The "working out at home" thread has me curious

RE: The

Okay you are right Yen. I make no effort. In fact I am the laziest person in the world.
Gyms hinder cerebral development? Do you really believe this stuff you are typing?
I am stopping here because I think we should just agree to disagree.

T.
 
RE: The

Yen--to call a gym "temples of narcissism" is a terribly unfair comment that basically stereotypes everyone who goes to a health club on a regular basis. Do I like it when people admire my body? Heck yea, I work very hard on my fitness routine & I don't think there's anything wrong w/people appreciating that.

However, the main reason I go to my health club is that the equipment there is phenomenal. It is unlike anything I could every have in my home, which is very small--I simply do not have the room for even the most basic equipment.

Also, as I mentioned before, I work a lot of hours and I admit, the gym is a social outlet for me. It's nice to have the opportunity to meet people who share at least one thing in common with me.

And to imply weightlifting is not a sport exhibits both arrogance and ignorance.
 
RE: The

OK kiddos~
To each his or her own.

The best envrionment to workout in is the one which a person will use on a regular basis. It will of course be differnt for each of us. The important thing is to find what works for each of us and be consistant.
Trevor has one method that works great. Others have a different methods. The variety is endless. There is no right or wrong here.
Kudos to everyone who has discovered what gets them into a healty routine.

And thanks for sharing, sometimes hearing what others do can be helpful. That is part of why I visit this forum regularly.
 
RE: The

Weight training (like Cathe) is not a sport, weight lifting is. Weight lifting was traditionally done with just sets of barbells and dumbbells and modern Olympic sport of weight lifting is still done this way. Training for the sport is still done more the traditional way - dumbbells and barbells.

The biggest calorific impact you can make, experts agree, is by changing the way you get about: don't drive if you can cycle; don't cycle if you can walk; don't walk if you can run; don't use the lift if there's a staircase. Making roads safer would have a far bigger impact on our collective health than building more gyms.

Trevor,

You are right in that the French, Scandinavians, Mediteranean and Chinese and even the British diet is traditionally high in fat. The difference is that there are bad fats and there are good fats, the lack of exercise and the amount of food consumption. Fat don't necessarily contribute to bad diets because there are good fats and bad fats and the Mediteraneans eat more good fat.

Here is what the experts have to say:

"...While there is still a consensus that inactivity rather than overeating is responsible for the current obesity epidemic, the terms of the debate are shifting. Exercise as most people understand it is no longer the main focus. It is activity that matters, says Rigby. While the difference may seem a matter of mere semantics, in practice it is the crucial distinction between going somewhere special to get and keep fit until you leave and living a life that does it for you until you die.

We have lost so much physical activity from our everyday lives that an hour or two in the gym a week can't possibly compensate. I don't know of a single society in the world where the gym or equivalent has made any difference to a national obesity problem.

In the Netherlands, 50% of people regularly walk and cycle, compared with under 10% in the UK. Only 12% of Dutch people are obese. Gym membership, as you might guess, is no higher in the Netherlands than it is here...."

Yen
 
RE: The

I always had worked at home for years and I preferred that enviroment. Nobody(except my kids and hubby) really bothered me, I could workout whenever I wanted, choose what workout I wanted to do and not drive anywhere. I had make a decision last November, if joining the gym was a better option for me. I needed to go heavier in weights for lower body. 75lbs was the max I could lift onto my shoulders safely and my lower body workouts weren't challenging anymore. I would need thousands of dollars (and lots of space) to put the machine and cardio equipment I needed to make this happen. For me, the option of having a gym membership was better, plus it had a child watch center.

I joined a gym that was all women. The women don't flaunt around in really skimpy gear. Most wear clothing like Cathe/Cedie does in her videos or just shorts and t-shirts/tanks. We have all types of body shapes and fitness levels at the gym. I have never had to wait to use the cardio machines or weight machines, but I do know that can happen at times, but rarely.

Earlier, I mentioned that the gym was only to get a better lower body workout. Well, after the first day or two, I tried the steps classes. I loved the group workouts. My gyms offers classes that I personally wouldn't be able to do at home. I still think Cathe workouts have a slight higher intensisty and are harder, but the gym is a nice change.

What the gym provides that I wouldn't have at home:

I love a class called "Bigfoot." It's stepping with two steppers placed side by side. It is such a fun twist on step routines. It's fast paced and nothing like ever done before in any video. At the end of the class, you pair up with another person. They stand at the other step, but on the opposite side facing you and do the routine(partner stepping) opposite from you. Now, that's a challenge. It requires a lot of listening skills and focus. It would never become a video, because, well how many of us would go out and buy another step? I always think that 'double stepping' would be great with one of of Cathes routines. It would not be a selling video/DVD with home exercisers, but something that would be great for her gym classes.

