Anyone using a gym? I need advice...................................as usual!

Slime

Slime

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I was just wondering whether or not any of you guys/gals use a gym.
I find motivation a huge problem but I've developed a bit of a spare tyre over the winter. It's sort of a 2CV tyre rather than a Lamborghini sized thing!
I need to know the quickest, (easiest :whistle:), way of getting rid of it. Is it best to use a cycling machine, running machine or rowing machine?
Please bear in mind that I'm a bit of a lazy sod so which ever works quickest would be preferable.
Oh, and how much time would I have to commit to it?

Slime.
 
Know the feeling. I go twice a week to specialised classes. 1 is spinning which is a 1 hour cycling sweatathon and the other 1 is cardio class which is a full body workout. If you commit to it the pounds will fly off. If you can combine the fitness work with some weights it will come off even quicker. Be prepared for some pain and torture at first though as your muscles will ache like they have never ached before. Hope this helps.
 
I've always found the Rowing machine was best for me.

Though when I was cycling to get around, that was pretty good too.

Staying off the alcohol and a little less food worked pretty well too.
 
Others who know more than me can recommend machines and programmes to you. IMHO you need to commit to going regularly (3 times a week) and crucially enjoy it and get into it. If you can't do the latter it won't work. Take some decent music and headphones with you or, if you gym has the TV screens on the machines, go at a time when you can watch something on the TV (Dave channel re-runs old Top Gears every morning). Or do Hare Krishna chanting or whatever floats your boat.

If you go to the gym and come away thinking that it's a real bind or boring or you can't be arsed then it won't work. If you expect your physique to change within a couple of weeks you'll be disappointed. But if you commit to saying "right, I'll give it a proper go" then you could be pleasantly surprised. Good luck.
 
AmandaJR said:
In terms of calories per minute the treadmill is your best bet.
Click to expand...

Depends what speed you run at. Unless you run pretty fast, a rowing machine will burn more calories than a treadmill or stationary cycle.

There are golf-specific exercise on various websites, including TPI, which is probably the best known, and you can download the TPI TV shows from iTunes, and even watch them on an iPhone at the gym. The old idea of doing heavy work to build muscle is being replaced by the use of dynamic exercises such as plyometrics to add explosive power and speed. That involves work with medicine balls, resistance tubes, some cable work, as well as stretching.

Remember diet is a critical issue too. You can stop eating calories much more easily than burning them off.
 
AmandaJR said:
In terms of calories per minute the treadmill is your best bet.
Click to expand...

Rowing (upper and lower body) uses more muscles than running (lower body) and will burn more calories all being equal.

If you want to burn fat then longer gentler exercise will accomplish this by keeping your heart rate at between 55-70% of you max HR. This burns up your fat stores as fuel rather than higher aerobic work which uses up more of your carbohydrates and stored glycogen as fuel.

The point is using a treadmill is easy peasy to adjust your level of work and generally folks can use it for longer. The rower is an all round muscle-using exercise and will burn more calories due to this but folks cant use it for so long as it tires them out quicker.
 
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AmandaJR said:
Hmmm not sure about the rower versus treadmill although for sure the stationary bike is lower than both.

It can be easier to jog for longer than row plus technique isn't so much of an issue.

This calculator seems fairly accurate (unlike those on gym machines):

http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc
Click to expand...

How do you know that calculator is accurate? It depends on the assumption about calories per unit time for each machine, and other than that is is just a calculator. Gym machine estimates are fine so long as they include weight, otherwise they are based on some pre-determined weight.

I row on a Concept 2 at my gym and usually do 30-40 minutes at >700 cal/h, and I wouldn't run for that long. The technique is pretty easy after one or two attempts or brief instruction.
 
Well I know what I burn doing a number of types of exercise as I have been in a study using a SenseWear monitor and that calculator came out close.

I have a stairclimber at home that "calculates" calories based on body weight and it is always way out - always of course calculating more than is actually the case.

It's horses for courses and check out most gyms and people will be on the treadmills pootling along for a lot longer than they'll manage the rower.
 
Ethan said:
I row on a Concept 2 at my gym and usually do 30-40 minutes at >700 cal/h, and I wouldn't run for that long. The technique is pretty easy after one or two attempts or brief instruction.
Click to expand...

It's nice to see someone actually putting some decent distance into their rowing. Usually you see people just jumping on for 5-10 mins. Some of the techniques you see are diabolical and I wonder what damage they are doing to themselves.
 
I went from 11 stone 2 to 11 stone 12 over the Christmas period which for someone who is hardly Mr Blobby is a lot extra to carry. Usually find a four mile run twice a week gets it off combined with chucking out the everlasting christmas cake to the birds. I also jog between golf shots as long as no-one is watching .
 
With all the uncertainty as to whats best I will carry on with my usual gym technique - foot hard down on the throttle and get past it as quick as possible. I have noticed how much stronger my right ankle has got!
 
:oi read in one of my wifes magazines that the best workout is sex,apparently a good 1 hour session!!!!!! can burn up to 350 kls and is equivalent to running a marathon,good job i'm not fat as i'm struggling to do a 100yd stroll.
 
6inchcup said:
:oi read in one of my wifes magazines that the best workout is sex,apparently a good 1 hour session!!!!!! can burn up to 350 kls and is equivalent to running a marathon,good job i'm not fat as i'm struggling to do a 100yd stroll.
Click to expand...

I'm practicing alone before entering the big one!
 
Ethan said:
Remember diet is a critical issue too. You can stop eating calories much more easily than burning them off.
Click to expand...

This. A thousand times this...

Also, you can't target fat from a specific body area. It doesn't work like that. Unless you're paying someone to suck it out with a tarted up vacuum cleaner.
 
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