Just don't ever put me on the NASA team that is on a joint project with the European Space Agency to design a Mars probe.TheCatt wrote:You know nothing, Gordon Snow.GORDON wrote:I'm trying to figure out if I never knew that or if I had a brain fart.TheCatt wrote: Yards are shorter.
I know a kilometer is shorter than a mile.
Or do I?
40 aint no joke - General fitness thread
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
So it turns out I'm a pretty big deal in the gym. Allow me to explain.
This morning it is about as crowded as usual. Me and maybe 15 other people are in the gym, maybe 2/3 of them north of 60. It is my "main" day so I am just doing a circuit of the machines... my "I don't want to think" day so I just do them in order, as usual. As I said before I just do 3 sets of 12... "I don't want to think"... then I move on to the next machine in line. It is not unusual once or twice for some old fucker to jump in to the machine I was going to hit within 20 seconds... but I am used to that and my routine is to just jump over the fault, ahead one position, and backtrack when he is done.
But not today.
Today, every machine had some fucker jumping ahead of me as I was about to move on. Every fucking time. And the machines are positioned so you don't work the same muscle group twice in a row... it is hard to do flys and move directly on to the bench press, for example. But these fuckers kept screwing up my order. And it was rarely the same fucker twice. But it wasn't until I was 80% done that I realized what a big deal I was... I had 4 machines to go, and it was time to get on the 4th-to-last machine, and old fuckers, at the same time, got on ALL FOUR MACHINES, ahead of me. And they were all slow. And stupid. And had tunnel vision. And they would put on minimal weight and not even do anything, just let their old, palsied Parkinson's limbs twitch and make the weight cable jerk around. Point being, I don't mind people working hard, but as always, I hate fucking tourists just being roadblocks.
So I got to thinking... getting cut off once or twice in even a lightly crowded gym is not unusual, but today has been every machine, and now, at the end, they completely cut me off from the end of my workout. I looked around and couldn't even see anyone else, everybody left was directly in my way. It can't be happenstance, it happened more than once. It can't be coincidence, for them to all converge on my last 4 machines all at once suggests forethought and planning... enemy action.... which I don't think these old, rigid, calcified, spongiform, rotting brains are capable of. They aren't as intelligent as ants. So what could be causing all of these walking dead to continuously be cutting me off, today?
Then it finally occurred to me.... it is because in their world of aged darkness, I am like a bright, shining light of health, fitness, life, and gunshow. They are drawn to me, they know not why, but they yearn to be near me like some font of hope and light, yearning to drink from my luminescence. They probably aren't even aware that they are doing it, but their dull eyes are drawn to me, and they lumber to be near me, like starving men to banquet, possibly in hopes of draining my life force.
So yeah, I'm a pretty big deal.
This morning it is about as crowded as usual. Me and maybe 15 other people are in the gym, maybe 2/3 of them north of 60. It is my "main" day so I am just doing a circuit of the machines... my "I don't want to think" day so I just do them in order, as usual. As I said before I just do 3 sets of 12... "I don't want to think"... then I move on to the next machine in line. It is not unusual once or twice for some old fucker to jump in to the machine I was going to hit within 20 seconds... but I am used to that and my routine is to just jump over the fault, ahead one position, and backtrack when he is done.
But not today.
Today, every machine had some fucker jumping ahead of me as I was about to move on. Every fucking time. And the machines are positioned so you don't work the same muscle group twice in a row... it is hard to do flys and move directly on to the bench press, for example. But these fuckers kept screwing up my order. And it was rarely the same fucker twice. But it wasn't until I was 80% done that I realized what a big deal I was... I had 4 machines to go, and it was time to get on the 4th-to-last machine, and old fuckers, at the same time, got on ALL FOUR MACHINES, ahead of me. And they were all slow. And stupid. And had tunnel vision. And they would put on minimal weight and not even do anything, just let their old, palsied Parkinson's limbs twitch and make the weight cable jerk around. Point being, I don't mind people working hard, but as always, I hate fucking tourists just being roadblocks.
So I got to thinking... getting cut off once or twice in even a lightly crowded gym is not unusual, but today has been every machine, and now, at the end, they completely cut me off from the end of my workout. I looked around and couldn't even see anyone else, everybody left was directly in my way. It can't be happenstance, it happened more than once. It can't be coincidence, for them to all converge on my last 4 machines all at once suggests forethought and planning... enemy action.... which I don't think these old, rigid, calcified, spongiform, rotting brains are capable of. They aren't as intelligent as ants. So what could be causing all of these walking dead to continuously be cutting me off, today?
