Fitness - keeping it exciting?

Alright fella's..... Are you fitness buffs?

When I was younger - I tried the fitness club thing back when I was 25 and after 3 months, I stopped going. You know the deal....

So now that I'm a lot older (cough), I signed up to a cheapo fitness membership($10 a month) - back in January. I've been going about 3X a week primarily (give or take pending my schedule).

I have a job that's physically active - so I don't work out on the cardio equipment in fear of being too damn tired. So instead, I've been working out on about 20 different pieces of weight lifting equipment. For the most part, I've been doing 3 sets of 15 on most of the equipment using different weight amounts for different parts of muscles (so to speak).

After all this time, I can tell my muscles are harder & more firm. I havent' lost any weight (and that's OK) but I think I've gained mass (laugh). I don't get daily pulled muscles like I used to and my Cholesterol level has dropped about 30 points since the last time I got it checked (2.5 years ago?).

So....I'm not looking for any paticular goal. I just wanna keep going religiously and keep it interesting.

I'm at a point now - that I think I need some hints/ideas to keep it interesting and make sure I keep going 3x a week. Each time I go...it's a full 1 hour workout on the weight lifting equipment. I don't necessarily want to spend more than 1 hour each time.

I know, I'm a part-time fitness person...but it's better than nothing and perhaps I'm trying to find a niche that'll keep me going till I'm 80! (laugh)

Any thoughts....feel free! Should I alternate cardio with weights or ??

 

I think the most important thing is that you are doing something as opposed to not doing anything. If you want to see some weight loss you will probably have to throw in some cardio of some sort. Most importantly just keep going. If you want to get real crazy try crossfit. Or just go to the site and check out the vids. The girls are pretty amazing. http://www.crossfit.com/

 

The answers you seek will be found at www.bodybuilding.com there forum has areas for everybody, advice on nutrition, fat loss, supplements, weight lifting, and a amazing off topic section

 

well in my most honest opinion i can tell you that your better than most people because they dont even go to the gym in the first place so props to you for even getting off your arse and going. second i would say weight loss for females especially is better achieved by running/swimming (cardio). females are more delicate than males and what guy wants female version of the terminator laying in bed next to them.....IMO girls should be soft lol not all rock hard everywhere but if you wanna tone up not bulk up you should try light weight high reps youll loose weight and tone up nicely. try using the dumbells or a Bowflex or even chucks total gym they work great and you can do almost any exercise on them and tone up really nice in about 30 min a day 3-4 times a week. i use the bowflex/total gym and dumbells 4 times a week and do a short run prior to work out. Off days i just run. that is probly the easiest schedule to keep. Good luck with your workouts i hope you get the results your looking for.

 

Well I know how you feel as far as getting bored with the same old routine day in and day out. For me I mix it up. Of course in my case I get paid to work out and have about 5 gyms in a two mile area. What you want to do is set up a program that keeps you interested and challenged. For my I do cardio every time I work out. You want to reach you target heart rate and sustain that throughout your session. Such as: your heart rate might be 140 and you are lifting, as long as you are not taking breaks and dropping your heart rate you are doing cardio. For me I tend to do more reps than weight because you use better form when lifting a weight you can handle. If you are lifting to much then you are just hurting yourself so less weight more reps. I run a few miles then lift, it gets my blood flowing and everything relaxed. One way to stay interested is to have a buddy that goes with you. Every month set a goel to see who reaches it first. For us we might do a max bench one month them the fastest 3 mile time the next. This kinda keeps you focused. Take a spin class or play rackett ball every week to have fun with it. To legs one day then back and arms the next time you go. It always helps to sign up for a class with the hot chicks in it also. Lastly, when you start to slip and get into a rut go to the gym and stay there until you are completly fried. Stay until everything burns and you feel like jello. The feeling you will have when you leave is like walking out of a sauna. You will pay for it for a couple of days but you will love the feeling.

 

Awesome guys!

LazyNavyTaco, that was funny. Terminator vs soft..

Great suggestions and great links! I'll fully check'm out when I get home.

I think the 'more reps, less weight' is a good idea and perhaps I should start getting on the cardio stuff a bit and work on that.

I'm just glad that I'm seeing results from it. The club is really cool and they're open 24 hours during the week, however, all they have is cardio & weights. There's no gym & no classes. If this becomes a regular thing for me, I might start shopping for another club to get into some classes. Or - perhaps I'll just stay with them. That 24 hour operating schedule works soooo much better with my work schedule.

 

Do not fear the freeweights! They work and I'm definately not the terminator! LOL! Also be wary of the many reps/light weight thing. Fewer reps, more weight works better for me in less time and I haven't turned into a shemale! Here's a good website for women:

http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/index.php

Have fun with it! She has lots of tips for doing it yourself without (or with) a gym as well.

 

Get a cheap mountain bike and go exploring. Thats what I do....

 

I like the mountain bike idea. I did the gym for the first time in my life while I was deployed to Iraq. I did lose 20 lbs and toned up very nicely but I find it hard to do since returning home and a normal family life. We do get time to work out but most of the time I spend that on cardio cause I would rather be thin than buff. My significant other and I both enjoying biking and hiking so we pretty much make that our daily and weekend plans with the kids. Of course with the kids not around we do more hiking and more biking cause they get tired easliy. hehe We've also started Geocaching and that usually makes some fun trips and good exercise outdoors. Anyways basically find something you enjoy and go with it IMHO.

 

Here is what I do When I get to the gym I stretch a little them walk on the treadmill for 10 minutes to get my heart going. Then i pic 3 stations that I will work out and grab the weight that is comfortable and get after it. I do 3 sets and only use 1 minute per set another words if I am doing curls I do them for 1 minute, as many as I can correctly if you can't do it correctly get lighter weights. Then move on to the next set after 3 minutes your first set will be compelete take a water break 1 or 2 sips. Only a 30 second break then start over again until you finish. Now you should have used up 20 or so minutes then I jog for 8 and cool down for the last 2. What you should do for your first time is bring a sheet of paper and log how many lifts you were able to complete in the minute and in a week compare. This is also very good for your heart because it keeps it pumping by not taking but a 30 second break in between. I now do everything based on this my stretching, I hold all stretches for 15 seconds and do all my stretches within a minute, (depending on what stretches you do) Pushups and sit ups as well I no longer count I just go for 1 minute. You will then realize how long and how much you can accomplish in a minute. Sorry it is so long.

 

I'm no expert by any means but since I try and run this is what's best for me. Less weight and more reps. Lots of reps. Since running is about repetition, I try and do 25-30 sets of a lighter weight. I run on the street one day and the next day I lift weights and use the Elliptical or another Cardio machine.

 

I have a nice mountain bike in the shed, cobwebs & all. I should get that out and ride it, I love the outdoors.

I even have an exercise bike in the basement -with more cobwebs.

Great tips Gang!!

Now, If I could convince the husband to get physical... heehhhe..