Back to the Gym

[Jeff Higgins]

It's been about six months now since I finally returned to the gym after about a five year absence. It's been an interesting experience.

I think the biggest difference I've noticed since returning is the change in the "social" atmosphere that I used to enjoy. It used to be pretty loud in there, between the clanking weights and just the general banter among patrons. The clanking is still there but, boy, almost no one talks to one another anymore outside of their workout partner (assuming they have one).

The cell phone appears to have taken over. My one frustration has proven to be those infernal little devices, actually. Not just what they have done to the socializing, but what they have done to the availability of the equipment.

People camp on the equipment while absorbed in their cell phones. I swear, they don't seem to realize just how distracted they get, and how much time they spend sitting on the equipment and not using it. I see folks going what seems to be five minutes between sets.

This morning was a great example. It was leg day for me. I now work my way through my routine in a way that many would consider "backwards" - I like to pre-exhaust my quads, hamstrings, and calves before hitting the squat rack.

When I arrived, I began with seated leg extensions, noticing that there was a young lady using the only squat rack in the place. I figured no problem, she'll be long since done before I need it. Except, well, I did six sets (including warm ups) of leg extensions, then six sets of leg curls, then six sets of seated calf raises. And she was still in the squat rack... I had yet to see her actually do a set...

So I went to the 45 degree inclined leg press right next to the squat rack. Did six sets there, and she still had not moved. So, finally, I very politely asked her how much longer she thought she would be. She turned out to be very friendly, bubbly, and quite willing to move - "oh, I'm done, you can have it". I think she may have actually done two sets the entire time...

That's an extreme example, of course, and most folks are there to work. Every day, though, I'll see someone on a piece of equipment, nose buried in their phone, and I'll manage to get two or three different exercises in before they finish one. And I'm an old man (62 years old) who doesn't exactly burn up the course.

Thank God I go early (7:00 am) and it's not crowded. I couldn't imagine trying to get in a workout with the after work crowd in that kind of atmosphere. I dunno, maybe when it's crowded, they don't dilly-dally like that.

That minor annoyance aside, it's been great getting back into the gym.

[stevej37]

Need pics of the gal in the squat rack.


Just kidding, but I see the same thing. It's rare to see a teen to 30 year old that isn't on their phone..oblivious to everything around them.

[KFC911]

^^^^ Jeff needs to take his phone to the gym .

[MikeSid]

It's January 13th. In a couple weeks the place will be empty and you'll have the squat rack all to yourself.

My last trip to the gym was pre-Covid, meaning it was at least a year before Covid existed, but "pre-Covid" sounds better. I feel great when I get in a routine and go regularly. Good for you for going back after a 5 year hiatus. I really need to go. Just showing up is half the battle.

[Bill Douglas]

It costs me about $100 a visit

So I bought a Total Gym 1000 like what Chuck Norris uses (so it must be good) The good thing about it is I can do the lying down like you would on a surfboard, then inclinded by about 33 degrees and "paddle" like you would on a board. My surfing is OK but the paddle out on medium to large days kills me. So I'm building up my paddle muscles in the comfort of home.

I may stop going to the gym.

[stevej37]

I see a good story....."Rack in the Gym"

Need some pics first.

[A930Rocket]

The last time I worked out at a gym, was at a YMCA near my house. Instead of going through the circuit, it was just random people using random machines. Mostly younger people.

[stevej37]

[stevej37]

^^^
I don't think she has her feet placed right....they are too far forward.

[dan88911]

Before Covid I would go to the gym at 11:30 pm to avoid the folks you speak of Jeff.
Of course I'm retired, I enjoyed having the place to my self and maybe six other people.

[astrochex]

I’ve been going to a local crossfit gym since July on a two day a week basis. Including warm up and cool down, the duration is around an hour. Its a small place. Each one hour time slot can have two five person groups. There are generally one or two trainers present to help you through your custom workout. Each session is different and challenging. The coaches make sure you have the correct form when performing any exercise.

