I just started a membership at the local Planet Fitness. Nothing truly groundbreaking, but it’s a huge personal switch from me after exercising for years in the ol’ basement for many years. Since I’ve posted here before, though rarely, on fitness, I thought I’d share a few observations.
1. Working out in public requires a different psychology than working out in private, in obvious and subtle ways. I’m not going to detail it out here but sure the initial observations anyone might have on the difference are accurate.
2. Related to #1, working out in public with a partner also requires a difference mental approach. Most people don’t think about #1 and #2—we do what comes naturally.
3. People do a lot of weird exercise moves. I don’t quite understand the minute shruggings, dainty wrist or finger (?!) curls, or really uncomfortable contortionist-lite exercises. I come from the full-extention, broad range of motion, natural/practical body motion school. Seeing someone stand in front of the mirror repeating “I dunno!” with their shoulders seems a useless pursuit. Whatever works for people, though.
4. Doing 50 lbs bicep curls, for instance, on a machine is much different than curling 50 lbs using free weights. Related to this, the better workouts I’ve done are full-body workouts by default, even though you’re working out one general area as a concentration. Most kinds of pushups focus on upper body strength, but peripheral and stabilizing muscles are also engaged. Pounding out different kinds of curls standing up requires the same kind of non-curl muscle engagement. By sitting or laying down, or using a machine that provides very defined motion, you don’t get the same body participation.
5. “Muscle Milk” is an odd name for a supplement drink if you think about it too much, but I may try it.
EDIT: Regarding $4, here’s a good, short article about free weights versus machines.