What should I look for in a good gym
Discuss health issues related to fitness, exercise, sport etc. and other relevant topics.
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymBest low cost footwear for weightlifting. Nice hard and flat soles. You can run and cycle in them too (though you won't need to do much, if any, cardio unless you're fat).(Original post by Luxray)
Really? they dont seem like they would be appropriate for sports/gym.
Squishy soled running trainers are useless. -
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymRun and pylometrics to get a ''beach body''?(Original post by Joe909)
Beach Body is made in the kitchen. Diet > Workout.
You can do fine without a gym, just run and plyometrics (Push ups, pull ups)
If you were looking to actually add some muscle, it'd be a different story. You'd need a Squat rack, adequate space for an Olympic bar to deadlift and a bench press with a proper bar.
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymSo what do you recommend? I showed the body I wanted a few posts back.(Original post by facdroit)
Run and pylometrics to get a ''beach body''?
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Hi so visited the gym and didn't really spend long looking around which is my own fault. But was a little disappointed because the actual gym section was a little small. I did ask about the dumbbells and he said they go up in 2kgs which is great and up to about 35kg or something. He said they didn't have an Olympic bar thing. I'm going to go there anyway because it's the closest to me and the others are too inconvenient. I didn't check if they had mats for deadlifting -.- what's the thing called you do bench presses on?(Original post by MissLightyear)
Get a routine planned, see what equipments needed. The basics that you'll more than likely need is bench, mats for deadlifing (some places can be funny about it) and squat rack then see what the weights they have go up to. If youre wanting to use dumbells a lot it'll be pointless if they only go up to 25kg for example. If youre wanting to use barbells too make sure theres enough plates and that they have small increments for when youre wanting to progress later on and cant put 5kg on from last time for example.
Cardio machines are usually pretty straight forward, would be odd if they didnt have what you wanted
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad AppLast edited by Luxray; 13-06-2012 at 15:11. -
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymA bench?(Original post by Luxray)
Hi so visited the gym and didn't really spend long looking around which is my own fault. But was a little disappointed because the actual gym section was a little small. I did ask about the dumbbells and he said they go up in 2kgs which is great and up to about 35kg or something. He said they didn't have an Olympic bar thing. I'm going to go there anyway because it's the closest to me and the others are too inconvenient. I didn't check if they had mats for deadlifting -.- what's the thing called you do bench presses on?
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymDumbells go up in decent increments so thats alright, you could use them for non-compound movements (you could use them for compound movements too, just may be more difficult). The deadlift mats arent essential if they dont mind a bit of banging. If they moan then it may just be that you cant do 1rms.(Original post by Luxray)
Hi so visited the gym and didn't really spend long looking around which is my own fault. But was a little disappointed because the actual gym section was a little small. I did ask about the dumbbells and he said they go up in 2kgs which is great and up to about 35kg or something. He said they didn't have an Olympic bar thing. I'm going to go there anyway because it's the closest to me and the others are too inconvenient. I didn't check if they had mats for deadlifting -.- what's the thing called you do bench presses on?
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
You said they dont have an olympic bar, do they still have some barbells? A standard bar should be fine if thats what theyve got. Bench press is done on a bench, not sure what else you could call it -
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymIf they don't have an Olympic bar how are you going to squat and deadlift?(Original post by Luxray)
Hi so visited the gym and didn't really spend long looking around which is my own fault. But was a little disappointed because the actual gym section was a little small. I did ask about the dumbbells and he said they go up in 2kgs which is great and up to about 35kg or something. He said they didn't have an Olympic bar thing. I'm going to go there anyway because it's the closest to me and the others are too inconvenient. I didn't check if they had mats for deadlifting -.- what's the thing called you do bench presses on?
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Forget the smith machine if they don't have a squat rack don't go there.
Do you know the praeto principle?
Squats,deadlifts and bench are your 80 percent when working out. Honest. If even one is missing don't bother. I go to a friend's house to squat because the gym I'm in doesn't have a rack and let me tell you something I'm counting the days I move out of here so I can go to a real gym. -
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymNo I dont think they have a barbell(Original post by MissLightyear)
Dumbells go up in decent increments so thats alright, you could use them for non-compound movements (you could use them for compound movements too, just may be more difficult). The deadlift mats arent essential if they dont mind a bit of banging. If they moan then it may just be that you cant do 1rms.
