Wonderful stuff, Tachyon! I’m loving your write-ups, it’s just great to see someone training in the gym as hard as they can and making a difference to their health and it’s working wonders for you.
You mention a leg machine you “sit in”? One of these I reckon bud…
Sled press:
Incline press:
The incline press is mainly for going towards brute strength as there really is no limit to the poundage you can add to that machine.
The ‘sled’ press is less versatile and although it’s predominantly for leg training, it is a fantastic machine for strengthening the lower back muscles.
Morning Floydy. No, it’s more like the Pec Deck but for knees and inner thigh muscles. It was quite funny using it as I’d used the Hip Abduction machine just prior to that and I’d done quite a few with no trouble. By the time I’d done 10 on the new machine I could really feel it and by the time I’d done 30 I thought I’d better get off or I’d never get home, lol.
Yes, I think everyone is glad the machines face the wall, let’s put it that way!
I have short legs that aren’t that flexible, and having my knees pulled apart by the machine rather like a wishbone is quite disconcerting and slightly painful.
Just use a light weight and three sets of say, 10 reps twice a week Tachyon. No need to go over the top on the reps with these machines.
They are very effective for strengthening the muscles around the hips thus keeping them flexible.
Aye, I’ll be building up gradually on that one. It’s “sister” machine is easy for me, thankfully, and I can push the weights outwards with my knees without any trouble. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the one where you have to push the weights inwards with your knees in any gym I have been in before, or at least I don’t recall seeing it. I’m going to the gym tomorrow so I shall have fun with the new toy.
It certainly is a pain in the orthotics Surfermom, just when you think you’ve found the perfect pair of running shoes they go and mess about with them. I’m in the same boat as you at the moment because my all time favourite shoes have clocked up 900 miles and are well overdue for replacing.
At the moment I’m alternating them with the New Balance pair I bought in Guernsey last year, but although I have run some very fast times in the New Balance they are primarily a racing shoe and offer little in the way of cushioning, so I try not to wear them on every run.
With a couple of ‘Iffy’ five mile runs through the week I never really felt comfortable and decided to cut Sunday’s longer run down to six. I don’t think I have recovered properly from last Sunday’s hard ten.
So with a little apprehension I set out to just do the minimum but was surprised to find that after the first couple of creaky miles I wasn’t feeling too bad, so valour took over from common sense and I tootled around my eight mile route and finished in a poor time but in decent condition.
Really enjoyable session today - burnt 578 calories, scored 84/100, and did a total of 1,135 reps. It’s a good job I keep a rough count in my head as the Pec Dec and Pull Down machines only counted two sets, whereas I did 4 or 5 sets more. The Hip Adductor doesn’t register my data key at all, but they will sort that out next time I go. I’ve added those into the workout list, but I will have burnt more calories and maybe scored a few points more but have no idea how to work it out so I’ll stick with what the gym’s console tells me for those.
Hip Abduction: 120 x 30kg
Hip Adduction: 120 x 25kg (only the second session I have used this killer!)
Stomach Crunch: 120 x 50kg
Back Extension: 120 x 50kg
Tricep Extension: 105 x 35kg
Shoulder Press: 45 x 15kg
Chest Press: 10 x 50kg, 80 x 40kg
Leg Curl: 40 x 30kg
Chest Pull: 120 x 40kg
Leg Extension: 35 x 25kg
Pec Deck: 120 x 40kg
Pull Down: 100 x 50kg
I could have stayed longer, doing less weights as I went, but I am still a little cautious about overdoing the heart. Silly, but there you go, eh. I didn’t think it would have gone as well as it did as I was a bit stiff off Saturday’s workout. I’m having a break until Thursday though, to give things time to settle down. Good luck everyone and have fun with your training.
Tachyon, another massively-repped workout bud.
I anticipate your top inner thighs will be aching somewhat today after the adductor work though. It always does with me but it’s best to train every part of the legs and I think you’re getting that covered now
I’ll be hitting the higher reps and lower weights starting next month, toning up and keeping the belly blubber down for the forthcoming summer months
My lack of action is down to suffering with a very stiff neck which I put down to either driving with the windows open or more likely sleeping with a fan on blowing at me all yesterday morning.
This is irritating me big time as I really want to get back into my training routine. I’m going to try to do some leg work later today, however and see how that goes.
A note about my proposed jogging plans, and once a week I’ll be finding a route. Nothing much, just about a mile or so around a nearby village or more suitable, one of the larger parks we have in my city. It’s a bank holiday weekend so I’ll surely have a slot available somewhere to venture out.
