Do you really think it is programming, or is it mindset? I'm not trying to oversimplify things, because I think it's both and more, but I would put more weight on the mindset (and some of that does come from programming).

What I find troubling about commercial gyms, especially for backcountry fitness, is how unfocused the majority of people who work out there are. There goals are vague or their workouts scattered. I could work out six days a week in a gym, be dead tired after every day, and only be marginally more fit than when I started, not because of programming, but because my goals weren't focused and specific (i.e. squat 2x body weight, run five miles in 45 mins., etc., swim a mile). It's the same basic principles required to lighten your pack: focused goals and specific measurement.

I think if we clarified with ourselves what EXACTLY we wanted out of a gym experience, it could be really, really good, even excellent. Here is where knowledge trumps effort.

*edited to remove double post*

Edited by GlacierRambler on 11/03/2011 02:36:14 MDT.

i think the key points of the article are

- as a business a gym exists to part ways between you and your money ... now some gyms may offer good value for it, others not so much ... you dont need em for fitness, most community centres ive seen have enough free weights for most fitness purposes and they charge reasonable prices ... nor do they make you sign contracts with cancellation fees

- machines are not as good as free weights ... i dont think anyone disputes this ... yet almost every commercial gym ive been to has the majority of their floor occupied by weight and cardio machines ... they dont work the stabilizing muscles and force you into a specific range of motion ... so why do gyms use em so much ... one thing im amazed at is that there is a machine for everything these days ... olympic weightlifters who are probably the strongest people around dont use those fancy machines and stick to simple exercises i suspect

- so called sport specific fitness on funny balls and other such may not work ... when i was doing MMA years ago i remember this person who could do amazing things with one of those balls like do squats, jump on em, etc ... the problem is that he couldnt fight a dammn ... while i do believe that there IS sport specific fitness that may work (crimpboards in climbing for example), generally you arent going to find it in a commercial gym ... youll find it with an experienced coach in that particular sport

- goals ... if you want to get strong, you need a particular goal, same with endurance, etc ... and just like dropping yr pack weight, you need to track yr gains and work out the math ...

ultimately i encourage people to do whatever they love to get fit ... but i dont see a particular need to sign a contract for $$$$ for stuff you dont really need for it

A commercial gym is what you make of it. Every gym I've seen has enough free weights to do a complete workout, but they're rarely used for anything except curls and bench presses. Those squat and power racks in the corner? They sit collecting dust while the members get in line at the machines. I've never had anyone ask me how long I'd be before I was done using the power rack.

They are there to make money. Gym owners know that most folk give up after a few weeks. That is why the number of memberships sold is probably 10 X what the gym could actually accomodate.

"A commercial gym is what you make of it."

+1

Just like any easy mountain trail. You can make it as hard as you want, depending on what training goal you're working on at any given point in time.

Depends what you like and what you will stick with IMHO. I prefer long slogs on a bicycle (preferably a mountain bike) when it comes to being generally "in shape", considering life isn't worth living without pizza, lasagna, etc... (again IMHO ... just call me Garfield). I haven't found much to beat it for melting that pizza-induced fat besides several days with a traditional weight backpack, with gym/resistance exercise to balance out the antagonistic muscle groups ... but everyone's mileage may differ.

The only other thing that can burn the calories I like to consume is training runs with a bulletproof/flak vest on but that was only for a couple weeks - hope I didn't damage my knees too badly.

Hi,
check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il8rU0H-9ps

My friend made me one and it beats the hell out off you! Excellent tool and great
addition to the bodyweight exercises from above post.

Cheers

If you are seriously interested in training then you should look at these links if you get a chance:

www.gymjones.com (read the articles, some are written extreme on purpose, Marks books are similar. There is very good information and some articles on mindset.)

www.mountainathlete.com (Great program and coach. Rob has trained some of the best US climbers. Trains a lot of the Exum Mountain Guides.)

www.crossfit.com (Free and short sessions. Be careful training to failure is almost never the best way the make gains. Modify the session so they are still difficult but you are not training to failure all the time. Also don't think it's cool to rip big blisters into your hands. It's not cool, because now you can barely train for two weeks until your hands heal. The journals cost money but are jam packed full of very good training, fitness, and nutrition articles.)

As with all athletic activities training can be dangerous. Learn how to lift and train properly. Some olympic lifts can take a long, long time to perfect.

Training doesn't end when your workout session does. Take care of your self. Eat healthy and get rest. The benefits of these are some times more then the benefits of training.

