PurpleJedi said:

LionsAndTigers said:

Ugh Things went wrong for me with this fitness stuff. I started off the summer having to take off about 3 weeks from working out all together because I got the genius idea to take a ridiculously difficult class this summer. I got an A in the class at least Once that was done, I got back into things. I was in the gym 3-4 times a week and lost a few pounds. Then I messed up my elbow Took off another week and when I felt better, I got back in the gym. I had a good couple of days in there and then I hurt my dang back I haven't been back in 2 weeks. I've been doing some light stuff at home and doing outdoorsy things, but I've had to really take it easy. Makes me mad

I started off by pressuring my friend to join my gym with the excuse that we'd motivate each other.

That lasted all of about a month.

It was all;

"Gym tonight?"

"No I got the kids."

"Gym tonight?"

"No my wife wants me to do XXX."

"Gym tonight?"

"No, I am going to a concert."

"Gym tonight?"
"No, I've got company."

So, my aim to develop a six-pack for the summer turned into a different accomplishment altogether (I discovered that it TAKES a six-pack of Dos Equis lager in bottles for the room to spin).

If you want to ensure that you make it to the gym on a regular basis, do this:

Hire a personal trainer.

You have to pay them in advance, and that makes you very motivated to show up for your appointed workout. Because you know that if you skip, it's like throwing $50 - $75 out the window.

You hardly will ever re-schedule, either. Because you know that you've paid for 4 - 6 workouts, and you're going to do them all because you don't want to throw money away. Your little voice will say, "Do them as soon as you can so that we can recapture what we paid for".

This will get you to the gym on a regular basis.

RodeoSchro said:

PurpleJedi said:

I started off by pressuring my friend to join my gym with the excuse that we'd motivate each other.

That lasted all of about a month.

It was all;

"Gym tonight?"

"No I got the kids."

"Gym tonight?"

"No my wife wants me to do XXX."

"Gym tonight?"

"No, I am going to a concert."

"Gym tonight?"
"No, I've got company."

So, my aim to develop a six-pack for the summer turned into a different accomplishment altogether (I discovered that it TAKES a six-pack of Dos Equis lager in bottles for the room to spin).

If you want to ensure that you make it to the gym on a regular basis, do this:

Hire a personal trainer.

You have to pay them in advance, and that makes you very motivated to show up for your appointed workout. Because you know that if you skip, it's like throwing $50 - $75 out the window.

You hardly will ever re-schedule, either. Because you know that you've paid for 4 - 6 workouts, and you're going to do them all because you don't want to throw money away. Your little voice will say, "Do them as soon as you can so that we can recapture what we paid for".

This will get you to the gym on a regular basis.

I've considered that.

BUT the whole point of joining my gym (which at $50/month is pricier than most local gyms) is that by NOT going my monthly fee is a waste of money. I figured that if I go 3x a week then each workout costs me something like $4. But if I only go once in a 4-week period, then that ONE workout cost me $50.00!

That's the logic I presented my friend, and he agreed. Yet...this past month I've only gone like once or twice.

NOW...if I could find a personal trainer that looked like Scarlett Johansson..I'd be going 8 days a week!

PurpleJedi said:

RodeoSchro said:

If you want to ensure that you make it to the gym on a regular basis, do this:

Hire a personal trainer.

You have to pay them in advance, and that makes you very motivated to show up for your appointed workout. Because you know that if you skip, it's like throwing $50 - $75 out the window.

You hardly will ever re-schedule, either. Because you know that you've paid for 4 - 6 workouts, and you're going to do them all because you don't want to throw money away. Your little voice will say, "Do them as soon as you can so that we can recapture what we paid for".

This will get you to the gym on a regular basis.

I've considered that.

BUT the whole point of joining my gym (which at $50/month is pricier than most local gyms) is that by NOT going my monthly fee is a waste of money. I figured that if I go 3x a week then each workout costs me something like $4. But if I only go once in a 4-week period, then that ONE workout cost me $50.00!

