What is the point of gyms?

[pap]

About a month ago, I reluctantly agreed to get a family membership for the gym. Now, being a fat bast has never been a problem for me for two reasons. First, I'm rarely what you'd call a fat bast. Second, when I am, I'm not really that bothered. It just means a temporary cessation of Cornetto and late night toast runs.

 

Now, if I were on the pull, I can kinda see the point. Turning up at a disco looking like you've visited every restaurant in town immediately beforehand is not the best plan if you're after the other sort of nosh, but I've been in a relationship for yonks now, and I'm having difficulty working out why the feck I'm even bothering with the gym.

 

Don't get me wrong. I am not about to slip through any drain covers in the next 24 hours, but I'm having trouble justifying the effort internally. What is the point of gyms?

[Golden Balls]

Live longer

[pap]

Still don't get it.

 

Who wants to live long enough so that their only pleasure is getting free bus travel into Portswood?

[Colinjb]

I find gyms to be really soul destroying places, even though there are instructors who can help it is still down to your own motivation to stick to a routine and they are full of the type of vain buggers that can leave normal individuals feeling a little inadequate. I find that going to a group exercise class (such as British Military Fitness... I have mentioned it on here before, indeed, the wife of a SWF member actually came up to me after a session and said hi after seeing my Saints shirt) is much better. Many average joes working hard together in a nice, outside setting to get fitter.

 

It's still hard, it still leaves you knackered after but you meet people and have a laugh in the process.

[andysstuff]

Point of Gyms? Get £100 or so a month out of your bank account and into theirs. IMO.

[pap]

I find gyms to be really soul destroying places, even though there are instructors who can help it is still down to your own motivation to stick to a routine and they are full of the type of vain buggers that can leave normal individuals feeling a little inadequate. I find that going to a group exercise class (such as British Military Fitness... I have mentioned it on here before, indeed, the wife of a SWF member actually came up to me after a session and said hi after seeing my Saints shirt) is much better. Many average joes working hard together in a nice, outside setting to get fitter.

 

It's still hard, it still leaves you knackered after but you meet people and have a laugh in the process.

 

I might try some of the "classes" they do there then.

 

Honestly, I feel like a hamster on a wheel whenever I step into a gym.

[Spudders]

I’ve had unhealthy spells in my life. I’ve also had healthier spells. During the healthier times I feel healthier, I feel better about myself generally (more confident), I sleep better, I feel more awake during the day. Also, one day I might meet a girl again, and if that ever happens I will be in good enough shape to do her hard (that said it’ll probably not last long anyway, nonetheless, the second time I will be able to go hard and long!) :lol:

[rallyboy]

I'll chase a ball around the park all afternoon like a dog but I can't do gyms, pointlessly plodding on a machine that goes nowhere and stinks of other people's sweat?

No thanks.

Rather someone threw a stick for me to fetch.

Maybe I am a retriever...

[Turkish]

About a month ago, I reluctantly agreed to get a family membership for the gym. Now, being a fat bast has never been a problem for me for two reasons. First, I'm rarely what you'd call a fat bast. Second, when I am, I'm not really that bothered. It just means a temporary cessation of Cornetto and late night toast runs.

 

Now, if I were on the pull, I can kinda see the point. Turning up at a disco looking like you've visited every restaurant in town immediately beforehand is not the best plan if you're after the other sort of nosh, but I've been in a relationship for yonks now, and I'm having difficulty working out why the feck I'm even bothering with the gym.

Don't get me wrong. I am not about to slip through any drain covers in the next 24 hours, but I'm having trouble justifying the effort internally. What is the point of gyms?

 

I agree with this. What is the point of keeping yourself in shape, looking after yourself and having a bit of pride in your appearance and well being? come to think of it why bother washing, cleaning your teeth and shaving as well? There really isn't point if you're in a realtionship and have been for ages, it's not like you still want your partner to find you attractive and not have the very thought of the rod attached to your dirty, sweaty, grotesque, badly conditioned body stuck in her making her sick to the pit of her stomach is it.

