u dont need to join a bloody gym to get fit! Why do people art fart around with gyms etc? Stick to ur running etc! Gyms are just for vain people... I mean, why dot they have mirrors in them?!

Gym benefits:

indoors
music on tv
latest equipment to synthesise conditions un atainable unless you live in dodgy places
weights (where are they on the road)
social with others around you for encouragement
water on hand there and then (always cold)

So a gym isn't all bad lista... just depends what you're after!

My Gym is up my road in the park, ive got the ground for situps and pushups, i got the swings for chinups etc, and the roads for running. Thats all you need.. You start building muscels with weights etc you become un balanced..
Practising martial arts since age of six, i know mate.

Me too... funny that.
Practiced Ju-Jitsu, Thai Boxing, Aikido, Taekwondo and Capoiera.

Been using the gym since I was 16 and am a qualified fitness instructor.

Using the gym for weights doens't make you unbalanced in any way, apart from if you're on steriods.

Thanks for your input tho!

hahaha damn straight Bouncer.. i agree with you..

Studied Lao Gar and Lao Chi Kubg fu for a number of years..

Anyway the reason i offered the idea of the gym Lista is because Rachael wanted people to be around for encouragement... y'see?

Building muscles in different places is vital for different sports... the exercises you do for martial arts may not be sufficient for say a rower or a long distance runner for example...

Train in Wushu Karate, Freestyle kickboxing, MuayThai kickboxing, Taekwondo, Shoalin Gung Fu, little bit of Winchun GungFu, Gymnastics and boxing.

Gyms are for vain people. Bruce Lee never touched a Gym directly for martial arts.

Pumping a weight builds yous muscels into the correct proportions to do that action, and no other. If you try another action, you're muscels are wrong proportioned, therefore, unbalanced. If you wan't to build muscel up for punching, the only excerise that is worth doing, is punching, ie, sparring or bag work, same with kicks etc..
Free training, such as running, situps etc, using your own bodyweight to exercise your muscels is acceptable, and will give positive input onto your strength and tone of muscel. Any other is a disadvantage in my opinion, and many other peoples opinions.

Yes, there are world champions in combat sports that use Gyms, but they would be a hell of alot better at their sport/art if they didn't. Gyms are easier to use, and takes less time, but all your doing is building muscel, not toning.

Cheers for your opinion tho matey!

Pumping a weight builds yous muscels into the correct proportions to do that action

I think perhaps you are picking up on the wrong idea of using weights. A woman is unlikely to 'pump' weights and is more likely to keep fit.

Not everyone is as keen to get out and about in parks when you have an arse the size of a small country and a gym can provide quieter periods or specific times for different people.

Personally I enjoy walking, that is about all I can handle with time contraints and the extra weight I have.

Moon

lol, fair nuff, but 'THE bouncer' was going onto different subjects...

yeah but who said we were talking about martial arts?! you turned it innto that... the weights and machines in gyms have been specifically designed to tone and shape your muscles for all purposes... thats why they ask what you want from your training when you start a programme, so that the machines they choose for you to use will tone your muscles for that sport... fact

Originally posted by Red 2
yeah but who said we were talking about martial arts?! you turned it innto that... the weights and machines in gyms have been specifically designed to tone and shape your muscles for all purposes... thats why they ask what you want from your training when you start a programme, so that the machines they choose for you to use will tone your muscles for that sport... fact
Very good point there mate.
I never mentioned martial arts until our 'right honourable friend' Lista brought it up.

Basically the proof is in the pudding, if gyms were as useless as stated by Lista then there simply wouldn't be demand for them. Judging by the amount of gyms available it proves they do help in gaining overall fitness. They DO tone, they are good.

However on the flip side, so is running in parks, chin ups on swings (primarily designed for kids but whatever) etc etc.
Fact is people that see bad weather wont always want to run around parks, they would prefer to be indoors... this is where the gym holds the advantage.
Again however in nice weather, I'd much prefer to be in the park.

So to excuse the pun it's all swings and roundabouts!