I am one of the few guys training. It is mostly women of all types. It costs more than I ever thought I would spend on gym membership, but it is absolutely worth it. The environment is supportive and positive.

[Jeff Higgins]

You guys have heard me mention my lifelong friend and good buddy Pastor Dave. We call him that because, well, he is a pastor. His father married my wife and I, who I actually "stole" from Pastor Dave when he wasn't looking (the three of us are still best friends). Pastor Dave is the guy I used to hunt Alaska with, when he lived there. But I digress...

Pastor Dave and I have held a "birthday challenge" since we were young men. It was easy when we were young, but it got a lot harder as we aged. I last met the challenge at 53, Pastor Dave beat me and made it to 55.

The challenge was to total 1200 pounds in the three competitive lifts in powerlifting competition. Squat, deadlift, and bench. Pastor Dave buried me in the bench, we were equal in deadlifting, and I crushed him in the squat. Granted, not much of a total for guys of our size, but a worthy goal for a couple of guys lifting to stay in shape with no competitive aspirations. And no drugs.

I will, of course, never get there again. My number one goal, my guiding aspiration is... to just not hurt myself. I'm repping out at 15-20 reps in all movements, not trying to show off or be a hero. Whole different mindset than the "go heavy or go home" mantra of my youth.

And I'm having fun.

[gsxrken]

I don't know how many people on a Porsche forum will recognize that a 1,200lb total is chimpanzee strength. 5% of a gym might be able to do that. Actually breaking 1,000 is a benchmark and very rarefied air for any age.

Good to hear you're still getting after it Jeff. One of the things I say to myself when I'm feeling good and tempted to throw on another plate: "the most important workout is not this one- it's tomorrow's." IOWs, you have to guard against the joy of battle to avoid injury to get to tomorrow.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I think the biggest difference I've noticed since returning is the change in the "social" atmosphere that I used to enjoy. It used to be pretty loud in there, between the clanking weights and just the general banter among patrons. The clanking is still there but, boy, almost no one talks to one another anymore outside of their workout partner (assuming they have one).

I think this social demographic has moved to smaller crossfit type gyms in the past few years. The dregs are left at the big gyms. I guess I am part of the dregs b/c I still go to/belong to a big gym. Depending on what time I go mine is full of high schoolers who definitely camp on equipment, but are quick to smile and hop off when I walk up and say "do you mind if I work in with you"?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

I don't know how many people on a Porsche forum will recognize that a 1,200lb total is chimpanzee strength. 5% of a gym might be able to do that. Actually breaking 1,000 is a benchmark and very rarefied air for any age.

We were both 240 pound guys back when we were at our peak, so hardly competitive weights. By way of comparison, my old buddy Jeff Magruder totaled 2,100 when he was in the 242 pound class. Even set a world record in the bench (his specialty) at something like 637 pounds, if I remember correctly. Granted, he was a pro, he was juicing really heavily, yada yada... But, still, in that time and place, in that gym, my meager 1,200 just faded into the background. Some of those guys' moms could do that.

Originally Posted by gsxrken

Good to hear you're still getting after it Jeff. One of the things I say to myself when I'm feeling good and tempted to throw on another plate: "the most important workout is not this one- it's tomorrow's." IOWs, you have to guard against the joy of battle to avoid injury to get to tomorrow.

Great attitude. What a relief, what a sense of freedom - not feeling like we need to throw on that next plate. We used to feel obligated, pressured, compelled. Meh. No one "expects" anything from the old fart with the big gray mop on top. Free to do as I please. No ego anymore. I love it.

[rwest]

I never did any real gym work in my youth, but started in November with a running coach as I have a goal of running a sub 5 minute mile- long story; probably longer odds!

I go twice a week one on one with the coach. His “theory” is that if you can squat one and a half times your weight, you can run injury free- pounding on the joints is more than your weight and my knees suck.