Good morning! Here I sit in my worn running shoes ready to blast my way (that of course being a relative description) through the morning fog that has blanketed the beach, east and west. I like this kind of run because it kicks in the imaginative side of my brain (another relative phrase ) to give the run a different feeling altogether. Though my body is feeling sluggish, my mind and feet are ready to go. I wonder if there will be six in me today? We shall see…
Tachyon (and i am wondering how you came across your astrophysical username ), you workouts seem to be getting lengthier in the number of machines you are using, and extensive in your reps and weights. The technology seems to be motivating for you, and I am sure it’s satisfying to see all that progress, especially after getting knocked back a little with that cough.
Floydy, you need to get Mrs. Floydy right on that back problem after a hot bath has loosened up your muscles some :-D:cool:. Your running plans sound just right. If you make them a treat by trying different spots and not going distances that make you miserable, you will probably find yourself addicted in a few months. You do weights, have added cardio, is your neck telling you that flexibility training is next?
OGF, you understand what a huge deal it is to have worn out shoes. This isn’t a looks thing - it’s all about corrected pronation, over-pronation, and protecting knees an joints. That said, those bright blue shoes must make you look pretty sharp out there! I know I am preaching to the choir but if anyone is thinking about taking up long-distance walking or even a little jogging. The investment in good shoes is worth cost 1,000 over.
Alrighty, good people, the shores of the Gulf of Mexico await. If you see what appears to be a small beached whale on some beach cam, it’s merely me having collapsed from inability .
That was exactly the same conditions that greeted me this morning Surfermom…
After a bit of a wobbly start I started to settle down about halfway round and finished with a flourish.
Ha ha yes Surfermom, a bit of a ‘Bobby Dazzler’ in those bright blue shoes, and after half a dozen runs in my old ones I strutted my stuff in them this morning…
Good luck with the run, Suzie, I reckon if I had beautiful shores and views to run alongside of I’d be out there like a shot.
Yes, it looks like a short ‘park run’ this coming weekend for now and I’m very much looking forward to it. I’m not built particularly too well for running as my legs as very heavily-muscled, but if rugby players can do it, there’s no reason why I can’t give it a bash!
Also, my neck and lower back have eased greatly today and I’m back rockin’ and rollin’ once more…
Good man. Always great to see you hitting those tried and tested tracks, Bob. Keep on running bud!
Tachyon - how’s the inner thighs today mate? bet they scream a little! :shock:
Tuesday 30/4/19: Legs. 1hr.20mins.
My workout today shouldn’t have been anywhere near the mother of all gym sessions like it turned out to be; During my night shift I suddenly became enormously tired about 4.30am and hit the wall. That’s what tedious work does to you! In the even, I was in bed by 6.45am but up five hours later feeling fresh as a daisy (whatever that means). The only thing for it was to get showered and my bag sorted and get myself to the gym before I had second thoughts. Commencing a legs workout at 12.40pm, it ended up one of the best I’ve done in a very long time.:-p
Sticking with a combined formulae of strength training over five increasing sets, halfway reversing the weight to ‘ease’ back down again to a 25-rep high rep finish on each exercise, I amalgamated some bodybuilding-style tension-pause to fully pump out the quads and calves, pausing at the hardest point of the set and squeezing out several more reps.
Despite sweating like an old wild boar and fighting for my breath, I submitted the obligatory stretches throughout and performed each set with minimal rest, keeping the legs fully charged. What an enjoyable afternoon! Gotta make the most of it because my legs will be dead later on at work.
Such is life as a fitness guru – you take the rough with the smooth and deal with it!
(All weights in kgs)
Incline press: Feet low on plate -
20x150, 15x200
10x250 +3, 5x300+2
Feet high on plate –
8x250 +3, 10x200 +4, 13x150 +5
25x100
Seated ham curl:
20x40, 15x50
12x60 +3, 14x50 +5
25x35
Absolutely loved it! I’ll do this all again next week.
Next session will be for the upper body later in the week followed by the run in a park of my choice at the weekend.
Yes, I’m hoping to keep the blubber down as well. I don’t want the morbidly obese me back again, and going to the gym makes me feel good which means I am not tempted to snack or comfort eat like I used to do. I weigh a couple of kilos heavier since hitting the gym but my waist has dropped a couple of inches. The 36" waist jeans actually have a bit of slack at the waist now, yay!
Well done on those massive weights you shift, by the way. If I could do half of some of those I’d be a very happy mad.
The name is from a favourite character of mine in some little known stories by George R. R. Martin, who got some fellow authors to contribute superhero stories to a collaborative series set on an alternate Earth. It’s the “Wild Cards” series, and I rate it as at least as good as his “Game of Thrones” books. Very much written for adults, as you’d expect from him. The character’s name was Dr. Tachyon. An excellent read, for those inclined to look the books up.
