What shall I do at the gym?

linsen

I have a gym membership and now I cycle a fair bit too....
I can't cancel my membership yet, and anyway I like the sauna...
What else shall I do there?
Suggestions please, preferably not "how about a spin class" (too easy )

secretsam

Ogle the fit bods

Jen J

linsen wrote:

I have a gym membership and now I cycle a fair bit too....
I can't cancel my membership yet, and anyway I like the sauna...
What else shall I do there?
Suggestions please, preferably not "how about a spin class" (too easy )

I love my gym. I swim before work, and then in my lunch break I go on the elliptical trainer for 30 minutes and do some weights.

biondino

Do some weights; cross training; rowing machine; floor exercises. Don't use the treadmill as they are evil. Presumably you can get a fitness instructor to devise a suitable regime for you?

Jen J

SecretSam wrote:

Ogle the fit bods

Not when you go at lunchtime. Not my gym anyway

Clever Pun

Upper body (legs weights would be a waste)
cv work... maybe rowing/running or a class to structure pushing yourself

daniel_b

What about Squash or badminton, or is it purely a gym?

Squash is the harder workout of the 2, if your evenly matched, badminton can be very good fun at most levels, and doubles is a stonking workout.

Clearly you can't play either by yourself though, so that may be a hole in my plan...

Dan

lost_in_thought

I've just had a boxing session with a new trainer, surprisingly good CV, and good fun, as well as working mostly on the upper body.

I tend to go for the rower, or the cross-trainer, and agree with Biondino that treadmills are evil.

I do a lot of the free-motion weights, do my own spinning-racing classes with another trainer (too easy? get a personal trainer - it won't be for long). Don't go too mad on leg weights.

I'm going to my first Pilates class this evening, and recently restarted thai boxing and escrima, at a different gym, but yours may offer something similar.

I also do what I call SSR - silly swimming racing - where I do my best to humiliate the men in the pool splashing up and down. Had a great one yesterday - my breaststroke was faster than his front crawl :twisted:

greg66_tri_v2.0

lost_in_thought wrote:

I'm going to my first Pilates class this evening

Pilates. Pah. A fancy name for yoga.

And yoga is merely something practised by people trying to become autosexual.

True story. I read it on the internet. Somewhere.

linsen

Ever done a Pilates class Greg66? Afraid your pelvic floor's not up to it?

Jen J

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

I'm going to my first Pilates class this evening

Pilates. Pah. A fancy name for yoga.

And yoga is merely something practised by people trying to become autosexual.

True story. I read it on the internet. Somewhere.

I tried yoga once and pilates once. Both times I got a stinking headache

lost_in_thought

I've never tried it before, but have heard on here from Jash and Litts that it's great for core strength, so I'll give it a go. I am slightly sceptical, but we'll see - I prefer more intensive exercise as a rule, see the list above!

I'll let you know if I get a headache, Jen!

Jen J

lost_in_thought wrote:

I've never tried it before, but have heard on here from Jash and Litts that it's great for core strength, so I'll give it a go. I am slightly sceptical, but we'll see - I prefer more intensive exercise as a rule, see the list above!

Exactly - for me exercise has to be a little more rigorous than standing upright and breathing in and out.

But, yes, if you have the patience, it is a great core workout. Or so I'm told...

What's escrima btw LiT?

linsen

I've done Pilates for years - never had back problems while I've been doing it - it's very good for core strength.

Dan - I agree badminton and squash are brilliant - I play both (one passably, one terribly), but yes another person (and a gym with courts) would be a requirement - I ought to challenge some pupils to a game from time to time....

Jen J

linsen wrote:

I've done Pilates for years - never had back problems while I've been doing it - it's very good for core strength.

Dan - I agree badminton and squash are brilliant - I play both (one passably, one terribly), but yes another person (and a gym with courts) would be a requirement - I ought to challenge some pupils to a game from time to time....

Could you not play squash alone? Or a version of it at least. You'd be guaranteed to win?

linsen

That is a good idea Jen..... :?
I used to have membership at the local Uni which did have courts as well, and was dead cheap, but hanging around with 18-year-old sylphs was beginning to be a bit depressing... Good lot of fatties at my gym
I could find a friend to play with - all of my buddies far too sendentary / pretend-busy for me though

il_principe

Yep pilates is excellent for cycling. It's also much harder work than you'd think.

p.s - cheeky plug time - My sister is a fully qualified and independent personal trainer working in the London area. If anyone wants a top notch PT (rather than the underqualified numpties found in the average gym chain) the drop me a PM! - Shameless plug over.

daniel_b

Jen J wrote:

linsen wrote:

I've done Pilates for years - never had back problems while I've been doing it - it's very good for core strength.

