Gym Etiquette: Flirting and Training, a big no no!
Gym Etiquette is one of those things that have “evolved” over time. Back in the day, throwing plates, chalk bags or even dumbbells was a normal thing. Getting mad that you missed a lift, or something was out of place was common. This was also a time when girls were not often found in a gym, but when they were, they were serious about training. Women almost always hung out in those “girly” places, like “spas”, and then “fitness centers”, but now, even a “Gym” like Golds, is nothing more than a fitness center, I often wonder if Joe Gold saw that coming back in the day, I doubt it.
Anyway, here we are in the present, and today, I just almost had to have a talk with one of the trainers. I have no idea what the exercise is called that he was attempting to teach this little girl, but between the two of them, there was more talking, and flirting, than training going on. What is the problem with that? Well, for one, it ties up the equipment, and another, it makes the trainer look like he has lost control of the trainee. Yes, I said it, control!
When at the gym, it should be all about the training, not flirting. Even though in this case, it was the girl, not the trainer, that was starting the “small talk”, but, his lack of control was obvious. When he would attempt to teach, the girl would dodge the lesson and move on to how she came to the gym 6 days a week or more. To be honest, that girl could go the gym 100 days a week and never get a workout! I’m sorry if I sound too strict, but, by not keeping the girl focussed on training, he was wasting her time, time she is paying for! Being nice is not a good quality for a trainer, a trainer should be tough, and rigid, otherwise it shows a bad example, goofing around, joking, flirting and anything else that distracts you, or anyone else, from the work at hand is just wrong!
Weight Loss through Weight Training?
If you are over-weight, this may interest you, if you are over-fat, this may help you, if you don’t know which one you are, this may clear it up. What happens when you get on a scale? Does it yell, “One at a time PLEASE!” or does it show a number that doesn’t tell you why your pants no longer fit?
Soon, I will be posting my personal training and FAT-LOSS reports, I am currently waiting on software to do this, and once I have it, I will tell you all about it, how to use it, and why you may need it to get the best results in your battle of the bulge!
For now, the topic is what does Over-Weight mean to you? To me, it means nothing, I am used to not fitting the “standard” height/weight requirements, I am a freak, according to them, and maybe you are too. These standard charts do work out ok as a guideline for most people, but, if you have a “wider” frame, with more muscle than a “normal” person, it may scare the heck out of you!
Below is what the chart says for me, here is the link to the whole chart.
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5’7″ |
138-145 |
142-154 |
149-168 |
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As you can see, there are three columns, one each for small, medium, and large frames, I currently weigh 278.8, that means I am 110.8 pounds over the max for large frames! Obviously, this chart does not work for me, according to my height, weight and measurements, I currently have 35.28% bodyfat total, which is down from 37.13% two weeks ago, my goal is about 12-15%. Based on the numbers I have, I still need to lose about 20-23% bodyfat, See where the confusion comes in?
In the last two weeks I have lost 3.8 pounds and just under 2% bodyfat (BF), but, I have gone from 104.93lbs (BF) to 98.36lbs (BF), that is a loss of 6.57lbs of fat! At the same time, I have increased my lean weight (LW) from 177.67lbs (LW) to 180.44lbs (LW) for a gain of 2.77lbs (LW).
If I were to stay at this same rate, in twenty weeks, I should lose 38 pounds total weight (TW), 65.7lbs of fat, and gain 27.7lbs (LW), lets do the math and see if this works out right. Subtract 65.7lb from 278.8, then add 27.7lb, that comes to 240.8lbs (TW) and ten times 1.85% (BF) is 18.5% (BF), which would put me at 16.78% (BF), I would be almost to my goal, but, wait a minute, I would still weight 72.8lbs too much, according to the chart!
Can you see my point? I know that the actual numbers over the next 20 weeks will vary from what we used here, but once I can print the reports, it will be easier to show you, who knows, it could be even better!
My point here is to ignore the charts! Measure your bodyfat and track your progress that way. Weight training is better than any aerobic training alone, because you will not gain any lean body weight, you will just lose weight, from both muscle, and fat! Yes, treadmills and such do play a part in getting your heart beating and burning calories, but, if you train properly with weights, you can get there and be stronger in the process. Personally, I would rather stay fat, than be a tiny little guy from running, been there, done that, and yet, never got below 14% body fat! So, get in the gym, move some Iron and watch your body change!