Yes, the technology is fun, I admit, and as I get to test out what I am capable of I expend my repertoire every couple of weeks. The Leg Press and I give each other sideways glances every week and I think I’ll be having a go on it this week all being well. The cough really had me worried, and I think everyone on here who had it was a bit worried too. Glad it finally went!
Ooo, the leg press machine. If one is in the gym, this is probably the best machine. Wouldn’t miss it.
That’s an interesting story about your username, Tachyon. Tachyons are also theoretical particles that travel faster than the speed of light. There isn’t a shred of evidence (so far) that they exist because at the speed of light all the rules of time/space break down.
Floydy, we are all looking forward to your park run. You are in good running shoes, aren’t you? Poorly supportive ones can cause back problems. I know that people who lift weights can be prone to losing flexibility and you’ll be ahead of your peers fitness-wise if you are breaking away from your routine.
OGF, I can’t help but be tickled at the image of a foggy scene with the only visible movement being a pair of bright blue shoes. This is one case in which form has absolutely nothing on function. If I can find a pair that prevents over-pronating and supporting my arches, then I would wear hot pink with orange spots. Bring them on!
It is a glorious day here :-D, with yesterday having been one of been thoroughly satisfying. After a foggy but fruitful five mile run, the beach place is ready to market, broke through a wall that was making the resolution of my father’s estate a mountainous challenge, and best of all - took my daughter to the college to enroll in courses for the fall semester. Yay! I am celebrating with an untimed, faraway run this afternoon.
Hi Suzie.
The shoes I wear for my gym work are these Skechers. https://i.ibb.co/8sWSpvy/20190501-150834.jpg
They are very comfortable and I had them on when I jogged across the bridge. I think I’ll invest in a pair of proper running shoes soon if my running takes off.
I’ll be doing about a mile in a local park this weekend sometime.
The leg press I use at the gym is very similar to this one. A great and very effective machine:
Congrats to your daughter for enrolling for the course too! That’s some achievement. You’ll have to let us know how she’s getting along Good luck to her
I was reluctant to report on this morning’s run because it was a run from hell and possibly one of the worst this year. It seems to be another one in a long line of bad runs this year and I’m getting a bit worried. I haven’t felt as tired and lethargic as this during a run since the week before my heart attack, back in 2004 and there doesn’t seem to be a logical explanation…
There was something unusual when I woke at six this morning, it felt like I could have done with another couple of hours sleep when normally I feel at my best first thing in the mornings after a life of rising early. Even during my first mile the legs were tired and I was breathing heavy while struggling along at a slow pace even by my standards…
I did feel marginally better on the last mile or two but was lucky that I didn’t have to resort to a walk. It was a beautiful morning and at just five miles should have been easy peasy but it turned out to be such a struggle.
I’m scheduled for another five tomorrow morning so I’ll get some rest and employ my secret weapon (a jam sandwich) before turning in…It could just be an ‘energy bonk’ so we’ll see…
Sorry for the negativity when this thread should be used to help motivate other posters with positive vibes, but it can feel quite frightening considering my history and it makes me wonder if the time has arrived when I must hang up the running shoes.
Oh no Bob, please don’t be thinking like that mate
It’s surely just a blip. Did you have a late night last night? Maybe something in your evening meal didn’t agree with you? Perhaps your body is just catching up with rest and simply you weren’t ready for a jog today?
We all have off days Bob, and I’m sure you’ll be back at it tomorrow or the next day - and don’t feel ashamed to report to us on here, we all go through this lethargy. many a time I’ve got up feeling great only to arrive at the gym and can’t be bothered, going home after a lacklustre half an hour. You know the score.
At least you actually attempted your run and that’s what counts. “Negativity” just shows us that we invariably make sure we put a greater effort into our training next time we venture out - and you will be no exception believe me
Bob, please don’t brush this aside while you feel you are struggling at times. Don’t force yourself to run the next day if you aren’t feeling right.
Maybe this is a warning to you, please for your own peace of mind (and ours), get yourself checked over by your GP just to make sure nothing untoward is going on and you’re not making things worse. :hug:
No, it’s more like the Pec Deck but for knees and inner thigh muscles. It was quite funny using it as I’d used the Hip Abduction machine just prior to that and I’d done quite a few with no trouble. By the time I’d done 10 on the new machine I could really feel it and by the time I’d done 30 I thought I’d better get off or I’d never get home, lol.
) to give the run a different feeling altogether. Though my body is feeling sluggish, my mind and feet are ready to go. I wonder if there will be six in me today? We shall see…
I’ll do this all again next week.
I don’t want the morbidly obese me back again, and going to the gym makes me feel good which means I am not tempted to snack or comfort eat like I used to do. I weigh a couple of kilos heavier since hitting the gym but my waist has dropped a couple of inches. The 36" waist jeans actually have a bit of slack at the waist now, yay!
