Thursday, November 21, 2013

Three Things Thursday: Observations from the gym

Between the hours of 9 and 10 this morning, I had to be at the YMCA. It wasn't to teach a class or to attend required seminar but an appointment with my sanity.

While Miles is breathing easier today, a toddler on steroids makes for some interesting days and more interesting nights. The shenanigans last night included hammering (with a toy hammer) an hour past bedtime, stripping down to color all over himself (his feet are still orange) and pile every toy into his bed.

So, this morning -- after a fight about staying downstairs, being told that I don't tell him no and being roared at because I informed him that, yes, I can tell him no -- I decided he needed to go to daycare early and I needed a good sweat session.


1. I ran Tuesday and Wednesday thus making today a cross-training day. I hopped on the upright bike and warmed up for 10 minutes before getting into the work.
  • 1 minute at a hard resistance, RPMs max out at 50
  • 2 minutes recovery at a moderate resistance
  • 1 minute at moderate resistance with high RPMs, no lower than 100
  • 2 minutes recovery at a moderate resistance
  • Repeat as needed
The workout mimics a plateau, the geological one. You climb, spin on the flat and speed out on the downhill. Ride a bit to the next one. While it plays with resistance and speed, the workout was more about the intensity.

Note: While I am ACE certified personal trainer, I am not your trainer. Performing any workout on this page is at your own risk. Please consult a physician before beginning an exercise program.

2. If Judgy Wudgy was a bear, I am sad to say that I am the mama bear. I noticed several people walking at severe inclines on the treadmills but only being able to do so by holding onto the rails. I am not sure about you but I've never walked up a hill and got to support half my weight while doing so. A more effective workout would have utilized the maximum incline the exerciser could walk unassisted. The same goes for speed. It's the one time it's OK to say no to help.

3. Maybe I'm an antisocial asshole but if there are eight open pieces of equipment, please choose one that is not right next to me. I find it so odd that people cluster up. I can see where it would draw some competitive spirit to see someone go harder or faster than you but I find it distracting. I end up reading the person's magazine rather staying in the zone of my workout.

What's your gym pet peeve?

13 comments:

  1. There are times when there can be a full row of treadmills, and I will chose one right next to someone. Not to invade your space, but because I have used every single treadmill in the gym, and some work "better" than others...

    I also don't understand the holding-on-for-dear-life clutching of the treadmill while walking at max incline...

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    1. Such a good point! I never thought of the quality of the machines.

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  2. Isn't holing onto the TM bad form? Meaning, doesn't it throw off your natural gait? I think I read that somewhere, but I could totally be making this up, too! :) sometimes, gym people just drive me nuts. Ugh.

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    1. I think the treadmill messes with my gait, regardless.

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  3. Haha, those are both good ones and both I agree with! I get SOOO annoyed with the gym chatters that have a 10 minutes conversation while leaning on at least 3 pieces of equipment. Surely they must need to stay at the gym for like 4 hours to get their workout in with the amount of socializing they do!

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  4. OMG who are these clusterers? That drives me batty. I need SPACE!

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  5. I just found you thanks to runladylike, and I'm glad I did! I like your blog. :) And I'm pretty sure that plateau in the picture is near where I grew up. Random fact of the day.

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  6. Ahhh I HATE it when people pick the machine right next to me!! Then I awkwardly find myself looking at their machine because even though it shouldn't be a race, I always find myself turning it into one. And then I get all self-conscious about my form and my sweat flying everywhere, and it just becomes a mess. Glad I"m not the only one :)

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  7. It drives me nuts when someone picks the machine right next to me when there are other, open machines. Personal space!

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  8. Totally agree with these gym pet peeves. Nice spin workout. I'll have to try that one sometime.

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  9. Ughh I hate when people jump on equipment right next to you even though there are like a zillion treadmills open. My biggest gym pet peeve are people who chat on cellphones while working out. I want to tell them that it's not a good workout if they are able to talk like normal.

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  10. #3! Yes! You are not antisocial, I am the same exact way. Whyyy on earth people do that is beyond me! Hope Miles is feeling better soon!

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