I started going to the gym in January this year as a New Year resolution. Somehow, this year it stuck.
I just got back from the gym. I “slept in” today until 5:30 AM instead of getting up at 5 AM. I didn’t drink last night. I got a solid 45 minute work out in, buttressed by walking 20 minutes each way.
If you would have told me last year that I’d be getting up at 5:30 on a Saturday, not drinking on a Friday, and getting in like an hour and a half of exercise before 7:30 AM on a Saturday, I would have called you crazy. But here I am and it feels great
What are your tips for being motivated to workout at 5 am? I will be drastically changing when I go to the gym soon… afternoon crowd isn’t for me anymore.
So I was never ever able to sustain going to the gym after work. When I am done working, all I want to do is relax. So I decided to go before work and try that out.
What really helped with motivation was getting a personal trainer. He wasn’t really worth a damn. He only showed me machines which I knew how to use already. He talked the whole time about random bullshit.
However, I paid $450/month for 3 days a week sessions. That financial obligation, and having an appointment forced me out of bad. The trainer was mostly for accountability, and building habits. After 6 months, the dedication was there and I didn’t need a trainer
That's what I said to myself before I began a slow, wobbly climb up the stairs after finishing leg extensions and leg curls.
Written on the whiteboard was "You got this."
I laughed, and I remembered how, days before, someone had left a message on that whiteboard that truly captured the level of maturity and seriousness I see at my gym every day:
No story, because I’ve not been in days. As soon as i was well enough after cold/flu to get back in the gym, my toes/foot just started randomly hurting with some redness and swelling. I’m hobbling about and not able to sleep.
I have suffered from 3 bouts of this in my life, attacked a toe I had broken a couple of times when I played soccer seriously. It's a mostly genetic form of arthritis that can be excaerbated by diet. But it can be managed. Right now, you need some ibuprofen, heaps of water and get the foot up. Once I knew what triggered it for me (improper hydration is a major one for me) I have been able to keep it away without tablets. My diet, exercise and body comp are on point and I barely drink these days because kids, so that also helps.
Maybe this belongs in Rant Wednesday, idk, but one of the trainers at my gym decided to microwave TUNA FISH in their break room which is right by the weight room and Jesus H. Christ that shit was PUNGENT.
Day 1 back to the gym after having surgery, not allowed to lift but am allowed to walk on the treadmill. And damn if it wasn't the first time no one was using any of the squat racks, all the benches were open, and the coveted lat-pulldown-under-the-fan was sitting unused. Ironically, almost all the treadmills were taken.
I got into running about a year ago but I stopped in June of this year. I didn’t work out all summer or most of the fall. I’m a cancer survivor (female, breast cancer dx’d young). A new study came out about how HIIT cardio was the most effective for keeping away a recurrence. Sure as shit, I do all the things right. I stretch, I start slow. I don’t even run! I was power walking and jogging with a sprint at about 5.8-6 every 90 seconds.
Fast forward a week, I can barely walk, they find out I have a bakers cyst on the side of my knee. It’s excruciating. They are going to do additional imaging but I am so bummed.
Rolled my ankle quite badly earlier this week. I’m walking (hobbling) without pain now so it’s time to strap it up and limp into the gym for an upper body workout. Gotta make the most of it!
I rolled mine the other day too! Was doing one of my roll drills and wasn't paying attention. It only pinched at first, but it twisted really bad as I was trying to find my balance. I've been working on rehabbing it since
Lost motivation this fall after lifting very consistently for the first time in my life starting back March of 2024. Buddy of mine decided he wants to get into shape, so agree to be lifting partners in my home gym. Figure the extra accountability will keep me on track. Six weeks in. I feel like I'm totally back in, so feeling good about the decision until a couple days ago.
Bro walks away in the middle of my first working set of bench. I mutter, "why did you abandon my spot?"
"I ripped ass."
In disbelief as I'm half way through my set choking on his stink without a spotter. We're both pretty novice level. It's not like the weight was dangerous, but jeeze, man.
