My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

The other day I worked out for probably the first time since high school. Well, I've worked out since high school, but I don't think I've done any weight training. Anyway, it feels like somebody tore my arms off at the elbow.

I was wondering if anyone here has a gym membership, and where it's at? How have you liked it? The otehr day, I went to Snap Fitness in Bloomington. I just wanted to see where other people have been. I'm thinking of joining somewhere, so I can do some more weight training. Last summer when I was on the bike all the time, my legs were pretty strong, but I still had a beer gut, and overall weak upper body, and this year I want to get rid of it. I also want to start training for a triathlon, either later this year, or next summer ('07). So a pool would be a plus for the gym membership.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

Allan and I joined Fitness Zone in Otsego. It's a small gym (no pool or anything) but has all the machines (cardio & weight) that you would ever need to use. Now we just need to get in the habit of going....

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

That's one thing I'm worried about, is paying for it and then not going. But with my Health insurance (Medica) I can get $20 off per month at select health clubs, as long as I go at least 8 times per month. So that would be a little bit of motivation. :D

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

I just workout at school. It's free and descent enough for me. I would like to have a pool as well but they got no pool. I just do weight training and running. Need to get the abs for summer.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

We have a membership to Northwest Athletic Club and its pretty nice and clean. I keep trying to go twice a week but with night classes, and online classes and work I cant keep up, so Im postponing things until Im done with school, I will keep trying to go as often as possible but when youre not really motivated because you have no body fat it makes things harder haha. Between school, and work I would rather spend free time in the garage or outside doing something else.

Winter is a good time to get a membership, but when summer comes Id rather go biking, running, or other activities outside...

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

Yeah, Medica covers quite a few places. I know they cover at Lifetime as my boss goes there and we used to have Medica.

I used to belong to Northwest when I got a discount from Ckpt. I loved going there over lunch or after work when I would wait for AJ to be done at the shop (back in the days). I was actually getting in pretty good shape. Then I just kind of stopped going after we moved out to BFE in Chanhassen. I joined the gym out there (a small one) but quit that after I left the company.

Anyway, it's hard to motivate yourself to go, especially after work. I would highly recommend picking a gym close to work so you could go over lunch or something (or have it right on the way home). Or go in the morning before work.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

I've got a founder's family membership at Lifetime, I go to the one in Champlin. I've been a member of all the major chains in Minneapolis over the years and am definitely happiest with Lifetime as long as I didn't go to their Bloomington club, which sucks.

I've been working out since my senior year in high school, so about 20 years now. I took 3 months off over this last winter to free up some time, but missed it a lot. Now I'm back to going at least twice a week. I was sore for the first two weeks, but am back to most of the weights I was at last fall after three weeks of working out. Thank God for muscle memory.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

I was excited to join with Jana but I jusyt can't seem to get my lazy ass there. I know this summer I want to ride bike and skate a LOT more to get my cardio back and my legs in shape and then hope that will help getting in gear to get rid of my junk food belly. Shit, I weigh more than a lot of people I used to way a ton less than. LOL

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

My legs feel a bit like jello this morning, but not as bad as I though they might have. Jana and I got our 3rd NES system with 6 new games we didn't have plus a power pad. We played Summer Games lats night and my god I forgot how much of a workout that game on the power pad can really be.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

there is a snap fitness around here. The 24/7 idea is good.

The bad thing is, there isn't anyway to not be seen while lifting(at least at this one) because there is nothing but glass to the outside.


is it ok if I post some tips for maxizing your lifting? or do you already know the basic concepts?

