![\"\"](\"http:\/\/icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com\/2007\/05\/is-in-ur-gym-swetin-to-tha-oldiez.jpg\")
Woah, I really got off topic there!\u00a0 Sorry, new gym goer, I’ll try to stay on the subject.\u00a0 If you have had a membership already, well, let me thank you for keeping the gym open by paying for it, and also not crowded by just staying home and eating pot pies instead of taking up a machine.\u00a0 Just kiddin’.\u00a0 Sorta.\u00a0 I am totally conflicted here, while it warms the cockles of my heart to see all these new people taking their first step into the world of fitness, I also would like there to be less lines for the assisted pullup\/dip machine.\u00a0 Oh well, I guess I can work on my pushups instead in January, there is plenty of floor space!<\/p>\n
Here’s some advice on how to make the most out of your workout time and make the gym a pleasant place for everyone:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Start slow.\u00a0 Maybe two months ago or two years ago you were able to run 5 miles at a 7 minute per mile pace.\u00a0 Nothing was ever lost by taking your first workout too easy, but many a fitness endeavour was squashed by going out too hard, getting too sore, and giving up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Come up with a defined workout plan, but be flexible.\u00a0 Decide you are going to do some form of cardio 20 minutes, 3 time per week, and do strength training for 15 minutes, 2-3 time per week (or whatever schedule floats your boat).\u00a0 That way, you have a plan so you don’t go into the gym and get overwhelmed by all the machines, but you don’t have to throw a fit if all the arc trainers are taken.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com\/2008\/02\/funny-pictures-cat-excercise-bike.jpg\")
Don’t be rude.\u00a0 This includes your body as well as your actions.\u00a0 If you are a stinkypuss, shower before the gym.\u00a0 Use deoderant.\u00a0 Do NOT use ridiculous amounts of cologne or perfume.\u00a0 With your actions, use common sense.\u00a0 If there is a line for equipment, do what you need to do and get off it.\u00a0 A short rest in between sets is permissable, but sitting and talking on your cell is just reprehensible.\u00a0 Don’t spend an hour and a half on the treadmill if you’ve got people waiting.\u00a0 Don’t stare at other people in the gym, even if they’re just plain interesting.\u00a0 Do what the rest of us do and sneak glances at them.\u00a0\u00a0 See the three mats for stretching?\u00a0 Take up one, not all 3 lengthwise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n- \n
- Spend the money on some proper workout clothes.\u00a0 An old t-shirt and sweatpants is totally appropriate if you have nothing else.\u00a0 Things I saw at the gym yesterday: a girl running in a dress and tights, a guy wearing a pair of dockers and a polo shirt, and a woman in a plastic bag looking shirt (which I think was on an infomercial touting its ability to make you lose more weight – what they didn’t mention is that it’s just water weight from making yourself so hot you want to pass out).\u00a0 You can pick up something respectable from the thrift store for less than 10 bucks or from Target for less than 20.\u00a0 Just do it, though you don’t have to be decked out in brand name gear…<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Try new things.\u00a0 Don’t let any of the machines scare you.\u00a0 Give it a chance to get used to it.\u00a0 Don’t get on the arc trainer and get off a minute later, give it at least 10 minutes!\u00a0 There is a free group class offered quite frequently that shows you how to use them, do take it.\u00a0 Don’t be like me and spend your first month doing lat raises and the glute machine the wrong way and wondering why it was so uncomfortable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Don’t work the same muscles 2 days in a row.\u00a0 Do arms one day, legs the next.\u00a0 If you’re running fast one day, jog the next or use another machine.\u00a0 Too much without proper rest is just asking for at best, lack of progress, and at worst, injury.\u00a0 Rest is an integral part of getting stronger.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- 7-9am and 5-7pm are the busy times.\u00a0 If you can, work out at a different time, it will be easier on you and on us poor normal-business-hour-working schmucks like me that HAVE to work out then.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Don’t give up.\u00a0 It gets rough.\u00a0 I’ve been working out consistently now for almost 17 months now and there are still days I don’t wanna work out or I can’t complete my session the way I wanted to or I even just skip a day because I’m too sore, pooped, or whatever.\u00a0 Don’t aim for perfection, just aim for progress.\u00a0 Sure, one day you might have to stop at 1 mile instead of 1.5 you did the
