Never been to a gym
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Here is a fitness test I found. I'm not vouching for it's accuracy, its just a novelty. You don't need to answer the second set of questions, but you really need to be honest.
HOW FIT ARE YOU,REALLY?
As long as you have a healthy immune system and take normal precautions there's nothing for you to worry about. Even germaphobe like myself can survive the gym with the proper precautions.
As long as you have a healthy immune system and take normal precautions there's nothing for you to worry about. Even germaphobe like myself can survive the gym with the proper precautions.
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I've been going to they gym pretty much continuously since 79. Only time off was when on sea duty. I just like the scheduled 3 days a week bit. I know I'm going to do it and there's no need to "make time" for it or "fit it in". I'm fortunate to be retired next to an army base and retirees have the run of the place. Working out next to the troops I find inspiring. I can tell you there are some tough female troops these days. Last couple of weeks have been kind of quiet as many are off on leave, but next week I expect it to be hell with all the noobs starting their resolutions. Lasts until about the end of Jan, then it's us "regulars".
scott s.
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scott s.
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#78
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In any event, as stated, I'm not vouching for it. I just discovered it as a link to a link, to a link. You be the judge and let me know what you think.
https://www.ntnu.edu/cerg/vo2max#Accurate
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I think it's because we know that walking upside down has turned you into a nation of super people.
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Military and SWAT Teams have been using pull ups for a long time as a way to test upper body strength during their selection process because it's one of the best indicators of upper body strength......Bodybuilders don't train for strength they train for looks and aesthetics, most bodybuilders are weak and lack athleticism despite having mountains of muscle all over their bodies.
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#83
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Fitness test says I'm twenty years younger...AND it made me better looking!
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# 1. Ability to perform daily tasks and responsibilities without difficulty and discomfort.
# 2. Ability to perform well in your chosen sport or recreational activity.
# 3. Ability to handle unexpected emergency situations which life can sometimes throw at you.
Having ability to perform in all 3 of those situations is what I would call a well balanced fitness.
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I like my gym. My gym has a pool. There are lounge chairs surrounding the pool and each lounge chair has a red flag. When you lay on the lounge chair and flip up the red flag, a waitress comes over to you and takes your order. My gym makes a good bloody mary.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
#91
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I don't have video of the later with much more weight. (see my son is not my only kid)
"As a goal keeper you just stand there..."
https://youtu.be/3LkbOT0KUwU
Helped doing this: https://youtu.be/pAcfaKP9_aM
"As a goal keeper you just stand there..."
https://youtu.be/3LkbOT0KUwU
Helped doing this: https://youtu.be/pAcfaKP9_aM
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All components of or results of cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility.
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That was not my son, rather daughter. One of the best female goal keepers in the USA at the time.
And that would not work for my son, or me. Exercises are different depending on what you are trying to do and the body's ability to adapt - which is training, age, gender and gene based.
I don't do weights much at all, but I get it. Cycling fast personally is not something I care about, although I am not slow.
Well, ya, you do. You get to a point enough is enough and more is worse. Risk of injury can outweigh the value of the activity.
I do about 5 hours/week at may age and I think that is a good balance. Eating and drinking less is something that would make me healthier, more exercise would not.
I've flown more than a couple flights with some big time NBA/NFL hall of famer guys that can barely walk. Not saying that is weights, but the toll on the body is clear.
Rest is the most underrated activity out there.
And that would not work for my son, or me. Exercises are different depending on what you are trying to do and the body's ability to adapt - which is training, age, gender and gene based.
I don't do weights much at all, but I get it. Cycling fast personally is not something I care about, although I am not slow.
Well, ya, you do. You get to a point enough is enough and more is worse. Risk of injury can outweigh the value of the activity.
I do about 5 hours/week at may age and I think that is a good balance. Eating and drinking less is something that would make me healthier, more exercise would not.
I've flown more than a couple flights with some big time NBA/NFL hall of famer guys that can barely walk. Not saying that is weights, but the toll on the body is clear.
