posted
So*, Mama and I have been going to the gym pretty regularly (aside from sickness and out-of-town-ness, it's pretty much 6 times a week). And it's been good to increase strength and burn fat and lose weight and all that.
After working out earlier this week, I was showering, and as I was washing my chest I noticed something. I've got some cleavage. Ain't much (probably a good thing), but there are actually two distinct muscle groups on my chest, rather than one big wide one -- like suddenly having separate eyebrows instead of a unibrow. This says much more about the pathetic condition I was in before I started working out than it does about the great shape I'm in now (I've got a ways to go to achieve "great," even by my own reckoning), but it was still kinda cool.
I wouldn't have thought three months ago that the gym-cleavage I'd find most exciting would be my own. *Goes to admire self in mirror*
posted
Aside from the joking, how much you max is, to me, a pointless question. Frankly, it is only good for milestones (and not always that), but I'm much more interested in the (bi)weekly increases in my rep weights. That is, if I am doing cable crossovers and initially did 4 sets of 12-10 at 20, 20, 30, 30 lbs on each arm and am now, two months later, using 50, 60, 60, 70 lbs, then I am happy. Or with tricep push downs, going from 80 lbs to 160 lbs as a weight I do reps with, then good. I mean, I could try to max out, but what's that going to do, you know? I'm trying to involve the entire muscle in sustained and strenuous work. Maxes, IMHO, don't tax the muscle for long enough time in comparison.
posted
Sorry -- I was still admiring myself in the mirror. *smile*
I maxed at 245 thus far (200 pounds of weight on 45-pound bar). If I had a spotter, I could probably try 275 and be able to press it once with a minor chance of injury. But the 3x10 weight I've been doing is 205. When I do 225, it's more like 9-7-4. Those are all with bringing my arms to 90 degrees, though -- max bringing the bar all the way to my chest my max is 195, and my shoulder pops. I really really don't want to cause damage to my shoulder. Again.
--Pop
[Edit -- typo]
[ May 06, 2005, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: Papa Moose ]
Posts: 6213 | Registered: May 2001
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quote: I maxed at 245 thus far (200 pounds or weight on 45-pound bar). If I had a spotter, I could probably try 275 and be able to press it once with a minor chance of injury.
posted
Female cleavage at the gym can be far too hypnotic, and makes me lose count. I think I did like 300 leg curls once....
Posts: 6213 | Registered: May 2001
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posted
I'm going to not address the subject of female cleavage, but as far as the gym goes, I feel like a supreme wuss only being able to do 30lbs. on the reverse pec thing, but then I go to the back machine where I put the peg about two-thirds down the stack, and I feel better. Same with the leg sled.
And I agree about the upping weight vs. max thing.
Posts: 226 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I can lift an insane amount of weight with my legs due to fencing. But it isn't max what I'm after--it's the muscle definition. It's so cool being able to see muscle rippling underneath the skin.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Pop, congratulations. It's great to start seeing the results of a workout regimen.
if you want to see some dramatic changes in definition, switch to dumbell exercises for a while. You'll have to go down in weight - probably to 70 or 80 pound dumbells at the top - but you shoud use slightly different parts of the muscles, which will define them better. You'd want to start at lower weight for a workout or to to practice form.
Your body is remarkably good at optimizing itself - you need to keep switching things up on it. Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I read that no matter how out of shape you get, you can achieve 100% of your aerobic capacity at any age. That was encouraging.
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Hypnotic indeed. Like the very attractive girl on the treadmill in a sports bra wearing headphones. And I notice she has no MP3 armband nor anything on her waist. So where do her headphone wires disappear to? Where is that MP3 player being held, I wonder? People want to know! And lo and behold...!
posted
I actually think that cleavage at the gym should be mandated. It really helps get through those tedious cardio exercises...
Posts: 1480 | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
The fire has been officially lit below my butt now. I'm going to start back working out next week. Of course, it's in my garage and I have no mirrors, so it will be cleavageless.
Can you send me a picture, Pop?
Ian, I agree that a max doesn't really mean much except for competition. I use to be on the HS weightlifting team and did fairly well. But it occurred to me one day that there wasn't much point in benching 285 lbs if girls didn't think you could. It's much better to look like you can lift a lot than actually be able to do it.
Posts: 4625 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
I wonder if he'll start another thread when he learns how to flex them separately and make them dance.
Posts: 4625 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
I do that occasionally when I get bored, though it looks interesting, being a female and all...