Over Weight or Over Fat? Running vs Weight Training?
If you served in the military, before 1983, you may not have experienced the first changes that I know of, about weight restrictions. I joined the Army in 1982, and for my height, 5′ 7″, the limit was 205 pounds, I know this, because that is what I weighed and was told that I was at the limit for my height. This was of course after basic, and AIT, was after passing my PT test at my unit in Germany, and was just part of their physical requirement check-up. I was not fat, not even close, but, I was at the max for my height. Within 6 months, when the next evaluation came along, I of course passed my PT test again, but this time, 205 pounds was over weight! The chart used at that time said I was to be no more than 176 pounds, that is now, 29 pounds over weight! I hadn’t changed, the chart did!
From what I have read, the Army is using body fat along with the height/weight/age chart now, that is good news, because I would not wish what I have been through on anybody! (Read This, Click Here)
After being told that I was now fat (over-weight), I was shocked, but that was just the beginning of the embarrassment, they put me in an extra-PT group and we had to do PT twice a day! This by itself was fine, it got me out of the boring, motor pool and do maintainance routine, but there I was, with a bunch of fatties from the head shed, like clerks, secretaries, and such. The spec-5 that was in charge of our PT was so fat he breathed hard just standing there! All of my fellow platoon members, were rolling on the ground laughing, it was awful! We went on a run, around the block, not even a mile, and I was one of maybe four or five that made it all the way, and, it was my first time to be the one calling cadence, because the spec-5 was the firt to fall out, he didn’t make it out of the gate!
The next day, Top called me into his office and put me in charge of the Fat Platoon, that is what they called us, made up of the over weight and failed PT test group, and I was instructed to get everybody in the group Fit! I said, “Yes!, First Sargent” and walked out to the group. I was an E3, but now, I was in charge of getting about 20 tubbies in shape, so, I marched everybody to the gym! Now, I am loving this extra PT, I get to go to the gym on Army time, not mine! I started the group off with a sort of circuit training, using the limited equipment we had, an old Universal Machine, a stationary bike, a jump-rope or two, and of course Free Weights and a basketball court. We were a bit disorganized at first, but, it worked out pretty good.
After about 2 weeks, my CO, an arrogant, skinny, pencil-neck, geek, was mad, because he never saw us do anything, he wanted to see us running, so, I got called into Top’s office again, where he informed me what the CO wanted, again, I said, “Yes, First Sargent” and walked out to my “trainees” and told them we had to go for a run at least once a week, and I fibbed a bit, and told them that we had to do at least two miles or I was getting replaced, and that the extra PT was going to just be running from now on, when we marched out the gate, I have never heard such a loud group of but maybe 20 soldiers, something was different about them, and me, I was actually proud, not embarrassed!
Once we were about 5 minutes underway, we still had a tight formation, no one was lagging or falling out, we were actually picking up speed! Here we are, the “Fat Platoon”, and we are running! Where we ran, there were only a few options, places where the sidewalk was wide enough, or a street that was not too busy, even to just turn around and go back the way we had come, without stopping, which kills momentum. Since around the block was not allowed this time, we had to do at least a mile, according to Top. Our options on this road were, around the block, one mile, two miles, or the next was just over three. As we got close to the cut-off for one mile, the squad was going strong, and something strange happened, the whole squad wanted to do 2 miles! So, we passed that first turn, there was no turning back, it was either two miles or failure!
As we ran, all the way through the gate, it was now time for the afternoon formation, and everybody, every platoon, every battery, every single soldier at Bismark Kaserne was outside, watching us, all of us, not even one had fallen out, so, instead of just stopping, we make a victory lap, all around the inside of the Kaserne, about a quarter mile rectangle, past every single formation, and all the way back to our unit, which is right at the front gate. As we stopped, I didn’t have to tell them that they had done a great job, they knew it, you could see the look on every single face. I dismissed the squad to their platoons, we were about 5 minutes late to formation.
The next morning was our “Brigade Run”, which meant that everyone from the Kaserne went on one big group run, before formation, Top called me aside and told me to go the Headquarters building and get the Brigade colors, which is a big flag, I was thinking that I was just supposed to bring the flag back to Top, but,as I get there, the harness to help support the thing, was strapped on me, I knew what that meant, I had to run 7 miles with about a 50 pound flag! Whats worse, is that it meant I was running in front of the entire brigade!
