I remember when I was strong
I have decided to start working out. Lately I have been remeniscing about my rowing days, when I got up at 4:30 in the morning to spend the pre-dawn period straining against a weather-beaten oar, pushing through the cold and the exhaustion and the blisters, pushing every muscle in my body, striving to find that perfect, peaceful synchrony. Back then I was strong. I had muscles. My back, which now looks like a pile of bones with fat hanging off it, once was firm and defined and powerful. I had strong arms that could do things with purpose, not the shoddy sticks with pre-old lady flab that I'm sporting today. And I had legs that, when pushed against the footholds in a boat, displayed actual musculature. I mean, muscles. Plus rowing was the only sport I was ever good at, so I have a right to be nostalgic.
So I have decided to start working out. I can't handle the getting up at 4:30am voluntarily (I will have to do it next year, but that will be against both my will and my better judgement), so rowing is, for the time being, out. But in addition to riding my bike up the hill, I want to get some arms again, find my back, feel strong.
Yesterday I went to the weight room in the OHSU fitness center for the first time ever. I kind of wandered around aimlessly for a while, trying to conjure up memories of weight machines I had used in my rowin' days, while all the while trying to pretend that I belonged there, that I knew what I was doing. I have forgetten how much of a guy zone weight rooms usually are. Such a man vibe in there - it hit me instantly. Large bulky dudes straining against crazy leg presses, grunting as they bench pressed what appeared to be 4,000 lbs of iron, entangling themselves in metal to do those intense sideways situps. Not that I felt unwelcome, but its just a different feel, you know? A room full of guys pumping iron. And then there was me.
Yes, I think I will move that weight down from 180 to 40lbs, please. Excellent.
So here's what I did: lat pull, rowing pull, push up thing, triceps thing, leg extensor, and back guy. I tried this machine to "blast my abs" (as ritchey would say), but it felt very unsatisfying, so I dropped it from my intense iron-pumping muscle-making routine. Does it still count as pumping iron if you are only using machines? My vote is yes. Also - since I have completely forgotten how to lift weights - do I do 3 sets of 10 reps? Of 15? Do I sit at a machine until I'm done with all my sets? Or do I do a cycle? (That's another thing about the man vibe weight room - nobody was in there with a walkman or anything, and nobody was talking to eachother, so it was just this silent room full of bulky grunting dudes (plus fiona) all sitting on their machines between grunting sessions and starting at eachother.) Also, is there any way in hell that I am going to stick with my plan of 3 days of weight training a week? Attempting something comparable to an "old college try" comes to mind.
I am going to become so unbelievably buff.
Glad to hear that you're planning on cranking the iron. I'm currently working out at a place called the "Jungle Gym" on Foster. It's very Napoleon Dynamite reminiscent. Recent overheard conversation between two frumpy men near the stair climbers:
"Yeah, I guess he didn't realize I'm like a third degree black belt."
"Did you put him in the tiger hold?"
"I was going to but he like ran off and stuff."
I'm kind of training as a cage fighter there. Lots of role models.
I'll be joining you up on the hill next year as a timid first year. No hazing please.
excuse me, but can you please to explain to me why the college which is not young, it is making a try? i am not speaking the english too good.
Fiona, I applaud you and your new plan. It seems strange to me that there wouldn't be any music playing in the weight room--everyplace I've ever been to is blasting tunes. You should make some playlists for your iPod to help keep you motivated. It works pretty well for me.
As for your repetition question--3 or 4 sets of 10-12 reps is pretty standard--make sure that they last set is tough, but not impossible. Oh, and stay at the one machine until you are done with it.
Fiorla: I too am impressed with your strength and dignity. As you know, I too recently re-began working out, and it has actually become pretty rewarding. Not in the looks department (my belly still resembles an old deflated dingy that has been out to sea for many decades)but in a much more important department: the department of my FEELINGS. I hope you too will begin loving the sweat rolling down your face as you watch Fox News on the stairmaster. You are a beautiful woman.
Drew! Congrats! I am excited that you will soon be joining our ranks up here on the hill. I will personally track you down and cover you with a barrell full of lemon jello and crawfish. That is how we welcome first years at OHSU - with pain and humiliation. Let's see if you can take it, newby! (Kidding. You will have a lot of fun. Congratulations, man)
Freddy, aka Raul - amazing, deep, inside ref.
Let me try to explain. The american expression "old college try" refers to putting in a good, earnest effort to attempt something. A similar expression might be "give it your best shot," which can be seen as a basketball analogy. The "old" in "old college try" does not refer to a university institution that has a long history, or is otherwise old in years. "Old" is a coloquial term that people often use to refer to something that is a long-standing tradition, or something that is well-known, perhaps well-loved. As in "the good OLD U S of A" (also sometimes abbreviated "ol'"). Also, it is a well known fact that people in college try harder than people who are not in college. Hence the expression. I hope this helps. Thank you for your interest.
Hey Fiona- Good for you! Who knew the med school gym would be so beefy?
I used to work out at the Dishman Community Center in NE, and it was such a funny scene. A bunch of big, beefy black dudes. And me.
I actually know quite a bit about "pumping iron"- I will totally help you if you need advice. To add to John's answer, if you want to build up bigger muscles, then you should do 7-9 reps at a higher weight, and do 2-3 sets. If you are interested in having leaner muscles with more endurance, do 15-20 reps at a lower weight, and do 3-4 sets. Also, at the end of each set your muscles should be 'fatigued,' which means it should basically feel like you can't do another one. Many women make this mistake in my opinion- they keep it at too easy of a weight and then don't see as much progress.
Dammit, I wish I could afford a gym membership.
(p.s. My favorite iron pumping ipod choices are Christina Aguilera and Sleater-Kinney...)
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Don't allow people to intimidate you with the amount
of weight that they lift. You need to find the
amount of weight that you are able to properly and
safely lift. At first, error on the side of a
lighter amount of weight. I would stay away from
squats or leg extensions as it is easy to injure
your knees with improper technique or an excessive
amount of weight. I was foolish and narcisstic
and have some trouble with my R calcaneal tendon
and my L lateral meniscus or cartilidge. There
was no need for me to do this as my legs are well
developed. Now I long for the days when I would
go for long runs on Twilleger. There are some
really good books. I will call one of my friends
to get the name of a few that he recommends and
post the list here. Enjoy the workout :)