That's the logic I presented my friend, and he agreed. Yet...this past month I've only gone like once or twice.

NOW...if I could find a personal trainer that looked like Scarlett Johansson..I'd be going 8 days a week!

My first trainer was a young lady but she didn't look like Scarlett Johansson. But still, I liked having a woman trainer just fine.

The other good thing about trainers is they do all your thinking for you. Tell them what your goals are, and what your timetable is, and they should design a plan to get you there. They should schedule all the workouts, decide upon what exercises to do at each workout, and do all the weight-changing for you. That really makes the workouts a lot more fun and less of a chore.

The problem with the way you're looking at your dues is that you've already paid the money, so you don't really care if a workout costs $50 or $4. But with a personal trainer, it doesn't matter how much you workout, each session costs the same.

Try it if you can. You'll hardly ever miss a workout.

RodeoSchro said:

PurpleJedi said:

I've considered that.

BUT the whole point of joining my gym (which at $50/month is pricier than most local gyms) is that by NOT going my monthly fee is a waste of money. I figured that if I go 3x a week then each workout costs me something like $4. But if I only go once in a 4-week period, then that ONE workout cost me $50.00!

That's the logic I presented my friend, and he agreed. Yet...this past month I've only gone like once or twice.

NOW...if I could find a personal trainer that looked like Scarlett Johansson..I'd be going 8 days a week!

My first trainer was a young lady but she didn't look like Scarlett Johansson. But still, I liked having a woman trainer just fine.

The other good thing about trainers is they do all your thinking for you. Tell them what your goals are, and what your timetable is, and they should design a plan to get you there. They should schedule all the workouts, decide upon what exercises to do at each workout, and do all the weight-changing for you. That really makes the workouts a lot more fun and less of a chore.

The problem with the way you're looking at your dues is that you've already paid the money, so you don't really care if a workout costs $50 or $4. But with a personal trainer, it doesn't matter how much you workout, each session costs the same.

Try it if you can. You'll hardly ever miss a workout.

uPtoWnNY said:

^ Don't worry about anyone else. Just get in that gym and do your thing!

I will.

My buddy dragged me to the gym last night and we did some deadlifts.

I broke the 200lb barrier - topped out at 3 reps @ 215lbs.

Now I'm beginning to feel it though.

PurpleJedi said:

My buddy dragged me to the gym last night and we did some deadlifts.

I broke the 200lb barrier - topped out at 3 reps @ 215lbs.

Now I'm beginning to feel it though.

Don't worry...the "burn" and soreness is the best part, at least for me. Makes me feel like I've worked hard.

PurpleJedi said:

Did you achieve & flaunt your beach body?

I just related a story over in the Valuable Whale Vomit thread that kinda answers this question.
I kinda did flaunt my body on the beach, but probably not in a manner that I would've been proud of.

Visionnaire said:

PurpleJedi said:

Did you achieve & flaunt your beach body?

I just related a story over in the Valuable Whale Vomit thread that kinda answers this question.
I kinda did flaunt my body on the beach, but probably not in a manner that I would've been proud of.

Yeah, you get one for sharing that with us...

missfee said:

PurpleJedi said:

My buddy dragged me to the gym last night and we did some deadlifts.

I broke the 200lb barrier - topped out at 3 reps @ 215lbs.

Now I'm beginning to feel it though.

Don't worry...the "burn" and soreness is the best part, at least for me. Makes me feel like I've worked hard.

I don't have a "burn" so much as an overal "ache".

Going back to the gym tonight though!

PurpleJedi said:

missfee said:

Don't worry...the "burn" and soreness is the best part, at least for me. Makes me feel like I've worked hard.

I don't have a "burn" so much as an overal "ache".

Going back to the gym tonight though!

Drink lots and lots of cherry juice. It helps.

And gulp down one or two protein shakes a day.

I didn't make any promises before summer. But around late July I suddenly realized that I have a crush on a coworker at work.