I was working out and this scary looking man on the machine next to me asks my name and tells me “sorry if you see me looking at you a lot, you look a lot like my cousin. She’s stuck in Afghanistan under taliban control so I’m reminded of her when I see you here”. I’m white, but he showed me a picture and I could actually see it lol. He was super nice, saw him a few times after and we said hi. I haven’t seen him in a year now
I just came back to a gym I used to go to and my gym dad is missing. I am beyond sad. I really wanted to set him up with my actual mom 😭 it’s been a few days and haven’t spotted him
Someone left 380 pounds racked on the leg press machine… I’m 5 2’ and 115 pounds. Please re-rack your weights!! Leaving them racked promotes gym exclusivity
Same with dudes who leave three plates up on the squat rack, and the bar is set too high to pull off those plates comfortably. I've legit had to stand on my tiptoes pulling off 45s. Some people are just really inconsiderate
Man, it’s ALWAYS the leg press. I typically I rerack all the weights left on there during my rest periods, mostly in hopes that people will see me doing it and feel shamed enough to do the same the next time they use it.
I'm was doing curls on a bench. In front of me are mirrors so I can see the rest of the gym behind me, including the bench press spot. So I'm watching between sets and this 50's looking guy sets up the weights, lays down on the bench and puts his hands on the bar, ready to lift.....hands moving a bit this way that way......just holding the bar......must have been a full minute or so before he actually starts the lift.
As he's doing his reps the left side is leaning....a lot....no clips. I'm cringing, waiting for one of those plates to start sliding. It doesn't, he finishes and racks the bar.
Went over to talk to him, mentioned I saw he didn't have clips. Get a stone look..."Yeah?" "Well, your left side was leaning so much I was sure the plates were going to slide off, thought you should know." "Oh shit, thanks, that's my weak side, shoulder injury". Went from "mind your own business" to "thanks for letting me know" in zero time :)
Worked last night and work tonight so no gym for me today. I miss the early morning Saturday hours when there is almost no one there and I can just jump around and do my sets quickly.
I usually am pretty patient with waiting for a machine or whatever to open up, but there was this older lady on the leg press machine set on the lowest weight on her phone doing these half-ass reps, often just intermittently sitting there with her legs just extended while she’s typing away. I probably waited 10 minutes just wondering what she was doing. I think I’ll call these people gym zombies… people who are there that are just going through the motions of doing exercise without really actually exercising.
I was on a killer cut and then had a vacation with family for a week, which included lots of food, and now I can’t stop eating everything I deprived myself of on the cut, and that makes me less motivated to go to the gym today because I look rough. Sigh
Been slacking lately, was aiming for working out 4x a week but only going twice a week. Got up this morning had a cup of coffee and banged out a bicep/shoulder workout that I’ll be feeling for the next few days. No record breaking weight or reps, but really made every rep count.
EDIT: I was wrong. Was chatting with a former gym employee this morning at the gym and he told me his cousin just won Amazing Race (well I think he won it back in May but I think it just aired). He also won Big Brother. Random connection I didn’t expect.
I saw a guy getting ready to bench 70kg, not bad, then saw him unrack it, he did 2 reps with 0 ROM, barely bent his elbows. All fine and dandy.
Then my guy put on 10kgs more and asked someone to spot him for the next set. I did not wait til the end.
A few months ago a kid using the bench next to mine put a little to much on and ended up having to tip the bar. Helped him pick up the weights, let him know not to worry about it, and asked if he wanted to try again with a spot. He declined, lowered the weight, and finished his bench sets and left. Hadn’t seem since until today. Dude made some good progress. Had to make sure and let him know.
Something big I've learned from being in the gym this week? Whenever I say NO to impulses and my health radically improves. Many health issues are self-imposed due to poor habits. Master self-control.
(sorry for my poor English, I'm trying to improve)
I was maxing deadlift and feeling great, then some random gym visitors (like the ones who ask prices) got on my side, I told them to please step a little to the side because if I fail I could harm them feet (I was in rir 1) they just decided to ignore me and I just had to maintain the weight on my shoulders because my grip is really weak. Finally when they decided to step back I realized I broke my back and now I'm a little scared of deadlifts
left the gym, ordered coffee before getting changed. couldnt find my water bottle. checked the change room, upstairs to do laps of the gym floor, front desk. saw a bottle exact brand and colour, belongs to someone else. on the way out ask at the cafe, yep, i left if on the counter when i ordered
We have 2 x 50kg green plates in the entire gym. They always gravitate to the machine that I'm looking to go on (and are on the machine - usually leg press machine!)
