[Cody Dawg]

No frills gym.

Anyone who has gone into a fancy gym only to find themselves next to some spandex-wearing wannabe will really appreciate this kind of gym where people go to...

WORK OUT.



It's sad, but most of the gyms nowadays have turned into meat markets where people go to flirt, hang out, and pick people up. It's sad when the women there are wearing more cosmetics than the average woman out in South Beach on a Friday night.



I think this is a great gym.

Any of you out there go to a gym like this one? Just a basic no-frills gym?

[invisibleX]

Its a nice idea but most people probably aren't ready for that heavy an exercise regimen.

[budster101]

I used to belong to a gym just like that, and had thoughts of opening my own.

It's great for those who are serious about exercise.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

i have hinted I work in the corporate office for a large gym in the NE


most people dont want this. this type of gym does not pull lazy americans into gyms to get healthy. neither do the meat markets. but what i find nice about gyms is that niche ones open and they cater to the community. which is good because exercise makes people healtier.

[Cody Dawg]

BikerFox is the kind of person that you would run into at a fancy upscale "all-amenities" frou-frou gym.

[budster101]

I used to work for Ballys Total Fitness... I have many stories of parties after hours, and things to make you dislike them as a company.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

i'm familiar with ballys total fitness. THOSE BASTARDS HAVE NO MORALS. ALL THEY WANT IS YOUR MONEY. THEY HUSTLE THEIR CUSTOMERS LEGALLY.

[Cody Dawg]

PLEASE SHARE, budster101!

[Eug Wanker]

Heheh. When I was a student I used to go to this no frills gym at home during the summer, simply because it was the cheapest gym. I hated using electronic machines, and didn't like aerobics classes either, so it was pointless for me to pay for a gym that had that stuff.

But really, those guys at the gym were really hard core. Before I went to the gym I thought I was relatively strong (eg. bench 250) but I swear I was the weakest guy there by a long shot 99% of the time. Very humbling experience.

I don't think that many women would have been comfortable there. Very macho type of place. And I'm convinced about a third of those guys were on steroids though. I KNOW some of them were on steroids, but I'm sure there were many more too that just didn't let on.

Furthermore, a lot of them didn't have any cardiovascular endurance. Nowadays I try to balance weights with cardiovascular exercise much more. And if I'm short on time, I tend to do the latter, cuz it's more important overall.

[budster101]

Hmm.

There was a constant flow of beer after work hours, and it seemed like the television show 'survivor'. Watch your back because everyone spoke about everyone behind their backs. Backstabbing was a sport. The sales people were usually x-stock market idiots that got burned out, or used car salesmen. They were and are a pathetic group of blood-sucking money-grubbing idiots and scam artists.

It was my displeasure to be the one who got crapped on because I would neither drink after hours, or steer potential members into their sales-cave where they were ready with the hard sell and at-any-cost tactics. The tactics included: humiliation, exaggeration, and outright lies about dues; then they'd hit them with the interest rate, and up front fee.

They could care less if you ever showed up again. They said, they'd call you and remind you to keep your goals but that never happened. The parking lot was always far too small for the membership to show that the place was PACKED when it was in fact just too small anyway.

Did I mention how everyone slept with everyone? even members?

I was hit on by older women constantly... I say older because I was fairly young at the time, so almost everyone who was a member (could afford it) was older.

I told them after they scammed me for my own membership, that I would never stop talking badly about their organization. BTW: I am one of the few earliest members of the club... I own my membership, anyone want to buy it?

[Cody Dawg]

EWWWWWW.

That's a torrid tale, budster101. YUCKO.

[budster101]

I have many more detailed stories but, I'm a bit reluctent to post them in a public forum.

It's a very torrid tale, and why I joined the hardcore gym. It was refreshing, and cleansing in a way.
Nothing like a bunch of hard-a ss bodybuilders to get you to work out and get out...

[Cody Dawg]

I have some gym equipment in my home that I use. I don't like gyms, actually. I don't like the idea of germs all over the equipment and sometimes having to wait for a machine, blegh. I just finished working out and now I'm ready for a shower, a nice salad, and a glass of white wine.

Anyone want to join me?

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I have some gym equipment in my home that I use. I don't like gyms, actually. I don't like the idea of germs all over the equipment and sometimes having to wait for a machine, blegh. I just finished working out and now I'm ready for a shower, a nice salad, and a glass of white wine.

Anyone want to join me?

budster, she just came on to you


i suggest if you hook up dont bring up anything about tubes

[wolfen]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I just finished working out and now I'm ready for a shower, a nice salad, and a glass of white wine.

Anyone want to join me?

