"create your own workout" appointment at FitnessPlanet

CarvedTones

These "create your own workout" appointments are pretty short, so I was curious about others' experiences and things to bring up. I was thinking of making a couple of notes to myself so I don't forget my "can'ts" and "wants". Because of knee problems, I can't squat, lunge or deep knee press. I have a few limitations with my left shoulder; I need to get over myself and see my ortho about it. It feels a lot like my right shoulder did before it was scoped and I have given it months to get better and it hasn't. I actually have the shoulder in pretty good shape, avoiding moving it certain specific ways. I want stamina/endurance. I want slightly more definition in chest and abs. I am actually pretty happy with the shape I am in; I don't want to get out of shape over the winter when I do very little paddling and fewer long walks/hikes. I am in maintenance; I don't need to lose or gain any weight.

cmriverside

print that out and take it with you, or read it to the guy off your phone.

stingrayinfl

do what you can and you can probably do modifications. They have some good ab machines and the 30 min workout is decent...you can really vary that one. A friend uses the 30 sec rest period to do the weights and then the 60 sec steps. The leg exercises may be tough..light weights may be a thought

Cherimoose

Don't expect the staff to know how to properly work around your orthopedic issues. See a medical professional for that.

For your goals, i'd mostly use the rowing machine, if they have one, and also the treadmill.

CarvedTones

Cherimoose wrote: »

Don't expect the staff to know how to properly work around your orthopedic issues. See a medical professional for that.

For your goals, i'd mostly use the rowing machine, if they have one, and also the treadmill.

I avoided the treadmill because of the knee trouble; I had it scoped and the doctor "repaired" 3 tears in the meniscus, trimmed some fraying around the patella and picked up a lot of "loose matter". I quoted "repaired" because he didn't really fix the tears; he smoothed the edges in such a way to make overlap (which happened sometimes and is excruciating) extremely unlikely. he also took a picture of some arthritis on his way out. he said to avoid running and other high impact exercises.

I went yesterday and didn't see any cardio type rowing machines; that would be my first choice over the elliptical or at least to split time with.

I have been avoiding the medical specialist looking at my left shoulder because of the history with my right shoulder; it feels a lot like a tear. He found a lot of scar tissue in my right shoulder where I had let tears heal in the past. The two he sewed up were 60% and 80% torn and would not have healed properly. Even with insurance, shoulder surgery has a pretty hefty price tag and then there is the down time. So I am planning to give it a few more months. It hasn't interfered with paddling; just certain specific movements hurt whether it is loaded or not.

Yeah I know it is stupid to avoid the doctor; I will go in after Christmas if there hasn't been any improvement, as that will make about a year.

CarvedTones

Pleasantly surprised to meet with a guy in his mid to late 50s, taller than me but of a similar trim and fit build. I was expecting a muscle bound twenty-something pushing free weights and making fun of cardio. He got me to sign up for a few of his classes next week, trained me a little on TRX, a couple of machines and a couple of dumbbell routines. One of the classes will be general "tour" of the machines, one TRX, one core and one 30 minute full body circuit. The circuit is pretty cool; it's timer based and if you start on it you have to do it in order and switch every time timer goes off. It is dedicated machines in a separate area.

I liked the TRX. It got me thinking; I can get a strap with the handles and loop it over a chin up bar at home to do the exercises that worked out well for me.

I did use the treadmill today and got my HR into the 130s setting speed and incline to 4.3, which is nice - easy to remember the same number for both. Did that for about 45 minutes before my training appointment. Logged a burn of 300, which is substantially lower than the machine reported, but I would rather err on the side of reporting too little burn instead of too much.

deannalfisher

TRX is a fun workout - I have a small independent gym by me that does a TRX class once a week - that thing kicks my patootie

CarvedTones

deannalfisher wrote: »

TRX is a fun workout - I have a small independent gym by me that does a TRX class once a week - that thing kicks my patootie

I ordered one of these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Suspension-Trainer-Straps-Fitness-Kit-TOTAL-Body-Weight-Exercise-For-Home-Gym/263877039396

LKArgh

CarvedTones wrote: »

Pleasantly surprised to meet with a guy in his mid to late 50s, taller than me but of a similar trim and fit build. I was expecting a muscle bound twenty-something pushing free weights and making fun of cardio. He got me to sign up for a few of his classes next week, trained me a little on TRX, a couple of machines and a couple of dumbbell routines. One of the classes will be general "tour" of the machines, one TRX, one core and one 30 minute full body circuit. The circuit is pretty cool; it's timer based and if you start on it you have to do it in order and switch every time timer goes off. It is dedicated machines in a separate area.

I liked the TRX. It got me thinking; I can get a strap with the handles and loop it over a chin up bar at home to do the exercises that worked out well for me.

I did use the treadmill today and got my HR into the 130s setting speed and incline to 4.3, which is nice - easy to remember the same number for both. Did that for about 45 minutes before my training appointment. Logged a burn of 300, which is substantially lower than the machine reported, but I would rather err on the side of reporting too little burn instead of too much.

If you have knee problems you might want to reconsider being in a class, especially a TRX one. There are great workouts using a TRX for people with limitations, but the average TRX class is not tailored to such needs and the usual routine do have tons of squats and lunges. Same for the full body circuit, especially the 30 min ones usually involve lots of things like squats and burpees and jumping around.

CarvedTones

LKArgh wrote: »

CarvedTones wrote: »

Pleasantly surprised to meet with a guy in his mid to late 50s, taller than me but of a similar trim and fit build. I was expecting a muscle bound twenty-something pushing free weights and making fun of cardio. He got me to sign up for a few of his classes next week, trained me a little on TRX, a couple of machines and a couple of dumbbell routines. One of the classes will be general "tour" of the machines, one TRX, one core and one 30 minute full body circuit. The circuit is pretty cool; it's timer based and if you start on it you have to do it in order and switch every time timer goes off. It is dedicated machines in a separate area.

I liked the TRX. It got me thinking; I can get a strap with the handles and loop it over a chin up bar at home to do the exercises that worked out well for me.

I did use the treadmill today and got my HR into the 130s setting speed and incline to 4.3, which is nice - easy to remember the same number for both. Did that for about 45 minutes before my training appointment. Logged a burn of 300, which is substantially lower than the machine reported, but I would rather err on the side of reporting too little burn instead of too much.

If you have knee problems you might want to reconsider being in a class, especially a TRX one. There are great workouts using a TRX for people with limitations, but the average TRX class is not tailored to such needs and the usual routine do have tons of squats and lunges. Same for the full body circuit, especially the 30 min ones usually involve lots of things like squats and burpees and jumping around.

The trainer is aware of my limitations and took them into account when teaching me a few things today. He teaches the classes he recommended and will show me alternatives when there is something in the routine I can't or shouldn't do. These classes have a pretty low cap on participants; they are group learning sessions more than instructor led exercise sessions except for the core one. Even the core one you can learn to do yourself, of course, but I had other staff tell me that they do that session with him every now and then and he works you pretty hard.

lorrpb

Sounds like a good mix. TRX is great. Pay attention to your form and keeping everything properly aligned. Have fun!