In other step classes(once you know the routine) they divide the class in half and each group faces each other. Yet, another class that requires good listening skills. It's easy to mess up watching people across from you doing the routine opposite of you.

My gym provides fitness challenges thoughout the year. Sometimes it's just doing 60 pushups per class, 100 reps of various ab exercises, 100 walking lunges per several weeks. You get really strong, build endurance and get nice definition. Currently, to keep members motivated thoughtout the summer they offer a fitness team challenge. Teams of 4 group together and earn points for taking classes, curciut training, cardio machines and etc. They provide 1ST, 2ND and 3RD place with great prizes. I now, because of this challenge, can do 4 1/2-5 pullups just trying each week to get stronger and better. Now, that's something I wouldn't have bothered to even try to learn and want to do.


I find the gym(and people) inspiring and a great change of pace.
 
RE: The

Ok, well, because we are on the topic:


Yen, is it possible that where you live is much more walker-biker-whatever friendly. I would LOVE to walk everywhere I need to go, but I work 15 miles from home. How in the earth am I supposed to walk there. That aside, I am much more likely to get raped or murdered if I walk alone in the evening, which is when I would get off work. Even the walk to the grocery store would take atleast 30 minutes and then how would I get all my groceries home?


I am all for physical activity, but it just doesn't really seem possible in the United States, atleast where I live. There are no biking trails, or walking trails that let you get from point A to point B safely. The only thing we have here is canals, and headless bodies are found in them from time to time, and since I can't convince any of my coworkers to walk to work with me, I really can't do it.

I would like your opinions then, Yen, on how I would quit being a lazy slob and start incorporating "fitness" into my life. What is it that you do that you think keeps you in such awesome shape?

Inquiring minds want to know.....
 
RE: The

Hi Judy!
The disagreement isn't over whether to go to the gym or not to go to the gym. I just do not like being lectured about how I am hurting the environment by going to the gym. It's ridiculous. I also do not like being told the gym hinders cerebral development. I mean, these statements are just really strange. There are plenty of legitimate reasons for why people choose to workout at home. Which is great. I also workout at home sometimes. But the two reasons I just mentioned are not good reasons.
T.
 
RE: The

Hiya Trevor :)
I'm glad it wasn't a rant and I agree that it is really nice to discuss in such a civil manner :) I'm definitely sure about their diets being healthier than ours and yours but yes, of course, Europe must have its share of obese people too. You can certainly find a lot of beautiful cakes and desserts in this part of the world and many of the world's finest wines, spirits and beer. But, you will also find many good meals that are prepared at home using healthy fats and lots of vegetables. I'm not a culinary expert but in my oppinion, the food and the portion sizes in this part of the globe, are healthy and fine.

Re. smoking. I haven't yet had the pleasure of visiting America so I do not know whether America is filled with smokers or not. I do know that certain of your cities have banned smoking in public places like restaurants and bars. Smokers in the UK and certainly France, are generally loud and outspoken about their "right" to stink ;-) and poison the air we all breathe so perhaps that is why Europe is seen as a continent of smokers? Where I live, (West England) there are more non-smokers and we don't think much of these whinging nicotine addicts ;-)

Anyway, back to the topic of working out in a gym... Just in case anyone was wondering, I'm not anti-gym or anti-car and I do appreciate that it isn't always possible to walk to work or to work out. I used to work some 2 hours from where I live and now I work 6 miles from where I live. It's a nice walk home when the weather is nice and it's light out but I wouldn't walk in the dark for the same reasons as Janice stated. I live on the outskirts of a nice city and work in a nice part of town but attacks do happen and until I learn how to knock some sicko unconscious with one well aimed thump, I'm not walking that route at night!!

ATB,
- Lisa :eek:)
P.S. I hope this doesn't come through twice! I just tried to post this but it was eaten up by cyberspacemice!
 
RE: The

Yen--again, to imply weight training, or weightlifting, or whatever you choose to call it, is not a sport is simply incorrect. Just b/c you're not running around on a field or a member of a sports team does not mean you are not participating in a sport. Would you say the Miss Fitness or Miss Olympia contestants are not athletes? I'm sure they would disagree. To attempt to define something to suit your purposes is the height of arrogance. Your position is clearly based upon specious information.

