INTP and hitting the gym

[Pyropyro]

After months of badgering from my parents to lose more weight for the wedding pics, I finally gave in and enrolled in a gym.

Honestly, I find it soothing since the rushing blood helps my brain to process more stuff while giving me enough incentive to eat and sleep right. The amenities are clean and the other customers aren't bad in the eyes either. Best of all, no chatty people so I can work out in peace.

I'm currently attending Stationary bike classes and sleeping 9 hours after each session (because darn it if those old dudes and gals can pedal so can I). I'll be getting my weights program this Saturday so I think next week would even be more painful.

Anyways what were your experiences at the gym? What were your goals? Did it help compliment your INTP brain? I just want to slim down a bit.

 

[Ex-User (14663)]

In the gym pretty much every day. I get too skinny if I don't lift weights. Mostly focusing on functional training though, to counterbalance my otherwise sedentary lifestyle.

It is definitely a meditative thing sometimes. You sometimes get an extremely clear head after training. For me it usually comes after running.

 

[Polaris]

I'd never hit a gym, it would hurt my knuckles too much.




Anyway, I tried joining a couple of times, not even sure why. I hated everything about it, including the smells, sounds, people and sticky atmosphere. I think it would have helped if I had a good reason, like slimming or something. I found more satisfaction in rock climbing as it is problem solving on the go. Gym stuff requires careful long-term planning, which feels like brutal, prolonged soul-murder to me.

 

[Pyropyro]

In the gym pretty much every day. I get too skinny if I don't lift weights. Mostly focusing on functional training though, to counterbalance my otherwise sedentary lifestyle.

It is definitely a meditative thing sometimes. You sometimes get an extremely clear head after training. For me it usually comes after running.

Yep, that's why I don't do drugs to achieve an altered mindset, the runner's high does that for you.

 

[Pyropyro]

I'd never hit a gym, it would hurt my knuckles too much.




Anyway, I tried joining a couple of times, not even sure why. I hated everything about it, including the smells, sounds, people and sticky atmosphere. I think it would have helped if I had a good reason, like slimming or something. I found more satisfaction in rock climbing as it is problem solving on the go. Gym stuff requires careful long-term planning, which feels like brutal, prolonged soul-murder to me.

Hmm... the rhythm actually soothes me. Probably my autism sensing the predictable beats. As for the atmosphere maybe you should look for a better gym. The cheaper ones smell like sweat and other body fluids.

Yeah rock climbing is fun and strategic! It's a bit expensive here though and I think only one or so is near my city so I prefer the gym.

 

[redbaron]

I find pretty much all accessory work boring af and stick to:

deadlift
squat
dips
pullups
overhead press

Bench press is suck.

 

[Minuend]

I hate exercising, but I like the way my body feels when I'm not when fitterrrr. I feel generally stronger and healthier when I exercise regularly. Actually doing it feels like shit

I have a very weak program. I mountain hike a bit, I do a bit of strength exercising and mild lifting at home. It doesn't take much to notice improvement on skinnyfatness, I found

 

[onesteptwostep]

I tried the gym before as my school has one in one of their basements, but I couldn't keep up with the routine. I'd much rather just run..

 

[Creeping Death]

I find pretty much all accessory work boring af and stick to:

deadlift
squat
dips
pullups
overhead press

Bench press is suck.

This is basically what I stick to, and some HIIT and plyo a couple times a week. Because of this I no longer pay for a gym membership and have a basic setup at home. Barbell with weights, a bench and squat rack. I go to a nearby park for dips and pullups, and maybe chasing cats and squirrels.

I don't get along with certain people at gyms.

 

[Happy]

I find pretty much all accessory work boring af and stick to:

deadlift
squat
dips
pullups
overhead press

Bench press is suck.

No way man - bench press is much fun because of the risk of watching the bar come down and not being able to push it back up. Also, chest hurts are tasty hurts.

But yeah, rb's list is pretty much spot on - except for bench press.

Squats are the funnest though. (But only with full range. Any less - don't even bother.)