So since the first of August I have been KILLING myself every morning (and sometimes after work too!) in the gym trying to tighten up and lose weight so that I will look good when I happen to walk past that guy.

I know it sounds silly, but that goal gets me out of bed 430 in the morning EVERY morning.

Hope this silly crush lasts.

KoolEaze said:

PurpleJedi said:

I don't have a "burn" so much as an overal "ache".

Going back to the gym tonight though!

Drink lots and lots of cherry juice. It helps.

And gulp down one or two protein shakes a day.

Cherry juice? I have to look for that.

KoolEaze said:

PurpleJedi said:

I don't have a "burn" so much as an overal "ache".

Going back to the gym tonight though!

Drink lots and lots of cherry juice. It helps.

And gulp down one or two protein shakes a day.

Kool, did you ever try Dr. Norton's routine, the one I based mine on?

Getting ready to head to the Manhattan NYSC at 36th & Madison. Since it's a holiday, I'll have shit all to myself!

[Edited 9/3/12 9:07am]

uPtoWnNY said:

KoolEaze said:

Drink lots and lots of cherry juice. It helps.

And gulp down one or two protein shakes a day.

Kool, did you ever try Dr. Norton's routine, the one I based mine on?

Getting ready to head to the Manhattan NYSC at 36th & Madison. Since it's a holiday, I'll have shit all to myself!

[Edited 9/3/12 9:07am]

Yes, I started following it in early August and saw quick results after a few weeks but had to change my routine a bit due to going on vacation ( I still trained though, even while on vacation, but I did different stuff and only a few heavy workout sessions). Now I´m back on Norton´s program again, and I think what triggered the positive results, at least in my case, is that he recommends less reps ( 3-5 sets in the 5 rep range) for the upper and lower body sessions, the compound stuff, deadlifts and quad training but his routine still focuses on hypertrophy training on the other days.

I used to work with more reps, more sets and less weight before but now I see that doing the compound exercises with more weight, proper form and less reps is much better for me as far as strength and muscle development are concerned....and it´s a killer workout all in all.

And on hypertrophy days I stick with good old fashioned volume training, just like he recommends it. I think it´s a good routine that´s basically a good mix of strength training and muscle mass training at the same time, plus you save time if you do it properly ( three or four days a week).

And it´s interesting to see how the body reacts to training the bigger muscle parts with compound movements with much more weight..not just the upper body but also the legs, quads and all.

I´ve been neglecting the legs and bigger muscles groups so far, and I used the wrong technique.

Thanks for introducing me to this routine.

^Yeah, I was looking for a change - something to kick up my workout and shock my system. A dude at another site recommended Dr. Norton - best weight-training advice I ever got.

No but for the first time in four years I have not got any bigger, which is always a plus. I think I may have reached my fatness limit.

By the way Spring is just starting here, and then comes summer, they are promising a better one this year

Adorecream said:

No but for the first time in four years I have not got any bigger, which is always a plus. I think I may have reached my fatness limit.

By the way Spring is just starting here, and then comes summer, they are promising a better one this year

So u doing anything to "get ready" for summer?

(where r u - Australia?)

Two words: 'Jillian Michaels'

Two more words: 'Be Afraid'

This woman is not gonna play with you and say nice things to make you feel like she wants to be your friend. She's gonna tell you ur fat and need to get up off your ass and do the work because why else would u have bought her DVD? I appreciate that at times - the times when she doesn't almost make me cry. It's actually kinda funny watching her yell at her skinny backup girls...they looks scared in some shots. I've been doing her 'Ripped in 30' for a month now and I've already lost 15 pounds of fat and gained muscle. Thank you Jillian; you don't have to come to my house and 'bounce a quarter off my butt' like you said you would.

estelle81 said:

Two words: 'Jillian Michaels'

Two more words: 'Be Afraid'

This woman is not gonna play with you and say nice things to make you feel like she wants to be your friend. She's gonna tell you ur fat and need to get up off your ass and do the work because why else would u have bought her DVD? I appreciate that at times - the times when she doesn't almost make me cry. It's actually kinda funny watching her yell at her skinny backup girls...they looks scared in some shots. I've been doing her 'Ripped in 30' for a month now and I've already lost 15 pounds of fat and gained muscle. Thank you Jillian; you don't have to come to my house and 'bounce a quarter off my butt' like you said you would.