[Lighthouse]

Been thinking of joining a gym for the opposite reasons recently, I'm 23 and still have the body I had when I was 15, albeit a bit hairier. I'm the skinniest guy I know, and I know Baj. I'm not exactly going for the beefcake, gym monkey look, just a bit less Keira Knightley.

[View From The Top]

We've a gym membership, discounted via the Uni', which we use solely for the pilates, aerobics and spinning classes. Works out way cheaper than paying for the individual classes.

 

The days of pumping iron are long gone for me!

[Dr Who?]

You do not need to waste your money on a gym, you can do all you need in your own home without all the equipment. Now even though I have an excercise bike, which I use a lot, I also play football, badminton and ref games on a Sunday. I also walk about 12 miles a week my house to Royston Station and then Kings Cross to the office.

 

Saying all the above I use it as an excuse to eat a lot of unhealthy food, and all the excercise I do is for losing weight and fitness and not to tone, which I think is the main point of the gym. But there are toning exercises you can do at home as well.

 

Gyms are a rip off, unless you enjoy them!

[Jonnyboy]

couple of laps in the pool, 15 mins in the jacuzzi, 10 in the steam room and 5 in the sauna followed by shower - keeps me buff.

[scotty]

I agree with this. What is the point of keeping yourself in shape, looking after yourself and having a bit of pride in your appearance and well being? come to think of it why bother washing, cleaning your teeth and shaving as well? There really isn't point if you're in a realtionship and have been for ages, it's not like you still want your partner to find you attractive and not have the very thought of the rod attached to your dirty, sweaty, grotesque, badly conditioned body stuck in her making her sick to the pit of her stomach is it.

 

 

[moon monkey]

I am a personal trainer and can tell you that the vast majority of people in the gym are wasting their membership. The benefits of regular exercise and healthy eating are lifechanging and amazing. But people are just plain lazy and don't want to put the effort in to the work or the nutrition side. That is all fine but they shouldn't moan that they can't lose their excess fat.

[Thedelldays]

I agree with this. What is the point of keeping yourself in shape, looking after yourself and having a bit of pride in your appearance and well being? come to think of it why bother washing, cleaning your teeth and shaving as well? There really isn't point if you're in a realtionship and have been for ages, it's not like you still want your partner to find you attractive and not have the very thought of the rod attached to your dirty, sweaty, grotesque, badly conditioned body stuck in her making her sick to the pit of her stomach is it.

 

brilliant

 

deppo-esq

[Dr Who?]

couple of laps in the pool, 15 mins in the jacuzzi, 10 in the steam room and 5 in the sauna followed by shower - keeps me buff.

 

I did used to go to Fitness first around 2002 in Shirley. At first we would do a full loop around the gym using all the equipment, starting with the excercise bike to warm up, a bit on the rowing machine, and then the weights, and then end with the sauna and steam room. Then it was the bike and a few weights and then the sauna and the steam room. This moved on to just the bike and then the steam room and sauna, and then we used to just go just for the steam room and sauna. Madness!

 

I think I am pretty fit, but am slighly over weight and love unhealthly food!!!

[pap]

I agree with this. What is the point of keeping yourself in shape, looking after yourself and having a bit of pride in your appearance and well being? come to think of it why bother washing, cleaning your teeth and shaving as well? There really isn't point if you're in a realtionship and have been for ages, it's not like you still want your partner to find you attractive and not have the very thought of the rod attached to your dirty, sweaty, grotesque, badly conditioned body stuck in her making her sick to the pit of her stomach is it.

 

Hehe

[Dog]

Check out the MILF and the young tight camel toes on display in their hot pants?

[LGTL]

I am a personal trainer and can tell you that the vast majority of people in the gym are wasting their membership. The benefits of regular exercise and healthy eating are lifechanging and amazing. But people are just plain lazy and don't want to put the effort in to the work or the nutrition side. That is all fine but they shouldn't moan that they can't lose their excess fat.

 

There are also a hell of a lot of personal trainers with no more then college qualifications who don't know even the basics of anatomy and physiology. I'm not saying that's you, but it certainly works both ways.

[suewhistle]

Sounds like it's more what's the point of exercise.

