their personal training sessions would give you a free T-Shirt if you threw up.

― Jesse, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:21 (seventeen years ago) link

That's fucked up.

― Jordan, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:22 (seventeen years ago) link

i would make sure i threw up on them

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:24 (seventeen years ago) link

I think that's how impossibly perfect Hollywood bodies (and gay male gym bodies) are sculpted--through torture!

― Jesse, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

(I learned the term "gay male gym body" in my Religion and Gender class in college.)

― Jesse, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

cruelty-free abs

― Jordan, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

More like an exercise in self-extirpation. XXXP

― Laurel, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:28 (seventeen years ago) link

it's like a bulemic's dream - 'but the exercise made me throw up!'

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:29 (seventeen years ago) link

i would also be sure to throw up on the free t-shirt

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:29 (seventeen years ago) link

meh. i really dislike that macho, chest-beating, no pain no gain boot camp mentality, but on the other hand the people i know who are in excellent shape with good (not scary) muscles work like nobody's business.

― lauren, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:30 (seventeen years ago) link

It's not always macho masculinity, tho, it's that weird asceticism/self-denial/quest for purity, it's just extreme in a way that doesn't have as much gendered baggage. Err, yet. Cf also: the very large numbers of cyclists/vegetarians/vegans coming out of related scenes in NYC because WHOAH I hung out with Chicago kids this weekend and the ones you'd expect to be veg in NYC were chowing down on bacon and giant burgers at brunch and I was kind of shocked!

― Laurel, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:36 (seventeen years ago) link

you're right - definitely not always macho. actually the emblem of this ideal for me is the girl at my gym with six pack abs who is apparently always there, working out for hours at a time (in her sports bra) on the weirdest, most punishing cross-trainer/stairmaster hybrid in the place.

― lauren, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:38 (seventeen years ago) link

(seriously. i have seen burly men step off of that machine in frustration after two minutes.)

― lauren, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:39 (seventeen years ago) link

omg, yeah, that girl. i am way too much of a hedonist for that shit.
i think the main reason 'boot camp' type programs appeal to me is b/c they're outdoors.

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Yikes. Some people will make anything extreme -- reminds me of someone I know who doesn't exercise (prob for the best), but she does pursue beauty treatments/secrets like some kind of perfection is just around the corner...every time she tells me she's getting her hair cut or colored or buying a new perfume or product or getting another kind of facial, I find myself saying "well, I hope you like it/it makes you happy/it looks great!" and thinking to myself "GET OFF THE TREADMILL GET OFF GET OFF MAKE IT STOP"

― Laurel, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:45 (seventeen years ago) link

I dropped a big wad of cash and signed up for a full-year membership at the local gym the second week of March, and I've actually impressed myself by going on a regular basis since, i.e. doing at least an hour of cardio 5x to 6x per week, plus doing some basic weight training 3x per week.

It's been going well, but even with all the modern amenities (personal flatscreen tv on yr elliptical machine!? wtf) I'm going to have to diversify my activities because being in the gym environment so often is making me a little crazy.

― elmo argonaut, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:53 (seventeen years ago) link

my goal is to lose about 50lbs, which despite my progress thus far, seems horribly far away :( :(

― elmo argonaut, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Hey, nath, I wasn't accusing you of not being able to do maths, just suggesting that "oh it needn't take hours, just 2 1/2 of them" isn't really helpful in convincing Maria that going to the gym doesn't need to take up lots of time. 2 1/2 hours out of a busy commuting/social-life filled day is a lot of time, especially if you want lots of sleep and relaxation time too (this is why I go for short periods of time - when I get home from work I like to cook then eat and watch TV and do computery stuff and maybe see friends and whatever, and taking almost three hours out of the five or six hours I have to do that before going to bed on a regular basis = a huge ask).

I'm very far from "in shape" though, - perhaps if I spent longer in the gym and less in the pub, it'd help, but I still feel healthier and better for the time I do spend there (any of which is better than none), which is what I wanted to achieve.

― ailsa, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 17:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Any simple exercises I can do to strengthen my wrists? I mean, besides dumbbell extensions and curls, which have bulked up my upper forearms but not my wrists. Mostly, I'm looking to stabilize them so that I don't get tendinitis in them so easily when I type on a keyboard.