My buddy and his girl are doing one of those extreme workout DVD's (turbofire I think?) - they're losing weight FAST!

...but of course, it sucks I can't hang with them anymore...can't drink alcohol, can't have caffeine, can't eat sweets...WTF?!?!

PurpleJedi said:

estelle81 said:

Two words: 'Jillian Michaels'

Two more words: 'Be Afraid'

This woman is not gonna play with you and say nice things to make you feel like she wants to be your friend. She's gonna tell you ur fat and need to get up off your ass and do the work because why else would u have bought her DVD? I appreciate that at times - the times when she doesn't almost make me cry. It's actually kinda funny watching her yell at her skinny backup girls...they looks scared in some shots. I've been doing her 'Ripped in 30' for a month now and I've already lost 15 pounds of fat and gained muscle. Thank you Jillian; you don't have to come to my house and 'bounce a quarter off my butt' like you said you would.

My buddy and his girl are doing one of those extreme workout DVD's (turbofire I think?) - they're losing weight FAST!

...but of course, it sucks I can't hang with them anymore...can't drink alcohol, can't have caffeine, can't eat sweets...WTF?!?!

I only had alcohol for the first time in a month at the Sheila E/FDeluxe show - 2 beers and the umm Ciroq . I've cut down on my sweets immensely. I'm a hardcore sugar junkie so it's hard for me to get rid of it completely but I'm doing great in that area...despite Cupcake Saturday at work where I fell off the wagon for a bit - it's cupcakes; I can't turn down cupcakes that's would be a crime. As for caffeine, it makes me super drowsy so I've never really drank anything caffeinated on a regular basis. I'm not even gonna lie to myself and pretend that I don't want a dang gone Burger King double cheeseburger and a large fry because I really want a BK double cheeseburger and large fry...seriously that's all I want...no, no focus...okay I'm good. I almost lost it there for a minute.

As for Jillian, her 3 minutes of strength; 2 minutes of cardio; and 1 minute of abs system makes sense to work all muscle groups and knock the pounds off fast. She's brutal but she gets results. If I were to get super, hardcore serious, I would do her workouts and her diet plan which I may consider once I get back from Cali. No dieting while on vacay.

estelle81 said:

PurpleJedi said:

My buddy and his girl are doing one of those extreme workout DVD's (turbofire I think?) - they're losing weight FAST!

...but of course, it sucks I can't hang with them anymore...can't drink alcohol, can't have caffeine, can't eat sweets...WTF?!?!

I only had alcohol for the first time in a month at the Sheila E/FDeluxe show - 2 beers and the umm Ciroq . I've cut down on my sweets immensely. I'm a hardcore sugar junkie so it's hard for me to get rid of it completely but I'm doing great in that area...despite Cupcake Saturday at work where I fell off the wagon for a bit - it's cupcakes; I can't turn down cupcakes that's would be a crime. As for caffeine, it makes me super drowsy so I've never really drank anything caffeinated on a regular basis. I'm not even gonna lie to myself and pretend that I don't want a dang gone Burger King double cheeseburger and a large fry because I really want a BK double cheeseburger and large fry...seriously that's all I want...no, no focus...okay I'm good. I almost lost it there for a minute.

As for Jillian, her 3 minutes of strength; 2 minutes of cardio; and 1 minute of abs system makes sense to work all muscle groups and knock the pounds off fast. She's brutal but she gets results. If I were to get super, hardcore serious, I would do her workouts and her diet plan which I may consider once I get back from Cali. No dieting while on vacay.

I used to hit BK about 3 or 4 times A WEEK!!!!

We do Happy Hour on Friday's...so quitting beer is gonna be a challenge.