Rest is the most underrated activity out there.
#95
☢
That was not my son, rather daughter. One of the best female goal keepers in the USA at the time.
And that would not work for my son, or me. Exercises are different depending on what you are trying to do and the body's ability to adapt - which is training, age, gender and gene based.
I don't do weights much at all, but I get it. Cycling fast personally is not something I care about, although I am not slow.
And that would not work for my son, or me. Exercises are different depending on what you are trying to do and the body's ability to adapt - which is training, age, gender and gene based.
I don't do weights much at all, but I get it. Cycling fast personally is not something I care about, although I am not slow.
Well, ya, you do. You get to a point enough is enough and more is worse. Risk of injury can outweigh the value of the activity.
I do about 5 hours/week at may age and I think that is a good balance. Eating and drinking less is something that would make me healthier, more exercise would not.
I've flown more than a couple flights with some big time NBA/NFL hall of famer guys that can barely walk. Not saying that is weights, but the toll on the body is clear.
Rest is the most underrated activity out there.
Last edited by KraneXL; 01-01-19 at 07:42 PM.
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Never been to a gym. And at 68, and healthy, don't feel the need. Of course, some of this might be due to having an old style SoloFlex (the one with the stretchy rubber things), and a gym quality treadmill at home! Don't think that taking care of mucking a stall, cleaning up horse manure, keeping the hay stacked and putting it in our storage area (hay bales aren't light) & carrying 4 gallons of water to fill up water buckets is hurting anything Just wish the horse could "hold it" in wet and cold weather!! He's a gentle, big pet, so can't complain, and it forces me to get some exercise every day. (guess I could complain, but he'd just ignore it anyway!)
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Military and SWAT Teams have been using pull ups for a long time as a way to test upper body strength during their selection process because it's one of the best indicators of upper body strength......Bodybuilders don't train for strength they train for looks and aesthetics, most bodybuilders are weak and lack athleticism despite having mountains of muscle all over their bodies.
Pull ups for training also develop upper body strength only while ignoring core and leg strength. That can be good or bad depending on what the outcome performance goals are. If you want to be a competitive arm wrestler or rope climber they are very good. If you want to compete in Judo or swing an axe, they are incomplete exercise models at best. So, while pull ups are good exercises in themselves that can be adapted for large groups at low cost, they are seldom done in isolation as testing nor as a complete training regime.
Also, saying body builders are weak is incorrect. Muscles grow due to resistance training which means they gain strength. You may be referring to the difference between say power lifting and body building but that's really just a difference of degree. Both are still stronger than most.
To me fitness has 3 different parts:
# 1. Ability to perform daily tasks and responsibilities without difficulty and discomfort.
# 2. Ability to perform well in your chosen sport or recreational activity.
# 3. Ability to handle unexpected emergency situations which life can sometimes throw at you.
Having ability to perform in all 3 of those situations is what I would call a well balanced fitness.
# 1. Ability to perform daily tasks and responsibilities without difficulty and discomfort.
# 2. Ability to perform well in your chosen sport or recreational activity.
# 3. Ability to handle unexpected emergency situations which life can sometimes throw at you.
Having ability to perform in all 3 of those situations is what I would call a well balanced fitness.
If one cannot do those general sort of things (underlying medical conditions not withstanding) then one might be said to not be fit. It's interesting to note that the requirement for completion is not over development of certain muscle groups but rather a general strong core and decent cardiovascular health.
That is the basket where I put my eggs because I move between several activities, currently: scuba diving, free diving, long distance cycling, trail running and occasionally XC sking and kayaking. I suppose I lose out a bit in upper end performance by not focusing on specific training (although I do a bit for cycling and use all as cross training in off seasons) I gain in all by focusing on cardio and core. Also, if any extremity muscle groups played a major role it would be legs so I work those more than arms thus poor pull up outcomes. Upper body flexion is almost useless in the activities I pursue.
Last edited by Happy Feet; 01-02-19 at 03:26 PM.
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I agree.