Posts: 5879 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I'm excited that the sinus infection is finally brought under enough control that I can exercise again. I got to fence a full practice last night (and then some), FINALLY. It was great. Of course, I'm tired and sore (yeay!), but whatever.
I have a tournament tomorrow. I was supposed to enter two events, but I figure it'll be safer to enter one because I'm still on antibiotics (21 days of Augmentin XR starting today after being on Levaquin for the previous ten days. The bacteria wil be DEAD DEAD DEAD!) and just barely got well enough for exercise.
I just hate losing the time at fencing and the gym. Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Relative standards on upper body strength, Alt.
Men tend to be stronger, which means we talk about much higher weight, relatively.
I don't feel (well, I try not to feel) like a wuss next to guys benching 300+ pounds and doing 60+ pound bicep curls.
Gym Cleavage
Ladies, if you're going to wear tight outfits, we're gonna notice. Fortunately, I was going to the YMCA which catered to mostly older members and families - I only had two cases of whiplash for the six months I was going.
The drawback - as Moose observed, it can be amazingly difficult to focus on your form when something in a sports bra and tights is panting, sweating and exerting next to you.
posted
The local community college has a state-of-the-art gym (and will do free evaluations, including body-fat analysis- using some kind of pod chamber) and the cost is $70 for 5 months. That's cheaper than you could ever get at Bally's or Gold's, which are around $70-$90/month, IIRC.
Posts: 1346 | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
Heh. I realize you're joking, but oggle too much and you'll get your membership revoked.
I forget what I was paying at the Y, but it was reasonable for me.
By going to the gym, I had access to a wide selection of weights, weight equipment and the cardio room.
Staying home, you have to be more motivated to do your routines and not get caught watching tv or napping or any of a dozen things you won't be able to do in the gym.
Additionally, for me it was a way of compartmentalizing and focusing - at the gym, I'm focused on the gym and not other stuff I have to do.
Tip While I've found attractive eye-candy to be too distracting when I'm trying to focus on my form and rep count, you can visit a gym during the hours you would normally attend and get an idea of the kind of membership it has.
This also applies to things like kiddie programs - during the summer, I was always in danger of being trampled by the hundred-odd children in the Y's summer programs as they stampeded down the hallway.
Free tip - gyms near colleges can be a lot of fun.
posted
I pay so that I can use all the freeweights and nautilus machines, and the elliptical when it's crappy out and I don't want to run in it. It's just $19/month, and when I'm not sick, I go 4 times a week.
I also do not wear tight fitting clothing. *twitch* Talk about being embarassed!
posted
This is why there are such things as "women only" gyms. I guess some women enjoy being oogled, but others just want to exercise.
And while some guys are vocalizing their wish for gym-going-ladies to wear tight clothing, I take it these same guys aren't wearing spandex bottoms themselves. Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
In a very, very quiet corner of my mind I usually try to shush, I admit that one of the perks of going to gym is the gorgeous male scenery.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
I just checked my paycheck deductions and they are still deducting my fitness center membership contribution, which I haven't used in well over a year. Now I'm motivated to start using it again. In fact, I think I will bug out a little early today, grab some workout clothes from my apartment and go work out before the motivation leaves me.
Posts: 148 | Registered: Mar 2005
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Mixed bag Bev - some guys do wear tight outfits and strike a pose every time a woman walks by.
The YMCA I used wasn't a meat market, but there are a number of gyms that are the "new singles scene" and not just a place to exercise.
Which is another reason to check out the crowd first before signing up.
-Trevor
Edit: And really, I have to admit I'd rather gorgeous women in tight outfits not try to use the weight room while I'm in there.
With the best of intentions, I can't help sneaking a look and if I'm not screwing up my own form, the yutz next to me is dropping a 45 pound plate on my foot.
quote:And while some guys are vocalizing their wish for gym-going-ladies to wear tight clothing
Hmmm. Not sure I'd go that far...And I'll leave it at that. I certainly am not wearing spandex. Why inflict that on others? Posts: 1346 | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
While a lovely image, it doesn't compare to being the straight guy at a table while two rather well-endowed women and a gay man started discussing the physics pertaining to the difference of real versus augmented boobs in moving in opposition.
While I was cheerfully intoxicated, the gist of the argument was - apparently augments move in perfect harmony while real have subtle imperfections that prevent them from obtaining the same synchronization.
Worse - I watched one girl peer down and do a little shake while heading to the lady's room.
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