You said they dont have an olympic bar, do they still have some barbells? A standard bar should be fine if thats what theyve got. Bench press is done on a bench, not sure what else you could call it
They have a sauna, swimming pool but no barbell I think. What is a 1rms?
They have lots of machines that do other things which I assume should be useful.
This is the gym, doesnt have much info.
http://www.wlct.org/Sport-and-Health...membership.htm -
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymSquat racks, a leg press where you can add plates, a hack squat may also be nice. Bars and places to deadlift, dumbbells that go up to a reasonable weight. Like has been said depends on goals, if you want to pack on mass you ideally want all the free weight equipment you can get.
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Re: What should I look for in a good gym1rm = 1 rep max - it can be useful knowing this if your planning to work at a particular % of it.(Original post by Luxray)
No I dont think they have a barbell
They have a sauna, swimming pool but no barbell I think. What is a 1rms?
They have lots of machines that do other things which I assume should be useful.
This is the gym, doesnt have much info.
http://www.wlct.org/Sport-and-Health...membership.htm
Ah I live near Wigan so Ive seen the gyms, its a standard council gym then so I dont think it has any barbells/squat rack etc. You could get away with using machines tbh if its not strength your going for. Free weights are more adaptable but you could still do use dumbells to add some compounds in. -
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymWell I'm only there for the summer. Once I go back to uni I will be joining a better gym(Original post by MissLightyear)
1rm = 1 rep max - it can be useful knowing this if your planning to work at a particular % of it.
Ah I live near Wigan so Ive seen the gyms, its a standard council gym then so I dont think it has any barbells/squat rack etc. You could get away with using machines tbh if its not strength your going for. Free weights are more adaptable but you could still do use dumbells to add some compounds in.
I think the main thing I'm after over this summer in particular is losing fat (I'm what you would call skinny-fat right now) and I'm hoping the dumbbells and the machines will help build a bit of muscle.
In the long term my goal is to look like this
Spoiler:So yeah I just want to have a good beach bodyShow
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymWell if you focus on cardio over summer but also do a bit on the machines/with dumbells you should be fine. It will mean when you get a better gym you can focus on building muscle rather than fat loss and have a base to work on.(Original post by Luxray)
Well I'm only there for the summer. Once I go back to uni I will be joining a better gym
I think the main thing I'm after over this summer in particular is losing fat (I'm what you would call skinny-fat right now) and I'm hoping the dumbbells and the machines will help build a bit of muscle.
In the long term my goal is to look like this
Spoiler:So yeah I just want to have a good beach bodyShow
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymYep thats what I'm thinking.(Original post by MissLightyear)
Well if you focus on cardio over summer but also do a bit on the machines/with dumbells you should be fine. It will mean when you get a better gym you can focus on building muscle rather than fat loss and have a base to work on.
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymBreak it down for a moment in terms of what do you need for a beach body? In descending order of importance:
1) You need to be lean
2) You need some development of your upper body muscles and especially the arms, shoulders, chest, lats and traps
3) You need some minimal leg development so you don't look like captain chicken legs
Everyone else can say what they like but if you actually take a look at your goal physique, that's it basically. Even then, he has pretty narrow clavicles/doesn't look very wide.
Look at what you need and work from there in terms of planning how to get there. -
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymThe irony is I'm browsing it right it.(Original post by facdroit)
Run and pylometrics to get a ''beach body''?
Yeaah go back to the misc section of bbforum
Be realistic. A beach body is just low bodyfat.
He doesn't need to focus on compound movements and hypertrophy now does he ? -
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Re: What should I look for in a good gymI recall Amir Khan weighing in for a fight some years ago at 137lb (about 63kg), at a height of 5'11. Look for photos - he was in great shape for boxing and had single digit bodyfat, but I'd hesitate to describe him as having a beach body...(Original post by Joe909)
Be realistic. A beach body is just low bodyfat.
He doesn't need to focus on compound movements and hypertrophy now does he ?
Cristiano Ronaldo is a little taller but weighs a good 84kg these days if I'm not mistaken and looks great. That's really the look people are aspiring to, a combination of a fair bit of muscle mass, good athletic proportions and low bodyfat.