 

[Creeping Death]

Before I had a squat rack or weights at home I'd do single leg ass to the grass squats and single leg box jumps. Not on a gym box but usually a park bench or the first few steps of the stairs. I still do these probably as much as I barbell squat too.. it's very satisfying for some reason.

 

[Jennywocky]

My issues with gyms are mainly only the need to maintain a steady routine of going, and routine is not something I am generally good at.

I have had a few periods of gym-going over the years (one with more weight training, when I was younger). In recent years it was mostly cardio stuff. I actually have been doing portion monitoring (reasonably) / better food choices and regular daily walking now for a little over two months, and have lost about 25-30 pounds with more to come. [Yes, my eating habits apparently sucked; who know so many calories could be packed into so many small things nowadays?] Right now the walking is handling my calorie-burn needs but as I lose more weight, I will probably need to put on more muscle and/or have a more concentrated routine.

Being "in my body" isn't my instinctive mode, but when I get into a "runner's high" scenario that feels pretty good. Also, if I'm just doing cardio stuff at the gym, that gives my mind time to wander and think about whatever. I had a love/hate relationship with the times I did machines and free weights. Again, the schedule and sticking to various routines wasn't much fun, and obviously it's going to be taxing and a bit painful if you're trying to build the body, but it's also kind of the "good burn" to feel tested and push yourself to the max and truly exert oneself. I find it offers a sense of grounding and being in the world rather than outside of it.

 

[redbaron]

Bench Press is not necessary and has high risk in multiple ways. It's worth just avoiding. If you really need to do it, you can just do it with flat bench + dumbbells, but a strict Bench Press is crap.

For one, dependent on your leverages and the specific shape of your shoulder girdle, bench pressing might just inherently cause you impingement (which will lead to damage over time) of your shoulder, unless you know how to do it with very specific form (arched back) that needs to be practiced and honestly is just a pain in the ass.

Secondly, people die from dropping the bar on themselves or asphyxiating while crushed under the bar. Spotters don't help if they're not good spotters (and no one really is). This means you bench in the power rack with safety pins set, except this is time consuming, pisses everyone off and is just generally going to be annoying to have to do.

Thirdly, if you sit down a lot - you probably have shit posture and a tight chest as a result. Therefore you actually need to strengthen your back muscles and learn to stretch out your pecs, to avoid your overtight chest warping you even more into a hunchback. Better posture and quality of life as you get older.

There's literally no benefit to bench press that can't be obtained doing with dumbbells or with Dips (better anyway) and some basic pushup variations. With much less risk of injury, zero chance of fucking dying and also better quality of life. Pushups (weighted or with variations like one-handed to make it harder) are better than bench especially because they give full range of motion, and allow the scapula to actually flex and move freely (like it would in real life!) further promoting proper biomechanical function and health.

The only argument for it is bragging rights/egoclaims and with the amount of gym injuries that occur due to these reasons, they can fuck right off. You go to the gym to lose weight/get fitter/get stronger - damaging your joints and your long-term health isn't a part of that.

 

[Creeping Death]

Bench Press is not necessary and has high risk in multiple ways. It's worth just avoiding. If you really need to do it, you can just do it with flat bench + dumbbells, but a strict Bench Press is crap.

For one, dependent on your leverages and the specific shape of your shoulder girdle, bench pressing might just inherently cause you impingement (which will lead to damage over time) of your shoulder, unless you know how to do it with very specific form (arched back) that needs to be practiced and honestly is just a pain in the ass.

Secondly, people die from dropping the bar on themselves or asphyxiating while crushed under the bar. Spotters don't help if they're not good spotters (and no one really is). This means you bench in the power rack with safety pins set, except this is time consuming, pisses everyone off and is just generally going to be annoying to have to do.

Thirdly, if you sit down a lot - you probably have shit posture and a tight chest as a result. Therefore you actually need to strengthen your back muscles and learn to stretch out your pecs, to avoid your overtight chest warping you even more into a hunchback. Better posture and quality of life as you get older.

There's literally no benefit to bench press that can't be obtained doing with dumbbells or with Dips (better anyway) and some basic pushup variations. With much less risk of injury, zero chance of fucking dying and also better quality of life. Pushups (weighted or with variations like one-handed to make it harder) are better than bench especially because they give full range of motion, and allow the scapula to actually flex and move freely (like it would in real life!) further promoting proper biomechanical function and health.

