The very many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXVIII

[warpus]

Yea, "date" is usually unambiguous. Also puts you on the hook for the bill* in the Midwest US, so there's that.

*Which is probably fair, since it's theoretically your idea.

You'd think. There are ways to make it ambiguous - trust me.

I have a question about exercise. As some of you may know I am planning an ambitious trip for July and August that is going to involve 55km of mountain biking (in just 1 day) and a whole crapload of hiking .. and some kayaking. I want to be ready for all of this physically - and to prove some people wrong (neither my parents nor my roommate think I can complete the 55km bike ride in 1 day) so yesterday I signed up for the gym at my work. The gym is on my walk to the bus stop home - I pass by it every day. It's very cheap and the payment gets deducted from my monthly pay - so I won't really notice it.. It seems perfect, so I went for it and got membership for a year.

Anyway, my plan is to go sometime this week after work and try using one of those machines - a bike would be ideal I think... I just want to build up endurance and fitness, so I think I should be doing a lot of cardio. I haven't been at a gym in quite a while though, so I'm also going to need a bunch of "getting used to this working out with other people deal again" readjustment time.. I think. So I figure a bike is a good start.

I got some sneakers ready, shorts, and a t-shirt. And a lock. What else do I need - water bottle and towel? Anything else you guys recommend? Any tips?

So far the one tip I got was to eat some bananas before I go.. I will be working out before dinner, and.. well, I like bananas, and they seem to provide the right type of energy. So on the way there I eat some bananas, then I do some biking, see how I feel, and go from there. Then you can picture an 80s style montage and fast forward to July and I'm ripped and ready to handle the Norwegian outdoors. So tell me - what do you see in this montage?

 

[The_J]

You should probably bother the trainers there. I'm sure they have some default program for new people, and they probably also have an idea how to adjust it so that it fits better to you.
And I can't see how biking would be the wrong thing to do if biking is a good part of your plan ^^.

You're probably going to need the magical word "date" to be crystal clear.

(just picking this quote, applies to the rest too)
The problem here: I'd like to do this without being totally awkward. The only way I can get her without any of the mutual friends around is when I talk to her in her office (she's also living together with another friend/colleague, so no way there too, he's nearly always around). In her office there are most likely her colleagues, who I don't know really that good, so I easily speak with only her. I can speak to her in German without it being very weird (she's Swiss), but every word which I'd need to make it really clear will also easily travel through the language barrier to Dutch or English with the obvious meaning.
And I'd rather not have half the department know that I'd like to go out with her and/or we either did it or I failed at it.
That's the problem.
But let's see, I'll try today to give some hints in the right direction.
Else I'll spend the day with her as friends, and will tell her when I bring her home that I'd like to repeat it not as friends. I guess that could be the worst possible outcome, which is IMHO not really bad.

 

[Farm Boy]

Else I'll spend the day with her as friends, and will tell her when I bring her home that I'd like to repeat it not as friends.

Next time bring your blades for the cage match!

 

[warpus]

You should probably bother the trainers there. I'm sure they have some default program for new people, and they probably also have an idea how to adjust it so that it fits better to you.

Yeah, they have classes and other such things. I am going to look into it. My main concern is just getting used to gym life - I pretty much don't know anything about it anymore. If someone goes to the gym a couple times a week, maybe they know something I don't - that's what I was hoping for when I asked the question - insider tips. And I was hoping somebody would confirm or deny that I need to do a lot of cardio type exercises (bike, treadmill, etc.) in order to improve my fitness level - and make it so that I don't die on the trail - but also so that I don't need to stop every 5 minutes for a break either - and that I suppose my muscles don't cramp up either (This has happened on 2 of the long hikes I've done over the years, and it was painful.. AND I needed somebody's help when it happened)

Good luck with the girl by the way! I've failed more often than not in such situations, so I don't really want to give you any advice. I have a feeling that if she feels something for you though - that she will understand what you're asking when you do. But like I said, don't listen to me.

 

[Steph]

Roundabouts are awesome - they make everything more efficient. Traffic moves faster, there's less accidents.. what else could you want?

And they can be used to add some trees, statue, or whatever, and make the intersection quite nice

 

[sophie]

You should probably bother the trainers there. I'm sure they have some default program for new people, and they probably also have an idea how to adjust it so that it fits better to you.
And I can't see how biking would be the wrong thing to do if biking is a good part of your plan ^^.



(just picking this quote, applies to the rest too)
The problem here: I'd like to do this without being totally awkward. The only way I can get her without any of the mutual friends around is when I talk to her in her office (she's also living together with another friend/colleague, so no way there too, he's nearly always around). In her office there are most likely her colleagues, who I don't know really that good, so I easily speak with only her. I can speak to her in German without it being very weird (she's Swiss), but every word which I'd need to make it really clear will also easily travel through the language barrier to Dutch or English with the obvious meaning.
And I'd rather not have half the department know that I'd like to go out with her and/or we either did it or I failed at it.
That's the problem.
But let's see, I'll try today to give some hints in the right direction.
Else I'll spend the day with her as friends, and will tell her when I bring her home that I'd like to repeat it not as friends. I guess that could be the worst possible outcome, which is IMHO not really bad.