― Leee, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 17:01 (seventeen years ago) link

push-ups!
haha but it's true. pull-ups too probably. also, wrist twists (like, in a circle) and stretches and hand squeezes - i don't think you can build up the wrists per se as they are like ankles, a joint - so working on flexibility and the surrounding muscles is more key, i'd think?

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 17:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Leee, my dad is hard-core golfer and he has one of these:

http://www.gadgetuniverse.com/images/p0001182g.jpg

which he swears by for strengthening wrists. never got the hang of it myself, tho.

― elmo argonaut, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 17:13 (seventeen years ago) link

is it a glorified yo yo?

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 17:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah, those gyro-whosits! I've skeptically wondered about those for a long time, though maybe I should give it a shot.

rrrobyn, I've started doing these for the past ~2 weeks:

http://kbierek.powweb.com/shapefit-pics/forearms-exercises-dumbbell-wrist-flippers.gif

Is that what you mean by wrist twists?

I used to grab a bucketful of rice a few years ago (which has the twisty and squeezy action), but that just seemed to be a bad use of rice to me. I do have a pretty standard stretching routine that I follow ~~everytime I start on the computer~~ once in the morning.

I'll try to give pushups a shot again -- I had to stop in the past because of a wonky shoulder from bad bench-press form. ;_; So yeah, this is proper form for pushups, I gather?

― Leee, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 17:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Arg ILX 2.1 code argh: http://ar.essortment.com/pushupexercis_rwct.htm

― Leee, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 17:28 (seventeen years ago) link

i meant more like this stuff for wrists: http://www.will-harris.com/yoga/rsi10.html

re: pushups - i've heard that it's not always necessary to lower the chest all the way to the floor - though that is the complete push up and involves more muscles/strength/load - as with a chest press, you don't always have to lower the bar all the way to the chest

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 17:33 (seventeen years ago) link

I already do lazy variations of those wrist stretches.

As for pushups -- any advice on frequency and sets/reps? Do 'em everyday? 1 set of however many reps you can manage?

Thanx for advice!

― Leee, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 17:46 (seventeen years ago) link

My recommendation for any kind of weight-bearing exercise: do it as slowly as you can. Once you can do a dozen reps twice with a short break in between, move up a weight.

My worst nightmare has come true: gym pal has resigned and leaves in two weeks. After that I'm on my own, yikes!

― Madchen, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 19:45 (seventeen years ago) link

i started getting serious about exercise about a year and a half ago, i guess, and the initial transition was a tough one. basically my path was this:

a period of cardio (mainly treadmill) for 20 minutes, then 20 minutes of machine-weights.

after getting comfortable with that, i started watching the exercises personal trainers were putting their clients through, and began emulating them. so then it shifted to 30 minutes cardio per day (elliptical) with 25 minutes of machine-weights and free weights.

currently i've shifted again: mondays, tuesdays and wednesdays i do 30-40 of cardio with 20 minute weight workouts (curls, shoulder presses, flies, sit-ups and a buncha shit i made up involving levers and pullys), and then thursday i do a full hour of lifting and on friday about 30 minutes of lifting (friday nights i play in a basketball game lasting three hours before going out and undoing all of my work by getting tanked). all in all, it's been an amazing transition, and has had all intended effects, even though i persist in smoking through this whole process.

the toughest part is after those first three months. you will see a lot of changes in your body in the first couple of months, but it gets MUCH harder after that, and that's when you really have to work to see any great changes. it's much more of a gradual thing, but the joy i get from being able to measure, say, how much stronger i am is a very real one.

the hardest part of my workouts -- ALWAYS -- is cardio. i get so fucking bored. i've finally succumbed to reading on the elliptical, something i hate because i know it means that i'm not working out as hard or reading as closely, but it's the only thing that keeps me pinned to that fucker. lifting is MUCH more fun.

― YGS, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 20:17 (seventeen years ago) link

I find, when I'm on the elliptical machine / stationary bike / treadmill an instinctive competitive impulse to out-perform whoever is on the machine next to me. I know I should keep my attention to myself, but I always get a little thrill having the resistance just a little higher or pedalling just a little faster than the people on either side.

If that makes me an asshole, so be it. But it makes the cardio a little less boring.

― elmo argonaut, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 20:33 (seventeen years ago) link

An ipod helps, too.

― elmo argonaut, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 20:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Elmo, it doesn't make you an asshole; it just means you have a competitive streak. I think that's probably a good thing.

The trick to all of this "getting in shape" business is that you have to find something that works for you, which means you probably have to find something that you like. Then it doesn't seem like such a huge chore to do it.