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.funny-potato.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/gym-equipment.jpg\")
day before, but if you keep at it, you’ll be doing 2 miles before you know it.\u00a0 If you get frustrated and give up, you’ll do no miles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n- \n
- Do what YOU can do.\u00a0 Don’t focus on me on the treadmill next to you, killing myself with interval stupidity.\u00a0 It’s taken me 17 months to be able to do that.\u00a0 When I started, I could barely walk a mile.\u00a0 If you take no other advice, take this – just start where you’re just a little (tolerably) uncomfortable and work up from there.\u00a0 You, the girl who took 25 minutes to walk a mile on the treadmill in front of me and got off and looked disgusted with her self, I’m talking right to you.\u00a0 I really hope I see you back again and you see that with some time, you’ll be going much faster very soon!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you heed some of my advice, maybe a lot of you will make it to February.\u00a0 Maybe some will even make it all year.\u00a0 While it’s nice to have my run of the place, it gets lonely in November and December when everyone is eating Christmas Candy and sitting on their asses.\u00a0 Good luck, and may this be the first of many of your sweaty days!<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
Quix (the crazy, sweat-stained girl on the treadmill next to you)<\/p>\n
- Do what YOU can do.\u00a0 Don’t focus on me on the treadmill next to you, killing myself with interval stupidity.\u00a0 It’s taken me 17 months to be able to do that.\u00a0 When I started, I could barely walk a mile.\u00a0 If you take no other advice, take this – just start where you’re just a little (tolerably) uncomfortable and work up from there.\u00a0 You, the girl who took 25 minutes to walk a mile on the treadmill in front of me and got off and looked disgusted with her self, I’m talking right to you.\u00a0 I really hope I see you back again and you see that with some time, you’ll be going much faster very soon!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Don’t give up.\u00a0 It gets rough.\u00a0 I’ve been working out consistently now for almost 17 months now and there are still days I don’t wanna work out or I can’t complete my session the way I wanted to or I even just skip a day because I’m too sore, pooped, or whatever.\u00a0 Don’t aim for perfection, just aim for progress.\u00a0 Sure, one day you might have to stop at 1 mile instead of 1.5 you did the
- 7-9am and 5-7pm are the busy times.\u00a0 If you can, work out at a different time, it will be easier on you and on us poor normal-business-hour-working schmucks like me that HAVE to work out then.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Don’t work the same muscles 2 days in a row.\u00a0 Do arms one day, legs the next.\u00a0 If you’re running fast one day, jog the next or use another machine.\u00a0 Too much without proper rest is just asking for at best, lack of progress, and at worst, injury.\u00a0 Rest is an integral part of getting stronger.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Try new things.\u00a0 Don’t let any of the machines scare you.\u00a0 Give it a chance to get used to it.\u00a0 Don’t get on the arc trainer and get off a minute later, give it at least 10 minutes!\u00a0 There is a free group class offered quite frequently that shows you how to use them, do take it.\u00a0 Don’t be like me and spend your first month doing lat raises and the glute machine the wrong way and wondering why it was so uncomfortable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Spend the money on some proper workout clothes.\u00a0 An old t-shirt and sweatpants is totally appropriate if you have nothing else.\u00a0 Things I saw at the gym yesterday: a girl running in a dress and tights, a guy wearing a pair of dockers and a polo shirt, and a woman in a plastic bag looking shirt (which I think was on an infomercial touting its ability to make you lose more weight – what they didn’t mention is that it’s just water weight from making yourself so hot you want to pass out).\u00a0 You can pick up something respectable from the thrift store for less than 10 bucks or from Target for less than 20.\u00a0 Just do it, though you don’t have to be decked out in brand name gear…<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Come up with a defined workout plan, but be flexible.\u00a0 Decide you are going to do some form of cardio 20 minutes, 3 time per week, and do strength training for 15 minutes, 2-3 time per week (or whatever schedule floats your boat).\u00a0 That way, you have a plan so you don’t go into the gym and get overwhelmed by all the machines, but you don’t have to throw a fit if all the arc trainers are taken.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n