Exercise Enviroment (1 Viewer)

[Nat3skiz]

This is mainly directed at those who've trained at home and at the gym. Taking diet into consideration, what environment has given you better results with your training? Roughing it out at home by yourself, or working in front of a mirror at gyms surrounded by others doing the same thing. Is there a big difference in what you can get done?

 

[Thought Shark]

The gym, hands down, for me. You're in an environemnt designed solely for exercise, as opposed to home where there are so many goddamn distractions (note: never work out in front of the Wii). The gym is also better becuse they have a lot better resources (unless you want to spend $20,000 on a home gym) and a lot more eye candy. Also, the gym is a good way to meet people, so the social side in between sets is good too. Also, you can generally get a spotter any time you like and you can also get a personal trainer to oversee your routine or point you in the right direction.

Oh, and the smell of sweat turns me on.

 

[Pace_T]

i use to go to the gym but i stick to home. a lot cheaper if you know what you're doing. gym is full of dickheads and stuff as well. its a matter of personal preference though and im guessing most people would prefer the gym.

 

[TBU21]

I train at home (currently got a power cage, olympic bar, plenty of weights, multigym), but used to train at a gym. I'm well educated on training (can train myself) and I'm very self motivated (though I must say my best weights sessions at the gym - greater adrenaline rush, I suppose). Home gym is probably best for me because of those factors, plus the whole family can trains so it ends up saving money on membership in the long-term.

I wouldn't mind training at a 'proper' gym, but the main things that shit me about commercial gyms is the wait for using equipment (I generally have to train at peak hours), dickheads, travel and they're not open 365/24/7. Other negatives, are you can't do whatever you want there (some gyms won't even let you do heavy deadlifts). Main plusses are social side (although it does have a tendency to have a negative impact on your training if you get involved too much - i.e. most people - plenty of other places to socialise at more comfortably), atmosphere = added motivation/adrenaline rush (no argument), eye candy (no argument - although sometimes it can be too distracting), PTs (you'd be very hard pressed to find a decent one in a commercial gym) and classes, and range of equipment (although a lot won't make effective use of the range), as TS mentioned.

Also, you don't have to pay $20K for an effective gym set-up, I could probably get absolutely everything I needed for ~$5-7.5K (power rack, barbell, 250k+ weights, adjustable dumbbells, simple cable/pulley system - possibly a rower and exercycle too) or a fair bit less if I went for 2nd hand stuff. Large majority of the stuff I don't use at the gym (i.e. don't use PTs, classes, large majority of non-freeweight equip, rarely use cardio equipment and sauna...).

In the end, I suppose commercial gyms are better for the average gym user, mainly for the motivation factor.

 

[Daemontreu]

I train at home (or, more correctly, at my generous neighbour's home gym) because it is more convenient, and because I get better results. While the equipment at the gym was much better, I often found myself waiting to use the weights, or being told to get off the equipment by older men who told me they had "serious work to do" (unlike myself, of course). It was too irritating and I found myself training less because I was put off by it.

So, training at home is better for me, personally. Most of the other people I know prefer the gym.

 

[NinjaSauce]

If i could, i would train at home. Hands down.

But... I just don't have the equipment too. My garage is on a sloping surface (in two directions) and that definitely throws out squats. My little bro bought a bench press, and that rocks about like a drunk in high swell.

I spent over a year training at home just deadlift, overhead press, and Kettlebells (look 'em up if you want, they're a little weird). I have made decent progress. But i need to start squatting regularly, and i need a rack.

Advantages of home:
- My music. Britney Spears is not good training music.
- I can spend as much time as i want on a piece of equipment. 10 minute rests between sets? Hell, if i need too, i do so!
- Chalk. Though, i have found 2 gyms in Sydney which OFFERED me chalk. UTS and UNSW gyms have lifting platforms and encourage it. Though, you can sneak it in the 'Chrome and Fern' clubs like Fitness First, etc (which I'll probably be training at this year. *sigh*)
- Don't wait for equipment. No one is curling in the squat rack (a terrible insult to the gods of weightlifting).
- Simply no other people. People suck.
- If you have the money to burn, you can get dire equipment that no gym in Sydney has. Like the Glute-ham Raise. This point could also be called 'exotic equipment'.
- Some people, if they've got it, flaunt it. By this i mean, I have a friend with a big deadlift, but he says if he trains a gyms he sometimes exerts himself too much to 'impress the girls' (sad, i know). I.e: At home, you typically stick to your program.

Advantages of commercial gyms:
- Equipment you can not afford/accommodate yourself. Either machines, bumper plates, whatever.
- Dumbbells (assuming you don't have loadable ones at home).
- Some people get 'in the zone' at a gym. If it works for you, use it.
- Training partners can be made, or met at gyms. But then again, good friends can come to your house.
- Provenance's! I study at UNSW, and using the UNSW gym is just easier right after classes, than a long bus trip and walk home; which may smoke my legs in a undesirable fashion.
- If you're into it... Social. But damn, if I'm waiting for some equipment and you're diddling around with your bro' between sets. I'll.. I'll... well, not much. But i don't like it!
- 'Globo Gyms' like Fitness First have 1 thing positive about them. Locations. If i study in one suburb... work in a another, and live in a third - I can train at all their respective locations.

It comes down to weighing up what is useful to you at this moment in time, and what you desire/compromise. I may end training at Fitness First this year... Woe is me.