The next day, the “Fat Platoon” was given 6 weeks to train as we pleased, then those that had not passed the previous PT test were to take it over, everyone passed! Then came the weigh in, guess what, each one of us had gained weight! Now I am guessing, but I would say that the average for the group, we had lost at least 3-5 inches in the waist, some were a lot more, some were less, but, everyone was in better shape.
After all of this, those of us that were the “over weight” group, had to get a fat test, if we passed great, but, if we failed, we would be barred from re-enlistment, awards, or anything positive, then, would be given another 2 months to lose the rest of the “weight” or get kicked out of the Army, NO ONE FAILED! All of us had room to spare, we were over weight, but not over fat!
By using weight training, we had all gotten stronger, this had made it easier for us to run, do push-ups, and the fat loss had made sit-ups a breeze, so, get in the gym, push some iron, ignore the scale, and get fit!
Sick Call:The Sick, Lame, and the Lazy!
January 22, 2010 by CarpetGuy · 2 Comments
Do you remember what sick call was like? For me, it was a nightmare that I lived through too many times. In Basic Training, the Drill Sargent would always refer to anyone that was hurt or sick, and went on sick call, as the Sick, Lame and the Lazy, and now, society still looks at it that way, if you miss a day of work, get hurt, or anything else, everyone still talks about you.
As much as I hate to, I have to say it, there are a lot of people who do fit in the Lazy group, and, it is probably the same in the VA, but as of yet, I don’t think I have met anyone like that. Military people in general are the hardest working, most team oriented people in the country, but yes, we do tend to party a bit too much, and that has added to our problems later in life, but, if anyone can overcome it, we can.
Anyone that thinks the government should control health Care in this country, needs to go ask a veteran at the VA how it is working for them, the one asking would quickly change their minds, but, I do not blame the doctors, nurses, or most of the people who work there, it is simply the size of the bureaucracy, the red tape, rules and regulations. I know that I appreciate what I get, even if it takes a long time, I am unable to work, have no income, but do not qualify for, nor would I accept, Medicaid, being able to go to the VA is something every veteran has earned, we bought and paid for it by giving our time, and for many, our body parts in service to our country.
Now that I am older, and in the VA system, I see first hand how many of us there must be, that have gotten old and out of shape, but I believe than almost anyone can get healthier with better eating habits, and some form of excersize, even if it is just moving a few feet at a time, yes, age, and health conditions do prohibit many from any serious activity, myself included, but, we can get better. Getting fit, does not mean that you have to pass a PT test, but, losing body fat will help anyone that is “over weight”, I hate that term, because weight is not what matters, it is that we are “over fat”! Remember that, lose fat, which is actually very light in actual weight compared to muscle, but, it adds weight in places that cause our posture to get bad, which by itself can cause injuries to feel worse than they actually are, I am hoping that is the case for me and that by losing fat, and exercising, I will once again be able to walk and stand for extended periods of time, which will add even more fat burning power to what I am able to do now.
If you are considering starting any type of activity, and you have health concerns, always talk to your doctor first, and if you experience any physical problems during exercise, go back and tell your doctor, he or she may be able to give you information that can help prevent injury, so just be safe, but get off your butts and move something!
Where are you and where are you going?
Where you are is only important as long as you let it be, just get off the couch and do something, only then will you will be able to see where you are going!
I have been much like the guy in this picture, proud of the past, feeling like I was still on top, while pushing myself further and further away from it, by guzzling beer and eating anything and everything. I threw my trophies away years ago, and I had boxes of them, I had been the best, and a great baseball player when I was a kid, all the way up to High School, but I quit, because I “grew up” , drinking and girls were more fun than baseball, and getting paid to play a game, never crossed my mind, baseball was for kids, and I was a man.
By the time reality caught up with me, I had stopped working out, and I had my first weight set when I was eleven, weight training was very important to me, baseball wasn’t, but, I had quit both of them! Since I wasn’t a baseball star anymore, the girls went away too, I was too busy working, and really needed a change, so, I joined the Army. Why? Because I knew I needed a good kick in the butt and felt that the Army could give it to me! History repeats itself, if you let it, and I did.