The only argument for it is bragging rights/egoclaims and with the amount of gym injuries that occur due to these reasons, they can fuck right off. You go to the gym to lose weight/get fitter/get stronger - damaging your jointrds and your long-term health isn't a part of that.

I'd say this is true for most people, but I wouldn't say bench is completely useless, especially with proper form (some arch in the lower back, ass and shoulder blades touching bench, shoulder blades rolled back, bar no higher up than nipples, elbows in), and then no more than once a week.

But I agree, variations of dips and pushups will do good building strength alone and the people needing bench more will mostly only be competitors.

 

[Rixus]

I do enjoy keeping fit. But I always claimed I had no time to, and it was probably true, up until I turned 30. Then I looked at myself in the mirror and realised how physically pathetic I had become. This was what I measured at then:
Waste - 36 inches
Chest - 38 inches
Upper Arms - 11 inches
Thighs - 18 inches

I had to sort it out, but I was too ashamed to go to an actual gym. So I built one. Pull up bar first, along with some push ups and such. Then I added some dumbbells and slowly my home gym grew. I know have a bench, squat rack, treadmill, dumbbells up to 55lbs and barbell up to 290lbs. Quite sufficient.

I force myself to train at specific times, regardless of whether I feel like it.
Motivation is fleeting - it's better if you just do it and tell yourself you have to. Everyone will say, "but that doesn't work for me." It didn't work for me, either. So instead of saying it didn't work, I just did it.

My current regime involves a full body heavyweight work out Saturday night (Curls, Bench Press, Dumbbell Row, Deadlift, Shoulder Press, Back Squat). A run on Sunday and Tuesday (though I admit I don't always have the time to run on Sunday) and a full body callisthenics work out on Thursday (cycling between pull up, push up, squat and plank). It's working quite well. Now I measure about:
Waste - 32 inches
Chest - 42.5 inches
Upper Arms - 15 inches
Thighs - 25 inches

Now, I'm not the biggest or strongest, but I am quite happy with the progress I've made. I actually now look pretty good naked, I never get that chronic back pain I used to get and being about 2.5 times stronger than I used to be has a lot of advantages.

Plus there's a lot of interesting science behind it that's worth learning where it comes to muscles and nutrition.

 

[TheManBeyond]

I do enjoy keeping fit. But I always claimed I had no time to, and it was probably true, up until I turned 30. Then I looked at myself in the mirror and realised how physically pathetic I had become. This was what I measured at then:
Waste - 36 inches
Chest - 38 inches
Upper Arms - 11 inches
Thighs - 18 inches

I had to sort it out, but I was too ashamed to go to an actual gym. So I built one. Pull up bar first, along with some push ups and such. Then I added some dumbbells and slowly my home gym grew. I know have a bench, squat rack, treadmill, dumbbells up to 55lbs and barbell up to 290lbs. Quite sufficient.

I force myself to train at specific times, regardless of whether I feel like it.
Motivation is fleeting - it's better if you just do it and tell yourself you have to. Everyone will say, "but that doesn't work for me." It didn't work for me, either. So instead of saying it didn't work, I just did it.

My current regime involves a full body heavyweight work out Saturday night (Curls, Bench Press, Dumbbell Row, Deadlift, Shoulder Press, Back Squat). A run on Sunday and Tuesday (though I admit I don't always have the time to run on Sunday) and a full body callisthenics work out on Thursday (cycling between pull up, push up, squat and plank). It's working quite well. Now I measure about:
Waste - 32 inches
Chest - 42.5 inches
Upper Arms - 15 inches
Thighs - 25 inches

Now, I'm not the biggest or strongest, but I am quite happy with the progress I've made. I actually now look pretty good naked, I never get that chronic back pain I used to get and being about 2.5 times stronger than I used to be has a lot of advantages.