Protip: it's only awkward if you let it be awkward. Asking people out is a totally natural thing that takes 5 minutes. Who care who is there. You ask her if she wants to go grab dinner with you sometime. She says yes, great! She says no, move on and look for somebody else, no big deal. Dropping hints is probably the worst way to do it. Just man up and ask her.

 

[The_J]

You don't know how much crap we sling around every day .
I know why I don't talk about certain things at work, and why I'd rather not let anyone know about some things.

But whatever.
I've been clear enough (although she was doubting), and she doesn't want to.
Well...next one then.
(although this is one of the sadder fails :/ )

Next time bring your blades for the cage match!

...what??

My main concern is just getting used to gym life - I pretty much don't know anything about it anymore.

There are no introduction classes, or anything like that?

 

[Farm Boy]

...what??

Well, since we're eliminating ambiguity, this will get the idea across more clearly that you're going out as "not friends." I WILL CUT YOU!!!1!

 

[Phrossack]

Just so you know, The_J, your persistence is inspiring. I'd have given up long ago, but you don't quit, and so you'll eventually succeed.

 

[warpus]

There are no introduction classes, or anything like that?

Hmm, maybe there are! I didn't even think of that.

I have another question to the community at large: How many people would be interested in a southern Patagonia trip report - similar in style to my previous trip report threads? This one would be with less text - since the trip happened 7 years ago and I don't remember as much.

Patagonia was my first big trip (back in 2008) and there are some really nice pictures.. I would say not as nice as the other threads, but nice nevertheless. But - I'd like to ascertain interest levels before I begin anything.

I also have a Poland and California trips to write up - but I think Patagonia would be the most interesting to people.

 

[sophie]

Just so you know, The_J, your persistence is inspiring. I'd have given up long ago, but you don't quit, and so you'll eventually succeed.

Yup. Dating is, at its most fundamental, a numbers game.

 

[Zelig]

Anyway, my plan is to go sometime this week after work and try using one of those machines - a bike would be ideal I think... I just want to build up endurance and fitness, so I think I should be doing a lot of cardio. I haven't been at a gym in quite a while though, so I'm also going to need a bunch of "getting used to this working out with other people deal again" readjustment time.. I think. So I figure a bike is a good start.

I got some sneakers ready, shorts, and a t-shirt. And a lock. What else do I need - water bottle and towel? Anything else you guys recommend? Any tips?

So far the one tip I got was to eat some bananas before I go.. I will be working out before dinner, and.. well, I like bananas, and they seem to provide the right type of energy. So on the way there I eat some bananas, then I do some biking, see how I feel, and go from there. Then you can picture an 80s style montage and fast forward to July and I'm ripped and ready to handle the Norwegian outdoors. So tell me - what do you see in this montage?

You're in luck, as a beginner, you can do pretty much anything at a gym, and you'll still see better gains than people who've been training for a long time.

Unless you're specifically training for competitive endurance racing, spending much time (e.g. an hour) at a constant speed on cardio is time-wasteful. You'll get better real-world endurance and fitness by doing 20 minutes of intervals (i.e. bike really fast, then slow down, then bike fast again, etc.) and then doing 20 minutes of lunges/leg presses/whatever. I like squats/deadlifts/etc. for legs but they can be intimidating for new gym users... I'd recommend some way of making them less intimidating.

And I was hoping somebody would confirm or deny that I need to do a lot of cardio type exercises (bike, treadmill, etc.) in order to improve my fitness level - and make it so that I don't die on the trail - but also so that I don't need to stop every 5 minutes for a break either - and that I suppose my muscles don't cramp up either (This has happened on 2 of the long hikes I've done over the years, and it was painful.. AND I needed somebody's help when it happened)

You don't need to do cardio type exercises... but it tends to be mentally easier for people to bike/run/whatever then to do squats/lunges/pushups/burpees/whatever with sufficient intensity.

I don't do any gym cardio, I just lift to exhaustion, if I need more cardio I lift lighter weights, or take a break from what I'm lifting to lift a different thing.

 

[sophie]

You're in luck, as a beginner, you can do pretty much anything at a gym, and you'll still see better gains than people who've been training for a long time.

Unless you're specifically training for competitive endurance racing, spending much time (e.g. an hour) at a constant speed on cardio is time-wasteful. You'll get better real-world endurance and fitness by doing 20 minutes of intervals (i.e. bike really fast, then slow down, then bike fast again, etc.) and then doing 20 minutes of lunges/leg presses/whatever. I like squats/deadlifts/etc. for legs but they can be intimidating for new gym users... I'd recommend some way of making them less intimidating.