I’m working on being able to do my first unassisted pull up. I’ve been going to the gym for 3 years consistently and just made the decision that i want to be part of the 5% (apparently) of women who can do one. Still working on assisted pull ups with a band and can get about 3/4 of the way up
It's so hard to keep exercising in winter. Since I started working, I don't have much free time every day. I only go to exercise after work. I hope that I can keep it up.
Caught myself making the ugliest grunt face in the mirror mid-deadlift and made direct eye contact with the girl behind me. We both died laughing, instant gym besties now
Im a bit late to this but I went down to my local gym its a small little Rocky style gym very simple and the door was screw shut with nails,Someone found the code to the door and started using it but I took the screws out as I am paying money to go i feel like its my right
I started going to the gym in January this year as a New Year resolution. Somehow, this year it stuck.
I just got back from the gym. I “slept in” today until 5:30 AM instead of getting up at 5 AM. I didn’t drink last night. I got a solid 45 minute work out in, buttressed by walking 20 minutes each way.
If you would have told me last year that I’d be getting up at 5:30 on a Saturday, not drinking on a Friday, and getting in like an hour and a half of exercise before 7:30 AM on a Saturday, I would have called you crazy. But here I am and it feels great
That's freaking awesome. Wishing you Good Gains for the upcoming year!
Thank you and likewise
Amazing, seems like it's having an impact!
What are your tips for being motivated to workout at 5 am? I will be drastically changing when I go to the gym soon… afternoon crowd isn’t for me anymore.
So I was never ever able to sustain going to the gym after work. When I am done working, all I want to do is relax. So I decided to go before work and try that out.
What really helped with motivation was getting a personal trainer. He wasn’t really worth a damn. He only showed me machines which I knew how to use already. He talked the whole time about random bullshit.
However, I paid $450/month for 3 days a week sessions. That financial obligation, and having an appointment forced me out of bad. The trainer was mostly for accountability, and building habits. After 6 months, the dedication was there and I didn’t need a trainer
Financial incentive has been proven over and over again to be the best motivation
Congrats bro!
"You got this."
That's what I said to myself before I began a slow, wobbly climb up the stairs after finishing leg extensions and leg curls.
Written on the whiteboard was "You got this."
I laughed, and I remembered how, days before, someone had left a message on that whiteboard that truly captured the level of maturity and seriousness I see at my gym every day:
"Penis."
No story, because I’ve not been in days. As soon as i was well enough after cold/flu to get back in the gym, my toes/foot just started randomly hurting with some redness and swelling. I’m hobbling about and not able to sleep.
Doctor on Monday, if i can get seen.
Do you suffer from gout?
Tbh, I’m beginning to think that i do as of around 48hours ago :D
I have suffered from 3 bouts of this in my life, attacked a toe I had broken a couple of times when I played soccer seriously. It's a mostly genetic form of arthritis that can be excaerbated by diet. But it can be managed. Right now, you need some ibuprofen, heaps of water and get the foot up. Once I knew what triggered it for me (improper hydration is a major one for me) I have been able to keep it away without tablets. My diet, exercise and body comp are on point and I barely drink these days because kids, so that also helps.
Down with the sickness myself. Haven't been to the gym since Tuesday morning and I hate it.
Get well soon.
Oof, foot injuries are the worst since they affect your walking. Hope you feel better soon
Maybe this belongs in Rant Wednesday, idk, but one of the trainers at my gym decided to microwave TUNA FISH in their break room which is right by the weight room and Jesus H. Christ that shit was PUNGENT.
Day 1 back to the gym after having surgery, not allowed to lift but am allowed to walk on the treadmill. And damn if it wasn't the first time no one was using any of the squat racks, all the benches were open, and the coveted lat-pulldown-under-the-fan was sitting unused. Ironically, almost all the treadmills were taken.
It be like that sometimes. Good luck with your recovery, though. Hope you’re not out of it too long
Thanks, man. Appreciate it
After 2 years in the gym I finally wore a tank. Decided not to give a shit about my hairy ass shoulders and chest.
Hairy ass 😅
I got into running about a year ago but I stopped in June of this year. I didn’t work out all summer or most of the fall. I’m a cancer survivor (female, breast cancer dx’d young). A new study came out about how HIIT cardio was the most effective for keeping away a recurrence. Sure as shit, I do all the things right. I stretch, I start slow. I don’t even run! I was power walking and jogging with a sprint at about 5.8-6 every 90 seconds.