I skipped all that and just poured a long island tea. I'm with ya, baby.

[Kilbey]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

It's sad, but most of the gyms nowadays have turned into meat markets where people go to flirt, hang out, and pick people up. It's sad when the women there are wearing more cosmetics than the average woman out in South Beach on a Friday night.

My wife has told me of many a times when she was at the gym and guys would come up to her and try to pick her up. I went with her one time when we were on vacation and saw guy after guy come up and try hitting on her. She'd always tell them she married and their reply was always "but are you happily married?"

She got tired of the crap and we have quite a weight bench in the basement for muscle building and an elliptical machine for aerobics. She also TiVos a few aerobic videos a day.

Me, I do 12 oz. curls and gardening.

[Cody Dawg]

You sound happy, Kilbey.

Yes, maybe I DID "come on" to budster101...but not in the way that you think...



Maybe I'll let him come stay in my house.





(HE knows what that means!)

[Cody Dawg]

I suggest if you hook up dont bring up anything about tubes.

That was VERY funny!

I just "got" it.

[Kilbey]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

You sound happy, Kilbey.

Yes, maybe I DID "come on" to budster101...but not in the way that you think...



Maybe I'll let him come stay in my house.





(HE knows what that means!)

No, no, no. I meant nothing about that. I was simply addressing your first post in this thread.

Just a little commentary about how most gyms are simply meat markets.

Now don't go making the 'NN forums one too. It's already the nuts and fruits aisle.

[Kilbey]

AHHH... my first double post error. Do I get to learn the secret handshake now?

[Cody Dawg]

Wow! You're special...most of us get a warning that won't LET us make a DP.



No, budster is a good guy and I'm not hitting on him. I'm married to a Jim Carrey look alike that is sweet and fun and my soulmate.

[Kilbey]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Wow! You're special...

You have no idea.

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

most of us get a warning that won't LET us make a DP.

No secret handshake then? Drats!

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

That was VERY funny!

I just "got" it.

sorry i cant help it. TS is like the running joke of my office.

when we get frustrated at work, we often yell "PLEASE PULL OUT MY FEEDING TUBE!!!"

or

where do you want eat today? often brings forth a " SORRY, I BROUGHT MY TUBE IN TODAY"

or

we threaten each other: "I'M GOING TO RIP YOUR FEEDING TUBE OUTTA YOUR ASS"

anyway, she's pop culture now. i thought it was honorable how you fought for what you believed in. like i said in that thread, you taught me a very valuable lesson that i will never forget.

[The Godfather]

Meat market -> unavoidable STD outbreak
http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...hlight=std+gym

[Eug Wanker]

Gyms are meat markets? Pffftt. Nowhere near as much as MacNN apparently.

[ManOfSteal]

[budster101]

I leave for only one day and look what happens.

- I get hit on.
- Then, I don't...
- Then I get an invite.

I'm confused!



ManOfSteal: That is just what I used to look like when I taught Aerobics in the racketball courts, minus the mustache and the big hair.

[wdlove]

The important thing would be that availability of equipment to obtain you goal of fitness.

[Captain Obvious]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I think this is a great gym.

Any of you out there go to a gym like this one? Just a basic no-frills gym?

Another utterly stupid thread.

The majority of real men and women in this country work out in gyms primarily for vanity reasons not for health. If actual wellbeing is a concern the most effective exercises and practices to accomplish those goals can be done outside the gym. Running, swimming, biking, and good dietary practices do not require an $80 per month membership fee. If health is a concern and you aren’t an obese SOB you don’t need a gym. Even strength training for people who want to be fit is easily accomplished without equipment. It is when you want to look ripped that more complex equipment comes into play.

If vanity takes precedent over the health benefits then go to the gym. And in fact if you don’t have years of experience in weight training go to modern multiplex type gym not to the retro 50’s gymnasium.
Most people do not know how to work out properly, can not watch their form, and are far better off working out on machines that limit the isometric movement so they are less likely to be injured. Too many dumbasses who don’t know how to lift jump on decline bench and screw up their joints because they load on too much weight. These people, which are the majority of people, need to stay at Ballys until those machines strengthen their muscles enough to go onto free weights.
And home type machines that you pick up at Sportmart are usually not of good enough quality to recommend as a first choice. I’ve had quite an extensive collection of benches, heavy bags, roman chairs, free weights, and any number of things that I am quite well versed in using and in retrospect I realized it was a bad investment. I outgrew their usefulness and they did not provide the range of exercises for my program that I wanted. For the average person going to the gym is a better choice. It is a far more motivating atmosphere than one can recreate at home and the variety of things that can be done is more likely to prevent the boredom that usually makes people stop exercising. Unless of course you are ashamed of your body and prefer to hide the jiggle of the flab in your garage solofelx.

