UK/Europe/The World - 'Wibble' Challenge

[junkfoodmonkey]

Originally Posted by shykins

well i did do some.. approx 15mins then my oven blew up... guess that should be on whinge thread la lala

did u make it junk?

Blimey! Exploding ovens would out a crimp in anyone's workout.

Yep, I got there, just got back about a half hour ago. It was tempting, with the rain coming down, to just snuggle in here with my laptop and fire up the coffee maker. But I went anyway. A nice long session and a sauna afterwards. Back to fast sessions after work next week.

[shykins]

well done!!!!... nice long session for me tomorrow with a jacuzzi and laze with a good bok whilst there i think

oven did give me a jump.. luckily dinner was cooked lol

[Kissa]

Good girl Junk. Oven blowing up is not good shy.

I got to my Body Attack class yesterday, crickey that is some workout!

[Ailuros]

I finally got myself moving again today. It's definitely harder work when you don't keep it going regularly .

[Ailuros]

And again today . Have I frightened you all away?

[shykins]

well done ailuros.. dont stop then u dont have to get started again lol
wibbled myself today too
x

[Ailuros]

Well done to you, too .

Originally Posted by shykins

well done ailuros.. dont stop then u dont have to get started again lol

Now why didn't I think of that .

[Kissa]

Went out to wibble this morning, car wouldn't go!

[shykins]

oh dear kissa its not yr day is it

[junkfoodmonkey]

Wibbled at the gym today. Next one, Wednesday.

[Ailuros]

Kissa, I hope the car doesn't turn out to be too expensive.

JFM, what sort of thing do you do at the gym. I've only ever done things I can do at home. This whole gym world is a bit of a mystery to me! I walked through one once, but that's my whole experience of them.

[shykins]

lol ailuros i know what u mean some are a little forbidding arent they

i belong to a health club which is attached to a big hotel so the gym is fairly small there which suits me, these ones with hundreds of machines look scary!!... personally i just started off on the treadmill (10mins), then i increased the incline, now i march with weights as well and use a cross trainer and rowers

happy wibbling
x

[Kissa]

Car sorted, battery!

I love classes Ailuros, I feel as if I've been to a party if it is a good one.

[Ailuros]

I've been to various evening classes over the years, but the only exercise related ones have been yoga. What sort do you do?

Recently I haven't been to classes, but I do occasionally go on a weekend or week of yoga. Mostly I do it at home - there are thin patches, but I'm reasonably consistent with the yoga. I also have some weights that I want to start using again that have been sitting around for at least a year since I last touched them.

[junkfoodmonkey]

Originally Posted by Ailuros

Kissa, I hope the car doesn't turn out to be too expensive.

JFM, what sort of thing do you do at the gym. I've only ever done things I can do at home. This whole gym world is a bit of a mystery to me! I walked through one once, but that's my whole experience of them.

Most gyms will have machines for cardio-vascular exercise, which is things like treadmills, exercise bikes, steppers, rowing machines, and these things called cross trainers, which do a kind of floating-skiing movement. I do 30 mins on a couple of those at the moment, working to add more time.

For strength training/toning, they have weights machines and usually "free weights". The machines will be something you sit on a seat and lift, or press or push some handle, with the weights held within the body of the machine. Each one works a particular muscle group, so you'll do a circuit of a few of those. Kind of like those multi-gyms you see for at home, except that rather than lots of machines in one, that you have to keep adjusting, each one is specialised.

Free weights are barbells and dumbells, which tend to be more popular with the fellas than the ladies, doing classic bench presses, that kind of thing.

And they should have some floor mats and maybe those big exercise balls for doing abs work, situps, press ups, etc.

If you join a gym the staff should set you up with a program and show you how to use all the machines. I think a program should be changed at least every four or six weeks, or it's easy to get too used to it and stop pushing yourself.

I know gyms seem scary at first, you think they'll be full of gorgeous lycra clad beauties sneering at the ordinary shaped people. But it's not like that. Most people in there are just ordinary looking. The superfit ones are only looking at each other - i.e. the competition - and not the rest of us. Most people are basically too absorbed in their own "gym trance" to take notice of anyone else. I listen to audiobooks on my MP3 player, so I'm too caught up with that to notice anyone unless they actually fall off the treadmill!

And never be afraid to ask the staff for help on your program and the machines. That's their job. And helping you progress and get you fitter and smaller is their job too, so you share goals.

I've been to various evening classes over the years, but the only exercise related ones have been yoga. What sort do you do?

Classes I've done in the past include:

Spinning - which is done on special spinning bikes, that let you stand up in the pedals without toppling the thing over. That's hard work, you'll really sweat, but I always managed to get through a full class even first time out. I saw skinnier people than me totter off and give up. Probably smokers. They're done to music, you do "hill climbing" by increasing the resistance on the bike, or sprints, you stand up, sit down, bend forward over the handlebars like you're trying to win a stage of the Tour de France. That's all led by the person taking the class. It's a really good workout. Take A LOT of water.

Boxercise: I loved that class! It's a combination of cardio and strenght workout, based on the kind of training boxers do, and of course, punching! Don't worry, nobody will try to punch you! You punch pads your partner or instructor wears on their hands, or you hit the heavy bag. (Now that you can really lay into and work out your frustration on.) It's another really good workout, it's amazing how tiring the punching is. It needs a bit of coordination, when you learn to do "combinations" of punches, but not so much that I can't manage, and I'm the most uncoordinated person you can imagine. And it's really just huge fun! Honestly, you burn calories just from laughing your ass off in that class. I think it's the punching, it relieves any pent up angst.