Fast forward a week, I can barely walk, they find out I have a bakers cyst on the side of my knee. It’s excruciating. They are going to do additional imaging but I am so bummed.
Wishing you all the best 💪🏿
Rolled my ankle quite badly earlier this week. I’m walking (hobbling) without pain now so it’s time to strap it up and limp into the gym for an upper body workout. Gotta make the most of it!
Love an excuse to skip leg day hell yeah
I rolled mine the other day too! Was doing one of my roll drills and wasn't paying attention. It only pinched at first, but it twisted really bad as I was trying to find my balance. I've been working on rehabbing it since
It sucks does it? Hope you recover soon 💪
Thanks dude, same to you. Painkillers and ice packs remain in our foreseeable future lol
What’s a roll drill? Like jiu jitsu?
Somewhat
Happy my gym had a BOGO sale. So I got a 2 year membership for the price of one (truthfully two for one and a half but still a big savings).
Lost motivation this fall after lifting very consistently for the first time in my life starting back March of 2024. Buddy of mine decided he wants to get into shape, so agree to be lifting partners in my home gym. Figure the extra accountability will keep me on track. Six weeks in. I feel like I'm totally back in, so feeling good about the decision until a couple days ago.
Bro walks away in the middle of my first working set of bench. I mutter, "why did you abandon my spot?"
"I ripped ass."
In disbelief as I'm half way through my set choking on his stink without a spotter. We're both pretty novice level. It's not like the weight was dangerous, but jeeze, man.
That’s both hilarious and a massive dick move for a spotter 😭
The only logical conclusion is to escalate the hostilities.
Make sure your next squat day together lines up the morning after a PF Changs dinner.
That’s hilarious, but I’d be close to throwing hands with my buddy 🤣
I was working out and this scary looking man on the machine next to me asks my name and tells me “sorry if you see me looking at you a lot, you look a lot like my cousin. She’s stuck in Afghanistan under taliban control so I’m reminded of her when I see you here”. I’m white, but he showed me a picture and I could actually see it lol. He was super nice, saw him a few times after and we said hi. I haven’t seen him in a year now
This is heartbreaking
I just came back to a gym I used to go to and my gym dad is missing. I am beyond sad. I really wanted to set him up with my actual mom 😭 it’s been a few days and haven’t spotted him
Someone left 380 pounds racked on the leg press machine… I’m 5 2’ and 115 pounds. Please re-rack your weights!! Leaving them racked promotes gym exclusivity
Same with dudes who leave three plates up on the squat rack, and the bar is set too high to pull off those plates comfortably. I've legit had to stand on my tiptoes pulling off 45s. Some people are just really inconsiderate
Yeah, had to help an older lady today because some doofus had left the 20 kg plates on the leg press.
I don't know what is is about the leg press machine that makes people think the plates don't need to be re-racked...
Almost all of the gyms I've used over the years have had great re-rack etiquette, except the leg press machines for some reason.
It's super annoying. A plate doesn't stop being a plate just because it's on the leg press!
Man, it’s ALWAYS the leg press. I typically I rerack all the weights left on there during my rest periods, mostly in hopes that people will see me doing it and feel shamed enough to do the same the next time they use it.
What a dick. He probably thought he was looking cool and impressing people but he’s actually just a lazy asshole
what is gym exclusivity?
[deleted]
I'm sure anyone would be happy to help!
I'm was doing curls on a bench. In front of me are mirrors so I can see the rest of the gym behind me, including the bench press spot. So I'm watching between sets and this 50's looking guy sets up the weights, lays down on the bench and puts his hands on the bar, ready to lift.....hands moving a bit this way that way......just holding the bar......must have been a full minute or so before he actually starts the lift.
As he's doing his reps the left side is leaning....a lot....no clips. I'm cringing, waiting for one of those plates to start sliding. It doesn't, he finishes and racks the bar.
Went over to talk to him, mentioned I saw he didn't have clips. Get a stone look..."Yeah?" "Well, your left side was leaning so much I was sure the plates were going to slide off, thought you should know." "Oh shit, thanks, that's my weak side, shoulder injury". Went from "mind your own business" to "thanks for letting me know" in zero time :)
Worked last night and work tonight so no gym for me today. I miss the early morning Saturday hours when there is almost no one there and I can just jump around and do my sets quickly.