Dan - I agree badminton and squash are brilliant - I play both (one passably, one terribly), but yes another person (and a gym with courts) would be a requirement - I ought to challenge some pupils to a game from time to time....

Could you not play squash alone? Or a version of it at least. You'd be guaranteed to win?

Other end of the scale, I have played doubles squash before, somewhat dangerous, due to four racquets flying about, and a small object ball traveling at pace, all within 4 walls - not to be recommended.

lost_in_thought

Jen J wrote:

What's escrima btw LiT?

It's an armed martial art - comes from the philippines, you start off with two rattan sticks, each about 50cm in length, and once you've got the hang of not hurting yourself with those you move on to more stabby (wooden) implements.

It's not exceptionally physically demanding like kickboxing, but it requires a lot of focus and good coordination. Kind of like meditation, but while hitting things.

I love it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskrima

greg66_tri_v2.0

linsen wrote:

Ever done a Pilates class Greg66? Afraid your pelvic floor's not up to it?

It's all good down below thanks 8)

(Your post suggests that the weak find that Pilates class results in some hideous form of prolapse or perhaps a dramatic and instant "Alien"-type explosion.

Is that what happens? :shock: )

linsen

Greg66 wrote:

linsen wrote:

Ever done a Pilates class Greg66? Afraid your pelvic floor's not up to it?

It's all good down below thanks 8)

(Your post suggests that the weak find that Pilates class results in some hideous form of prolapse or perhaps a dramatic and instant "Alien"-type explosion.

Is that what happens? :shock: )

Not to me, I'm pleased to say, I was more referring to the type of women who politely decline offers of a go on a trampoline after they have produced their children......

il_principe

linsen wrote:

Not to me, I'm pleased to say, I was more referring to the type of women who politely decline offers of a go on a trampoline after they have produced their children......

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

linsen

No children then, Jash?

lost_in_thought

linsen wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

linsen wrote:

Ever done a Pilates class Greg66? Afraid your pelvic floor's not up to it?

It's all good down below thanks 8)

(Your post suggests that the weak find that Pilates class results in some hideous form of prolapse or perhaps a dramatic and instant "Alien"-type explosion.

Is that what happens? :shock: )

Not to me, I'm pleased to say, I was more referring to the type of women who politely decline offers of a go on a trampoline after they have produced their children......

What? WHAT?

Actually scratch that, I don't want to know.

Another one for my list of 'reasons never to have children'.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

linsen

Don't make the list too long, LiT, I LOVE spending all my school holidays with my offspring - there is no end of fun to be had watching rubbish telly, freezing my butt off in theme parks, cleaning out / burying small rodents / washing clothes / tidying up / going on bike rides that I could walk quicker / staying in every evening etc etc

Jen J

lost_in_thought wrote:

Another one for my list of 'reasons never to have children'.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Yup. I have a nice little list too. Main one at the moment being I have a Double Iron triathlon in just over 9 months time. I'm sure that'll be worse than childbirth

linsen

Jen J wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Another one for my list of 'reasons never to have children'.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Yup. I have a nice little list too. Main one at the moment being I have a Double Iron triathlon in just over 9 months time. I'm sure that'll be worse than childbirth

It'll doubtless last longer than the average!

stage_fright

I am so glad my wife is not reading this thread.

We are aiming to unveil a new Fright Junior to the world in about three weeks, and I have assured her the labour will be straight forward and all over in 10 minutes maximum!

Jen J

Stage Fright wrote:

I am so glad my wife is not reading this thread.

We are aiming to unveil a new Fright Junior to the world in about three weeks, and I have assured her the labour will be straight forward and all over in 10 minutes maximum!

A girl I work with had her waters break (4 weeks early) last Thursday at 3.30pm. At about 5pm the contractions started, and by 5.44pm the baby was born. And it was her first.

biondino

God knows who said women were allowed to read or watch daytime telly but I hardly know a female who wants to have kids these days. Which is a pain cos I do :shock:

lost_in_thought

I just like trampolines. Is that so bad? :P