New Years Resolution. Work out hell.

[Camp21178]

I went back to the gym today. It's been several months, and with my blood sugar, weight, and cholesterol all higher than they should be, I was rarin' to go. (Not really) I got out to the car at 4:15 AM and it was 6 degrees, great start. Last year my wife went with me and that was nice because I had a spotter. Normally I'm the only one there, so bench presses get a little scary. I'm afraid one morning they will find an old guy pinned on the bench LOL. Anyway I'm doing it solo like I have for many years and it actually went pretty well. Last year I celebrated (?) turning 54 by benching 340 for three sets of three and I was pretty excited. Unfortunately I got lazy, and I have to start over. I felt pretty weak, but I'll just have to suck it up and get moving. Anybody else going through workout hell to start the New Year?

[Motorcycle Forum]

[Thundurburd]

Going to the gym is a good thing, especially for people like me who have desk jobs and sit in front of a computer for hours and hours every day. If not working I'm on forums, looking for places to go, drawing maps on Google, or otherwise cruising the net. Was not getting anywhere near enough exercise.

Anyways, last year at the age of 64 I joined a gym. Sure, at home I have a treadmill, rowing machine, and lastly a recumbent exercise bike, but don't like them nor have used them to any extent. Now I have gym membership and a personal trainer and have gone to the gym 5 to 6 days a week for about five months. People who know me are pretty much dumbfounded, I'm not the kind of guy anyone expected would do this. So far I've lost 35 pounds and am feeling a lot better. Haven't done much for the last month but am finally back on the program, have a long ways to go.

So, going to the gym, highly recommended! Good idea Camp21178.

[Camp21178]

I'm proud of you for making the effort to work out. Yesterday on day 2, I was working out, and I was stiff and sore and wondering why I do this, and I talked To Tom, an active 82 year old on the treadmill and I thought, Oh yeah that's why.

[ranger04]

Ive started going to the gym about 2 weeks ago. Keep getting free trial passes in the mail so thought I'd use them. I'm 25 and about as skinny as a bean stalk. I have great lower strength, have no problem putting up 400 or so on a leg press or running a couple miles. But put me on a bench press, and you my friend will witness a comical scene. At age 25 and tipping the scale of 165, that is about all I can lift, 165 pounds. Tried 170 and it just isnt happening lol. So I will try to focus on upper body strength when in the gym lol

[Camp21178]

Just remember, heavy basic exercises for building strength. Start out with one compound and one isolation exercise per body part. Benches and dumbbell flies for chest, overhead dumbbell presses and side lateral raises for shoulders. Pulldowns and rows for back. Close grip benches and pushdowns for triceps. Standing barbell curls and seated dumbbell curls for biceps. Squats or leg presses and leg extensions and leg curls for legs. Just doing these exercises and gradually increasing the weight you use will get you off to a good start. I used to do 3 sets of 3 at 360 followed by 2 sets of 6 at 315 in the bench. I was at your level when I was young. The most important thing is to realize that everybody starts somewhere, and it takes time. Good luck! Keep me posted.

[ranger04]

Lol, you know whats worse. Before I started where I am at now with working, I worked in construction. I weighed about 190 and my upper arms/shoulders were about twice the size they are now and alot stronger. I started working in maintenance and therefore not moveing as much heavy stuff as I used to and I lost about 30 pounds, I unfortunantly think most of it was muscle mass cause my arms are not as big as they used to be lol.

I think I'm gonna keep at it with the gym as long as money allows and see if I can work on the upper body strength, may not get to much mass built, but at least tone out some lol

[Camp21178]

Week 3 and things are going pretty well. It's been 20 degrees most mornings, so it's been easier to get out of bed at 4 AM. The weights are going up quite a bit, and I got my wife to go with me yesterday so I had a spotter. Amazing how much more you can lift when there's somebody there. Anybody else start a program for the new year?