How to Exercise in a Gym

I've blog'd often enough to say exercise so it might be time to start getting serious about how exactly to exercise to get some visible results.

What is about these exercise images that commend them ?

They all show people exercising standing up - or at least on their feet.

The big problem with working out in a gym is the temptation to sit on one machine, workout some, sit some more, workout a little more then move onto sit on yet another machine.

If you decide to exercise in a gym then set yourself the goal of using more energy in the gym than you expended walking from the parking lot into the gym.









Problem - too much sitting.
Answer: Spend at least half your time in the gym standing up. Look out for machines you can exercise standing up.

Problem - using machines which isolate one muscle.
Answer: Don't do it. Do not try to isolate a muscle. I know it's what the body builders do but for nearly everyone in a gym that is the wrong way to exercise.

Problem - gym exercise is not helping with the activities of life like carrying shopping or climbing the stairs.
Answer: Do exercise in the gym which is at least somewhat the same form as anything you have a problem with. If getting up from a low chair is an issue, do something almost the same in the gym. You need to carry heavy shopping then carry heavy weights in the gym.

The National Institute of Aging has a very nice guide to exercise for those of us getting up there in age.

The Association for Active Aging Professionals has a well thought out 7 page publication on How to select an age-friendly personal fitness trainer. This particular publication is at the bottom of the page.

I'm a Personal Trainer with a number of older clients.
You are welcome to find out my answers to the questions.
Post a comment to this blog and I'll respond.

The same page on the website of The Association for Active Aging Professionals has a checklist to help select an Age-Friendly Fitness Facility.