Assessing a New Gym prior to Commencing SL

Qski

Hi Everyone,
I've been lurking/stalking/obsessing in your group and am very inspired and motivated and in awe of the whole lot of you. And have read all the stickies and the 'who you are' thread (only made me more in awe!).

I am currently very much a noob on my health and fitness journey
My Stats:
SW 96.5kg 212.3lbs
CW 93.1kg 204.8lbs
Height 5ft3.5 158cm
Top of My Healthy Weight Range (BMI wise) = 62kg 136.4lbs
I'm 38

I have never been at that weight as an adult - closest I came was around 64kg and at that point I was size10 Aus

I have been trying very hard to not commit to any of this until I know I really want to and it's not just a passing fascination, but I can not get the idea that I would like to become a power lifter out of my head.

At the moment I am doing Z25K (Zombies Run) and Les Mills Pump (DVDs at home). I should finish both by January 2014.

I work in the CBD of my town and have seen some good (take over my gym membership) ads on gumtree (Australia's equivalent to Craigslist) that appeal to me and are very convenient. The reason I want to join a gym as opposed to continuing to work out at home, is that it gets super hot here in summer and I don't generally do well in sweltering heat.

The best deal I have found so far for taking over a membership is at a Women's Only Gym - now don't laugh it is really cheap $11wk compared to $22+ for most of the co-ed commercials and $25 a week on a waiting list (they have a membership cap) for the indie Strength and Conditioning gym I would probably really like to get into.

I emailed the gym and chatted to someone about what I am looking for and she said
they have a large amount of free weights, dumbbells, kettlebells, standard and olympic bars and plates, chin up and dip bars no stupid no deadlift and no chalk rules, trainers who have bodybuilding training backgrounds and would be happy to work on form with my goals in mind. They only have a squat rack not a power rack.

I am going to work with a trainer when I start to make sure I get form correct when starting out and intermittently thereafter but mostly I think I would be working on my own. So I understand that a squat rack is not as safe as a power rack and that it will get to a point where if I am on my own, I would need a power rack right?
For somoene who wants to ideally get down to healthy weight for my height 135lbs - what kind of squat weights would start causing issues (assuming I am pretty average) for me, and in general considering noob gains, what kind of time frame would it take for me to get there?

If I do take over a membership I will need to fulfill the left over contract term and I believe that you then sign up for another term that it won't be just ongoing. The one contract I looked at was till June next year.


TL/DR : Would this gym (I don't care who else goes there or what they do) based on what you believe I would need equipment wise suffice initially? How long till I (I am ok with ballpark guesstimates) outgrow the equipment and need to move on to another gym? (ie get to weight where I will need a power rack instead of a squat rack)

Thank you so much, sorry about the novel, I wanted to give as much info as I could!
Q

roxylola

It sounds good, personally I would not worry too much about _needing_ a power rack, yes it would be a little safer with bigger weights but imo it's a bit like you don't _need_ a spotter to bench, you just need to be careful and not over do it. You will develop an awareness of when you are reaching a limit. I work out alone so I always add extra reps at the same weight before I go up so that I feel confident lifting a new weight. Also it is a progressive programme and you are getting progressively stronger. You will not be able to squat 50kg 5*5 on monday but then be flattened by the bar doing 52.5 on wednesday. The only time you want the power rack is if you get and can't complete a rep. Listen to your body and go at your own pace and that is unlikely to happen.

roxylola

Although, I would not entertain a ladies only gym, I like looking at the boys

girlie100

this explains the difference between squat and power racks: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=126624063

If its a proper strength and conditioning gym you will not outgrow the equipment there so no need to worry.

Providing their squat rack has safety bars you will have no problems working heavy on your own, and a good S&C gym where all members have a common goal there will always be someone to help if you need it

If you have never trained with an Oly bar before, start with the bar and get the form sorted and then add weight each session, i.e 2.5kg each time. If when you try the empty bar on squats and its easy bump your starting squat weight to say 30-40kg to try and see how you go and then follow programme as normal from there.

Qski

Although, I would not entertain a ladies only gym, I like looking at the boys

from what I read about your magic track pants they like looking at you too

Thank you for replies greatly appreciated.
The strength and conditioning gym is different to the woman's only one I would need to get my name on a waiting list for that one. For now taking over a membership at the woman's one seems reasonable and if I get super bamf maybe I can jump up the waitlist for the proper s&c one.

roxylola

Would put money on the s&c gym "waitlist" being something they use to put off people. I bet if you start lifting and maybe get to know people who are gym goers or even just go in in 6 months with some intermediate type goals you will find the waitlist is gone!

As for the track pants - who knows what goes through their minds lol

girlie100

so was the squat rack and oly bars at the ladies only gym??

I'd go and see the S&C gym and speak with the owner about getting on the list

Qski

Yep equipment was at ladies only I wanted to make sure I wouldn't be wasting my time going there to start with.