 

I'm with Adriansfc on this and the rest of his post. I think having an external stimulus helps: a group to run with, a reason to get fit (another sport for example) and for some people the gym might do this job. I'm (well) the wrong side of 50 but I've done 3 football training sessions this week and 2 pre-season friendlies. I don't expect to play much but being in a team has a social side and trying to at least get 25 minutes off the bench occasionally all give me the exercise I need. Ski season will start in a couple of months so that's another reason to keep up my fitness.

 

Another friendly tomorrow night, fortunately on an all weather pitch as it's hissing down here. I suppose foul weather is one reason for a gym occasionally but you don't _really_ need to go to one.

[dronskisaint]

I belong to a gym - it was part of the package with the mooring for my boat.

 

One day I'll go and find out where it is in case I stumble in there by accident.

[Smirking_Saint]

Because no matter what you say, looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing a six pack is much better than staring at the wobbly expanse growing around your midrift ??

 

FWIW you can burn the same level of calories and do a very similar weight workout at home then in the gym, for instance, 10 minutes of intense interval training will burn more calories than 60 minutes on a treadmill.

 

You just need to want it enough.

[Wade Garrett]

I'm a gym member, but can't seem to put the necessary work in to not be a fat bastard for more than 3 weeks at a time.

 

I am currently a fat bastard, after 7 weeks of not setting foot in there.

 

I'll start again tomorrow....probably.

[dubai_phil]

Gyms.

 

The only way that the Athlete's Foot Virus can survive and prosper

[pap]

Because no matter what you say, looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing a six pack is much better than staring at the wobbly expanse growing around your midrift ??

 

Well, I must be in the minority here then. Surely it comes down to vanity?

 

For me, having a six-pack is like owning a nuke. Sure, it'd be impressive, but what am I going to do with it?

 

I wear 32" jeans comfortably - am in decent general health. Tell me, why is having a six-pack worth my effort?

[Hatch]

gyms are for benders.

[scott_saints]

Well, I must be in the minority here then. Surely it comes down to vanity?

 

For me, having a six-pack is like owning a nuke. Sure, it'd be impressive, but what am I going to do with it?

 

I wear 32" jeans comfortably - am in decent general health. Tell me, why is having a six-pack worth my effort?

This.

 

I also reckon a good looking bloke with no six pack will have just as much chance as an equally good looking bloke with a six pack, of pulling a laydeh.

 

Gyms- Pointless (When using them for vanity's sake)

[Jones91]

I go to the gym before work, because the fat bastard population is rapidly increasing (thanks guys), which makes me look even sexier.

 

Whereas 30 years ago most people were thin, so not much point going back then.

[Smirking_Saint]

Working on a 6 pack really isn't that hard.

 

OK ok, forget about the 6 pack

 

And its not like starring in the mirror, it is just better to look in the mirror and see something like a slim figure than a massive beer gut.

 

And FWIW I used to use the gym an hour a day and now do around 30 mins to an hour a day at home. Easy.

[Seaford Saint]

Because no matter what you say, looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing a six pack is much better than staring at the wobbly expanse growing around your midrift ??

 

FWIW you can burn the same level of calories and do a very similar weight workout at home then in the gym, for instance, 10 minutes of intense interval training will burn more calories than 60 minutes on a treadmill.

 

You just need to want it enough.

Could you define intense interval training

[Turkish]

I do this twice a week http://www.essentialkravmaga.co.uk/

 

Start about 3 months ago and love it. Gives a great work out as well as teaching you all sorts of fighting and self defence techniques.

 

 

If that is too frightening for some of you delicate little flowers on here then I've found circuit training gets you fit quickly and you can do it anywhere. For a great all over circuit which you can do at home and will get you fit as f*ck try this. Between each excercise do 10 step ups.

 

10 x Press Ups

10 x Sit ups

10 x Jump Burpess

10 x lateral raises

10 x squats

10 x floor runs (10 on each leg)

10 x cruches

10 x power jacks

10 x dips

10 x heel touches

 

when you've completed that, go through again with 9 x each excercise and 9 step ups inbetween, then 8, all the way down to one of each. Time yourself and try to beat your time every time you do it.