The kind of gym in that article has always been around. I belonged to one in addition to the meat market gym because it had a boxing ring and I could find people to spar with there. But my real workouts were always done at the vanity gym. It was nicer, had more equipment, had a spa, whirlpool, and the fact there were girls I knew there didn’t hurt the scenery. Gymnasiums are not for your average “real” person. iWrite soccer moms do not go to those gyms and if they did they would look idiotic working in the 50lbs leg press in between sets of the guy putting up five times their body weight.

[Cody Dawg]

Another utterly stupid thread.

Then why post here? Just to make a nasty comment?

But my real workouts were always done at the vanity gym.

Oh, I'm sure they were or are.

In your little spandex "Captain America - er, Obvious" suit with the tight little crotch area. Are you one of those people who works out in front of a mirror so that you can admire yourself also?

[Captain Obvious]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Are you one of those people who works out in front of a mirror so that you can admire yourself also?

Yes actually, because when you know what you are doing and you are isolating your movements you need to watch your form. Going in there and throwing up crazy amounts of weight is useless unless you hit the areas of your muscle that need to be worked out. Mirrors are important. Everyone I have ever known who took their body seriously from dancers to Olympic boxers stand in front of a mirror when they work out.

But I get it. I have seen your precious moments pictures you post of yourself and your kids. You're a middle aged chick who's popped out a couple babies and you jogging on a treadmill next to a 22 year old is just embarrassing for anyone to see. But if you don't feel like you belong at those gyms then you really don't realize how much you don't belong at a meat head gym.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

Another utterly stupid thread.

The majority of real men and women in this country work out in gyms primarily for vanity reasons not for health. If actual wellbeing is a concern the most effective exercises and practices to accomplish those goals can be done outside the gym. Running, swimming, biking, and good dietary practices do not require an $80 per month membership fee.

people have fun at the gyms is a primary reason too. work out classes, working out with your friends and family. lots of gyms offer spa type accomodations like steamroom/sauna and the like.

the thing with a gyms is they are out to make money. to get you to join they will give you a lot of good stuff. LIKE: teaching you how to work out. teaching hardcore people how to work better. nutritional advice, baby-sitting, spa accomodations, facilities to do other stuff like softball and touch football. sponsor races for running and biking.

if you can join a gym that fits in with your life and personality it can be beneficial for everybody involved

[Cody Dawg]

Actually, Captain Obvious, I can run 5 miles (I do twice a week) and contrary to what you may believe, I'm not fat, out of shape, and have absolutely NO cellulite.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

[Cadaver]

"Average Joe's Gym"

[Cody Dawg]

That was VERY funny, Apple Pro Underwear!



Yes, I'm going out for a jog right now...

With my little dog too.



(Just kidding - though I could because he's only 4.5 pounds.)

[Gee4orce]

I love gyms like this - I hate the fact the most modern gyms feel the need to have TVs and exercise 'machines'. Unfortunately, the 'hardcore' 'spit-n-sawdust' type gyms are just not popular enough to be profitable.

you can't beat working with loose weights - that's the best, and fastest, way to build real strength and tone. With even the best machines you are locked into a fixed range of movement, which means you aren't using the supporting muscles when exercising. For instance, the best exercise is deadlifting - but you'll never see anyone doing this in most gyms - even hardcore ones - because it's hard work !.

)

[budster101]

I am still in contact with a friend who runs an upscale gym, and the big thing now is stabilization.... yeah right. Free weights have always been better because they made you work your stabilization muscles before you raised the weight you were using... it's a natural thing. If you are shaking and cannot do a repetition without losing your form, then lower the weight!, now they have rubber tubes and some alien exercise movements to isolate your stabilizers... whatever. Just use free weights. It's all about selling a gimmick, and yet the obvious answer is right there and has been for many years.

FREE WEIGHTS.

[Cody Dawg]

You know, you're exactly right? When you have to use ALL of your muscles to balance you are getting a much better workout. Using a machine isolates only one muscle or one set of muscles and no other muscles are involved.

That's why the folks working out on Venice Beach and in the prisons can kick anyone's *ss.

[budster101]

I'm still trying to explain to people, you cannot isolate any abdominal muscles. They always work together, only obliques maybe... but not really.

You may feel it more in some areas, but that means nothing.

There are many fat scams they use at Ballys too, like showing you what 1 lb of fat looks and feels like as opposed to 1 lb of muscle. It's all about sales.

You cannot, cannot, cannot spot reduce anything.