Plus there's a lot of interesting science behind it that's worth learning where it comes to muscles and nutrition.

there's one particular measure u don't talk about tho

 

[Reluctantly]

I run sometimes and do pullups, situps, squats, and pushups. But it's only when I feel like it and it's nice because I don't need any equipment. Though you can buy weighted clothes, if that's your thing. But I'm just looking to burn energy and stay in shape.

Gym's are annoying and they try to lock you in on payments and charge you for breaking your contract (like a cell phone provider). I think it's because most people won't keep going and they know that.

 

[Creeping Death]

I run sometimes and do pullups, situps, squats, and pushups. But it's only when I feel like it and it's nice because I don't need any equipment. Though you can buy weighted clothes, if that's your thing. But I'm just looking to burn energy and stay in shape.

Gym's are annoying and they try to lock you in on payments and charge you for breaking your contract (like a cell phone provider). I think it's because most people won't keep going and they know that.

You're very....... reluctant to go to the gym. Hehehe

 

[Rixus]

there's one particular measure u don't talk about tho

6 foot 2 and 190lbs. (Up from 170lbs).
Unless you mean something else - but that muscle was strong and sizeable enough already.

 

[Reluctantly]

there's one particular measure u don't talk about tho

So the gym is compensation?

 

[Rixus]

So the gym is compensation?

It's not that steroids make it smaller - it's coz you are bigger so it proportionately looks smaller!

(Note that I'm kidding and I've never touched steroids and never will - but a bodybuilder honestly said this to me once )

(Actually, if anything, working out appears to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and naturally increase testosterone - meaning heightened stamina, which is never a bad thing.)

 

[Perfectly Normal Beast]

lots of talk

Spoiler

 

[Jennywocky]

I do enjoy keeping fit. But I always claimed I had no time to, and it was probably true, up until I turned 30. Then I looked at myself in the mirror and realised how physically pathetic I had become. This was what I measured at then:
Waste - 36 inches

...That's a pretty big pile of waste to keep in your house.

I bet you use a lot of air freshener.

 

[Rixus]

...That's a pretty big pile of waste to keep in your house.

I bet you use a lot of air freshener.

The pile of junk I have ready to go to the scrapyard is quite a bit larger than that. Which has been there for a couple of months.

Is it pick on Rixus day today?

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[washti]

Dont worry Fixus noone picks on you here. I was called "wasti" ...wasTi for eggsobble and twice. and i dont date THATONE-FOR-SCIENZ

 

[Pyropyro]

Finally got my program but i feel that it is too begginer-like. Apparently coaching costs extra so i got this very unchallenging routine.

I don't want to pay extra for a coach so if you can improve this routine then that would be okay.

Treadmill 30 mins
Squat 3 sets 10 reps 30 lbs
Lat 3 sets 10 reps 30 lbs
Biceps 3 sets 10 reps 30 lbs
Situps 15 reps
Legs 15 reps
Plank 30 sec

 

[Green]

Exercise and cooking for the sake of routine is loathsome. My brain feeling good and my body not feeling numb/limp and poisoned is desired.

I just need to go out and do something and exercise is a good reason for that. the gym has expanded into going to the sauna, learning to swim for me as well. and im planning to (intp danger words, i looked up the class and havent signed up..) learn yoga as well.

i think ntj's are good people to learn exercise from. Se types are too crazy.

 

[baccheion]

After months of badgering from my parents to lose more weight for the wedding pics, I finally gave in and enrolled in a gym.

Honestly, I find it soothing since the rushing blood helps my brain to process more stuff while giving me enough incentive to eat and sleep right. The amenities are clean and the other customers aren't bad in the eyes either. Best of all, no chatty people so I can work out in peace.

I'm currently attending Stationary bike classes and sleeping 9 hours after each session (because darn it if those old dudes and gals can pedal so can I). I'll be getting my weights program this Saturday so I think next week would even be more painful.

Anyways what were your experiences at the gym? What were your goals? Did it help compliment your INTP brain? I just want to slim down a bit.

Intermittent fasting (eating everything within a 8 hour window), high intensity interval training, and forskolin will help shed fat. There's also low carb, acetyl L-carnitine, etc.

Exercise helps with mental clarity and mood. It's even better if you take piracetam before workouts, but you may be too young for that.