But I have a goal now...flat stomach by February.

...I should celebrate my goal by popping open a Dos Equis...

PurpleJedi said:

estelle81 said:

I only had alcohol for the first time in a month at the Sheila E/FDeluxe show - 2 beers and the umm Ciroq . I've cut down on my sweets immensely. I'm a hardcore sugar junkie so it's hard for me to get rid of it completely but I'm doing great in that area...despite Cupcake Saturday at work where I fell off the wagon for a bit - it's cupcakes; I can't turn down cupcakes that's would be a crime. As for caffeine, it makes me super drowsy so I've never really drank anything caffeinated on a regular basis. I'm not even gonna lie to myself and pretend that I don't want a dang gone Burger King double cheeseburger and a large fry because I really want a BK double cheeseburger and large fry...seriously that's all I want...no, no focus...okay I'm good. I almost lost it there for a minute.

As for Jillian, her 3 minutes of strength; 2 minutes of cardio; and 1 minute of abs system makes sense to work all muscle groups and knock the pounds off fast. She's brutal but she gets results. If I were to get super, hardcore serious, I would do her workouts and her diet plan which I may consider once I get back from Cali. No dieting while on vacay.

I used to hit BK about 3 or 4 times A WEEK!!!!

We do Happy Hour on Friday's...so quitting beer is gonna be a challenge.

But I have a goal now...flat stomach by February.

...I should celebrate my goal by popping open a Dos Equis...

Cheat Day!!! Do it, Do it!

estelle81 said:

PurpleJedi said:

I used to hit BK about 3 or 4 times A WEEK!!!!

We do Happy Hour on Friday's...so quitting beer is gonna be a challenge.

But I have a goal now...flat stomach by February.

...I should celebrate my goal by popping open a Dos Equis...

Cheat Day!!! Do it, Do it!

(pssst! You ain't helpin' none!)

PurpleJedi said:

estelle81 said:

Cheat Day!!! Do it, Do it!

(pssst! You ain't helpin' none!)

Sorry...but the Lord wanted Sunday to be a day of relaxation...I like to relax with a BK double cheeseburger and a large fry. If that's what the Maker wanted, than I say, "Have It Your Way". I have totally gotten off subject with the BK thing haven't I?

estelle81 said:

PurpleJedi said:

(pssst! You ain't helpin' none!)

Sorry...but the Lord wanted Sunday to be a day of relaxation...I like to relax with a BK double cheeseburger and a large fry. If that's what the Maker wanted, than I say, "Have It Your Way". I have totally gotten off subject with the BK thing haven't I?

Nah...actually you're onto something...

Because Fridays at 5:01pm I feel a Heavenly calling to worship the golden hops & barley of Mexican ale, and take communion with crispy wafers of corn nacho chips dipped in spicy salsa.

PurpleJedi said:

estelle81 said:

Sorry...but the Lord wanted Sunday to be a day of relaxation...I like to relax with a BK double cheeseburger and a large fry. If that's what the Maker wanted, than I say, "Have It Your Way". I have totally gotten off subject with the BK thing haven't I?

Nah...actually you're onto something...

Because Fridays at 5:01pm I feel a Heavenly calling to worship the golden hops & barley of Mexican ale, and take communion with crispy wafers of corn nacho chips dipped in spicy salsa.

And let the congregation say 'Amen'

PurpleJedi said:

Adorecream said:

No but for the first time in four years I have not got any bigger, which is always a plus. I think I may have reached my fatness limit.

By the way Spring is just starting here, and then comes summer, they are promising a better one this year

So u doing anything to "get ready" for summer? More exercise, more physical job hopefully

(where r u - Australia?) New Zealand

Adorecream said:

PurpleJedi said:

So u doing anything to "get ready" for summer? More exercise, more physical job hopefully

(where r u - Australia?) New Zealand

Those of you who are more advanced should give Dr. Norton's routine a shot. It's done wonders for me. Just read Kool's testimony.