When you isolate your biceps for instance with a machine you are negating the positive effects of using free weights. The stabilizing feature of your abs and other support muscles. I used to do 'peak' exercises with lighter weights after a heavy workout on the biceps for example, and never had to use any isolating machine... it's all in technique. Knowing kinesiology, anatomy and physiology helps.

[Cody Dawg]

And I bet you've got a great bod.



C'mon you guys...I posted a pic...now YOU guys post some pics...even if only of certain body parts that you think are particularly great (and I'm not talking about below the waist! )

[budster101]

The 'bod' is gone, but the knowledge remains. That is what is most cruel about all of it. I know 7 ways to Sunday how to get a bod, and the reasons behind it, I just can't seem to get motivated anymore.

It's kind of funny. I've been reading and reading, and honestly nothing has changed in the way of technology in the fitness industry. They change the names of all the products, and slap new labels on all of it, but when you break it down, it's the same thing that works with some new addied ingredients.

Did you know that you will gain more from rest than working out?
If you workout and don't rest then you are defeating yourself and are better off working out less.

For example: If you sleep an extra hour every night, then you are gaining up to 25% more fat burning potential, not to mention giving your body the necessary time to heal and release the necessary hormones to continue to work out and gain benefits. My problem is lack of sleep, AND exercise, not diet.

There are three conditions you must allow to happen when successfully venturing into a work-out routine.

1. Proper exercise routines. (Just lifting isn't going to do it, you have to plan this thing.)
2. Proper diet. (Not lack of food. More food, more frequently.)
3. Proper rest. (If you don't want the most out of your work, skip this.)

Miss one of them, and you are wasting valuable resources, not to mention time and outcome.

I used to spend most of my money on quality food and suppliments to enhance the amount of effort I put into my workouts. People thought I was on steroids for the rapid gains I was making in my weight increments, and muscle mass. At my prime I was 190, and looked 240. Now I weigh 240, and look 260.

As far as pictures go... I'm camera shy. Never did like my picture taken.

[Cody Dawg]

That's okay, budster101.

We love you anyway.



Thanks for the information about rest and eating the right foods. You know, there's something to that. I noticed that if I sleep a little more not only do I wake up more rested, but I felt much better.

That much said, I'm on a brown rice and water diet this week - supplemented with some tuna or chicken breasts at noon (lunchtime). I'm trying to get rid of some toxins from being sick the last two weeks (virus.)

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

Another utterly stupid thread.

I wasn't sure, but now that I read your post...

-t

[budster101]

WATER. You want to rid your body of toxins. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Not tea. Water.

Don't forget to get your necessary minerals as well.

Tuna is by far one of the best sources of protein around, and it's cheap.
Turkey is awesome, and has Tryptophan in it, so you'll do well to heat it up and have it a few hourse before bedtime. L-tryptophan is a great amino acid. Warm milk too. It's funny, but it seams to be absorbed into your system better if it is warmed... Warm milk as opposed to Cold milk.

Your welcome.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by budster101

Warm milk too. It's funny, but it seams to be absorbed into your system better if it is warmed... Warm milk as opposed to Cold milk.

Warm or cold has nothing to do with absorbtion.

Your welcome.

You're.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Yes, I'm going out for a jog right now...

With my little dog too.

*Lampoon's Vacation* Poor little guy, probably kept up for the first mile or two. */Lampoon's Vacation*

[budster101]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Warm or cold has nothing to do with absorbtion.

Prove me wrong.

"A snack before bedtime helps many people. Foods such as warm milk or turkey have a natural sleep inducer called L-tryptophan."

Source

It may not be absorption, but activation... as it is a known fact that warm milk as opposed to cold milk produces different results. Warm milk is more effective, as is warm turkey, so there is a correlation between temperature and effectiveness.

Do a search on 5-HTP.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

a snack before bedtime helps people also because it draws blood to the digestive organs leaving a person sluggish/tired. thats why many people get sleepy after eating any meal.

[chris v]

I usta belong to the Metropolitan Club, which was nice, because it was expensive enough to keep the riff-raff out, and it compelled you to get your ass in there and USE it if you're paying those kind of prices. (It was a damn nice facility, too-- never out of towels, dressing rooms weren't stinky, equipment was well-maintained-- things you won't see at the major chains) I run when the weather's good, but there's plenty of days when it's too hot or too cold to want to go out of doors, and a gym is nice then, or when it's raining. Unfortunately, they closed the Austin Met Club a couple years ago, and I haven't really looked around at gyms since then, since there are not any really convenient to work/home right now. So jog/sweat & jog/freeze it is.