 

[quik.]

Recently set up my own home training stuff, used to workout at the uni gym.

So far the only real difference has been that I don't have all the equipment I want (patience! and my military press is getting much needed attention whithout a bench), and motivation.

When I was at the uni gym, seeing people do 50 isolation exercises, or take 10min chats inbetween sets on a piece of equipment I wanted, or just plain being there, motivated me. At home I have to motivate myself, which at first was a bit foreign to me but now it's all gravy.

Anyways, now I don't have to cram gym time in between lectures or pay out the nose. So I'm pretty happy.

 

[NinjaSauce]

Quik,

Do you have a squat rack? or even a power cage?

If you do, try floor presses. It is basically a bench press with lying on the floor, and you drop your arms down to where the elbows touch the ground (the bar will not touch your chest, unless you have freaky short forearms), and then press back up.

Keep your butt on the floor at all times, start light, and you'll get used to it. Maybe even press more than you're used to (due to shorter range of motion).

Other variations you may try of the military press is the Push press (do a small squat and 'throw' the weight with your legs), or the Jerk (Same as push press, but once near lock out, drop a second time and 'catch' the weight.). They each use respectively more weight.

The bench is amazingly overrated, you really don't need it!

 

[Nat3skiz]

Thanks for the input. Motivation isn't a problem so i think home is the way to go for me. Its also good to be able to walk in the door and vent any stress or anxiety and then chill out on the couch afterwards.

 

[Thought Shark]

- Chalk. Though, i have found 2 gyms in Sydney which OFFERED me chalk. UTS and UNSW gyms have lifting platforms and encourage it. Though, you can sneak it in the 'Chrome and Fern' clubs like Fitness First, etc (which I'll probably be training at this year. *sigh*)

Explain the usefulness of chalk.

 

[NinjaSauce]

Chalk absorbs moisture and drastically improves your grip on the bar. Trust me, if you can't image how, get some and try it.
Competative powerlifters may chalk up their backs for squats or benching too.

Pretty much what gymnasts, rock-climbers, and power+weightlifters use. Best place to pick it up in sydney is a rock climbing store (typically comers in power), unless you wnat to order online for it in 'block' form. It is rare these days to find a sports store that stocks them, because most gyms have banned it.

It's not that it improves your strength, it just removes the factor of sweat and moist hands from the equation when going for a lift.

Seriously good stuff. I wouldn't dare deadlift without; and it is more comfortable for pressing too.

 

[Starcraftmazter]

Training at home is really good, because you always go at your own pace, as opposed to in a gym, however that can also depend on the business of the said gym.

As long as you have heavy freeweights, you can always think up of an awesome workout at home.


However gyms are very good when you have friends to train with. Training with friends is always more fun than training on your own, and gives you additional motivation.


Also, gyms are usually kept cool, which is important in summer, when it may be too hot to exercise during the day if you wake up late.

 

[quik.]

I would say being able to train at your own pace can also be a bad thing, 20min between sets because family guy just came on etc isn't really a great habit :]

As far as friends go, I'm sure none of them will turn down a free gym at a mates place. Pool money and build an epic one in someones garage even.

 

[stargaze]

hey ninjasauce,

which gyms offered you chalk? in sydney?

thanks

 

[rozymisty]

Oh, and the smell of sweat turns me on.

hehe i was reading in an old cleo mag i think that sweat is a turn on for guys and girls, like you shouldnt get your guy to shower after a gym session hehe...its all to do with the pheremones..lol

 

[NinjaSauce]

hey ninjasauce,

which gyms offered you chalk? in sydney?

thanks

UNSW:

This is where i trained most of the year. I always brought my own chalk, and 'hid' it on the Olympic platform they have. After one of the main trainers noticed, and well... didn't care!
There was a day i turned up, and my chalk was running out (i keep in in a Tupperware container, and top it up at home. I forgot/lazy to re-fill.) and the trainer noticed and said, "hey, i found some chalk, wanna use it?". Soooooo... They typically don't have chalk there, but they sure don't care.

UTS Gym:

They also have an Olympic platform. I train here when i want to use the bumper plates, etc, I'm not at uni, and traveling all the way out to UNSW would be silly.
I know one of the trainers here personally, and he new i was 'maxing out' and he offered me chalk. They DO have chalk here. But i kinda got a 'mates offer'.

I'll add in...

PCYC North Sydney:

This is a known power lifting/Olympic lifting happy gym. Hell, 3 comps are being held here this year alone! I have been here once, and i simply saw chalk sitting in a bucket. But remember, i brought my own.


----------------------------
Here is what to take away,

- The above gyms are cool with chalk. Just bring your own. Buy it from a rock climbing store, or order online.
- Use it for the Olympic platform ONLY (ok, can get away with it on bench and squat-rack. if neat). They may get nasty with you if you start throwing it around like a sumo wrestler, and messing up the gym. Machines are typically rubbered, so no need to bother with it.
- Somewhat related to the second point; you don't need to use a lot. After your big lifts (say... deadlifts?) you have a faint coat on your hands, and they will do mighty fine for the rest of the session. Especially if the chalk has a drying agent on it.
- Wipe down the bar. Takes 10-20 seconds. An easy trade to be able to use chalk.
- Wash your hands when done! You'll hate yourself if you don't wash your hands after your workout. dry... pain... calluses... death...