Then it finally occurred to me.... it is because in their world of aged darkness, I am like a bright, shining light of health, fitness, life, and gunshow. They are drawn to me, they know not why, but they yearn to be near me like some font of hope and light, yearning to drink from my luminescence. They probably aren't even aware that they are doing it, but their dull eyes are drawn to me, and they lumber to be near me, like starving men to banquet, possibly in hopes of draining my life force.
So yeah, I'm a pretty big deal.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Is this why scuba divers wear fins, to make swimming harder?TheCatt wrote:Hand paddles make it harder.GORDON wrote:What's the deal with old fuckers using these hand paddles during laps, and half of them using swim fins? Doesn't that just make it take less work to do your laps, and if so, what's the point?
Fins can function similarly and make it a different/harder workout. Or they can make it a lot easier. It depends on how they are used. But it lets you move against a lot more water, which can work your muscle harder.
I see half those fuckers not even kicking while they swim, just dragging their legs behind them like two dead lumps of flesh.
For distance, that's practically good form. You don't want to use your legs much, particularly if you are a triathlete.
Yeah, when I see these old fat people I am thinking "triathlete."
I kick because I feel it working my leg and ass muscles when I do. I need that.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
They do it to get higher top speed, so they can avoid currents. There's a point where it helps make things more efficient, yes, but there's also a point where you can make it more of a leg workout than it is otherwise, as well.GORDON wrote:Is this why scuba divers wear fins, to make swimming harder?
Yeah, when I see these old fat people I am thinking "triathlete."For distance, that's practically good form. You don't want to use your legs much, particularly if you are a triathlete.I see half those fuckers not even kicking while they swim, just dragging their legs behind them like two dead lumps of flesh.
I kick because I feel it working my leg and ass muscles when I do. I need that.
It's not me, it's someone else.
Also I hurt my arm yesterday or the day before. On the curling machine, there's no way to begin the first rep without your arms being straight out, so if you are doing enough weight to make it a good set, you are putting a lot of strain on the first rep getting the set started. Well, I think I strained something, today I couldn't curl a thing with my left arm without some pretty good pain near my elbow. So. That sucks. Another few weeks for that to work itself out, I presume.
40 aint no joke.
Now that I think about it, one could probably stand up and get the bar out of the full-extended station, then sit down into the curl motion without straining your ligaments really hard..... but I think I am done with that machine. I'll just do some good dumbbell curls instead from now on.
40 aint no joke.
Now that I think about it, one could probably stand up and get the bar out of the full-extended station, then sit down into the curl motion without straining your ligaments really hard..... but I think I am done with that machine. I'll just do some good dumbbell curls instead from now on.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
I partially tore a bicep a couple of years ago.GORDON wrote:Also I hurt my arm yesterday or the day before. On the curling machine, there's no way to begin the first rep without your arms being straight out, so if you are doing enough weight to make it a good set, you are putting a lot of strain on the first rep getting the set started. Well, I think I strained something, today I couldn't curl a thing with my left arm without some pretty good pain near my elbow. So. That sucks. Another few weeks for that to work itself out, I presume.
It hurts for days... and days...
It's not me, it's someone else.
Took a day off the workout and took my kid to the pool instead... I need to assess his skillz and get him ready for scuba lessons in April. He did 4 laps like he needed to, I just need to work on his strength, water confidence, and lung capacity, now. I had him fetching a 5lb rubber ball from the deep end until his lips were purple.
Man it's a lot easier swimming laps when you don't do a full workout before you even hit the pool. It was strange swimming a lap with him and my arms weren't already fatigued before I even started.
Man it's a lot easier swimming laps when you don't do a full workout before you even hit the pool. It was strange swimming a lap with him and my arms weren't already fatigued before I even started.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Man it's a lot easier swimming laps when you don't do a full workout before you even hit the pool.
Well duh. That's your muscles cheating for your cardiovascular system.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Mostly it's my shoulders, too. For some reason I decided to make lap day also be shoulder day. I wonder what my 25 time would be if I actually hit it just warmed up instead of worn out.Malcolm wrote:Well duh. That's your muscles cheating for your cardiovascular system.Man it's a lot easier swimming laps when you don't do a full workout before you even hit the pool.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
I always do strength training before cardio to minimize the muscle cheat factor. I haven't done cardio without lifting prior in ... damn, I can't even remember.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Good to know I'm accidentally doing something right.Malcolm wrote:I always do strength training before cardio to minimize the muscle cheat factor. I haven't done cardio without lifting prior in ... damn, I can't even remember.
Back in the day I would do light cardio as a warmup for the lifting... 20 minutes on the stairmaster, or whatever. Get my blood pumping.