I've tried a couple of others, but those two were my faves. I may add them back in to the routine soon,

[Ailuros]

I think I'd rather stay at home, but I was just curious as to how people actually spend the time in the gym - whether you have a set plan, or just do what seems like a good idea at the time. What sort of mix of equipment one person would actually use - do people generally cycle round the types, or do they stick in their favourite corner.

At the moment, I'm thinking about starting some weight training in addition to the yoga I already do. Whatever I do will have to use the bodyweight, and the weights I have - dumbells with adjustable weights, and a few of the kind you can strap on to ankle or wrist. The drawback compared with the gym is that I don't have an advisor on hand, so I'll be getting my ideas from internet sites or books.

[junkfoodmonkey]

I tried for a few months to do it at home and I just couldn't make myself do it. Too many distractions, too easy to talk myself out of it. So I finally rejoined the gym. It's right here at work, so I bring my stuff in with me to get in there straight after work. I come in on the Metro, not a car, so unless I actually started feeling ill during the day, or an emergency came I'm going to go, or I've lugged my gear in for nothing. This seems to be the only way for me. I have a small gym just up the road from me at home, but that would be a similar issue with working out at home. Once I got in the house, especially on cold winter nights, or warm summer ones, getting back out to the gym is a chore.

But if you've got the discipline to stick to your plan and do it at home, then go for it. Maybe for working at home you could get some DVDs that are geared to doing a home workout. You can borrow some from the library to find one you like best before actually going and buying. And charity shops are always a good source, for "barely used" fitness DVDs, donated by people who just couldn't hack it.

I think I'd rather stay at home, but I was just curious as to how people actually spend the time in the gym - whether you have a set plan, or just do what seems like a good idea at the time. What sort of mix of equipment one person would actually use - do people generally cycle round the types, or do they stick in their favourite corner.

I stick with my program, but sometimes mix it up and do it in a different order.

There's a couple of schools of thought about if you should cycle around the different machines. You can get on the treadmill or whatever and do that for the whole session, because it keeps the heart rate up. Or you can do ten or fifteen minutes each on several machines to get some variety, just try not to have too long a rest going from one to the other. If you do the first and the gym is kind of busy you might get dirty looks though for "hogging" a machine. And some gyms will put a maximum time allowed on any one machine to be enforced during busy times. Personally, I can't walk on a treadmill for more than 30 minutes anyway without my back starting to hurt.

[Ailuros]

I'm not 100% consistent with exercising at home, but I think I'd be even worse at getting out to do it somewhere else - and I would have to pay for it!

The yoga I do is worked out with my teacher, and we meet every month or two to review it, and change as needed. I think I need to do a bit of looking around for extra components to add. Trying out DVDs from the library is a good idea.

[junkfoodmonkey]

Originally Posted by Ailuros

I'm not 100% consistent with exercising at home, but I think I'd be even worse at getting out to do it somewhere else - and I would have to pay for it!

Yeah, I am lucky that mine is a subsidised gym actually here on site at work. An excellent perk. It's under £20 a month and that includes all classes. Good value! Cheaper than the local authority leisure deparments gyms too.

[shykins]

i am just not dedicated enough to do it at home so i make myself go on certain days.. i use dumbells on the walker to march with and do arm exercises and when i find it getting easier i up the incline or reps with the weights

cos ours is such a small gym i do the treadmill or crosstrainer/rowing machine combo on alternate days before i go and have a swim.. cos of my back i cant do the bikes so stay off them.

i have never had a trainer i just work out what works for me and what i can do, then increase it when it gets easier

there is a special offer on the 'proper' gym near my club for £45 a month for unlimited sessions of one on one with a personal trainer.... really good deal!!! not sure i would benefit anymore fromit tho
x

[Ailuros]

Thanks both of you for the peep inside your gyms .

I did my yoga today. So far I've picked the weights up and waved them around a bit to see how heavy they are, and browsed a couple of web-sites. It doesn't do to rush into this stuff .

[shykins]

lol ailuros.. keep waving them is all good exercise!!!

when i first started with the dumbells i part marched with them.. OMGGG my arms were killing me after 5mins but i built it up and up and now march with them all the time (as well as the reps in between) and have recently gone up to 1kilo ones!!! eeekk was hard at first but am getting there
i have got ankle weights but not sure my back would take the strain of them we shall see

oh and i have got a wii fit as well which is brilliant but like i said i am not disciplined enough to do it on the days i am not gyming... i need to make myself tho so will try

[Ailuros]

My dumbells are about 3 Kg each at the moment - it's a bit more than my arms want to handle for the raising it out at arms length kind of stuff. I think that's as low as they will go (unless you take the weights off altogether and just use the bars), but the ankle weights are smaller, so I could use them to start with.

[shykins]

eeek 3kg???? thats hard to start with no wonder u are just waving lol

i just use the small dumbells at moment
x

[Ailuros]

I'll start with the strap-on kind, then. I have 0.5, 1 and 2.5 kg ones, so that should give me something I can work with. I never seem to see anybody talk about anything less than 50 lbs. I must be a serious weakling .

[shykins]

lol that makes 2 of us then

u arent talkin about lifting tho are u., u are talkin about exercising with them which is different.... sides who wants to be lifting 50lbs hehe
x