I'm happy for you to offer your knowledge Lista, but I wouldn't try and belittle you by quoting facts about bruce lee... especially when they aren't 100% accurate. Bruce Lee did use the gym, a lot! He also trained manually without the use of weights!

I hope you enjoy your stay on the boards! All the best!

DaBouncer:thumbsup:

I believe he was well known for not using weights..

Yea, i never said Gyms are useless, it's just for vain lazy people.. And there's a hell of alot of them, otherwise, they wouldnt be at gyms... They get to the point they realise they need to get fit, then go to a gym and get fit the 'easy way'.. lol.

http://www.buyersmls.com/brucelee/
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~bundles/BLWeights.htm
http://pub47.ezboard.com/frossboxingforumfrm11.showMessage?topicID=91.topic

How can gyms be for lazy people? They tend to sit in front of the telly rather than go to the gym.

btw, I've been to loads of gyms where there's no mirrors.

Have you got any real proof that you become "unbalanced" if you use weights? Imho that's rubbish. Maybe if all you ever did was say bicep curls you'd become unbalanced. In fact, there's many sports where the use of weights are *recommended* to stop your muscles becoming unbalanced.

surely ur gonna be unbalanced, you'd have to do like 13.7 of one aparatus, 12.42 of another etc to become fully balanced.

If you do press ups on the floor for your biceps, etc, but do pull-ups on a swing for your "pulling muscles", then you're using different weights anyway, so I don't see the difference to the techniques you're using and just using weights.

Because you'd be using your own body weight, and not artificial weights, which over build your muscels. If you constantly use your own body weight, your muscels will be balanced, and if u constantly do it, it will then start to tone your muscel, rather than just building and building your muscel. If the fibres are constantly being ripped, they will never get toned, you'll damage yourself.

If u get me?

Yeah but doing a pullup uses *all* of your body weight, and doing a press-up only uses part of it, because loads of weight is taken through your feet, so there's an imbalance straight away.

You can train at the gym without training massive weights - people will train differently depending upon whether they want to bulk up/tone down/increase power/increase endurance. Lots of ways of training using weights. It depends what people want. There's little point in an olympic weightlifter being toned - he/she is more bothered about maximum power rather than muscle tone.

To get stronger, you have to break down muscle fibres and then allow them to rebuild. The thing that controls that is how much you rest. The old saying goes "you only get stronger when you're resting". Over-training to the point of damaging your muscles is going to be a problem if you overdo any form of training.

Sorry to running women, this has gone rather off-topic...

hehe... I believe were both right in our own ways! Just i strongly don't believe in gyms that's all, thats why i'm trying to air my opinion so much..

I just feel so much more content knowing ive got to the level of fitness i'm at without the aid of artificial weights, thats all.

Yea, sorry women!

I think if people just do the type(s) of exercise that works best for them personally ... then that's a very good thing.

It's obviously a very personal thing and depends on what you're trying to achieve.

I'm quite interested in the science of it all though .........

The difference between muscle bulk/size and muscle 'tone' ??? ... any ideas ???

It's also the time of year (Jan) where people will be starting all kinds of fitness programmes ... gym / running / martial arts even ... whatever !! ...

I'd say 2 things ...

1) don't try and do too much at once (ie. build your weekly exercise programme up slowly ... until you have something established that you can add to).

2) make sure what you're doing is FUN !!!.

Originally posted by Jamie
The difference between muscle bulk/size and muscle 'tone' ??? ... any ideas ???
Depends what you mean on "tone" - if you mean muscle definition then that's usually as much as a product of dieting as much as training. Some bodybuilders can look pretty fat until they rip down by dieting for a competition; then they look really toned.

These are gross generalisations but muscle mass is usually built by using a weight that will only allow you to perform 8 to 12 reps of an exercise - less than that and you're primarily training sheer power and over that you're generally training endurance which will lead to good muscle tone, but without the bulk.