But any more I don't like the cardio machines as much, and I like swimming. I've never been a lap swimmer before, but now I am digging it. It feels natural movement in a way that the machines do not.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Gym I go to used to be in a different building half a block down the road. That joint was formerly a US Track and Field-something biz, so it had an indoor track around the circumference of the second floor. Not a proper 4-lap one, mind you (I think it was 14 laps), but it beat the hell out of machines. Then they had a new place built with everything except a fucking indoor track. I can adjust levels on the elliptical, I guess, but it feels shittier.
Decent warmup for lifting is simply lifting less weight with fewer reps. If you want to shake down everything at once, a few minutes of moderate jogging did fine for me. My rule for warming up is that if I'm sweating, I'm overdoing it. Effort should be saved for real work.
Edited By Malcolm on 1451678804
Decent warmup for lifting is simply lifting less weight with fewer reps. If you want to shake down everything at once, a few minutes of moderate jogging did fine for me. My rule for warming up is that if I'm sweating, I'm overdoing it. Effort should be saved for real work.
Edited By Malcolm on 1451678804
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
I must have a deformed left ear... I can't get a left ear bud to stay in, no matter what size bud or ear clip or whatever I use. Always falls out when I lay vertically on my back, frequently falls out when I just bend over, or, like, move.
So I'm going to try these. Got an ear clip around thing. Got plenty o' Amazon gift cards for xmas. I feel I can experiment without risking my own money.
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XZHQAMC
So I'm going to try these. Got an ear clip around thing. Got plenty o' Amazon gift cards for xmas. I feel I can experiment without risking my own money.
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XZHQAMC
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
1. Noticed the high school swim team peeps using little stubby fins during their workout yesterday. According to the whiteboard they were doing 10k of laps that day.
2. At the sporting goods store tonight I saw those little stumpy fins for sale, and the box said they build leg muscles.
So ok, I guess.
Old fat people should still stay out of my lane though if all they want to do is socialize.
2. At the sporting goods store tonight I saw those little stumpy fins for sale, and the box said they build leg muscles.
So ok, I guess.
Old fat people should still stay out of my lane though if all they want to do is socialize.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
I hit a "stride" or whatever for the first time today. During my 20 minutes of warmups at 50%ish power, my ability to continuously swim is pretty much limited to my breath... I can usually go 2 or 3 full laps but then I need to stop for 45 seconds and breathe hard. I make the decision about whether I am going to do the flip-turn and proceed, or take a breather, as I approach the wall.
Well today I never felt like I needed to stop... I was never starving for O2. So yay. Milestone.
Well today I never felt like I needed to stop... I was never starving for O2. So yay. Milestone.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Running was hell on my knees, so I went back to biking. Need to get back in the pool as well.
Lifting, right now just lat pull downs (mix of wide and narrow grip to vary the muscle somewhat) + bench press. I can't do legs, so I'm not sure how much I can do of a routine.
Nice, Gordon. Now swim a mile
Lifting, right now just lat pull downs (mix of wide and narrow grip to vary the muscle somewhat) + bench press. I can't do legs, so I'm not sure how much I can do of a routine.
Nice, Gordon. Now swim a mile
It's not me, it's someone else.
Lat pulldows: wide grip = work the lats harder. close grip=work the biceps harder.TheCatt wrote:Lifting, right now just lat pull downs (mix of wide and narrow grip to vary the muscle somewhat) + bench press.
Same with bench... the wider the grip, the more you are working chest muscles, and not triceps.
My legs have been feeling great since I started all the individual things for the first time since I had my nerve disease... I am doing leg extensions, leg curls, whatever that thing is where you squeeze your thighs together like Suzanne Sommers with the thigh master, the exercise that is the opposite of that motion (that placard is missing from the machine so I don't know what it is called), and finally the squat sled. I can feel actual muscle mass in my legs, now. It's neat.
++++
Left elbow joint is still bothering me... I am thinking it may be cartilage related... so for curls I dropped to about 60% of my usual, and I am doing very slow concentration curls... like 4 seconds per rep. My shit is still burning but I am not feeling the pain at the joint. I don't want to lose what progress I have made.
++++
I hit a low of 216 pounds before the holiday break, but then all those goddam xmas dinners, I was back up to 224 at one point, feeling bloated. Was back down to 217 this morning, so yay. Goal:190... my Marine weight. I don't know if that is realistic, but we will see.
++++
A couple new cute chicks in the gym since the new year, I hope they stick it out. Also a few fat chicks stuffed into yoga pants. Blech. Lots of new dudes, and I even saw one posing in the mirror this morning, and he had no business posing, yet. Douche. It is getting to the point where I and the handful of other people I have seen in there 6 days a week for the last 6 months are all nodding to each other knowingly.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."