Furthermore, more and more "experts" are saying weight training--or muscle building--is a very important component to burning fat (or having a "caloric impact" as you call it).
 
RE: The

Personally, I like both - working out at home and at the gym.

There are negatives to both. Working out at home means cramped spaces, bad lighting (I work out before dawn) and bad air quality (i.e. none) in the summer.

Working out at the gym means you don't have the privacy you do at home. It means you have to go into the "guy space" if you want to do free weights. It's kinda silly, but I feel like a real wimp with my 15-pounders when guys are doing the same exercise with 50's! LOL!! But I just have to keep telling myself that I'm a) female b) nearly 50 years old c) 5-ft tall. Another negative about the gym is you can't do the class you want when you want it. For example, I wish my gym had more cardio classes on my lunch-hour. I love doing cardio at the gym because the class room is so brightly lit, the floor is lovely and pliable, there's great air-conditioning and the music is LOUD! And I love sharing smiles with other participants! It makes it so much more fun.

As for driving, I always take local streetcar if I go first thing in the morning. And the gym is just 3 city blocks away from where I work.

I can't go all the way home on my lunch-hour to do a Cathe workout. I wish I could! But going to the gym beats shopping for unnecessary objects, or sitting around bored stiff on a park bench somewhere.

I also really like the gym for doing legwork. Especially the squat machine where the pole is attached to the rack. This allows me to lift heavier without killing myself getting the bar over my head.

But one thing about the gym I detest. People that hog machines or lay claim to a machine or bench by laying their towels down on them. This just shrieks "This is mine!". Also, people who just sit on them and chat.

My dream? Take a Cathe video to the gym and do my workouts with her. Cardio, weights, whatever! Sometimes I feel I need her to push me!

Patricia
 
RE: The

Hi Patricia
I alternate between home & our gym @ work.I do take my old VHS Cathe tapes(I replaced with DVD) to the gym as we have little tv/vcr combo in the facility.Cathe can be with me in the gym!I remember when I was doing Circuit Max after work& the aerobic instructor was setting up her schedule for the noon hour class ther next day.She was totally blown away & couldn't even keep up with Circuit Max.I told her albout Cathe & Mindy the hardest wokout video personalties.She was very appreciative & said she was only aware of Kathy Smith.
Take care
Ki
 
The Bigfoot class.....

sounds really cool! I have never heard of nor done a class like you described atiman. Very interesting!
T. :)
 
RE: The

Yen, you may very well "make an effort", but it's lost in your delivery because you basically insult everyone on the planet by the way in which you choose to state your "message". You come off as sanctimonious and holier-than-thou, and that is enough of a turn-off to most adults that your message - however important it may be to you - is sent to the "round" file.

We all "know" what's considered bad for the environment. We don't need to be lectured to as though we were five years old and can't make choices on our own. If you lived such a pure and "environmentally safe" life - in other words, were practicing what you're preaching here - you'd be living in a cave in the mountains, or at least a hut made out of straw with a mud roof, growing your own food, making your own toilet paper and eating utensils, washing your clothes by beating them against a rock, and oh ... I don't know .. sitting around watching grass grow I guess. This is the world you live in. You want changes? Start with yourself and leave the lecturing to our parents.

Carol
:(

Edited to say to my "groupies" who like to show up when I post and tell me how rude and/or blunt I can be: I already know. Save your strength. It's better for the environment.
 
RE: The

You're welcome!

BTW, Legally Blonde is one of my favorites, although the "bend & snatch" has yet to work for me.........
 
RE: The

>I remember when I was doing Circuit Max after work& the aerobic
>instructor was setting up her schedule for the noon hour class
>ther next day.She was totally blown away & couldn't even keep
>up with Circuit Max.I told her albout Cathe & Mindy the
>hardest wokout video personalties.She was very appreciative &
>said she was only aware of Kathy Smith.
>Take care
>Ki

That is SO cool!! :)
 
RE: The

LOL!! That movie totally cracks me up! Did you see the sequel? It was funny too, but I still think the original is the best of the two, IMHO!

Carol
:)
 
RE: The

I did see the sequel, but it wasn't nearly as good as the first. I mean, her application to Harvard alone had me LMAO.
 
RE: The

LOL!! That video!! I love the reaction of the stuffy guys in suits when they were finished watching it!! LOL!! I also love when she told her dufus ex-boyfriend, "If I'm going to be a partner in a law firm by the time I'm 30, I need a boyfriend who's not such a complete bonehead!" BURN!!!!!!!!! LOL!!

Carol
:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top