Even when I was training as a bodybuilder, I couldn't do pull ups ... IMO, that's a silly measurement.
I can cycle long distances, run reasonable distances, row, cross-country ski, snowshoe, hike up mountains, canoe, lift weights, do yoga, but because I can't do pull ups, I'm not physically fit??
Physical fitness is made up of 4 main components: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility.
I'm probably weakest in the "flexibility" category, but I do work on that from time to time.
I also think that there's an element of practicality that has to be considered. Can I do the things I want to do with my level of fitness? If not, then something needs to improve.
So for me, one of the things I need to do on a fairly regular basis is to walk longish distances carrying a moderately heavy backpack. It's a transportation necessity for me and I can do that. So in that regard, I'm fit enough for my practical purposes.
Even when I was training as a bodybuilder, I couldn't do pull ups ... IMO, that's a silly measurement.
I can cycle long distances, run reasonable distances, row, cross-country ski, snowshoe, hike up mountains, canoe, lift weights, do yoga, but because I can't do pull ups, I'm not physically fit??
Physical fitness is made up of 4 main components: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility.
I'm probably weakest in the "flexibility" category, but I do work on that from time to time.
I also think that there's an element of practicality that has to be considered. Can I do the things I want to do with my level of fitness? If not, then something needs to improve.
So for me, one of the things I need to do on a fairly regular basis is to walk longish distances carrying a moderately heavy backpack. It's a transportation necessity for me and I can do that. So in that regard, I'm fit enough for my practical purposes.
I'm fairy lucky ATM to be able to bike commute once again to work (after a few years of car commuting 2 hours each day) and walk a lot as part of my job. This helps a great deal as far as basic training goes so that I can jump into activities at a more advanced level rather than having to work up from an entry level of fitness. The more I can jump into activities, the more activities I do. It's a self fulfilling cycle of fitness that is a pleasure to experience once it happens. The world of physical experiences opens up because I am basically capable of doing them moderately. From there I choose which I really enjoy and work further on.
Last edited by Happy Feet; 01-02-19 at 03:39 PM.
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Living in the snow belt, I have to go to the gym and ride the recumbent exercise bike to keep my leg strength over winter. BTW New Years morning it was 4 degrees out.
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I think you and others touch on something that I see in my work with the elderly. Almost all older people of the war/post war generation did not go to a gym or even perform athletics but those that "age" well physically seem to have had active lives in the form of moderate workload like farming and/or lots of walking. The worst are those that worked and then do nothing upon retirement, having earned a long desired rest. The mind that accepts regular exertion as normal seems to be more fit long term. I would say fitness is far easier to achieve (and more beneficial long term) if it is the result of overall active lifestyles rather than sedentary lives interposed with activity on a gym.
I'm fairy lucky ATM to be able to bike commute once again to work (after a few years of car commuting 2 hours each day) and walk a lot as part of my job. This helps a great deal as far as basic training goes so that I can jump into activities at a more advanced level rather than having to work up from an entry level of fitness. The more I can jump into activities, the more activities I do. It's a self fulfilling cycle of fitness that is a pleasure to experience once it happens. The world of physical experiences opens up because I am basically capable of doing them moderately. From there I choose which I really enjoy and work further on.
I'm fairy lucky ATM to be able to bike commute once again to work (after a few years of car commuting 2 hours each day) and walk a lot as part of my job. This helps a great deal as far as basic training goes so that I can jump into activities at a more advanced level rather than having to work up from an entry level of fitness. The more I can jump into activities, the more activities I do. It's a self fulfilling cycle of fitness that is a pleasure to experience once it happens. The world of physical experiences opens up because I am basically capable of doing them moderately. From there I choose which I really enjoy and work further on.
My job necessitates many sedentary hours. Making the effort to go to the gym was key to breaking the habit of continuing on into a sedentary evening and weekend. In essence, those initially short visits served as a sort of "gateway drug" to a habit of doing a fairly rigorous workout routine throughout the week. I really have a much lower tolerance for sitting around doing nothing as a result.