A functional training program would be great for any serious or recreational backpacker whether your pack is 5 or 35 lbs. Plus it is great to break up the boring old run's. Strength training not only makes you stronger (duh) but will give you better stability, injury prevention and make you feel good. Adventure athletes, tri-athletes and many other serious endurance athletes still incorporate some type of strength training into their programs.

Have fun but be safe.

Background music/video while reading Eric's post!



Click me

Edited by Empacitator on 11/05/2011 17:20:00 MDT.

"What I find troubling about commercial gyms, especially for backcountry fitness, is how unfocused the majority of people who work out there are. There goals are vague or their workouts scattered."

While I mostly agree with your post as regards people really interested in fitness, I think we've lost sight of the fact that there a lot of people piddling around in gyms who would otherwise be on the couch with their Doritos and Big Gulp. At least they're making some attempt to change their lifestyle. I'll give them credit for that. Also, gyms provide employment to a lot of college kids who would otherwise be painting houses in the summer to defray part of their college costs. ;)

As far as fitness, if you really want to go bare bones, all you need is a pair of shorts/running shoes, a few free weights, a DIY pullup/dip rig, and enough room to do crunches and pushups. Feel free to substitute your alternate choice for the running shoes/shorts, that was just my personal choice for most of my adult life. Anything else is optional, IMO.

My Super Secret Golf Course workout.

Start at 1st tee and do 25 push ups and 25 sit ups,
Run to 2nd tee then do 25 push ups and 25 sit ups.
Run to 3rd tee 25 PU - 25 SU
Do for 18 holes........ if you can.

thats running about 5-7k and 450 push ups and 450 sit ups.

Jog the par 4s and 5s, sprint par 3s

Disclaimer: do this at night when the course is closed or off season. It can also be simulated on any trail. If you can do 18 holes you are in wicked shape. Do fewer reps per hole on the back nine if needed or even decreasing reps as you go.

Enjoy

By the way, I am with Tom above. The best treadmill is the earth. It just rotates under you as you run, walk, skip, bike. Use trees for pull ups, benches for dips etc. An amazing workout machine gym all in one.

Edited by mtnrat on 11/05/2011 21:12:27 MDT.

I usually do workouts involving running, push-ups,pull-ups, and sit-ups... i find this most effective in staying fit (not bulking up) and I can definitely feel the difference when hiking. I have in the past done the lunges, squats, benching, etc.... and while I certainly was physically more muscular I don't think I was anymore physically fit then i am now doing mostly workouts sans weights.

Sean- I like that :) golf course w/ some trees to do pull ups and you'd be GTG!

I've added some weights back into my workout (used to be my entire workout!), but focused much more on basic movements (squats/bench/cleans) and less about high weight, low reps- body weight exercises still comprise the majority of my workout

One of the Best full body workouts I've ever come across is simply nonstop scrambling on class 3-4 or low 5th class terrain for a couple hours.

It works best if you scramble around near your danger limit, but on easy enough terrain so you can move fairly fast to keep it aerobic. This will make you focus, and every move will contribute to the workout.

i got to the part where it talked about warming up being a waste of time, and promptly stopped reading it...

"i got to the part where it talked about warming up being a waste of time, and promptly stopped reading it..."

Hmmm. I missed that part. I did see the part where the author says multiple studies have shown stretching before exercise can have a negative effect, but that's a whole lot different than warming up. And he's right, multiple studies have come to that conclusion.

How many times have you been told to start with a little stretching? Yet multiple studies of pre-workout stretching demonstrate that it actually raises your likelihood of injury and lowers your subsequent performance. Turns out muscles that aren’t warmed up don’t really stretch anyway, and tugging on them just firms up their resistance to a wider range of motion. In fact, limbering up even has a slackening effect on your muscles, reducing their stability and the amount of power and strength they’ll generate.



i even see the words "warmed up" right there. like i said, stopped reading right there.

Josh, we're looking at the same paragraph and seeing two different things, I guess. He does not say 'don't warm up,' he says 'don't stretch cold muscles.' In fact, where you see 'warmed up' is where he says that muscles that aren't warmed up don't stretch anyway. In other words, if you're going to stretch, you should warm up first! Again, stretching and warming up are two different things. If you're reading that paragraph as the author telling you not to warm up, then I believe you're misinterpreting what he's saying.

maybe you are right - perhaps i jumped the gun. i personally find warm up invaluable.