This time, it was not all my fault, I got hurt, to the point I couldn’t stand for more than about five minutes, the pain was and is incredible, I tried to train through it, I was not about to let myself get fat again, but, I did. Now, after signing up with the VA to get some help, and 4 years of CT scans, X-rays, and doctor visits, after being informed that my problem was permanent and would never go away, I had earned it, the neurologist told me. I had raced Mountain Bikes, downhill was my event, I had been a runner, trained at more than marathon distances, and now, I have the spikes growing out of my spine to prove it! The doctor told me that all the crashes, and pounding from running, not to mention the tonnage I had lifted in my life, had given me a spine that normally takes over seventy years to get, and that is a very active, almost crazy like Evil Knievel, kind of active, and had gotten fat on top of it all.
Once I knew my pain would never go away, I gave up hope that I would ever get back in the gym, or compete at anything ever again, I felt like the world had come to an end, all I had left was the glory days, pain pills, my computer, TV, beer and food. When I got hurt, it was stupid, I stubbed my toe, and in the jerking to keep my balance, I had done something, that still is with me, proof that you just never know. At that time, I was in pretty good shape, I am 5′ 7″ and then weighed 275 pounds with a 36″ waist, bench pressing up to 495 pounds, squatting up to 705 pounds, and doing dead-lifts of about 405 pounds, but, that was over, and I now weigh 282 pounds with a 50″ waist.
My biggest frustration, is now, my biggest motivation, every time someone tells me that if I lost weight, my back would feel better, I felt like punching them, because I was really trying, had cut my beer consumption down to almost nothing, a 12 pack a month, eating soup and vegetables and hardly ever any junk, but, I was totally inactive, pain was winning, and I knew that I needed more activity, but walking is my biggest enemy, so, what could I do?
I have decided to just suck it up, and get my fat self back in the gym, no matter how bad it hurts, and how many people look at me funny when I walk in the door! Walking, or even standing for more than a few minutes is out of the question, but, I can sit, and squats only take a couple of minutes per set, then I can sit and wait for the pain to subside before my next set. My doctor had used my anger, and embarrassment to motivate me, and I signed up for the MOVE program, I need to thank him. Now, I know where I am going! I don’t care about weight, I need to lose fat, and I know how to do that, get back to the iron!
Motivation: Where does it come from?
Motivation is one of those things that can come from different places, sometimes, it comes from others, but it is best when it comes from within. Motivation is an energy that is both positive and negative, sometimes at the same time.
Remember when the Drill Sargent got on your case? I do, and in the beginning, getting dropped for 20 push ups was like being told to pick up a car! Then, something happened, it got easier, and I was doing push ups in my spare time to get better!
What happened, was it simply that I was getting in better shape? No, I was motivated! I did not want to look weak in front of the rest of the platoon! I know, some people strive to be the best, some, just don’t want to be embarrassed. I was the latter.
What motivated me? Where did it come from? Initially, from the Drill Sargent, he forged the need to succeed, and the fear of failure within my mind, both were negative energies. Once I no longer was afraid of failing, I wanted to be the best! Now, the energy was coming from me, it was now positive and that is when it is the most powerful.
This website is an instrument to create this positive energy within me, it too is starting as a negative, I am afraid of failing, I do not want to stop my training and stay fat! By writing, and sharing with others, I will get beyond this fear, and be once again motivated by success. I love my workouts, I always have, and during these last 6 years of pain, I wanted more than anything to be the old me again, and I will! Not only will I get stronger and leaner, but I will do everything I can to help others do the same, both here, and within my new group of friends at the VA MOVE program. I look forward to others joining the cause and helping, together, we can do it!
What can MyFitVet do for you?
What do you want this site to do for you?
First and foremost, we can bring like-minded veterans together, for a common cause, getting in better shape, and staying that way. Together, we can share our experiences, our stories, the good, the bad, and the ugly, which can possibly help another veteran learn something from another.
By sharing, we can motivate each other, we can help each other get past those sticking points and plateaus in our training. It does not matter what you are doing to get in shape, from a five-minute walk, to a 500 pound bench press, it all involves training, and not just physical, but mental as well. It doesn’t matter how long you have tried or how many times you have failed, you can achieve your goals, one step at a time, one rep at a time, one less bite at a time.