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Gyms?

Emacc08

Member
Maybe not the right spot for this but does anyone use gyms? Do you prefer gyms that offer classes? I use to LOVE doing Zumba, but my current gym doesn’t offer any classes so I’m thinking of switching.
i also want to get back into running (to bad it gets dark at 430 here now!)
I’m just trying to change my exercise routine I guess and looking for ideas :)

thanks friends!
 
Nope. Even when I was power lifting I didn't go to the Gym. I used to though. After awhile it just got so frustrating, I'm one that I want to go in, bust out my lift within 30 min, hit the pool/sauna and be out the door an hour after I walked in. Where I started getting frustrated and affecting my workout was all these dummies sitting on equipment taking selfies or video for their followers. Or simply in the middle of a super set and someone just jumps in and uses one of the machines and sits on the equipment for a 10 minute rest. Then there was the pool, flip of a coin if it was available or if there was some class going on in there, Same with the basketball court. Then the sauna always seemed to have one weird naked guy in it. (doesn't every gym have one of those?). Then when I started power lifting it was even harder because I'm trying to pull 800lbs off the floor, getting fired up for the attempt to lift the world and I trigger the lunk alarm with the YMCA staff coming over telling us we need to keep the noise down. Voices too loud, don't drop the weights (Push dumbbells' off and drop rather than risk injury, big no no in hoity toity gyms.) Just got to the point that with all things listed, being able to lift everything the machines had to offer there really was not anything there for me. Where I live there are no real power house lifting gyms and usually resort to lifting at home or someone else's garage that lifts also.

The overall benefit of getting booted was this. I learned I did not need a gym. Machines contribute to muscle memory which makes a less effective workout. I found working with a battle rope, Step bench, a set of powerblocks with stage 1,2 &3 along with the bench, powerblock kettlebell attachment, few resistance bands and I can get a full workout. I'm for sure not strong enough still but my home builder found a 200lb rock in my back yard that we kept for our rock garden. I used to pick that up and walk around the block hugging it, put it in an army ruck sack and walk around, put to big rocks in gym bags and walk around the block. Put the big rock in a bag with handles sewn all over it to use it for a variety of exercises. Got pretty creative what you can do with a few strong duffle bags and a few rocks. The instability helped make it so your muscle doesn't build memory and you have to constantly focus for control. Don't have a big rock? Go to a hardware store and buy a bag or two of concrete mix. Put that in a duffle bag and play with that for awhile.
 
I used to really like the gym atmosphere, but these days, I guess I'm still a bit weirded out by the COVID stuff and more attune to people not wiping equipment down and communal use and such. I'm just not comfortable with it anymore.

Now I try to use "real world" activities to keep my muscles engaged as well as add in things like resistance bands, dumbbells and such at home.
 
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