Sat, 28 Jan 2023 03:18:01 -0800WeeblyThu, 05 Jan 2017 20:05:12 GMThttps://www.tommoschettofitness.com/back-on-planet-earth-ii/new-year-ramblings-is-the-gym-a-cultural-urinalNew Year Ramblings:  "Is the Gym a Cultural Urinal?"
 
The New Year is here and judging from what I am seeing at the local gyms, a lot of fitness related New Year's resolutions have been made.  There are lots of new faces at the gyms, and many are embracing the workout life style with a shiny new club membership in one hand, and a sports drink in the other.

It happens every year. 

For about 2-4 weeks
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During this time I am constantly having to ask someone if they can remove their towel, drink, phone, keys, diaper, etc.,  from the squat rack, while they do, whatever it is they are doing.   Or worse yet, are the newbs  who insist on walking, or standing close by when I am squatting and invariably brush into the bar.  They can't wait for the bar to be racked before trying to slide by,  no ,no no, they have to get past, before the set is finished.

Is the gym a cultural urinal?

Just a few more weeks, and the well intentioned will get discouraged, and the crowds will diminish. For many the paradigm would shift to success if they sought out the services of a fitness pro.  Brings to mind the discussion of the differences between exercising and training. 

Briefly, if you are going to the gym with no specific goals and just throwing around some weights, maybe doing some cardio, or taking some classes, & hoping for the best...you are  exercising. Nothing wrong with that.

However,  if you have a training plan with specific goals, and you record your performance and workout data (Training log) for analysis and your program  creates incremental improvements and adaptations,  then you are training.   It is a mind set.

The result of working from a written plan and recording your progress is that it gives you quantifiable data to determine if you are moving towards or away from your goals.
 
Why not?

I'll move on.

Recently, I have been adding weight for my pull up routine, and a gym that I frequent,  has a belt designed for just that purpose.  For those of you not familiar with one, it looks something like a weight lifting belt with a chain attached that can  slide through the plates.  The belt hangs around your waist and the plates hang between your legs.  Great for pull ups. In my younger days we used a rope and hung the weight around our necks.   I know, it was stupid.

I had gotten to the point of doing 3 sets of 20 reps with just my body weight, so it was time to increase the intensity.
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Hopefully the weather will improve so we can get back on the velodrome soon!]]>