 

I am doing a kettle bells course soon through my Krav Maga club, this is supposed to be an excellent form of excercise for improving fitness, strength and burning fat.I shall report back when done.

[Jonnyboy]

I do this twice a week http://www.essentialkravmaga.co.uk/

 

Start about 3 months ago and love it. Gives a great work out as well as teaching you all sorts of fighting and self defence techniques.

 

 

If that is too frightening for some of you delicate little flowers on here then I've found circuit training gets you fit quickly and you can do it anywhere. For a great all over circuit which you can do at home and will get you fit as f*ck try this. Between each excercise do 10 step ups.

 

10 x Press Ups

10 x Sit ups

10 x Jump Burpess

10 x lateral raises

10 x squats

10 x floor runs (10 on each leg)

10 x cruches

10 x power jacks

10 x dips

10 x heel touches

 

when you've completed that, go through again with 9 x each excercise and 9 step ups inbetween, then 8, all the way down to one of each. Time yourself and try to beat your time every time you do it.

 

I am doing a kettle bells course soon through my Krav Maga club, this is supposed to be an excellent form of excercise for improving fitness, strength and burning fat.I shall report back when done.

 

[BadgerBadger]

[Smirking_Saint]

Could you define intense interval training

 

Short work outs but at almost or at your maximum effort.

 

Basically, I sprint as fast as I can for 1 minute, then jog at steady effort for 1 1/2 minutes and then repeat 4 or 5 times. At first I could only complete it if I did 30 seconds Max and then 1 minute max.

 

I combine this with a weights workout every other day and do a medium run (3-5 miles) and long run (5-10 miles) a couple of times a week and I promise you I have seen results faster then when I just used to aimlessly pound it out at the gym endlessly.

 

With the weights workout I usually spend about 10 - 20 minutes working on upper on Mondays, Core Wednesdays and Lower Fridays.

 

It works.

 

NB - The long runs are basically because I am aiming to do the GSR in OCT & Turks, I may or may not have the P90X workout soon so you may or may not recieve a PM

[Junior Mullet]

Good question asked by the OP. Different people have different reasons but here's mine.

 

I work in an air conditioned office all day, mostly surrounded by women and middle class middle aged men who act like old women. As an alpha male working class 80's kid I find this completely unnatural. I don't think humans were designed to sit in offices all day. By throwing a few heavy weight around after work I can actually act like a bloke and bloe off some steam before going home.

 

I also have a good laugh in the gym with people from all walks of life and have made some good mates over the years. I have also done some business with gym mates and gym owners. Having moved to Southampton 10 years ago the first thing I did was join the gym because I knew I could make some mates that way.

 

The chemical release is pretty good too. I take caffeine before I go and comined with the natural chemical release from doing weights it's a pretty heady mix. A bit like MDNA I find but without the side-effects ;0)

 

The tight fanny is another good reason for going.

 

For anyone that doesnt have a good reason to go, I suggest you give it up. Gyms make their money from standing orders of people that think it's a good idea but find it all a bit too tough. You only have to witness the stampede every January.

[Saint Mikey]

Good question asked by the OP. Different people have different reasons but here's mine.

 

I work in an air conditioned office all day, mostly surrounded by women and middle class middle aged men who act like old women. As an alpha male working class 80's kid I find this completely unnatural. I don't think humans were designed to sit in offices all day. By throwing a few heavy weight around after work I can actually act like a bloke and bloe off some steam before going home.

 

I also have a good laugh in the gym with people from all walks of life and have made some good mates over the years. I have also done some business with gym mates and gym owners. Having moved to Southampton 10 years ago the first thing I did was join the gym because I knew I could make some mates that way.

 

The chemical release is pretty good too. I take caffeine before I go and comined with the natural chemical release from doing weights it's a pretty heady mix. A bit like MDNA I find but without the side-effects ;0)

 

The tight fanny is another good reason for going.

 

For anyone that doesnt have a good reason to go, I suggest you give it up. Gyms make their money from standing orders of people that think it's a good idea but find it all a bit too tough. You only have to witness the stampede every January.

 

Is this better than MDMA?

[Turkish]

What are power jacks?