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

Feel free to post up, I'm always open to hearing other people's idea's.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

Step one: Go to the gym. Step two: Lift weights until you're tired. :D

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

shit, step 1 is way too complicated

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

^ LOL ^

I just got a family membership to Bally Total Fitness. Just went there earlier today and damn my arms feel like they're about to fall off also. I had to use TWO hands to turn my steering wheel...lol. I went to the one off Rice and Highway 36. They have a pool, but no gym :(. So far I think Lifetime Fitness was the best one I've been to. Really nice pool, sauna, gym and workout room. And the most expensive without discounts. $60 per month! I wanna mass up a lil for my skinny ass (140 lbs@ 5'9) and then tone it all out once I reach my strenghtening goals. I wanna hear those tips. It's been like 1/2 year since I actually worked out... :(

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

That's the same way with the Snap Fitness by me. At least it's in a business district, with low traffic though. Plus there's a small hill/burm thing between the road and the parking lot.

I think I'm going to join there this week. It's just under a mile from my house. Easily within biking/jogging distance. I have to double check the price, but they have memberships starting at $30. If that's true, and I can still get $20 off from Medica, then it would be a kick ass place to go for only $10/month. I have to double check on all of that though.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

so i'm not sure how much everyone knows about lifting. So i'll go thru the most basic thing first.

if you want power and size, stick to heavy weights and 4-6 reps, you'll be stressing after the 3rd rep is the goal.
if you want a lean muscle stay with medium weights. At the end of each set you should be having to stress some to get #8-9-10 up. And possibly fail on the last 2 reps of the 3rd set.

for 90% of women, stick to light light weights. Do reps of 20, and the only thing that should be tough, is near the end you might feel the "burn". Doing this will promote super lean muscle growth. So you get that long lean look.

lift upperbody one day, lift lowerbody the next. NEVER list the same muscles two days in a row. Even if your muscles are not sore. Many many friends have done that, and they end up tearing msucles.

what alot of people do not know, in a study done by muscle magazine. people that lifted legs and upper body gained about 8-9% more muscle and power. So lift BOTH. alot of people will skip legs.

also for the abs people. If you want a 6 pack, do those situps. But do not forget about the cardio required to get the layer of fat off them. Same goes for all your muscles. If you want to be ripped, do cardio.


now the advice that will be useful to most(but most probly know already) :)

eat more lean protien(one gram per lbs of body weight if you can do it). I use chicken and protien powder for my sources(i get around 100-120, i weight 160 so i'm a bit low).
No matter if you want to get big muscles, or lean muscles. It'll help build muscle faster, which will help you attain your goals faster. Muscle is your powerplant. The bigger the plant the more fat it can burn.
Make sure to get some extra calcium to counteract the protien's side effects. Also, if you like tuna you are in luck. that is one of the best sources of lean protien around. I can't stand the shit :)

second, alot think that muscles grow while at the gym. well that is not quite true. they are full of blood and what not. So they look bigger. But the growing happens later.
More so, they build when you are sleeping.
so get a solid 8 hours of sleep. if you can sleep more, do it. That is the best time for muscle growth.

if you go the protien route, make sure to drink one after you lift.
most lifters that I know take one after they lift, and another when they wake up in the morning with a light breakfest. I just take one BIG ASS one after I lift and let it sit overnight. No matter what, you want one before you go too bed the night you lift. You're body needs building blocks for those muscles.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

Ummm....? Doesn't Masturbation fit in there somewhere?

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

I tried to wake up early to hit the gym this morning.. but that didnt work.. I will try again tomorrow morning grrrrrrr I'm not a morning person at all.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

That was good to hear. That's exactly what I was following previously when I was working out (combo weights/cardio). I was doing really good too. I especially liked having a protein drink after lifting at lunch time. I think it made a difference for me. Is there a powder mix you recommend? I just picked up one in a can already mixed (& flavored).

