Advice for a newbie?

MinuteMan wrote:
> Hello all...

Hello...

> I plan to join a gym soon, with the intent of "getting in shape".

That's a good idea.

> This is wehre my confusion starts as I never went to a gym and am affraid
> to look like a total dork, because I don't know what exercises I need to
> do
> and
> how to do them.

Everybody started out that way.

> I want to build up some muscle mass, strenghten my
> back/stomach(I have back problems) and overall increase my physical
> health level.

Reasonable goals.

> The gym I'd go to is at work and there is no trainer.

Good. You're better off without 99.9% of gym trainers.

> What is it I'd need to do, light weights or run arround on a threadmill?
> Should these be combined?

You should do cardio and weights, not necessarily light ones.

Do some reading first:
www.trygve.com/mfw.html
www.stumptuous.com/weights.html (not just for women, trust me)

David
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

Any reasonable gym will offer you an induction course. If not, go
somewhere else.

Cheers,
Zugzwang
http://www.viceboxx.com
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 06:17:36 GMT, "MinuteMan" <i.TakeThisOut@hate.spam> wrote:
>nd am affraid
>to look like a total dork,

Why should entering a gym be any different? You overcame this entering
school, social circles of all kinds, so why do you care what a bunch
of gym-homos think of you. Unles of course, you are one of them...

> I want to build up some muscle mass, strenghten my
>back/stomach(I have back problems) and overall increase my physical
>health level. The gym I'd go to is at work and there is no trainer.
>What is it I'd need to do, light weights or run arround on a threadmill?
>Should these be combined?

Yes, but why a gym? This can be done at home, with free weights, and
jogging, with no homos watching you.
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

Does Bill, Rodger ? U sound as though you have some big pythons dude-
do you have a large schlong or a fun size weiner?
Has your cumsac shrunk due to excess gurning?If so I can help.I will
send you a picture of me squeezing out a large length of manturd - I
force it so much it makes me perspire.nowhatimsayin?
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

Hello again,

the idea of being able to exercise at home with free weights and
a bench instrigues me. As I read on the link someone posted, I'd be
able to most if not all the exercises that one does in a gym by buying
a bench + dumbells + bar. Does this sound realistic?

Also, can anyone recommend a home bench model that can he tilted and
also used for back extensions, leg extensions and maybe leg curls etc.?
Does something like that exist?
Not looking for a do-it-all gym, but a multifunctional bench...

thanks, any help appreciated
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

I'm in San Francisco. I checked some online fitness stores and could
find none that can do back (hyper)extensions, leg curls etc. and acts
as a standard press bench with adjustable incline.

David wrote:
> <chamade.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1129841839.266220.221650@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > Hello again,
> >
> > the idea of being able to exercise at home with free weights and
> > a bench instrigues me. As I read on the link someone posted, I'd be
> > able to most if not all the exercises that one does in a gym by buying
> > a bench + dumbells + bar. Does this sound realistic?
> >
> > Also, can anyone recommend a home bench model that can he tilted and
> > also used for back extensions, leg extensions and maybe leg curls etc.?
> > Does something like that exist?
> > Not looking for a do-it-all gym, but a multifunctional bench...
> >
> > thanks, any help appreciated
>
> That sort of bench is standard - the best ones are sold in fitness specialty
> stores - what town do you live in?
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

David wrote:
> <chamade DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1129845309.788472.152150@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> > I'm in San Francisco. I checked some online fitness stores and could
> > find none that can do back (hyper)extensions, leg curls etc. and acts
> > as a standard press bench with adjustable incline.
> >
> > David wrote:
> >> <chamade DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> >> news:1129841839.266220.221650@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >> > Hello again,
> >> >
> >> > the idea of being able to exercise at home with free weights and
> >> > a bench instrigues me. As I read on the link someone posted, I'd be
> >> > able to most if not all the exercises that one does in a gym by buying
> >> > a bench + dumbells + bar. Does this sound realistic?
> >> >
> >> > Also, can anyone recommend a home bench model that can he tilted and
> >> > also used for back extensions, leg extensions and maybe leg curls etc.?
> >> > Does something like that exist?
> >> > Not looking for a do-it-all gym, but a multifunctional bench...
> >> >
> >> > thanks, any help appreciated
> >>
> >> That sort of bench is standard - the best ones are sold in fitness
> >> specialty
> >> stores - what town do you live in?
>
> I would go into the store as the sales guys generally are knowledgeable if
> it is a specialist. Leg curls are standard with most of these benches. Back
> extensions is harder - I don;'t know of any bench that will give that.
>
> You can get back extensions with certain natural traction back machines -
> cost you for an additional machine but it is a worthwhile exercise to do.
> see
> http://www.proinversion.net/dex-exercises.html

