The Running/Keeping Fit Thread

[Norbs]

It sounds safe enough for you. I've a squat rack and bench already, as well as bike etc (including washing machine and dryer in my gym/garage and to my chagrin, a growing collection of toys, not man ones either).

In terms of music i just fire bluetooth from my watch/phone/laptop to a bluetooth speaker. It's plenty good enough.

I'd use it as an accessory to free weights but when i've a spare 3k to drop on something frivolous i'll probably just go on holiday instead.

They've added a number of software updates since I bought it, including a Bluetooth music option but it doesn't work properly yet as the Bluetooth volume drowns out the trainer and background sounds. They're rolling out an update at the moment where you can lock the end point of the cables, eg when doing a barbell chest press you'll not end up with the bar squashing you.

The 100kg is well enough, I'm not looking to bulk and I've found that nothing really requires more than 40kg

[Norbs]

Speediance have a shop in Westfield now, the Shepherds Bush one, where you can try the gear out

[Doc_Piptorious]

So Doc,

I bought that Speediance Gym Monster and couldn't be happier. From having only ever been an aerobic/cardio exerciser, even back in my gym days, it's opened me up to all that strengtg training has tp offer. I'm following a 12 week program and the machine offers me additional sessions that are AI generated to compliment what I'm doing and to promote a bit of HIIT based training and stretching days.

Highly recommend it to anyone who prefers to train outside of a gym environment, who wants to add resistance and strength training and who likes a bit of tech

Remember chatting about it and another piece or two of home gym stuff on here with you.

Glad it is working out well for you

HIIT sessions are great once one has improved their base line health. Very beneficial in the long run. Even doing something like the walking I suggested some posts back can have HIIT elements inserted into it once you are a few months in so people need not think it is just something for fitness monsters.

What are your plans once you complete the 12 week program? You intend to begin another 12 or 24 week on a tier above?


As a related side not, you found any improvements in your mental health and mental well being since you began exercising more? By that I mean things like improved concentration levels and moods or it being a little easier to motivate yourself to do things.

Always found physical exercise tends to be followed in time with improvements, no matter how incremental, to one's mental health and wellbeing and often it happens without a person realising or noticing it until asked about it.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Do they call you straw legs?

Not to my face anyway, then again I am floating about 16.5 to 17 stone again after being quite a few stone lower when I was on chemo ( best weight loss programme ever in terms of defo losing weight on it ) and standing 6'3, so what I call being thin is relative.

I've been packing the muscle back on the past 18 months, just not as muscle bound as I had become pre being unwell and pre chemo/other meds/treatments. Gone more cardio focused again since getting back into coaching (fecking need it too so I can pretend to be keeping up with them ) so have lost the weight lifting look I had when over 18 stone.

[labourRed]

They've added a number of software updates since I bought it, including a Bluetooth music option but it doesn't work properly yet as the Bluetooth volume drowns out the trainer and background sounds. They're rolling out an update at the moment where you can lock the end point of the cables, eg when doing a barbell chest press you'll not end up with the bar squashing you.

The 100kg is well enough, I'm not looking to bulk and I've found that nothing really requires more than 40kg

Glad you're getting well with it, as it'd be a very expensive clothes rack. Any investment in your health is a good one I'd say.

[peterbread]

I did a lot of stair walking for cardio. You can get your heart rate up to a good rate and not put as much pressure on your knees, I’ve had knee issues over the years, and get a nice little workout. I was going for about 45 minutes 3-4 days a week after building up very gradually. Just listen to some music or a podcast and it goes by nice and quick. It’s a nice lower impact cardio but still does the job.

My knees are completely fine now after changing to stairs and doing things like step downs in different directions to help knee health and building strength in my legs.

Not saying it’s for everyone but it definitely worked for me. The physio gave me a few different lower body exercises that helped but the step downs were the best ones and I still do them.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I did a lot of stair walking for cardio. You can get your heart rate up to a good rate and not put as much pressure on your knees, I’ve had knee issues over the years, and get a nice little workout. I was going for about 45 minutes 3-4 days a week after building up very gradually. Just listen to some music or a podcast and it goes by nice and quick. It’s a nice lower impact cardio but still does the job.

My knees are completely fine now after changing to stairs and doing things like step downs in different directions to help knee health and building strength in my legs.

Not saying it’s for everyone but it definitely worked for me. The physio gave me a few different lower body exercises that helped but the step downs were the best ones and I still do them.

Stair walking, or using a machine that replicates it, is a great low impact exercise


Does all the usual stuff like strengthening your legs, helping artery health and so on, but is is really good for improving your all round balance too, especially if you do it on actual steps when it comes to the latter.

Would have it ahead of things like conework in terms of how well it helps develop balance for footwork.

The stop start nature of step walking or step running is also fantastic for developing high concentration levels.


45 minute sessions of step/stair walking are not to be sniffed at either. That's a lot of hard work being put in over those 45 mins each time by you

[peterbread]

Thanks mate. It was worth it for me. Helped my mental health massively. And that feeling afterwards was always nice. I’m focusing more on strength work and high intensity cardio like the Norwegian 4x4 now I’ve built up a bit. Along with the yoga nidra it’s been life changing.

I got really into learning about all the different exercises you can do and what’s going to help longterm, especially considering my age. The amount of difference even a little can have is ridiculous.

I agree on the importance of balance work. Build up the strength in your lower body and balance can only be good for you as you age. I got a balance cushion that you adjust and used that for balance work and a little massage ball to use on the feet before and after cardio, that helped with knee issues as well. There are so many little things that can make a big difference.

[Norbs]

Remember chatting about it and another piece or two of home gym stuff on here with you.

Glad it is working out well for you

HIIT sessions are great once one has improved their base line health. Very beneficial in the long run. Even doing something like the walking I suggested some posts back can have HIIT elements inserted into it once you are a few months in so people need not think it is just something for fitness monsters.

What are your plans once you complete the 12 week program? You intend to begin another 12 or 24 week on a tier above?


As a related side not, you found any improvements in your mental health and mental well being since you began exercising more? By that I mean things like improved concentration levels and moods or it being a little easier to motivate yourself to do things.

Always found physical exercise tends to be followed in time with improvements, no matter how incremental, to one's mental health and wellbeing and often it happens without a person realising or noticing it until asked about it.

I completed a shorter 4 week program before this one, that was 4 days a week, this is 5 but I find I want to do something every day. 25 years ago I was gym obsessed and weighed 75kg, I used it to improve.my mental health but a friend at work asked what my crutch was if I became injured. She was totally correct. Currently I'm in a pretty good place, releasing endorphins has big benefits and I'm not sure I get that with strength training in the same way a tough anaerobic session does.

[SB]

Do they call you straw legs?

Only from a long way away

[DerKrampus]

Yay! I set a new 5K PB last night - 34m 10s - more than 2 mins off my previous best.

I went running at 8pm and the temp was 28.8C with 82% humidity!

[Norbs]

Only from a long way away

6'3", 50" chest and muscly top half and only 95kg. He's either got a really little head, or is missing some limbs in that case

[Doc_Piptorious]

6'3", 50" chest and muscly top half and only 95kg. He's either got a really little head, or is missing some limbs in that case

Except I am not 95kg. You need to learn how to convert stone to kg properly

I'm just over 108kg according to the scales this morning.

[SB]

6'3", 50" chest and muscly top half and only 95kg. He's either got a really little head, or is missing some limbs in that case

I first read that as 63” with a 50” chest which reminded me of the cube aka Xerdan Shaqiri

[Doc_Piptorious]

I first read that as 63” with a 50” chest which reminded me of the cube aka Xerdan Shaqiri