Why Go to the Gym?

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

To be honest, working out, IME, doesn't really help with that all that much. I'll brag for a sec and say that I'm a pretty strong guy, but even so there's not much that will help you make it through a 3-4 hours show with a 10lb bass on your shoulder.

If it's balanced well, it shouldn't be too bad, but if the player has back problems, all bets are off. As someone who prefers to carry my golf clubs when I walk, my back has developed an S-curve because it took a long time for bag makers to come out with a strap that uses both shoulders. Now, my back feels a lot better immediately after 18 holes and also the next day. I think I have seen instrument straps that work the same way- I know I have seen some that are curved, to allow better weight distribution.

[BullHorn]

And I tend to stay away from 10lb basses. All my basses are 8.4lb or less!

[ChiliPepper]

more reasons for going to the gym or being active in general

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...st-brainpower/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...243027174.html

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/1...its-the-brain/

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/ed...me&ref=general

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...-for-the-body/

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...els-the-brain/

[masturbasser]

I was just thinking about this.

Back when I was 28 I had what I call an "early midlife crisis" where I thought to myself I want to be in great shape by 30 (I'm now 32). I had limited experience with gyms and some of it was bad (hardcore muscly types sneering at you, assorted weirdos, etc). I bought a bunch of free weights and a bench and over the next 3 years I worked out 2+ hours 4-5 days a week. Parts of me shrank (belly, moobs) while other parts got bigger (arms, shoulders). There was a fire inside me!!!!

That fire to work out at home is gone. A reoccurence of cancer at 31 was partially to blame but truthfully it was starting to die out before that. I of course gained most of the weight back when I was sick.

Now I lift very little at home and go to the gym 3-4 times a week. It's kind of different now because I AM one of those muscly types (except I'm not an elitist snob and will gladly offer advice to noobs if asked).

My reasons for going is:

1) I start mortuary college in November. I want to feel confident in front of my peers and in front of prospective employers.

2) I'm 32 and still unmarried. Need I say more?

3) I start having anxiety attacks if I go for more than a day without some kind of physical activity.

[jamis]

So true about anxiety when not going. I was suffering from anxiety in general all my life. I was always active as a child but now married and just hit 40 with a wife with an disabling disease I've really had issues with anxiety and blood pressure. I'm overweight but not too bad. I argued with my regular doc that wants me on all sorts of meds. I demanded to see a therapist who's first advice was get off your a## and work out. That plus therapy will really help. You know what ... he's right. I've lost 20 lbs and I'm up to 20 pushups. I haven't been to the gym in a week. I've noticed anxiety is starting to sink in again. Our bodies need to move and do things such as this. I found a local small gym and pay to have a trainer. It costs more ... but a good trainer (for me at least) is making a huge difference. I actually WANT to go and can feel a difference in so many areas of my life. Even the sex life is getting better again. I no longer fear 40. Just hit it and feel better now than I did 10 years ago. Even my wife is starting to work out and that is helping her with her illness. We all need to move.

ps - still hate lifting the bass amps though. LOL

[crustychef]

Working out is crucial to longevity. Diet alone wont do it. That being said you don't need a gym. Just a few basic things at home. I just kicked the crap out myself in my living room with nothing more than a pair of 40lb dumbbells.

On the minute for 10 minutes do
5 dumbbell thrusters
5 bent over dumbbell rows
5 dumbbell deadlifts

the goal is to do them all unbroken and and give yourself about 30-20seconds of rest. The first two sets felt easy. I was like "maybe I should do 20minutes" then around minute 7 it really hit me. Heart rate was pegged and that 80pounds started feeling mighty heavy overhead. BY the end I was spitting and trying not to puke. Next time I'm going to do a variation of this with a barbell and 155lbs but for only 7 minutes then immediately followed my a mile run.

I am a CrossFit trainer and own my own CrossFit Affiliate. Sometimes I still work out at home just to save time or when I just want to train by myself. You be amazed at what you can do with a few dumbbells, a kettlebell and jump rope.

[Catbuster]

I'm amazed at the lack of leg training people do. It matters, too, as much as you might not think.

And a mile run a day will not get your legs in great shape. That said I'm not saying do a collegiate 400M dash workout (4/350, 8/200, 4/600/, 8/40) on a track, nor am I saying you should train to run a 5K in 15 mins. But the amount of leg workouts I see are disheartening to a longtime 400/800M runner/discus thrower.

[Ziltoid]

Friends don't let friends skip legs

[MJ5150]

It all started with these guys....



-Mike

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

It all started with these guys....



-Mike

First time I saw that skit I literally almost died laughing.

[MJ5150]

Same here. I watch it now and then and still laugh as hard. Go check it out on YouTube.

-Mike

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by Catbuster

I'm amazed at the lack of leg training people do. It matters, too, as much as you might not think.

And a mile run a day will not get your legs in great shape. That said I'm not saying do a collegiate 400M dash workout (4/350, 8/200, 4/600/, 8/40) on a track, nor am I saying you should train to run a 5K in 15 mins. But the amount of leg workouts I see are disheartening to a longtime 400/800M runner/discus thrower.

What kind of leg workouts can you do at home without too much gear?

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

What kind of leg workouts can you do at home without too much gear?

You can do body weight squats and you do lunges or squats with dumbbells or kettle weights.

[crustychef]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

What kind of leg workouts can you do at home without too much gear?

Heck just pick up anything and squat with it. I did a work out once with a big cinder block.
Swung it like a kettlebell, pressed it. Squated and lunged with.
Load up a back pack and squat. Hold bricks overhead and squat. Sand bags, logs, kegs, whatever just squat.

[Alexander]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

What kind of leg workouts can you do at home without too much gear?

Check out Zuzana Light ZWOW #12 on YouTube. This girl will make you cry - in more ways than one...

[Ziltoid]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

What kind of leg workouts can you do at home without too much gear?

Airborn lunges, those thing will kill you.

Link

[Catbuster]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

What kind of leg workouts can you do at home without too much gear?

Hmmm... Try a 30 min run every day, at a 6:30 mile pace, and progress to faster as time goes on; and tell me how quick your legs get in shape.

Airborne squats, so many step ups, and that 30 minute run will get your legs in shape, with just a flat floor and a step.

If you have a big hill, run that too.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

This is why I need to get my hip fully back in working order, leg excersise was always the best. Be it from Squats to other compound lifts, Deadlift, Cleans, Snatches, all brilliant. Then on non-lifting days it tended to be on the field doing wind sprints/shuttle runs intermingled with situps, pushups, bodyweights squats or the all time fun of burpees.

[crustychef]

I love burpees!

If you want some real fun try doing a heavy deadlift and burpee combo. Heaviest deadlift you can touch and go for 7-10 reps.

5 rounds of
275 Deadlift x 5reps
10 burpees

Heavy weight cardio workouts melt off fat like no other.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

What kind of leg workouts can you do at home without too much gear?

Wall sits. No gear required. Those things will break you down, great return on the effort too. Try duckwalking after you've done a few sets.

-Mike