This. Squats and Deadlifts are king. Just make sure you focus on pushing down with your legs (rather than up with your back) and keep your back flush/engaged (don't let it roll over) and you'll be fine.

Diet is like 70% of gymming. If you don't get enough protein/carbohydrates to complement the workout you're wasting your time.

 

[Antilogic]

I recommend getting a friend to spot you for your first sets of deadlifts and squats to make sure you are doing them right. Or use your phone to record yourself doing the exercise from different angles, then review it along with trainer vids on youtube or something. You can really mess yourself up if you take on too much weight with bad form.

As a(n amateur) long distance runner, interval training is great for building yourself up to longer runs and it isn't as boring as setting the treadmill on 6.8 MPH and just chugging along for a few miles. All depends on what you want to get out of the exercise--if you want to run long races, you gotta do some long endurance cardio sessions.

 

[warpus]

Is my "eat some bananas" before working out plan sound? I won't have time to really prepare anything, and bananas prepare themselves.

My goals: To be able to hike 20km through the Norwegian fjords in one day or 55km on a bike in 1 day - and not break, die, or finish the day feeling like a zombie.

 

[Antilogic]

Bananas are pretty good for preventing leg cramps. I tend to eat them after a workout or at lunchtime, but before the workout is probably fine too.

I'd recommend looking into something like the couch-to-5k running plan, or some equivalent plan for biking, to pair with the weight lifting.

 

[Zelig]

This. Squats and Deadlifts are king. Just make sure you focus on pushing down with your legs (rather than up with your back) and keep your back flush/engaged (don't let it roll over) and you'll be fine.

I never really got the hang of thinking of either of them as pushing down exercises, in my mind they're categorized as "unbending" exercises, where I start bent, and then hip thrust to straightness.

All depends on what you want to get out of the exercise--if you want to run long races, you gotta do some long endurance cardio sessions.

If you want to be competitive in long races... if you just want to finish it doesn't really matter. I don't do any specific endurance training and I've got no problem cranking out a 20k run whenever.

Is my "eat some bananas" before working out plan sound? I won't have time to really prepare anything, and bananas prepare themselves.

Sure, bananas are good. I often have a banana left from work that I'll eat before going to the gym... but I also often go without eating anything directly beforehand and don't have any problems.

Nuts are also good for not needing preparing, almonds are my go-to.

 

[sophie]

I recommend getting a friend to spot you for your first sets of deadlifts and squats to make sure you are doing them right. Or use your phone to record yourself doing the exercise from different angles, then review it along with trainer vids on youtube or something. You can really mess yourself up if you take on too much weight with bad form.

This. The first rule of lifting is to make sure that, no matter what you are doing, it is done with perfect form. If you feel your form starting to break down stop immediately and drop the weight. Also be wary of dudebros in the gym trying to give you advice about how you should be lifting. I've gotten so many terrible tips, especially while in college.

Another important rule: never do squats in tennis shoes, or any shoe with a gelled/cushioned heel. This creates an imbalanced surface while lifting and can make for some nasty knee problems once you start packing on the weight. WHen you squat, do so: a) barefoot, b) in uncushioned shoes (many lifters swear by converse all-stars/vans), c) with specialty lifting shoes.

I never really got the hang of thinking of either of them as pushing down exercises, in my mind they're categorized as "unbending" exercises, where I start bent, and then hip thrust to straightness.

This is another good way to think about them.

 

[warpus]

I have a friend who does lifts and squats and is obsessed with all that stuff. He's been trying to get me to join his gym, but it costs like $80+ a month or something like that.. or more? He comes over and tells me that he did 20 400 pound quadruple sow-cow squat reps, and I never have any idea what he's talking about. I tried asking him about gym life and what he recommends for what I want - but he keeps wanting me to do exercises to improve my strength.. but I don't want that - I am just interested in lasting longer and being generally more fit. Anyway, thanks for y'all help, we'll see how this thing goes (tomorrow or Friday)

 

[The_J]

As long as you do it .

Well, since we're eliminating ambiguity, this will get the idea across more clearly that you're going out as "not friends." I WILL CUT YOU!!!1!

:rofl: nice one.
Unless you're going to a fantasy convention, then maybe not ^^.

Just so you know, The_J, your persistence is inspiring. I'd have given up long ago, but you don't quit, and so you'll eventually succeed.

I can't quit, I haven't done much yet, I just need to test more (I've maybe just written about every tiny occurrence here, which makes it appear more ^^).
And also: If you don't try, nothing will ever change. It's always up to you to make this better.


...mmhh...we don't have a dedicated thread for love problems, do we?