Originally posted by Jamie
2) make sure what you're doing is FUN !!!.
Good advice - if you find the gym/running/whatever a chore, then you'll probably have given it up after a short while.

bruce lee never used a gym directly?????thats because he could afford to have them built for him, i wouldnt goto the gym if i had a big ass house and loadsa money to buy it all??bruce lee was at the forefront of martial artists using weights to help with martial arts, like people on here have said, they can be used for more than just bulking up.

i attend the gym to help increase strength, speed, flexability and endurance, i do not bulk up, you do the same exercises on each side of your body so you become more stable and rounded. dont get me wrong i am a huge fan of calisthenics, but i am also a huge fan of the gym.

if you want to goto a gym to bulk then do it,
if you want to goto a gym and not bulk then do it, the choice is yours.

lol, did admin create this thread?

umm very interesting this,u see i used to be into body building many moons ago,and i did compete on the stage as it where.I now train light weights as i'm into cycling and triathlons so i can see both sides.but even if you train indoors or out you got to give people credit,it's better than stopping in and watching tv.But like whats been said before you've got to enjoy what ever training your doing and or you wont give it your best and it wont be long before you stop what ever exercise it is that you started,and dont get me started on these so called diets!if you want to lose weight it's simple,put less into your body than's going out and you goota lose weight.That and a some exercise and bingo.

Bruce Lee did a lot of training with weights/bodybuilding,thats how he hurt his back.

i used to think the same till i joined one nothing finer than a sauna after or the steam room and i am not vain but thats your point of view

I joined a gym at the beginning of December. I'm far from vain. I'd not done much exercise over the last few years, other than cellar work or running up and down on the bar. I was taught to use the mirror to check that my posture is correct when lifting weights or doing aerobics.

I regularly do a class called Body Maximum, which is weight lifting to music. Men and women do it, and having the mirror is so useful to keep in time with the others and to check your posture.

The mirror is also useful to watch the aerobics instructor if out of sight behind someone else. Its not used for vanity in my case. TBH I've not seen any vain people at the gym, I guess they are out posing in bars - everyone is a different shape and has their own goals.

I'm enjoying it, and although I hate spending the money, it's a nice experience and plenty of variety. Running along the road has a monotony of its own....in the gym you can chop and change the exercise you do. OK, it's more luxurious, but I work hard, and deserve the pleasure along with the pain.

Originally posted by Lista
u dont need to join a bloody gym to get fit! Why do people art fart around with gyms etc? Stick to ur running etc! Gyms are just for vain people... I mean, why dot they have mirrors in them?!

I joined the gym his week, and i'm not vain. True some people (mainly blokes) stare at themselves in the mirrors, but I don't and never will - the reason I am at the gym in the first place is cos I don't wanna see the way I look! Plus running isn't very good for you, and I couldn't exactly run round town could I? I would knock people over, breathe in loads of polluted air and run the risk of being stabbed by one of the many junkies who frequent the Devonshire Green! And i can't exercise in my flat, as I couldn't swing a cat in here and the neighbours would complain.

running isnt good for you? who told you that? they mad?

haha, tombo, init... Running? Bad for you? U wont run around town? what are you? a girl?

I find running to be quite painful. I find it causes a nasty aching pain on the bone of my shin! The whole bone from the knee to the foot really aches! Plus I need a decent support bra otherwise that hurts too!

Aerobics doesn't cause this grief and I can only do aerobics in the gym.

Doing aerobics aint gonna give you stamina though.. But if it serious does hurt, dont do it. Take up swimming.

Aerobics doesn't hurt. I also do Fitball and Body Maximum (weights to music) and feel more toned for doing it. Its just running.....really uncomfortable.

I think aerobics is one of those 'fat burning' things, of course you build stamina, you are co-ordinating a series of movements again and again and you can be so tired you just want to die, but you keep going....that's stamina!

Lista- I don't think I've ever heard such a crock of s***.

Lazy people? Vain people?

Gym creates self-confidence, fitness, toned/built muscles.

Unbalanced? Maybe if you go to the gym every day and work one muscle group.. You'll find that if you do a proper routine (which are offered by every gym, normally free of charge) where over a period of 3 months you will have achieved what you wanted- Whether that be fitness, toned body, built body etc.

