Advice for Gym Noobs!
7 watchers
Oct 2023
11:31am, 30 Oct 2023
First-time poster!!
|
[Removed by moderator] |
|
Oct 2023
11:32am, 30 Oct 2023
2 posts
|
[Removed by moderator] |
9 Jan
10:12am, 9 Jan 2024
22,734 posts
|
DeeGee
If Fetch doesn't mind, I'm rebooting this thread because I want to. I see that I contributed to it last time around. Garmin tells me I'm "detraining". My kids have now rearranged their various evening activities, and my son is now doing an extended 2 hour session at the parkour gym which covers the entire duration of almost all the formal and informal running groups in this neck of the woods. Much as I'd like to join him at parkour, I don't know how much the kids, or the parents of the kids, will be happy with a 48 year old weirdo hanging round there. The parkour gym is situated between some of the most deprived hosing in the whole of the UK, the docks, and the red-light district, and I don't really fancy running round there in the dark. There's a chain gym pretty much behind the parkour gym, it's a rolling monthly subscription, and I'm going to start going while it's still dark out - might refocus a bit on running once the nights are shorter. I've got about 90 minutes or so from getting in and faffing about to cooling down, getting out and picking the boy up. My focus is to tone, lose some weight, and begin to improve my parkrun times. I may or may not complete a marathon in the autumn/winter season, but really I mainly want to shed some timber and start to want to see myself in photos again. I've got the full range of contraptions available to me, but it's a no-frills type gym and there's not necessarily going to be anyone there I can seek advice from, although I've had a variety of inductions at other gyms. What activities do I want to be focussing on. I'm likely to do a 30 minute speed session on the treadmill, as I know that, but what else might help? |
9 Jan
10:20am, 9 Jan 2024
30,038 posts
|
fetcheveryone
I don't mind 
|
9 Jan
10:20am, 9 Jan 2024
12,491 posts
|
lammo
Get on the weights, probably wise to start with some machine work, and make sure you pull and push the weights for balance. By that i mean like bench press is pushing, seated row would be pulling. Initially, like 3 months, you could give everything a bit of a workout in that time, shoulders, back, chest, core, legs, to get you used to it and get your general strength up, then focus either on what you need to do or like doing are interested in. You can move on to the free weights, barbells and dumbells that requite better coordination and balance and use more supporting muscle groups. You could then consider exercises like squats and deadlifts, might need a bit longer before any olympic lifts. Good luck keep us posted. |
|
9 Jan
10:21am, 9 Jan 2024
12,492 posts
|
lammo
Also, come and join us in here: fetcheveryone.com/forum/arms-like-garth---a-weight-training-wire-62488/60 |
9 Jan
11:10am, 9 Jan 2024
49,079 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
How much time (how many days / hours per week)? If you are marathon training, just the treadmill running would be 4 - 5 times per week, up to 3 hours! Or is this in addition to running outside on other days? Hope so! For general gym work, I do 3 times per week, 1.5 hours each, roughly 20 mins foam roller, stretches, 20 mins core (sit ups and gentle body weight exercises, squats, lunges, bridges, heel drops, single leg squats etc.), 20 mins free weights (dumb bell side raises, cores) and same 20 mins on machines. So stretch and core, then weighted functional / targeted strength. I don't run at gym though. Or do any other cardio. Unless I swim. Run on treadmill, spin bike, rowing etc. are terrible time sinks! 30 mins min really to be useful? G
|
9 Jan
11:14am, 9 Jan 2024
2,361 posts
|
Homeless Kodo
The only thing you’re guaranteed to get asking this question on a running forum is a lot of conflicting & well meaning but sub-optimal advice. You’d be better checking the gym’s website, seeing what staff they have, what their expertise is & talking to them about your goals and aims. I am a qualified PT, I used to offer advice on here but it usually got misunderstood or misconstrued so I don’t do it anymore. |
|
9 Jan
11:17am, 9 Jan 2024
49,080 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
Good point HK. Was well meant, but probably not useful! G
|
|
9 Jan
11:42am, 9 Jan 2024
22,735 posts
|
DeeGee
This is potentially a single slot once a week, G, with running continuing as normal at other times. Basically, I'm driving to a place where running is unlikely to be pleasant and it's not worth my while going home and coming back out again, so I'm looking to fill that period with something. It's either a gym session, an hour or so to myself with a book and a pricey handcrafted coffee beverage at the Costa just past the gym, or a craft beer at the brewery just before the gym. Just wanting to make the most of the limited time I have available to do something to mix up my training a bit. Mainly want to have an enjoyable 90 minutes. I'm not really after optimal training, just something a bit fun. I'd just do some group classes if they were on at the same time I'm there, but they aren't. |
Related Threads
-
The Six Pack Revolution
Oct 2023
-
General Fitness - weights, gyms, cross-fit etc (and a challenge)
Apr 2019
-
Spinning/Pursuit Cycle
Jul 2012
-
Disgusting people at the gym
Aug 2024
-
Home Gyms?
Jul 2023
-
Shed gyms - Any experience?
Apr 2021
-
Any comments on these gyms -pure gym, fit4less, anytime fitness
Jan 2016
-
Sweet Caroline
Dec 2024
-
Fetch’s Lunchtime Strength Club
Jun 2024
-
Les Mills gym classes (online or real) :-)
Jan 2024