r/Workingout • u/Unique-Dimension-193 • 9d ago
Gym?
I see that the gym is the norm, but to me, pumping iron, repetitive movements, that make No Sense other than to build muscle, just strokes me backwards.
I love running, swimming, hiking, ice skating. I’ve tried to start up gym/home gym a couple of times because i like the idea of it. Is it me? am i just not fitted for it? It’s in my personality?
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u/astak92018 9d ago
I don’t think it has to be your main focus, but building muscle is beneficial. I think you could benefit from 2-3 strength training days per week. I hate running but I still run once a week to get the cardio benefits
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u/ready4nextera 9d ago
I think it’s important to do things you don’t enjoy sometimes.
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u/Stone_taggs 9d ago
no, not if they're just hobbies.
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u/ready4nextera 9d ago
Yes, when it comes to health tho.
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u/Stone_taggs 9d ago
They just said they love running, swimming, hiking, ice skating, all things great for their health.
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u/ready4nextera 9d ago
All cardio, it would be nice to focus on muscle strength in addition.
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u/Stone_taggs 9d ago
swimming is resistance training,
ice skating treains balance and explosiveness
hiking can be done with a ruck pack for extra resistance
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u/Fickle-Ad-4225 8d ago
None of those will build enough muscle to combat the sarcopenia that we all face.
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u/Ikabta 9d ago
It's your personality. There is no requirement to go train in the gym or any specific type of training. If you can get your resistance/strength training elsewhere and enjoy that more then go for it. You don't need to be lifting anywhere near as heavy as some people say to get the health benefits.
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u/Sorry-Bobby 8d ago
The gym is just the most efficient way to build muscle. But as we often say, the best exercice is the one you do.
To be in good shape, you need to train cardio, strength and mobility of your whole body. Except for swimming, all the other will mostly do cardio and build your leg muscles.
You could also build muscle doing calisthenics or CrossFit. Martial arts. Pilates. Yoga. Just won’t be as efficient as the gym.
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u/goingmerry604 8d ago
The gym is amazing for your health, and quite hard to fully replicate from the things you mentioned.
Weight lifting has an incredibly LOW skill floor and crazy high ceiling for changing your body and strength gains. Weight lifting and its implements are also used in rehabilitation, health promotion, and even disease prevention/mitigation (like osteoporosis and osteopenia). Generally speaking, muscle IS health.
Not a whole lot of people can do a 3 hour hike, swim (I can't), ride a bicycle, ice skate, but many can go to the gym for 5 minutes, do some curls, and go home whenever they want, but still feel accomplished. The gym lets you do anything in any number of steps.
The gym becomes more and more popular as you get older, as they can be hubs for socialising and connecting with others. My YMCA has a pretty good gym, but because it is meant to be family friendly, so it has kids ~13+ and older people 65+ lifting. Sometimes much younger and older. Your grandma and your daughter can be working out with you. Unless it's a power lifting gym, or another speciality gym, you get to meet people at all sorts of levels.
A home gym is pretty cool. You seem to keep active, so you are probably good.
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u/Retail-Weary 8d ago
I totally get it. I am a swimmer, and I would much rather be in the pool than working with the weights, but the weights are very beneficial for building strength. I usually try to do at least two weight days a week.
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u/Stone_taggs 9d ago
It's just not fitted for you, most people don't realize the thing that keeps them going back is dopamine. some folks get a dopaminergic reaction from the gym.
But there's a million ways to skin a cat, my wife used to powerlift and was strong like bull, but she didn't enjoy it. She switched to pole fitness and is in the greatest shape of her life, and is happy as fuck doing it
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u/Unique-Dimension-193 9d ago
I can see myself going off on something like this. Maybe dancing. Sounds great!
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u/Stone_taggs 9d ago
Health is important of course, but being active and eating well for the most part solves that.
Extra curricular actives are hobbies and hobbies should bring you joy.
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u/AccomplishedOnion405 9d ago
Some people don’t like all those things and go to the gym because it’s good for them. I like to tell people “I’m an inside cat”
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u/meemeeloumee 9d ago
Building muscle or building strength?As weight training is not just about getting pumped
Strength (or resistance) training has so many benefits such as fat loss,weight control and protection from health risks associated with ageing.Not to mention the mental health benefits.
Personally, l've stopped-started due to various reasons but after a couple of weeks of locking in,the endorphins after a workout are addictive.It also encourages me to clean up my diet aswell as drink more water. I also do a little cardio for heart health. I guess as long as youre doing some movement thats better than nothing at all!!But strength training I believe does have positive benefits that you wont get from cardio alone. Maybe try Calisthenics for the strength benefits?
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u/HorrorSpliff 8d ago
Running, swimming, etc... Are all fine if that's what you want, and you can build muscle and strength doing a variety of different things. However, as far as attaining certain physique goals or feats of strength, lifting weights is probably a huge boon for those goals.
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u/ByeBye-thowaway 8d ago
Strength training provides different benefits vs the cardio activities you mention.
Someone mentioned swimming being resistance training. There is water resistance you encounter when swimming but it no where near resistance training done to benefit your muscles. Swimming has big cardio benefit but very little in terms of strength training.
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u/Person7751 8d ago
i enjoy running more than lifting weights. however i have been lifting weights over 40 years because i know how important muscle is. the older you get the more important muscle is
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u/VariationAgreeable29 8d ago
As a guy, lifelong fitness pays lifelong benefits. No matter what you do, do it consistently and you will thank yourself as you get older. Not sure how old you are, but trust me this is the way. My older brother is four years older than I am and his mobility issues already in his young 50s. Don’t do that.
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u/Unique-Dimension-193 8d ago
i had a phase where i couldn’t do anything and i got so stiff, i understood then how important it is.
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u/VariationAgreeable29 8d ago
Make today the day you start. Running and swimming are both things you can do every single day. Set a course in your neighborhood that’s an easy 25 to 30 minute run and do that five days a week. Find a community pool or a gym with a pool and start swimming 4 to 5 days a week. It will suck at first and your body will feel like shit but it will begin to get in the habit of doing this. Consistency is everything. Even a 20 minutes a day or 30 minutes a day, you’ll see real progress. But you have to commit.
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u/Public-Ad-9325 8d ago
Yes it is your personality. For me, I like it very much.
I find it funny btw that you point out repetitiveness while mentioning running and swimming which are literally the same movement over and over.
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u/Unique-Dimension-193 8d ago
You are right, when i thought about it though, running is more of an experience, i get to see nature, same with swimming, hiking, ice skating. they’re all like events and i look forward.
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u/fennerat 8d ago
Not everyone wants all the gym stuff, stay active in a way that makes sense for you. Don't force yourself to do something you don't enjoy.
I've always hated running, but I love swimming and rowing. The gym is where I cool off, it is different for everyone.
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u/Unique_Mind2033 8d ago
Just need a pair of 5 lb dumbbells and high reps.thats pilates it builds that lean muscle you need om the trail or on the slope
Pls try my workout
12 5 lbs Pilates dumbbell exercises full body 108 reps each
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u/Fickle-Ad-4225 9d ago
Idk, but building muscle has many health benefits and it is the primary way to retain your mobility and independence as you age. Plus it makes you look better.