Maybe the women lift heavier weights than you, hence hating the gym?

I'm not massive but I go everyday to maximise fitness and endurance. Plus weights for strength and toned muscles.

Mirrors are motivation.. People don't stand at blow kisses to themselves in mirrors, they watch their own technique to make sure they're doing it right.

What's vain about appreciating a good physique? looking good is probably the next best thing to feeling good - physical exercise gives you both!

Lista - I really don't understand your point of view with regard to balance? everyone is a unique shape and the human body is incredibly adaptable to dealing with the challange... :thumbsup:

Any exercise is better than no exercise - Most important thing is HAVE FUN and don't think you have to be Bruce Lee to ENJOY LIFE ;)

Your body is not made to be lifting weights in certain straight motions, it unbalances you.
It's not toning muscels, it's just building muscels..

Obviously you have no idea about a proper routine/workout.

gyms just for vain people - i entirely disagree!

ironically i rarely see 'fit' people at gyms - they're all shapes and sizes
although having said anybody can be vain i guess

In another thread Lista uses a gym anyway...or gymnasium...whichever...?!?!?

I went to the gym to try and get fit for a bit that was untill i got lazy.
I found that if u atually get your self down there you do atempt to work out. Since quitting i've tryed to a bit at home but i never do.

There's a difference wibbles between a Gym that has artificial workouts in it, and a Gymnasium that has crash mats, trampolines, ropes etc...


Bedhead:

If your all muscely and fit, is that not a big reason to be vain?

Vain? No. Confident? Yes.

the samurai used to wake at 4am, to prepare thier looks for the day, were they vain?

i believe it can fall under fighting without fighting, if some idiot approachs you and you take your coat off to fight, and he sees how built you are (the muscles of your body) he will think twice about attacking you, fear, you have one step 1, so it can be an advantage,

and people can be vain about things apart from thier body.

Yes, maybe, but that doesn't have anything to do with people who use gyms are generally imo vain..

using artificial workouts doesn't mean your vain...
vain adj excessively proud, especially of one's appearance...nothing to do with checking yourself out in the mirror or using artificial gym equipment. We all have some degree of vanity within us otherwise we wouldn't make the effort to dress up, look good etc.
As for mirrors in the gym a lot of people use them to hone their technique or make sure they are using the kit correctly

Fair enough, keep telling yourself that..

mmm...expected response from someone with nothing constructive or useful to say

How many times would you like me to repeat myself? As you keep asking the same questions.

Originally posted by Moon Maiden
...when you have an arse the size of a small country...
Moon

You paint a vivid picture Moon! :)

What a stupid thread.

You think it's ok to use crashmats etc, but not weights? Just land on grass that's soft! Ropes?! Pah climb up a tree and tie a rope up there.

Just because YOU have some sort of problem with those wanting to improve themselves, doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it.

Good gym technique is designed to move your body in natural movements. If it's un-natural, then that is purely down to your technique, not the gym.

Lifting heavy weights builds muscle. Lifting lighter weights for more reps helps build stamina (not size). How is that not toning? I suppose you think athletes are just posers? You do know that athletes do resistance workouts in a gym, right?

i strongly suggest you learn more about what you talking about, before making stupid-ass comments

Before I read this thread I had what I thought was a biased and incorrect view of gym-goers as unnaturally obsessed with their looks/fittness, and each determined that their own paricular method of pumping iron, building muscile tone, ect. ect. is the "correct" way and better than anyone elses.

Now I've read this thread (and had a damn good giggle - way too much testosterone and frustration on here methinks), I've come to the conclsuion that maybe I wasn't being biased or incorrect after all!

I think gyms are a useful tool for those who lead an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and dislike other forms of exercise, but personally I hate them. I find them incredibly boring, pretentious, and the various machines make me feel like a hamster on a wheel.

I prefer my exercise to be a little more stimulating. I go horse riding, salsa dancing, I power walk to and from work every day, I spin a hoola hoop to music and do plenty of stomach crunches each evening. No mirrors, no weights, no idiots telling me what I should and shouldn't do.

