Surprised at how unpopular express workout is at the gym

Packerjohn

jseams1234 wrote: »

I use a combination of free-weights and machines. About 50/50 in my workouts and I guarantee I'm pretty serious about lifting. However, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned one the things I found perplexing when I visited a Planet Fitness... the laughably small stacks on their resistance machines. It's like they purposefully removed half the plates from all their machines. Makes it hard for someone who is even minimally "strong" to properly use their equipment. I'm told it's to make the machines "less intimidating" and to make those using them feel better about what they are pushing or pulling?

Anyhow - I still think that PF is a great place for those who's primary interest is cardio or who is just starting out. I'd just think that anybody serious about lifting would soon need to graduate to a different gym even if they wanted to keep using nothing but resistance machines.

Extension of everyone gets a trophy?

IHaveMyActTogether

Packerjohn wrote: »

jseams1234 wrote: »

I use a combination of free-weights and machines. About 50/50 in my workouts and I guarantee I'm pretty serious about lifting. However, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned one the things I found perplexing when I visited a Planet Fitness... the laughably small stacks on their resistance machines. It's like they purposefully removed half the plates from all their machines. Makes it hard for someone who is even minimally "strong" to properly use their equipment. I'm told it's to make the machines "less intimidating" and to make those using them feel better about what they are pushing or pulling?

Anyhow - I still think that PF is a great place for those who's primary interest is cardio or who is just starting out. I'd just think that anybody serious about lifting would soon need to graduate to a different gym even if they wanted to keep using nothing but resistance machines.

Extension of everyone gets a trophy?

The lunk thing is an extension of making fun of anyone who puts in effort. Put in effort at school? Nerd. Put in effort in sports? Meathead.

It happens to me. I go to the gym and get asked "how are you doing this?" If I show a picture to anyone not into fitness? I get asked, "why are you doing this?

Packerjohn

midlomel1971 wrote: »

No cell phones!? That is ridiculous. Am I supposed to dig out my Walkman from 1995 and find my old CDs? Or look in my junk drawer for my old iPod? What the hell?

Hopefully they're referring to talking on phones as opposed to using them as a music player.

Looking the rules, I'd guess the music they play in PF lowers testosterone levels a couple hundred points. Most likely need your own music.

debrag12

IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »

Allowed at Planet Fitness:

Eating candy and pizza on the machines (don't worry, the candy and pizza are free and unlimited!)

Hold on she has her cell phone!

CarvedTones

midlomel1971 wrote: »

No cell phones!? That is ridiculous. Am I supposed to dig out my Walkman from 1995 and find my old CDs? Or look in my junk drawer for my old iPod? What the hell?

It should say talking on cell phones. Nearly everyone has their cell phone and BT ear buds. If you take a call, walk outside or up front. Don't yak away on a treadmill.

CarvedTones

I can't run any more because of knees. Fast walk with incline or the ARCTrainer is fine. Circuit training is cardio with full body resistance training. I know that. I don't want to seriously weight train. I will be 60 in under 3 months; I have pretty much given up the dream of being an Olympic competitor or pro athlete. I worked hard to get fit and trim through diet and exercise that was primarily paddling for upper body and walking for general fitness. I won't be paddling much over the winter. I want to be fit in the spring.

I am sad that some people can't stand for there to be gyms that cater to the needs of people like me instead of only people who train hard with free weights.

IHaveMyActTogether

CarvedTones wrote: »

I can't run any more because of knees. Fast walk with incline or the ARCTrainer is fine. Circuit training is cardio with full body resistance training. I know that. I don't want to seriously weight train. I will be 60 in under 3 months; I have pretty much given up the dream of being an Olympic competitor or pro athlete. I worked hard to get fit and trim through diet and exercise that was primarily paddling for upper body and walking for general fitness. I won't be paddling much over the winter. I want to be fit in the spring.

I am sad that some people can't stand for there to be gyms that cater to the needs of people like me instead of only people who train hard with free weights.

I actually think you look great, and if PF works for you, then great! It's not you I disagree with.

