We’ll have plenty of information of the female readers soon. Stay tuned.
Monthly Archive for May, 2009
We’ll have plenty of information for our male members coming soon. Stay tuned.
Ever put off doing something because you’re no good at it?
Most of us want to know we will at least be average or reasonable at an activity before we start …you know…like singing in public or displaying some art work or maybe even having people over for tea and having to cook for them. Imagine spending all afternoon preparing food only to have it flop when it comes out of the oven. Arghh!
Fortunately, exercise is not like that.
You can be terrible at it and still get the enormous benefits. You can look like a baby giraffe learning to walk and still get the enormous benefits. You can have the wrong clothes, the wrong haircut but however you look, however you perform – the benefits of exercise and strength training are yours from the moment you start.
Why would you put off doing exercise?
Geelong’s Gym has a wide range of classes for all body types, ages, and genders. And you can check out our free trial by clicking here.
I changed classes and time today. I simply decided to go to the gym for a workout at a totally different time and participated in a different Instructor’s Spinning class. The Instructor, Karen Henry, was fabulous, but her class had predominantly hill climbing and some sprint sessions – quite different to the other sessions I attend regularly. Wow, what a lactic session it was.
A shaky start
Lactic acid has a bad reputation. Many people blame it for fatigue, sore muscles, and cramps. They think of it as a waste product that should be avoided at all cost. Guess what? Scientists have discovered that lactic acid plays a critical role in generating energy during exercise. Far from being the bad boy of metabolism, lactic acid provides fuels for many tissues, helps use dietary carbohydrates, and serves as fuel for liver production of glucose and glycogen. In fact, lactic acid is nature’s way of helping you survive stressful situations.
But what is Lactic Acid?
Technically, lactic acid is a chemical compound produced from pyruvate, an organic acid in animals. Pyruvate becomes lactic acid during normal metabolism, but also through exercise. (Lactic acid also can be found in some sour milk products, such as yogurt, kefir, and some types of cottage cheese.)
When you exercise, your body burns sugar, fat or protein along with oxygen. This produces the energy needed to continue exercising. When you exercise so intensely your muscles can’t get enough oxygen, Continue reading ‘Wow, what a Lactic Session!’
Why don’t I use my equipment at home? I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on free weights and a cross trainer.
Do you have some unused equipment sitting idly at your house?
Lots of participants in the STRONG study have this same dilemma. At some point, a little voice inside their head spoke to them and said… “You need to do something!”
So off to purchase some gym equipment they went.
And tried to do some exercises.
And pulled up very sore.
And questioned if it was the right sort of exercise?
And wondered what on earth they were doing?
And challenged whether it was a good thing? The right thing?
Every participant echoes these words… “I’m so glad I have you to guide me.”
The STRONG study is about educating the participants on exercise.
It’s about building confidence. It’s focused on progressively increasing weights and a range of exercises so that the workouts are manageable.
The STRONG study is about commitment to improving quality of life.
What happens when you miss a couple of workouts… and then another… and another?
Well, apart from the obvious downturn in strength and fitness gains, a peculiar mindset takes over.
At first you play the game of telling yourself it’s only one session you’ve missed, your reason is valid. And it probably is.
But the next missed session might be full of lame excuses, and the next and before you know it the lazy person takes over, closely followed by frustration until finally you start thinking, “What’s the point? I can never stick at exercise.”
Sound familiar? Are you wondering how I knew that? Guess what? You’re not the only one! In fact, the majority of people get stuck in this same pattern.
And it’s no surprise that some of the participants in the STRONG study have found themselves right at this point. But the beauty of this particular research project is that there is a personal trainer involved to call, advise, motivate and encourage. If anyone misses two sessions in a row, or has a pattern of one, two, miss a few – the trainer is right there to help get and keep them on track.
And the general response? “I’m so glad you rang – I was feeling so guilty! I’ll definitely be there next session!”
And guess what? They are.
Have you ever had the “What If’s?”
You know…what if this happened? What if that happened?
Have the “What If’s” ever stopped you from doing or starting something?
For the participants in the STRONG study, this was their biggest hurdle to getting started.
What if I’m the only one who can’t do the exercise?
What if my heart rate goes too high?
What if I hurt myself?
What if I’m the fattest person in the group?
All participants know that the study is backed by research and fact.
All participants know the trainers have been specifically trained to work with those with, or at risk of, Type II Diabetes.
Tackling the “What If’s” can be tricky but as one participant shared with me…
Imagine if we replaced the words “WHAT IF” with “IF” and “THEN”!
So instead of saying “WHAT IF this happens”, change it to “IF this happens, THEN I’ll deal with it”.
A great lesson in attitude for all of us.
Are you wondering what the Strong Program is? Well, it’s an ongoing strength training study to assist people with, and at risk of, Type 2 Diabetes and Geelong’s Gym is proud to be a research centre for this life changing study.
How is it life changing, you may ask? I’ll let our participants share that with you; here are some of the results that they are already experiencing:
Reduced Lower Back pain
Felt steadier and more in control when walking down stairs.
Greater cardiovascular endurance.
Stronger
Choosing to walk more in everyday activities
No more Cramps. Nocturnal cramping (that required Quinine medication) has stopped completely.
Changes in body shape. Large arms now fit into standard size fit clothing.
Rolls of back fat are reducing significantly.
People comment that they are “looking well/looking healthy”.
More tired but so rewarding…a different tired.
Increased confidence to exercise by themselves.
Feel independent and in control.
Feel a sense of “HEALING” after a horrendous few years.
Now those are fantastic results.
On my way to the gym early this morning, as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I realised that the biggest part of your workout is actually getting to the gym. How many excuses do we generate in an attempt to avoid expending any effort at the gym? I can think of at least ten off the top of my head.
But, once we actually step over the threshold of the gym we’re already 90% of the way there. Because we all know that once we’re there we can’t help but work out. So how about looking at it this way? Don’t focus on the energy you’re going to have to put into your workout when you get to the gym, after all it’s really only going to take 10% effort to have a great workout. Just get in your car or jump on your bike and by the time you step through the doors at the gym you’re already 90% of the way through your workout! Now that’s great logic!
Click Here to see the Geelong’s Gym homepage.
