The not too serious get fit thread

[djrashonal]

that being said it depends on you finding an instructor whose class you like best. Trust me when I say it that they are ALL different.

any reccomendations for one....i have been seriously trying to coax the mrs into doin one with me, we go to the LA Fitness on Ina, and I dont have an el jobo so i can go anytime

[DRKWNG]

Well, time to take the dog out for a quick run...

[Monster Dave]

You better buy some cold weather gear for Tahoe, then.  It can be quite chilly there at 6AM in June.

LOL, we'll the morning of El Tour de Tucson is was in the mid 30s so we have everything we need - I just hate feeling stiff from the cold. I need to get a new set of leg warmers though since mine were ruined during my accident.

any reccomendations for one....i have been seriously trying to coax the mrs into doin one with me, we go to the LA Fitness on Ina, and I dont have an el jobo so i can go anytime

I'm not sure since I don't work out there. I don't know if certain instructors teach at multiple locations and if so, which ones and on which days. I'll see if I can find out though from the ones that I like at my location. If they do, then I certainly have some recommendations for you! 

Last night was awesome.

For the first hour, I did my weight routine which consisted of:

Shoulders - dumbbell raises (3 sets @ 20lbs), cross body cable pulls (3 sets @ 20lbs)
Chest - peck deck (3 sets @ 135lbs, 165lbs, 180lbs)
Abs - Hanging leg raises (6 sets @ body weight), incline crunches (2 sets @ body weight), obliques (3 sets @ 90lbs, 100lbs)
Biceps - curls (5 sets alternating barbell to dumbbell, 90lbs, 110lbs, 130lbs)

The 2nd and 3rd were both dedicated to cardio/endurance/strength building in 2 spin classes.

I was beat when I left, but it felt good in a "hurts so good" sort of way. I burned a whopping 3,155 calories. I ate a healthy dinner when I got home but needless to say I woke up at about 1:30am hungry....

Tonight is back, triceps, shoulders, and abs. I may do a spin class but I haven't decided yet (my legs are tired!)

During the first spin class last night, the instructor said that her husband (who was a career Marine) always used to say that "pain was just weakness leaving the body" and I thought that was a pretty cool mental motivational boost to use when I start getting burned. We'll see if that works tonight!! 

[DesmoDiva]

Just got back from a 4 miler...

Felt pretty good. 

Buffalo needs to learn how to make the beast with two backsin' plow.   

Ran north into Kenmore and the streets were just wet. 

[dropstharockalot]

I am being invited to move up to the next level of training at the Muay Thai school.  The biggest change would be the expectation that I stay within 10% of my anticipated fighting weight at all times.

Anticipated fighting weight: 172, tops.  Maybe as low as 162.
Ten percent allowance: 16 or 17 lbs
Current weight: 191.
Difference: 6lbs, give or take.


Farewell, bacon.  It's been fun.

[Monster Dave]

Just got back from a 4 miler...

Felt pretty good. 

Buffalo needs to learn how to make the beast with two backsin' plow.   

Ran north into Kenmore and the streets were just wet. 

Kudos to you for getting out in the cold nasty weather for the sake of exercise. That's something that I really don't miss from living back in Ohio.

I am being invited to move up to the next level of training at the Muay Thai school.  The biggest change would be the expectation that I stay within 10% of my anticipated fighting weight at all times.

Congrats on the improvement. When ever I think of Muay Thai, I always think of the movie Kickboxer. Although it's a Hollywood drama, it does show how brutal that sport can be.

Are you planning on giving Chuck Norris a run for his martial arts money anytime soon?

[Popeye the Sailor]

Dragged my tired ass out again last night.


Meh.

[Monster Dave]

Dragged my tired ass out again last night.


Meh.

Keep it up! 

[dropstharockalot]

.....

Congrats on the improvement. When ever I think of Muay Thai, I always think of the movie Kickboxer. Although it's a Hollywood drama, it does show how brutal that sport can be.

Thanks, and yeah, it can be pretty rough... lots limping home from shins bashing into your quads.  And I've yet to do a lot of the stuff that Van Damme made famous... no ropes to stretch my legs, no kicking down a banana tree, no sporting a boner on a european game show.

jean claude van damme erection on tv

Are you planning on giving Chuck Norris a run for his martial arts money anytime soon?

Impossible.  My beard is exponentially less awesome.

[somegirl]

Dragged my tired ass out again last night.

So did I (drag his tired ass out, that is)

Besides the weights, I got in a short bicycle ride and 4 miles of walks yesterday.  It turns out bicycling is much harder when your rain gear gets too tight and seriously constricts your breathing as well as leg movements.