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

actually
yes


don't wack off or lay pipe if you want to be at your "peak". your body's testorone levels will be lower.

now I do not care to follow this though, but how could I with tom's butt being so perky and tight.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

http://gnc.imageg.net/graphics/produ...-2491045nm.jpg

that is a picture of what I take. It is called Designer Whey(more for lean mass) and I get it from GNC. It's about $25 per big container of it. one will last me me about 1.5-2 months. I'm not religious about taking it though. I think it it suppose to be good for 4 scoops a day for 30 days.

it is a bit low on the grams per scoop compared to some(18 per scoop vs 24)
but designer actually tastes good. Alot taste like wallpaper paste.
And protien bars, i haven't found a good one worth buying yet. The best so far has 10 grams of protien(powerbar triple threat), which to me isn't worth the 5 dollars for a box of 6. So if you know of a good one, please tell me. Those things are loaded, but I can't eat them without throwing up in my mouth ;-D

one good thing with designer whey is, it already has the added calcium to counter the protien in it. Which for you is more important than me.

muscle milk is good also. but it is more for body builders as it's loaded with fats.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

push yourself to go in the morning. You are the strongest in the morning.

odd huh?
your adrenaline levels are higher in the morning then at any other time during the day.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

not true at all. there was a college study done that tested that exact "myth." the people who participated were all at their peak around 5-7pm. i'll see if i can dig it up so i don't look like a jackass :)


edit-i'm not by any means sayings its BAD to work out in the morning, in fact i agree with it because it wakes you up for the entire day.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

i
t's true for me at least. before I even heard of it, i'd be a plate up in the morning and I always wondered why.
from what I remember, it deals alot with that melatonian(sp?) crap in your system.
Also, just because i'm up a plate in the morning, doesn't mean others will be. thats one of the best parts about training or lifting. You have to find what works for you.


also, i bought a metrx protein plus protien bar $2.12 - chocolate and roasted peanut with carmel. 32 grams of protien. it tastes like COMPLETE ASS.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

i bought a bar at school the other day that actually tasted good

it was called..uhhh

*rummages through crap*

Pure Protein-chewy chocolate chip (32g protein) it was $3.29!!!!!!!!! gah!

but it was pretty good :) waaaaaay better than any powerbar

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

well, for protein bars that taste good and aren't that bad for you (remember, real food is a better source of protein than any shake or bar) try the snickers marathon high protein bar.

Nothing like a snickers, but a good tasting bar with 26g of protein, and you can find it at most gas stations.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

I have been told by my biology teacher to not eat between 1-2 grams of protein per pound of weight. It stresses your kidneys too much. That being said, my fat ass ran 21 miles and did more situps than probably more than Ive done in my life this past weekend. Marines will kick your ass like that. I use creatine before I lift (10 grams) and 40g of protein after. I use GNC products for both of them. They both taste really good, make sure if you do use them, to get chocolate! haha


-Colin

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

Well, no offense to your biology teacher, but he doesn't know what he is talking about. Unless you severly dehydrate yourself, you will see no ill effects from eating 1g of protein/lb of bodyweight.

Maybe if you have severly damaged kidneys as well, but I am guessing we are talking about healthy people.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

He was talking over years. He lifts all the time and is quite huge. Some of his friends who have been taking 1-2grams/pound of body weight for years, have really bad kidneys.
I should mention hes my professor at winona. not just some high school teacher.


-Colin

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

yeah, back in the day people didn't know as much as they do now, and followed really bad diets/theories. If you followed plans from the 80's you are lucky if all you have is bad kidneys. Some people ate as much as 10,000 calories a day to bulk, even though it has been shown that at the most 5000 calories a day will work for 99.999% of people.

Once again, enough water, and your body can filter almost anything.

Just so you don't think I'm running my mouth, I have researched a little bit.

From http://www.benbest.com/health/kidney.html

Studies on human subjects (usually without distinguishing the type of protein) indicate that the effects of dietary protein are minimal in nondiabetic patients with no renal injury, but that protein restriction is beneficial for patients with chronic renal failure [AMERICAN JOURNAL OF KIDNEY DISEASES 31(6):1048-1049 (1998) and INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICAL ORGANS 20(6):304-308 (1997)]. Most, if not all, of the benefit from low protein diets is attributed to reduction in phosphates, sodium and acid [KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL; Mitch,WE; 57(Suppl.75):S38-S43 (2000)].