Packerjohn

CarvedTones wrote: »

I can't run any more because of knees. Fast walk with incline or the ARCTrainer is fine. Circuit training is cardio with full body resistance training. I know that. I don't want to seriously weight train. I will be 60 in under 3 months; I have pretty much given up the dream of being an Olympic competitor or pro athlete. I worked hard to get fit and trim through diet and exercise that was primarily paddling for upper body and walking for general fitness. I won't be paddling much over the winter. I want to be fit in the spring.

I am sad that some people can't stand for there to be gyms that cater to the needs of people like me instead of only people who train hard with free weights.

From some of the thing you've posted, I get the impression that you had done a great job with weight loss and getting in some exercise recently which is great, but it is something relatively new to you. To be honest, strength training is critical for us as we age so we can manage the activities of daily living (ADL). Most of the people in nursing homes are there because they don't have strength for ADL. You don't have to have aspirations of being in the Olympics or a pro athlete, you want to be able to get up off the toilet unassisted until you're dead (at least I do). Strength and balance in a function manner are important to quality of life. As I mentioned up thread exercise professionals recommend (based on the individual's ability) to progress to exercise situations where there is less reliance on chairs, etc for support in completing exercise movements. The lack of support contributes to being able to use the strength gained from exercise in ADL. I'm 62 BTW, so don't make age have anything to do with it

You can use whatever gym that works for you. Biggest thing is that you use it. Your muscles don't know if they are being moved in a warehouse full of free weights on concrete floors, a PF or a $200 a month health club. That being said, it may be preferable to use a gym that allows for more functional movement I think most people, especially beginners can get a functional workout at a PF if they understand what types of movements they should be doing. PF can fit the needs of many be it for location, price hours, etc.

Also, and I may cause a shitstorm, but here it goes. PF advertising talks about gym intimidation. I've worked out in 3 of the gyms that make most lists of top 10 most hardcore in the US. In each of the case, I was close to, if not the oldest person in there and the least muscular. You know what, anyone that interacted with me did so in a friendly manner. I'm thinking that if some people are intimidated by a gym there are other anxiety issues going on and they are most likely intimidated by other social situations also. If they think going to a no intimidation gym will help them get some exercise, great, but the gym probably isn't their biggest issue.

LKArgh

CarvedTones wrote: »

I can't run any more because of knees. Fast walk with incline or the ARCTrainer is fine. Circuit training is cardio with full body resistance training. I know that. I don't want to seriously weight train. I will be 60 in under 3 months; I have pretty much given up the dream of being an Olympic competitor or pro athlete. I worked hard to get fit and trim through diet and exercise that was primarily paddling for upper body and walking for general fitness. I won't be paddling much over the winter. I want to be fit in the spring.

I am sad that some people can't stand for there to be gyms that cater to the needs of people like me instead of only people who train hard with free weights.

I cannot comment on PF where you are, I am in different country and although PF is theoretically the same brand and I understand some of their classes are the same around the glob, very different rules apply otherwise (I joined the local PF when I wanted to get back into lifting because it was the place with the most benches and free weights in the area for example, almost whole floor dedicated to free weights).
But, what I can say, after decades of exercising and trying all different sorts of things: do what you like and ignore the haters. There are people who will choose one routine and fall in love with it (or be afraid to experiment, or be afraid to start something new where they will be beginners, or afraid to try routiness that will test their weaknesses) and will preach and preach about the benefits of what they have chosen. I have heard weight lifters act as if runners are not fit, runners wonder why lifters do not drop dead from lack of stamina, swimmers claim all land sports are boring, yoga fanatics claim muscles from lifting are just for show and do not reflect real strenght and so on.
But I have seen people in awesome shape, fit, strong and looking amazing, in very different sports, and I have been happy with my routine and my results at different points in my life following all sorts of different routines, running, dancing, lifting, sailing, basketball, body weight training, cycling, doing pilates, swimming and I hope to find a lot more things as I grow (even) older. Do not try to defend your choices against people who cannot see at all beyond the one exercise routine that works for them And enjoy whatever you are doing.