[Monster Dave]

Thanks, and yeah, it can be pretty rough... lots limping home from shins bashing into your quads.  And I've yet to do a lot of the stuff that Van Damme made famous... no ropes to stretch my legs, no kicking down a banana tree, no sporting a boner on a european game show.

Oh come on, you're not a 'real' Muay Thai fighter unless you can kick down a banana tree and bounce coconuts off your stomach from a drop 50 feet in the air!!!  

For the record though, Blood Sport is one of my favorite movies!  What the hell is the dim mak?? 

At random I just had my vitals checked - 122/72 with a resting heart rate of 52.  

It turns out bicycling is much harder when your rain gear gets too tight and seriously constricts your breathing as well as leg movements.

Yeah, that sounds like it wouldn't be comfortable at all!!

[Monster Dave]

any reccomendations for one....i have been seriously trying to coax the mrs into doin one with me, we go to the LA Fitness on Ina, and I dont have an el jobo so i can go anytime

Hey DJ,

I asked the instructor who did the spin class at my LA Fitness location yesterday if he teaches up at the one where you workout and he told me that he teaches the 4:15pm class on Thursdays. His classes are really great and usually fun, so if you're looking to try one, you might want to check this one out sometime!  

[akmnstr]

I got a set of bowflex adjustable dumbbells a few months ago.  I've had some time to use them so I thought I'd give a mini review.  The bowflex website is here   http://www.bowflexselecttech.com/bst_microsite/homepage.jsp

I've got the 2009 model off ebay.  These things really work as described.  Weight changes are as simple as turning a dial.  A critical component of the setup is the base.  I once had a dumbbell jam when I attempted to make a change when it was not fully lowered into the base.  It took me about 10 min of trying everything to un-jam it, but now that I understand that I need to fully seat the dumbbell in its base, it has not happened again.  A minor negative is the size of the dumbbells.  If you work out with a traditional set of dumbbells your used to having lighter weight dumbbells being compact and easy to toss around.  With these, a 5 lb dumbbell is just as wide as the 60 lb.  The 60 lb bowflex will also be wider than the 60 lb conventional dumbbell due to the 2 dials located on the ends of the bars.  I don't find this to be a big deal but trying to find flaws on this system is difficult and width is about the only issue I can come up with.  Fit and finish seems excellent.  They cannot withstand the kind of abuses that conventional dumbbells can, that cannot double up as a boat anchor.  Nor would I advise storing them outside in the weather.  The manufacturer also warns against dropping them.  That is not to say that they are in anyway wimpy.   I love how compact they are.  These and a dumbbell bench will allow to get complete workouts while taking up a minimum amount of space.  They aren't cheap, <$400, but they are much less than a set of conventional dumbbells.

[djrashonal]

Hey DJ,

I asked the instructor who did the spin class at my LA Fitness location yesterday if he teaches up at the one where you workout and he told me that he teaches the 4:15pm class on Thursdays. His classes are really great and usually fun, so if you're looking to try one, you might want to check this one out sometime!  

Thanks MD! I've never been to a spin class though, could you tell me what i need to do to sign up, what to bring? or maybe, which injury to fake to get out of it halfway through..... 

[Monster Dave]

Thanks MD! I've never been to a spin class though, could you tell me what i need to do to sign up, what to bring? or maybe, which injury to fake to get out of it halfway through.....  

LOL,

Good question and VERY smart of you to have thought to ask. Sorry I didn't think to tell you.

If you go to any class there will be a "sign up" sheet at the FRONT DESK of the gym 30 minutes before the class starts. It's important to get on the list as some classes are really popular (I've seen them do "roll call" because there were more people than bikes). Just ask to be put on it when you get to the gym.

I usually wear a hat, but if you don't, you'll need a towel for the sweat. My ball cap does a good enough job of keeping it out of my eyes.

Wear something comfortable - I usually have jogging pants on (I don't like to wear shorts), sneakers are a must.

BRING WATER - I like to bring a 32oz bottle of Smart Water since it has electrolytes in it.

um....if you get there early, go find the bike that you want right away and leave your bottle of water on it until you're ready to return to the room for the class.

Most importantly, ask the teacher (I think his name is Jason), to help you get setup on the bike and tell him that it's your first time - it really helps them to know that it's your first time so that he can keep an eye on you and help you if you need it.  Getting setup right will keep your back and knees from hurting.

I think that's it!  Good luck and let us know how it goes!