Help! Gym workouts....Lauramax and any others!

[Cbelle]

My son wants to join a gym and to do so I would have to join and go with him due to his age. I absolutely cannnot refuse anything my kids request that is fitness related since I really want to encourage exercise in their lives. But if I have to go to a gym wtih him that means NO MORE CAthe videos at home!!!! I don't think I even would know how to begin planning my own gym workouts although I was toying wtih the idea of just doing the PS or GS series at the gym. As far as cardio, I'm just in the beginning stages of trying to get back my own cardio endurance and I'm concerned that without CAthe videos egging me on I'll slack off on the machines. I have a few Cardio coaches and Itrains I could use though. Anyone have a great kick a** gym routine they want to give me? Be my own personal trainer? Right now I'm just thinking of doing 3 days of weights (using the PS or GS format) and 3 days of cardio equipment (sigh). I need to keep it to 1 hr or less since my son won't be there for longer than that.

I toyed briefly with the idea of just doubling up and doing Cathe's in the morning and gym at nite but I'm a single mom of 2 working fulltime and frankly, I'm just too tired to do that.

Someone get me excited about a gym!!!

 

[tillard]

Is it possible to work out a deal with your son that you go so many days out of the week to the gym, but still allow you a couple of days for your home workouts as well...compromise maybe???

Another suggestion is to look into the isculpt's from itrain. I've never done one, but from what I've heard they could be great tools to have with you when working with weights at the gym. Also, like you said, you could also just jot down Cathe's weight routines and then just do them at the gym...not quite the same, but it could work. I have spreadsheets made up on excel for many of them, so if you wanted me to I could email them to you. In regards to the cardio, Cardio Coach's and itrain's are definately good options, but don't forget to look into what kind of group classes the gym may offer...nowadays gym's have gotten MUCH better with their group exercise class options. I've gotten hooked on spin classes...they ROCK!!! Hope this helps !!

Deni

 

[Sekcy_Gymnast]

I know exactley how you feel. I'm only 14 and my Mom has to go to the gym w/ me too till I'm 16 and above age to work out on my own (I hate gy rules)

My help to you would be take a look around. Look at the machines they have, the cardio machines, see if they have Group Exercise, ect. Also asking trainers and workers there any questions you have. Once you get a good feel for the gym, start w/ easy things, like using free weights first. Then move to machines, ect. Gyms look confusing at first, but after about a week working out w/ then consistantley, you'll be a pro;-)

As for a rotation, I'm not sure because all gyms are different. Just take a look around, and see if you can figure out the machines on your own. At my gym, they have Life Fitness machines, and they give you descriptions on how to use them, but that may not be the same for yours.

Have fun!


Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry with your girlfriends.
-Laurie Kuslansky-

~Adri~
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[LauraMax]

Hi Cbelle--you can be excited about a gym! I really do enjoy the change of scenery & the extra options you get from it. Also it doesn't mean you have to stop doing Cathe. Basically what you'll be doing is mixing up your routine a little, & probably will see some amazing results.

Anyway, I lift at a gym 3X per week. Here's my split:

Day one:
Legs:
Squats: 160 on smith machine
Lunges: 140 on smith machine
Extensions: 90 on extension machine
Curls: 30 on cable curl machine
Calves: depends on the machine, about 180-200 lbs, 3 sets 15

Chest:
Bench press: 70 lbs w/barbell
Incline press: 30 lb dumbells
Cable crossovers: 40 lbs
Pec deck: 50 lbs

Day two:
Abs: crunches with a plate--4 sets 15
cable crunches--4 sets 15
(I superset abs at the beginning of my bicep routine)

Biceps:
Barbell curls: 55 lbs
21s (3 sets of 21 reps split into 3 ranges on cable machine): 60 lbs
Preacher's curls: 55 lbs
Concentration curls: 25 lb dumbells

Back:
Assisted pullups (superset w/concentration curls--this is like a transition exercise for me): 60 lbs
Wide grip pulldowns: 90 lbs
Close grip pulldowns: 80 lbs
Cable rows: 90 lbs
Back extension machine: 3 sets 15 reps at low weight (about 70 lbs)

Day three:
Triceps:
Cable pushdowns: 80 lbs
Machine pushdowns: 50 lbs
Kickbacks: 25+ lb dumbell
One armed cable pulldown: 30 lbs

Shoulders:
Barbell shrugs: 145 lbs
Cable upright rows: 80 lbs
Military press: 25 lb dumbells
Side raises: 20 lbs
Front raises (superset w/side raises): 20 lbs
Incline raises: 30 lbs, superset w/another rear delt exercise Cathe gave me, can't remember what it's called but if you PM me I'll try to desribe it (and PM me if anything else I have here is confusing)

Also I take one day per week & dedicate it to core work--usually some form of kickboxing & then two sections of Core Max after. This is done at home & who knows, maybe DS will do it with you & like it!

Cardio is done almost every day--I do it before work w/Cathe 4 days a week & Sat & Sun (I do try to get myself a rest day here & there LOL). On the weekends I try to get some cardio in at the gym--typically 20 minutes on the arc trainer or stairmaster, plus another 20 minutes on the recumbent bike.

Hope this helps.....

 

[DeanaMax]

Don't feel badly about this! You can get a great workout at a gym! Gyms offer a lot of equipment and variety that you could be excited about. Focus on a few muscle groups per day and use the machines that work only those muscles. Or for a total body w/o, a lot of gyms offer circuit training where you cycle through various machines using each for a minute or so. For cardio, you can take classes instead of using the machines. And you could hire a personal trainer! These are all good things!