Thanks, that looks like an awesome machine that could help by back
problems. A bit pricey though
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

"endovtha" <joebloggs.RemoveThis@go4.it> wrote in message
news:1129841279.610901.73680@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Does Bill, Rodger ? U sound as though you have some big pythons dude-
> do you have a large schlong or a fun size weiner?
>
>
You be the judge:

http://img488.imageshack.us/my.php?image=billrodgers3jd.jpg
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

"MinuteMan" <i.RemoveThis@hate.spam> wrote in message
news:4EG5f.17619$6e1.7340@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
> Hello all...
>
> I plan to join a gym soon, with the intent of "getting in shape".
> This is wehre my confusion starts as I never went to a gym and am affraid
> to look like a total dork, because I don't know what exercises I need to
> do
> and
> how to do them. I want to build up some muscle mass, strenghten my
> back/stomach(I have back problems) and overall increase my physical
> health level. The gym I'd go to is at work and there is no trainer.
> What is it I'd need to do, light weights or run arround on a threadmill?
> Should these be combined?
>
> Thanks,
> Charles

I started a month ago, I had lifted in high school. I'm now fully immersed
and fascinated by the process. My advice would be to keep it simple and easy
at first. Don't worry about doing all the odd and strange lifting exercises
people do to exercise each and every little muscle. Just do the major ones
(chest, biceps, squats, etc.).

Spend the first month getting form down, then increase weight. I'm in the
middle of that process right now.
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

"MinuteMan" <i.RemoveThis@hate.spam> wrote in message
news:4EG5f.17619$6e1.7340@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
> Hello all...
>
> I plan to join a gym soon, with the intent of "getting in shape".
> This is wehre my confusion starts as I never went to a gym and am affraid
> to look like a total dork, because I don't know what exercises I need to
> do
> and
> how to do them. I want to build up some muscle mass, strenghten my
> back/stomach(I have back problems) and overall increase my physical
> health level. The gym I'd go to is at work and there is no trainer.
> What is it I'd need to do, light weights or run arround on a threadmill?
> Should these be combined?
>
> Thanks,
> Charles


Charles, there is a guy called Bill Rodgers in this group who would be quite
sensitive to your issues - he is very well qualified to assist and well
worth waiting for.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 18:37:03 +1000, "David" <forgotwhy.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com.au>
wrote:

>Charles, there is a guy called Bill Rodgers in this group who would be quite
>sensitive to your issues - he is very well qualified to assist and well
>worth waiting for.

Correct. I just answered his questions. Thank you for the vote of
confidence. I'll see you tonight, 7pm, in the alley behond the gym, to
"pay my debt to you".
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

Joe the Aroma wrote:
> Just do the major ones
> (chest, biceps, squats, etc.).

Biceps aren't a major one.

Your backside might have some big muscles there, though.

HTH

Dally
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie? 

On 20 Oct 2005 13:47:59 -0700, "endovtha" <joebloggs DeleteThis @go4.it> wrote:

>Does Bill, Rodger ? U sound as though you have some big pythons dude-
>do you have a large schlong or a fun size weiner?
>Has your cumsac shrunk due to excess gurning?If so I can help.I will
>send you a picture of me squeezing out a large length of manturd - I
>force it so much it makes me perspire.nowhatimsayin?

Man, am I turned on now...
 >> Stay informed about: Advice for a newbie?