I got preworkout with beta alanine ( 5g ) and yesterday I felt nothing. Today the itchiness was double from normal
The inside ants are our friends.
I usually am pretty patient with waiting for a machine or whatever to open up, but there was this older lady on the leg press machine set on the lowest weight on her phone doing these half-ass reps, often just intermittently sitting there with her legs just extended while she’s typing away. I probably waited 10 minutes just wondering what she was doing. I think I’ll call these people gym zombies… people who are there that are just going through the motions of doing exercise without really actually exercising.
“Hey, do you mind if I work in?”
And actually talk to a person? As if!
[deleted]
15 TikTok sets to go
I was on a killer cut and then had a vacation with family for a week, which included lots of food, and now I can’t stop eating everything I deprived myself of on the cut, and that makes me less motivated to go to the gym today because I look rough. Sigh
Nothing can change drastically in a few days besides maybe some bloat
Been slacking lately, was aiming for working out 4x a week but only going twice a week. Got up this morning had a cup of coffee and banged out a bicep/shoulder workout that I’ll be feeling for the next few days. No record breaking weight or reps, but really made every rep count.
I hit full stack (100kg) on leg extensions today for 10 reps. Yeah I'm happy
That's stronk AF.
No story, just a picture of my dumb shirt at the gym today:
https://imgur.com/a/hPDhysp
EDIT: I was wrong. Was chatting with a former gym employee this morning at the gym and he told me his cousin just won Amazing Race (well I think he won it back in May but I think it just aired). He also won Big Brother. Random connection I didn’t expect.
I actually got good sleep last night. Shame is wasn't before leg day, but today is going to be a really good arm and shoulder day!
I saw a guy getting ready to bench 70kg, not bad, then saw him unrack it, he did 2 reps with 0 ROM, barely bent his elbows. All fine and dandy. Then my guy put on 10kgs more and asked someone to spot him for the next set. I did not wait til the end.
A few months ago a kid using the bench next to mine put a little to much on and ended up having to tip the bar. Helped him pick up the weights, let him know not to worry about it, and asked if he wanted to try again with a spot. He declined, lowered the weight, and finished his bench sets and left. Hadn’t seem since until today. Dude made some good progress. Had to make sure and let him know.
You're a good dude. All that loud clanging could potentially be mortifying so I bet that helped a lot
Something big I've learned from being in the gym this week? Whenever I say NO to impulses and my health radically improves. Many health issues are self-imposed due to poor habits. Master self-control.
Which habits have you noticed this with?
Food.
Not getting the workout in.
And also things that don't seem directly related to health and fitness like setting boundaries.
(sorry for my poor English, I'm trying to improve)
I was maxing deadlift and feeling great, then some random gym visitors (like the ones who ask prices) got on my side, I told them to please step a little to the side because if I fail I could harm them feet (I was in rir 1) they just decided to ignore me and I just had to maintain the weight on my shoulders because my grip is really weak. Finally when they decided to step back I realized I broke my back and now I'm a little scared of deadlifts
left the gym, ordered coffee before getting changed. couldnt find my water bottle. checked the change room, upstairs to do laps of the gym floor, front desk. saw a bottle exact brand and colour, belongs to someone else. on the way out ask at the cafe, yep, i left if on the counter when i ordered
yes, that all coutned as cardio
Usually don’t go on Saturday, I go on Sundays but supposed to get a little snow so don’t want to give myself any excuse not to go so went today
We have 2 x 50kg green plates in the entire gym. They always gravitate to the machine that I'm looking to go on (and are on the machine - usually leg press machine!)
I’m working on being able to do my first unassisted pull up. I’ve been going to the gym for 3 years consistently and just made the decision that i want to be part of the 5% (apparently) of women who can do one. Still working on assisted pull ups with a band and can get about 3/4 of the way up
I've been going to the gym everyday for years
I started to be consistent in the gym this month and conquered my social anxiety that comes with it.
It's so hard to keep exercising in winter. Since I started working, I don't have much free time every day. I only go to exercise after work. I hope that I can keep it up.
thanks for sharing
Caught myself making the ugliest grunt face in the mirror mid-deadlift and made direct eye contact with the girl behind me. We both died laughing, instant gym besties now
Im a bit late to this but I went down to my local gym its a small little Rocky style gym very simple and the door was screw shut with nails,Someone found the code to the door and started using it but I took the screws out as I am paying money to go i feel like its my right