Obviously this is just one source, but I can't count the number of sites that agree with it.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

The only time working out is better in the morning is when you are trying to lose weight, otherwise it really doesn't matter. The reason that people do this is because usually you haven't eaten anything for 5-7 hours which is optimal for losing weight. Some people think you should eat before you work out so you can work it off, this is not true. You will not lose weight nearly as fast this way. When you eat your insulin levels go up and in turn your body will use the sugars that you just ate before using stored fat. If your haven't eaten anything for 5-7 hours your body will have already used up the energy from your last meal. The result will be your body using stored fat for energy which results in weight loss.

If anybody disputes this then you are disputing all the dietitions that I have encountered in my 15+ years of boxing. I used to have to gain and lose weight fast for upcoming fights. This system works hands down.

If any of you are serious about weight loss or working out send me a PM and I will give you my workout routine that is performed 5-6 days a week. It might be too intense for most, but I can cut in in thirds or fourths if you are a beginner.

Big no nos are:

Don't eat before you sleep and don't eat just before a workout. Eat after a workout and drink lots of water. And like was stated above get lots of rest and don't over work muscles even if they don't feel stressed. If you want to take any over the counter enhancers research them on the net first.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

the only downfall to protien loading that I have heard of is the breakdown of calcium in the bones. that kidney one sounds a bit different.

also, creatine has been proven in tests to cause damage to the kidneys if you do not take in a good amount of water with it. So be careful with the stuff. I use to take it, but then figured I didn't want to anymore because it was artificial strength.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

they use to tell people to eat something retarded like 250 grams of fat too.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

i eat so much chicken I shit feathers as is. :-D

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

My favorite protein powder is Optimum Nutrition's Double rich chocolate:

http://tinyurl.com/frel3

Tastes just like a chocolate malt/shake. It tends to stir in nicely with milk
also and isn't very clumpy. And if you're looking for that little extra oomph in the gym I'd definately recommend Xpand:

http://www.a1supplements.com/detail.aspx?ID=2287

Just take it 30-40 mins before you head into the gym and you'll actually notice a difference. Yeah I know you think I'm full of poop, but it's really some good stuff.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

I joined Snap for $11.95/month with the Medica discount. You can't hardly beat that price with a stick.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

any good recipes for mixing it up if you eat so much chicken?? lol

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

Nice!!! You definitely can't go wrong with that price!

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

any type of mexican item, just use chicken instead of beef. minus nacho's.
it's illegal to use chicken in nacho's.

chicken with any pasta and alfredo sauce is a personal favorite. alfreado sauce is a bit heavy on the fat content though. but if it isn't tasty.

chicken wraps - generally consist of
any softshell, chicken, chesse and light ranch dressing. if you like lettuce and tomatoes they go well with it.
i'll use a grilled chicken breats(from the gf) or tyson's chicken strips.

mixing chicken chunks with ricearoni is good aswell. but i'm a HUGE fan of the san fran treat.

grill cheese sandwich with slices of chicken in it.

chicken and dumpling soup. the dumplings i've tried to make turn into pourage, so I buy the ones in the box :)

i've also found a dip you can make.
it needs some fine tuning as i can handle things bland.
but
8 or so oz's of cheese, a can of alfredo sauce, two chicken breasts chopped up into tiny cubes and a strong type of torrtia chip and some assortied spices. I use garlic and onion powder. The mixture should resemble really thick alfredo when it's ready. I put the chicken on the top at the end, because it tends to work it's way to the bottom if you mix it all.


buy a george foreman if you want to get your chicken done fast. it takes 5 minutes for a fatty chicken breat to get done on mine when I set it to 325.

Re: My arms feel like they've been detached from my body
 

i wish I had a 20 a month discount :(

12 bones for keeping yourself alive longer, can't beat that.