Do you work out? Do you exercise?

[Apositive]

Hi everybody:

Six months ago I became a Certified Personal Trainer. I live in Los Angeles which is a very image-conscious city. But I'm amazed at how many people here don't get some form of exercise. I realize many people are busy and a lot of people have injuries and such which stops them from training. But health-wise- exercise and a clean diet are great for you. Also, as a trainer- I think it's time to stop looking at the obesity epidemic as a personal weakness and just look at it for what it is- A Health Problem.

How many people here work out in the gym or at home? Do you have a trainer? Do you run, play tennis or study martial arts or play a sport. Chime in, I'm just taking an informal poll.

[palitoy]

Ha! I'm reading this while sitting on the biceps curl.

[Apositive]

Awesome Palitoy! Work those biceps!!!

[EmergencyIan]

I do. I strength train 6 times a week or at least try to.


- Ian

[Hedji]

Yeah, I have to. Bad cholesterol. Nothing special, just the gym 4 days a week. I never really learned to lift free weights though, so I use all machines and such.

[Donkey Hoatie]

I usually train on the treadmill about 4x week for 45-minutes to an hour. Have had to scale it way back recently due to a flare-up of plantar fasciitis. Other than that, it's just some band training and some dumb bells along with pushups. Gone the whole bulk-up route before in my early-to-mid-20s and am now looking to lose all the mass that's been dropping to my waistline over the last 20 years.

[palitoy]

I was heavy into Karate and jogging for almost a decade until a bad back forced me into weight training. My personal trainer changed my life.

Now I'm at the gym twice a week with strength training and I'm an avid walk/bike ride guy. I also try to start the day with 30 squats, that's just a little bit of OCD.

[RickD]

I was a personal trainer, bodybuilder, power lifter, and competitor for many years.

Placed 3rd and 4th in my first bodybuilding competitions. Placed 5th place in my first ever pro competition here in Denver. Placed 2nd place in a leg competition (leg pressed 1100 pounds)

Was training for my second powerlifting competition, taking in about 6,000 calories a day and training twice a day when I blew out my back doing deadlifts. I had 300 pounds on the deadlift and on the 6th repetition, I felt my form give out and there went my back to. Form is everything

2 years of nerve pain and 8 hours of back surgery later, I went from 260 pounds to a solid 185 pounds now. Needless to say I don't compete anymore, but I've helped a couple good military friends of mine place very high in their bodybuilding competitions. It was gratifying to see.

I eat extremely clean now, ride bikes, do alot of exercises with my own body weight, and hike with my dog. I sure do miss the competition stage.

[pmwasson]

I run 25-30 miles a week and play Ultimate (Frisbee) twice a week. I also recently started bringing a lunch to work instead of going out every day which has really helped. I ended losing about 20 pounds which has made me better at Ultimate.

[Donkey Hoatie]

I was a personal trainer, bodybuilder, power lifter, and competitor for many years.

Placed 3rd and 4th in my first bodybuilding competitions. Placed 5th place in my first ever pro competition here in Denver. Placed 2nd place in a leg competition (leg pressed 1100 pounds)

Was training for my second powerlifting competition, taking in about 6,000 calories a day and training twice a day when I blew out my back doing deadlifts. I had 300 pounds on the deadlift and on the 6th repetition, I felt my form give out and there went my back to. Form is everything

2 years of nerve pain and 8 hours of back surgery later, I went from 260 pounds to a solid 185 pounds now. Needless to say I don't compete anymore, but I've helped a couple good military friends of mine place very high in their bodybuilding competitions. It was gratifying to see.

I eat extremely clean now, ride bikes, do alot of exercises with my own body weight, and hike with my dog. I sure do miss the competition stage.

While I was nowhere near your level of strength (maxed out my bench press at 22 reps at 225 when I weighed 210), I feel your pain with the back stuff. Blew mine out around age 25 and haven't been the same since then. Ironically, I never tried to figure out my max weight for benching because I was afraid of damaging my back. Happened during a pickup touch football game.

[megoapesnut]

Swimming & Racquetball. One or the other M-F at lunch. Mountain biking in warm weather.

[Hector]

I was getting really huge, just being a fat slob...and would just eat and watch TV all day.

But have lost nearly 100 in the last two years.

I walk almost everyday...between 5-7 miles. All on the local regional park with lots of hills.

I'm also just finishing completing my home gym in my backyard deck. I have a leg press machine, a whole set of rubber hex dumbbells, Olympic bars, tons of weights, Ironmaster benches, Landmine serup, power rack...and I'm about to order the lat pull down attachment for the Ironmaster super bench. I also have a heavy punching bag hanging from my avocado tree.

I have a membership to Planet Fitness...I strictly joined for the aerobic machines when weather is bad for hikes...or for a late night aerobic workout...it's really only $10 a month. But have no need for their limited weight machines, as I have my own weight gym.

Side tidbits about me...I played high school football...and used to box recreationally in my 20s and 30s (Kings Gym in Oakland)...never was interested in actual amateur fights though...just some good sparring sessions. I stopped due to many other things happening in my life.

My upper body is currently flabby...and I'm not very strong. But my lower body is hard as steel...and while I don't run...I can walk all day. I'm currently doing 400 pound leg presses...obviously puny compared to mighty 80stoyman...but my objective is mostly stamina and endurance, as opposed to mass gains.

There you go...

[Hector]

I never truly calculated how many calories I used to eat before I started this endeavor...but I wouldn't be far off if I said it was like 5000 a day...if not more...and this was without walking or anything...no wonder I got so massive, and not in a good way.

Before my weight training...just walking...I'd eat no more than 1500 calories a day, with correct protein, fat, carbs ratio.

But now that lifting weights have been added to my regiment...I'll be eating in the 2500 calorie range.

I was nearly 400 pounds of Jabba the Hut slob, lol. I'm 280 now (6' 2")...want to be 250 by the Summer.

Getting ready for Yosemite...me a couple of friends have already booked a cottage for May 29-31...a three day weekend gateway...I want to be able to hike all day for three days there...the Valley, Glacier Point, and the Giant Sequoias.

[4NDR01D]

Nope, but I think about it sometimes.

[Nostalgiabuff]

10 miles a day on the exercise bike......and 12 oz curles every night