****Sits back and waits for a tourent of abuse for blokes who think they're Jackie Chan****

Originally posted by mojoworking
You paint a vivid picture Moon! :)

Where do you think the term 'mooning' originated !!?

:P

It's very strange how some people are so willing to shell out £40 a month just to spend all their hourly sessions on a running machine. I think quite a lot of people join just for the kudos of it all - to be able to walk into work in the morning and bang on about how you got up at 3.30am to do a workout, or to tell all and sundry about what you bench-pressed last night, or simply to fool yourself into thinking you're any fitter through doing ten minutes of sanitised exercise every three weeks.

Having said all that, I joined a while back and by following a programme really felt the benefits. If you're going to do things properly and for the right reasons, there's so much technology in the machines that you could get a lot more from regular gym sessions than you could from other forms of exercise. (I think - I'm by no means an expert!)

Originally posted by Greenback
It's very strange how some people are so willing to shell out £40 a month just to spend all their hourly sessions on a running machine. I think quite a lot of people join just for the kudos of it all - to be able to walk into work in the morning and bang on about how you got up at 3.30am to do a workout, or to tell all and sundry about what you bench-pressed last night, or simply to fool yourself into thinking you're any fitter through doing ten minutes of sanitised exercise every three weeks.

Having said all that, I joined a while back and by following a programme really felt the benefits. If you're going to do things properly and for the right reasons, there's so much technology in the machines that you could get a lot more from regular gym sessions than you could from other forms of exercise. (I think - I'm by no means an expert!)

£40!! thats a tad expensive - it's half that at Fitness Unlimited.

Originally posted by GazB

Gym creates self-confidence, fitness, toned/built muscles.

Mirrors are motivation.. People don't stand at blow kisses to themselves in mirrors, they watch their own technique to make sure they're doing it right.

Sadly, the above does not apply to everyone, GazB. When I tried going to the gym, I found it really upsetting watching the toned lovelies in their Lycra and it shattered my confidence. I began to hate my body more than before I started going. Plus the fact that some semi naked pop chick would always be on the video screens...

And as for the mirrors...the LAST thing I want to do is SEE myself. No motivation at all for me.

In the end I stopped going because I realised I hated it. I now go road running with a club and I love it. :D Costs a months gym membership for a whole year!

As for the OP, I don't think its fair to criticise the way people exercise - they should just do whatever they are comfortable with. Does make me laugh when people DRIVE to the gym and spend 30 mins on a treadmill though...

GOD, i feel so lazy after reading all this, think guilty is more like it, must run out and join a gym.

Originally posted by Lestat
£40!! thats a tad expensive - it's half that at Fitness Unlimited.

You're right, it is! It's at least £40 a month at Virgin though.

I'm not vain. Just a lazy blighter who would never get up an run (and i hate running) in the mornings.

Some people go in their to pose though

Mirrors can be beneficial as you can get a different view of your technique and your body position - quite why they need them in front of a row of exercise bikes tho.....................

1) Gyms provide body security - you tone which muscles you like, with whatever weight you feel comfortable with. You can track your progress as well in modern gyms i.e goodwin.

2) As mentioned, they are warm, social places and not to mention advice is available if necessary, after the valuable tailor made session.

3) Why shouldn't there be mirrors? If people are committed and work hard, they should be able to reap the rewards. It also works as encouragement...if you see that muscle bulging it's an incentive to carry on.

Being a natural lazyarse I wouldn't exercise much if I didn't go to Virgin 3 times a week. I think its great, I've got much fitter and happier and more toned and theres the incentive of a sauna afterwards to keep me going.

Its just what suits the individual... my boyfriend wouldn't touch a gym with a bargepole but loves running round the peak and doing free weights at home occasionally.. I need a warmer environment with music videos to motivate me! And I'm not vain and I don't think many people at gyms are, maybe the odd muscle mary geezer... but generally I think theyre a great idea especially if it gets some people off the sofa and doing something.