I am sold. Elliptical machines are outstanding. The bike will now likely be a last resort. I still don't like Smith machines however. I went to Gold's today and had them show me around just so I could get away later and get on a bench. This was the first time I've lifted free weights in literally years. Over 5 years.
It felt really good to throw around the weights again. And I was very surprised at how easy I could knock out reps with 135. I know it's just a warm-up weight, but still, I haven't lifted in so long, and this was done after I had benched on the Smith in my apartment gym. I'm seriously thinking of getting a six-month membership, but they want $39 to sign up and then $39.99 a month. That's too much.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
I haven't been slacking off. In fact, today (Monday) is my first off-day in four days. It's just that on Saturday I went to our apartment complex fitness center and lifted weights for the first time in years. I did the same thing yesterday and am pretty sore today-especially back and biceps. Not my chest so much--I think I was in pretty good shape from all those push-ups.
Plus, what they have is a Smith machine, and even back when I lifted weights regularly I never did like them for bench press work--thought they were kind of gimmicky--you think you have 150 pounds on there, but the machine helps out so much that you're likely lifting 20% less. But it went well, and I even enjoyed tossing around the barbells again--never thought I would see the day.
What I'm really going to focus on down there are the elliptical machines. Again, this is another piece of equipment that I always thought was more gimmick than reality. But I'm willing to give it a try--as noted, I've been busting my hump on my cycle for five months, and I really can't see any noticeable difference.
I did a 40 minute session on the elliptical and at the 30 minute mark, I was actually ahead in calories burned than at the same point riding. And for the 40 minutes (plus 5 minute cooldown), I burned 560.1 calories. I guess it's because you nominally use the upper body--which means more calories burned--it makes sense.
So I think for the next three months or so, I'm going to stress elliptical, with a split-routine using the Smith and dumb bells (and chinning machine) they have down there. I'll try to make a progress report each week.
Plus, what they have is a Smith machine, and even back when I lifted weights regularly I never did like them for bench press work--thought they were kind of gimmicky--you think you have 150 pounds on there, but the machine helps out so much that you're likely lifting 20% less. But it went well, and I even enjoyed tossing around the barbells again--never thought I would see the day.
What I'm really going to focus on down there are the elliptical machines. Again, this is another piece of equipment that I always thought was more gimmick than reality. But I'm willing to give it a try--as noted, I've been busting my hump on my cycle for five months, and I really can't see any noticeable difference.
I did a 40 minute session on the elliptical and at the 30 minute mark, I was actually ahead in calories burned than at the same point riding. And for the 40 minutes (plus 5 minute cooldown), I burned 560.1 calories. I guess it's because you nominally use the upper body--which means more calories burned--it makes sense.
So I think for the next three months or so, I'm going to stress elliptical, with a split-routine using the Smith and dumb bells (and chinning machine) they have down there. I'll try to make a progress report each week.
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