He is more concerned with power output than total weight, so he has electronic device that magnets to the squat bar and then a special mat goes on the ground inline. He enters the weight of the bar into an app and then when you squat, it records how far you move the weight and how fast which gives you a power number. Every few weeks, he adds weight and takes away reps; then we build up reps, add weight- rinse and repeat.

He has me doing several other workouts and runs to strengthen all of me- I’m staring to get a little “cut” in my abs!

[Cairo94507]

I have really wanted to get back to the gym. I was a gym-rat for 30+ years, 4 days per week. As I got older and experienced injuries (work related) I began getting more conservative at the gym. Then I blew out a shoulder (work) and had it repaired. Never came back quite right. Now, a year ago, had a complete shoulder replacement and it feels great. But I am 67 now.... I really want to get back in and just get in shape and build some strength. Once the New Year rush is past, I will check out a local place.

[Superman]

I do not visit gyms, simply because of how very intimidating it would be for others to see someone with my physique. Tall, muscular, athletic. I stay at home as a favor to them. Also, because I am lazy.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by rwest

I never did any real gym work in my youth, but started in November with a running coach as I have a goal of running a sub 5 minute mile- long story; probably longer odds!

Holy moly!!! That's quite the goal!! Best of luck to you. How old are you? I could barely do that when I was in the best cardio shape of my life, as a college soccer player and erstwhile amateur bicycle racer.

Originally Posted by rwest

I go twice a week one on one with the coach. His “theory” is that if you can squat one and a half times your weight, you can run injury free- pounding on the joints is more than your weight and my knees suck.

He is more concerned with power output than total weight, so he has electronic device that magnets to the squat bar and then a special mat goes on the ground inline. He enters the weight of the bar into an app and then when you squat, it records how far you move the weight and how fast which gives you a power number. Every few weeks, he adds weight and takes away reps; then we build up reps, add weight- rinse and repeat.

He has me doing several other workouts and runs to strengthen all of me- I’m staring to get a little “cut” in my abs!

You're putting a lot more into it right now than I am. I need to include cardio as well. For me, that's going to be on the road on a bicycle. I don't think my new right hip would take the pounding inherent in running.

Along with my age, that new hip is weighing heavily in just how I have been working out. Light weights, lots of reps. No more "peaking" like we used to.

It sounds like that is what your coach is having you do, the classic powerlifting practice of "peaking" for a contest. We would do a three month cycle, starting with light weights and high reps, in the 15-20 rep range, with lots of sets. Over the course of those three months, we would gradually add weight and lower the reps and sets. At the end of the cycle, we would do heavy doubles for just one maximum effort set, after having done half a dozen warm-up sets. Then it was a week of rest before the "contest" (our respective birthdays), then a week of rest after that. Then the next three month cycle would start.

Today, I'm just not doing the cycle. I'm just sticking to the light end of it, doing what we would do in its first few weeks. Just trying to burn calories, get some tone, and lose some weight.

I know I'll never regain either my soccer player / cyclist physique nor my peak lifting physique. Somewhere in-between is my goal. General fitness, not occupying either extreme. And, again, the A-number-one goal is to not hurt myself...

[rwest]

Hi Jeff,

We aren’t too different, I’ll be doing most of my cardio on the bike this summer. We are limiting my miles to 10 a week because of my knees.

My HS freshman 1600 was 5:04:11. I had to stop running due to my knees and less than ideal family situation. It has always bugged me that I never beat 5 minutes, so here at 54 years old, I suddenly think it is doable!

This summer without coaching and very minimal training besides cycling, I did 6:37. After coaching and training in December I did 6:26 and a couple weeks ago I did 6:11, so moving in the right direction.

We aren’t really optimizing my workouts for each race yet, but are taking them into consideration for training schedule.

Good luck to you as well in your workouts, as long as we take care of ourselves, life is better and easier- although not cheaper! One on one training is pricey, but I cannot motivate myself except on the track racing- I leave it all there when I run- tasting blood and seeing God!