Any gym goers?

[dolphincc]

I joined a gym with DH last month. I have noticed a little difference on how my jeans fit but everything else looks the same. Drew is into weight lifting and body building rather than weight loss, so we usually go our separate ways at the gym.

Do any of you gym goers have a routine that you can share with me? I basically do a little of everything in no particular order. I just feel a little lost at the gym.

[Jaci]

I go to the gym! I joined one in January and though I haven't gone as regularly as I've wanted, I can share with you what I've heard.

Pretty much you have to mix it up, or your body gets used to it. If you only ever run for 15 minutes, you'll never build up endurance and your body will be used to it. If you only ever do 25 pound bicep curls, then you'll tone up, but never as much as you want. I try to mix it up by doing the treadmill some days, eliptical others, then adding different weight sets in between. Does your gym offer classes? Try taking a couple different ones.

[destinationbride07]

i try and go everyday... :)

[walleye3]

I usually try to go every day if my work schedule permits me to....When I go, I usually try to do some type of cardio for 30-40 minutes....then I will usually do legs, abs, arms, and shoulders. I will usually do weights of different amounts I will usually stick to one weight for a week and a half or so if I am going regularly then bump it up if I can and vary inbetween the weights. I will normally do 3 sets of 10-15 reps per set.

I have lost some weight according to the scale, but have not yet noticed it much else yet...I am hoping that starts to change pretty soon :)

[Krissy]

I loooooove going to the gym!

My typical routine is this:

10-20 minute warm up on a cardio machine (usually arc trainer or incline machine)
30 minutes of lifting (biceps, triceps and shoulders) or (chest, back and legs)
30 - 40 minutes of harder cardio
10 minute stretch

Now I don't do a big focus on legs because I already do a lot of kicking, squating and jumping in kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do and so they're pretty strong to begin with so my trainor told me I could focus more on my upper body.

What kind of hints in particular are you looking for?

[*TanyaJeanne*]

I loooooove going to the gym!


I wish I felt like that!!



A girl I work with and I usually stay after work every night to work out. We have a gym right here at my work. I usually do the bike and some elliptical and some treadmill. I always try and get weights in before we leave.

[Julie]

My FH started dragging me to the gym after we had been together for about 6 months or so. He wanted it to be a bonding thing and it was. I don't enjoy it, I'll be honest but I still do it. I usually do some type of cardio like the bike or treadmill, situps, and do nautilus(weight machines). I also started a spin class a couple weeks ago. I love it! It's like a beginning spin class so build up your cardio stamina so you can do the regular spin classes. I can't wait to build up to the regular ones. It's so weird for me but I really look forward to the classes, so if you like more structure that might be the way to go for you.

[~Tala~]

I'm so bad at actually making it to the gym...but my ultimate goal is everyday. SO, when I do go, I start with about 30 mins on the ellipitcal and then I do arms/upper body lifting and stomach. Later I will start doing legs too...but I have to build up strength in my knee again first. I had a really hard time finding a "routine" also...but this really seems to be working for me. I just want to tone my upper body, stomach and lose a few pounds.

[dolphincc]

I wish I felt like Krissy, too!!

Do you guys alternate your cardio? I have seen several people at the gym to the ellipitcal then jump on a bike.

[Deidre98]

I try and go 3 times a week ( I am easing myself back into it). One day, I do the cardio workout on the bike and then the next time, I run on the treadmill and then the next time, I go back to the bike. You definately need to change it up and increase the intensity because your body will get used to the workout and it won't be as effective.

[Aubrey]

My husband and I went to the gym a few times a week a few months ago, but stopped because we hated driving there. We just joined a gym located right near where we both work, so we're planning on sometimes going there right after work. When I went before I'd do 20 minutes on a treadmill and then lift weights for either my upper or lower body, depending on the day.

[Krissy]

Oh yeah, DEFINITELY mix up your cardio! It keeps you from getting bored and it works more muscles than only doing the eliptical all the time. Now whether you want to mix it up within the session or just do a different machine each time you go to the gym is up to you. My mood usually dictates how my workout goes. :)

[*Ashley*]

I have a trainer (not expensive and worth EVERY PENNY) who is the official trainer for the Miss Texas USA pagent and he's da bomb! I have him twice a week :) A typical workout with him is:

10-20 minutes cardio warm-up
stretch
Then we do the machines and normally I do something in between sets. I'll do the leg press then I'll do squats (when we're doing buns of steel), jumprope, etc. Just something to keep my heartrate up and keep me in the fat burning zone the entire workout. Anyhow, we do the entire circuit everytime.
Cool Down 5-20 minutes
Stretch

The warm ups and cool downs depend on what we're doing that day -- strength, endurance, burn out, buns/abs of steel etc.

On days I don't have him I'll do either cardio or the circuit, depending on my mood. I'm going to leave the office soon and get in a workout before I go out tonight and I'll probably do cardio and some stuff so I can get rid of the junk in my trunk (dejiggle the wiggle, if you will)

Michael and I don't belong to a gym. There is one at our current apartment complex and the one at the new apartment we're moving to is even better -- it has all the machines we need :)

[Krissy]

Ok, I have a question.

I just found out that while I was away my trainer got another job. (Not in the workout field.) I haven't been going during the summer, but while schools in, I'm all about it. It's not a typical workout in the sense of lifting weights and whatnot. I'm more about kicks down the floor, working out on the heavybag and all that. There's no other trainer at my gym that does this type of workout.

How could I go about finding someone to replace him without joining another gym? Are there people who do this without being part of some health club? Should I call kick boxing/martial arts places?