The Gym Diary

[GrayGhost81]

I finally got my hands on a treadmill. I never wanted to shell out for one but if I knew how much it was going to impact my life, I would have gotten one a long time ago.

In the past, my "off-season" would start around October, when I didn't feel like going outside to run. I would become slothy and sedentary until about April when I would say holy shit I need to lose some weight. By the time summer comes I'm just making a half-assed attempt to at least not look like a fat slug on my one or two annual trips to the beach.

Having a treadmill has changed all that. I'm going for long runs on it twice a week and walking almost all other days, with a normal lifting routine on running days.

I am now almost in the shape I want to be, and it's not even March! That's just with eating right since Jan 1 (cliche I know but I stuck with it) and working out since the beginning of Feb.

Some day I will live in an area where I can go outside year-round, but until then, I can't believe what a game-changer owning a treadmill can be.

[GrayGhost81]

Working some crazy hours lately so I have to hit the treadmill early in the morning. Did a little over two miles fast walking this morning starting at about 4:30am. God bless my wife for putting up with it. It's only temporary anyway.

Had a great heavy workout this past Sunday, going a little longer with my lifting routine and way longer with my run (7.5 miles). It felt great. Doing my heavy workouts only twice a week has made a huge difference in not only my performance and results but my mental attitude towards working out. I used to lift every other day, and run almost every day. For me that was a recipe for burn out. Now that I lift then run twice a week and either walk or rest on all the other days, I look forward to those heavy workouts and make the most of them when they come in a way I never have before. 

[GrayGhost81]

25 minute lifting routine followed by 3+ mile run at about 10min/mile pace.

[InvadErGII]

Update! After a couple of months, I am now 20 pounds lighter. Feeling great!

[GrayGhost81]

Update! After a couple of months, I am now 20 pounds lighter. Feeling great!

Nice job man!

As for myself:
Sunday - 30min lifting routine followed by 5+ mile run.
Monday - rest.
Tuesday - 2 mile brisk walk.

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

Got myself a couple wimpy weights just to keep some tone on my arms while I'm not doing anything else strenuous in life.

[GrayGhost81]

Thurs - 20min lifting routine then 4+ mile run

[JerryGreenwood]

I've been an off and on (mostly off) work out guyer my whole life. I've always been athletic, but always a bit underweight.

My goal: gain 10-25 lbs by August 1st. For me, this will be an immense challenge.


@ GrayGhost - Congrats on the running. I used to run a lot myself. It releases tons of endorphins and can be very instrumental in fighting depression, quitting drugs or alcohol, as well as it's obvious health benefits. That's why you feel so great after a run, it's a natural high.

I noticed above you bought a treadmill. If you choose to run outdoors, try to avoid running on roads or sidewalks or other hard surfaces. It's not good for your legs. You won't feel it now, but when you're an old man you're knees will be as stable as marshmallows.

If you or anyone else needs advice on breathing techniques, proper form, stretching, curing shinsplints, etc. feel free to pm me.

[GrayGhost81]

Thanks Jerry,

I've been struggling with that fact that long distance running really kills the body for years now. I used to run six miles six days a week, sometimes more. Now I have been running only twice a week and may cut that down to once a week if I can stay conditioned that way. I intend to ramp up how much walking I do and pepper in some sprint work but as far as long distance endurance training I really only want to be conditioned enough to run a particular 5K I do with a buddy of mine every year in July. 

To be honest I have already seen better results doing more anaerobic training (though no more than twice weekly) and less aerobic training.

I'm wrestling with the idea of posting some before/after pics here, if ya'll want to see me with no shirt on

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

Yeah I feel like there's going to be an epidemic of bad knees in about 30 years. Seems like freakin every 20-30 year old middle-class white person I know is galloping about all day eery day. Not to mention the fact that they're going to be fast freakin zombies.

I just walk 3-5 miles at a brisk pace most days and do some weight cardio at home. It doesn't murder the body so much and still gets the heart pumping.

[blcklblskt]

I used to run all the time, but on soft surfaces because I get shin splints really easily if I run on pavement.  Other than that, I only lift dumbbells now.  I used to go all out and work out for hours at a time, but I don't care anymore and lift a few days a week now.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Thanks Jerry,

I've been struggling with that fact that long distance running really kills the body for years now. I used to run six miles six days a week, sometimes more. Now I have been running only twice a week and may cut that down to once a week if I can stay conditioned that way. I intend to ramp up how much walking I do and pepper in some sprint work but as far as long distance endurance training I really only want to be conditioned enough to run a particular 5K I do with a buddy of mine every year in July. 

To be honest I have already seen better results doing more anaerobic training (though no more than twice weekly) and less aerobic training.

I'm wrestling with the idea of posting some before/after pics here, if ya'll want to see me with no shirt on

It's a Gym thread. I think that no shirt is one of the hazards people should have to endure.

[NES_Rules]

Not to mention the fact that they're going to be fast freakin zombies.

So that would explain why so many movies/games feature fast zombies these days. I wondered where they came from.

[GrayGhost81]

Thanks Jerry,

I've been struggling with that fact that long distance running really kills the body for years now. I used to run six miles six days a week, sometimes more. Now I have been running only twice a week and may cut that down to once a week if I can stay conditioned that way. I intend to ramp up how much walking I do and pepper in some sprint work but as far as long distance endurance training I really only want to be conditioned enough to run a particular 5K I do with a buddy of mine every year in July. 

To be honest I have already seen better results doing more anaerobic training (though no more than twice weekly) and less aerobic training.

I'm wrestling with the idea of posting some before/after pics here, if ya'll want to see me with no shirt on

It's a Gym thread. I think that no shirt is one of the hazards people should have to endure.

Sounds like an invitation to me! Coming soon...

[GrayGhost81]

So I ran 3.1 miles on the treadmill two Saturdays in a row. Right around 27 minutes both times. Not great by any means but to me that proves I can run a 5k only once a week and still stay in running shape.

It was almost nice enough to run outside today. Once I can do that I will really start trying to work on my pace.