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 20:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Previous ILX threads about exercise and weight loss made it seem like a good idea and something I should consider in order to "feel healthier"; this one makes it seem horrifying and time-consuming and vomit-inducing.

― Casuistry, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 20:45 (seventeen years ago) link

haha
the answer then is clearly MORE ATHLETIC SEX

― rrrobyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 20:50 (seventeen years ago) link

rrrobyn OTM in terms of calorie burn. (cough cough)

I'd say it's usually time-consuming, but if it is vomit-inducing, that's going too far. (Unless you're running marathons or ultramarathons, but that's a whole other thing than "getting into shape," and since my husband does them, I'll just express admiration for the insane masochism that goes into that kind of project.)

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link

haha rrrobyn, i am trying to GET INTO SHAPE so as to have MORE ATHLETIC SEX

a virtuous cycle (with a hub of vice)! hurrah!

― elmo argonaut, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 20:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Best positive feedback loop ever?

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 20:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Not to sound too much like a pep-talker, Casuistry, but even though it takes up some time and effort, regular exercise is bound to enhance both the quality AND length of your life. That's what I've had to tell myself, anyway, and it's pretty motivating for me.

― elmo argonaut, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 21:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Casusistry: Exercise is a tremendous boon to overall well-being and health, but it's also really easy to do wrong in ways that make it ineffective, unhealthy, and/or unfun to varying degrees. You just need to find the right method to get what you want out of it.

― Leee, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 21:25 (seventeen years ago) link

yeh, exactly. i've found what works for me; what many others enjoy, i wouldn't at all.

GYM AS METAPHOR FOR LIFE SHOCKAH.

― grimly fiendish, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 21:52 (seventeen years ago) link

(that said, i can't recommend getting some kind of gym programme highly enough.)

― grimly fiendish, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 21:52 (seventeen years ago) link

The problem (or, a problem) for me has always been that that sort of physical activity makes me feel extremely grumpy.

I mean I agree with the benefits and I have been thinking about what to do about it (and probably won't really do anything until this fall), but, ugh, what an unpleasant way to spend one's time, even if it makes the rest of one's time more fun.

― Casuistry, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 03:42 (seventeen years ago) link

does this inflatable punchbag for £13 inc postage off ebay look like a good idea? i like hitting stuff.

― emsk, Sunday, 8 April 2007 15:14 (seventeen years ago) link

It's been a week, Colin. Are you in shape?

― Beth Parker, Monday, 9 April 2007 01:34 (seventeen years ago) link

being grumpy would totally put me off exercise too. lucky for me i get grumpy if i don't exercise... physical activity makes me happy, especially when i've been stuck behind a desk mon to fri... maybe you need to find a form of exercise that makes you happy? endorphins etc

― gem, Monday, 9 April 2007 02:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Casuistry - don't you walk, like, everywhere?? That counts. I'm with you on the grumpy, vomit-inducing aspect of planned, determined exercise though - whenever I've been gym inclined, it was something unpleasant to just get over with. Especially when all the tvs were on Fox news.

Today though, we walked at a good clip along the shore of Lake Washington and though it was exercise, it was more being outside, enjoying the (brief, subtle hints of) sun and breeze from the lake and cherry trees and paddling mallards and the few sailboats that were out. That's the sort of thing that adds to my happiness, rather than an hour of weights and treadmill and heart monitored sweat.

― Jaq, Monday, 9 April 2007 02:59 (seventeen years ago) link

oh right, you mean the gym makes you grumpy? i get it... i couldn't spend my spare time in a gym. i love to go running or walking outside in a park or down at the beach, i totally count that as exercise. also yoga and riding my bike to work.

― gem, Monday, 9 April 2007 03:04 (seventeen years ago) link

i like the gym. i like looking around at people who are in great shape and feeling bad about myself. somehow the guilt and the whole punishment aspect work for me. your masochism may vary.

― get bent, Monday, 9 April 2007 03:07 (seventeen years ago) link

i have some excessive germ/dirt neuroses. being in a room full of sweaty strangers on treadmills and such makes me feel quite queasy. strangely i'm able to overlook this at yoga... i guess because you don't share any weights or whatever.

― gem, Monday, 9 April 2007 03:15 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.traineo.com/

there is a web 2.0 social network site for everything, it seems.

― elmo argonaut, Friday, 13 April 2007 13:49 (seventeen years ago) link

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