I just joined a gym now what? - Page 3

It's always been argued that it doesn't matter. I do seem to remember a fairly recent study suggesting that post-workout might have some very minor benefits though. I haven't checked to see if this has been replicated or dismissed, I personally don't care, but if you're anal about OPTIMAL OPTIMAL then there's no downside to doing that. I just try to avoid taking it before I go to sleep because I can't hydrate properly then.

Keep in mind that something like 10% of people aren't going to respond to creatine so you won't know if you're wasting the money or not until you test it.

I got 1,000 grams for $20. I am not that concerned about it. Anecdotal it always seems to work well but I have never tested it more than seeing the weights go up. Even if it's a placebo I would pay $20 for the effect.

On January 17 2018 21:39 RiKD wrote: What about timing on creatine? I used to always take it with my post workout shake but I was reading that it doesn't matter? It's not like most things that gets into the bloodstream and into the brain or the muscles... well, it does but it is more about having it in your system already rather than digesting it. I might take it when I get home from work so then I can drink more water with it.

there is 0 importance of creatine timing because it is built up in your body over time. It takes, iirc a week or 2 with average dosing for your body to become fully saturated. Your only goal in taking it every day is to keep your body saturated

How often are you guys doing abs?

Jocko has me doing them everyday but that seems like a lot especially with doing BJJ too.

I will usually do lateral abs twice a week. I do the 5X5 workout and on off days I often go do some little extra (biceps/triceps/shoulder/calf,abs). With my bjj (3-4X/week), I would not see myself doing abs every time. With compound exercises like squat,deadlift,bench etc, you work on your core anyway.

What about creatine and cardio?

I was reading somewhere that it actually can improve vo2 max. I think it was high school football that the coaches didn't want their players taking creatine b/c it hurt the gas tank but that could just be a myth?

I am not considering taking creatine. I haven't read about it really but nutritionist and Md friends argue against it. As for cardio, Rolling for over 45min 3-4x a week does it for me. I will get back on my bike once winter is over though. Doing cardio I would probably do High Intensity Interval training.

How do you guys do Yoga? Solo or in groups? I'd like to join a group, but I'm self conscious about being the only guy there. I joined a running group last summer where I was only guy in it and I felt pretty awkward about it.

I have my own equipment and will work on stuff solo but I always found the best yoga to be had in a good group setting. Now a days more guys are doing yoga. Even if you are the only guy in the class which I have been many times what is the difference? Just do yoga and be a friendly person and it will work out in your favor.

I go to yoga class at my gym where there are almost always several older males besides me. Sometimes other younger people too. But either way just do it. For me, it helped to kinda address underlying anxieties

One time, I misread the schedule and by the time I realized that it wasn't yoga class but instead some dumb dance pop pilates class, it was too late to leave without being rude. So it sucked but I stayed. And now I almost never think twice about any awkwardness

And yeah for me, it helps a lot to have an instructor guide you through real time through the movements. There's also the social factor of feeling obligated to get through the full hour because I've tried yoga at home by myself. Its something I find too easy to quit early or rush through if not in class

Yeah, a good instructor can really open your eyes on certain poses. So many times they have said 1 or 2 things that really brought a pose into gear. Many have been helpful enough to spend time with me after class on certain poses or things I can work on at home like tight hamstrings or whatever. The struggle is real doing it at home. Some days you find yourself in that zone and other days you are hacking this and that in the practice or holding warrior 1 for fuck all. Flat out there are just really good vibes in a good yoga studio. Everyone is high (on yoga) and friendly.

I do it solo at home. I would go to a yoga studio but honestly the gym+bjj takes my budget for sports. Bjj is quite expensive in Montreal compared to Quebec and so is yoga. I know I am doing some poses wrong but I like to believe I have a higher than average spacial awareness since I have been doing multiple sports all my life. I really use yoga as a complement to bjj. Working a lot on hips opener and flexibility in general.

On January 19 2018 23:25 RiKD wrote: I have my own equipment and will work on stuff solo but I always found the best yoga to be had in a good group setting. Now a days more guys are doing yoga. Even if you are the only guy in the class which I have been many times what is the difference? Just do yoga and be a friendly person and it will work out in your favor.

Well, if I were the only guy there all the time I'd feel like the people there would have the assumption that I was there to check out girls. When I first joined a running group I remember getting the stink eye from a girl when everyone was stretching and I was the only guy there; experiences like that make me feel unwelcome. I'm just afraid of being thought of as a creep, you know?

The studio near me does 'hot' yoga, would you recommend it?

I thought that is what you might have been alluding to. I used to be fearful of that but if you are not going to yoga to check out girls there is nothing to be afraid of. I just went and did yoga and found maybe even if there was a little tension with some people who cares. If you can become friends with the instructor that all melts away. But, don't go there and check out women. It is natural it might happen which may be another fear. Some woman in there has an amazing ass and they are all in yoga pants after all. Remember everyone is watching and someone sees all. I don't think it's a big deal unless you are staring at it. They may check you out too but if you are seriously doing the poses and focusing on your breathing there isn't much focus for checking out women. I had fears I would get a boner. I have been half chubbed up before doing a bunch of cobra pose stuff early in the morning like a morning wood situation. I don't know man. Women are farting all the time. Maybe some of them want that to be some sort of safe space or something but you have every right to be there and any stupid assumptions or butthurt about guys being in the class are on them as long as your motive is to do yoga fuck em. But, I will repeat this. Make friends with the instructor or should I say at least be friendly where they know your name and you can have a conversation. That deflates everything.

I have never done hot yoga but it sounds good to me. Better than cold yoga which I have done before due to bad heating and winters in Pittsburgh. I always wanted to do hot yoga. You got me interested. I may look into if there are any places around here but I think at the end of the day proximity is likely most important so you will go, and then the instructors. A good instructor makes all the difference. Then the practice. I was at one place where they were doing all this advanced vinyassa stuff and I was like FUCK THAT.

I got some ZMA today. Seems like an easy, convenient way to get some zinc and magnesium.

Sometimes I question the program I am on when I follow heavy deadlifts and kettlebell swings with a ton of walking lunges the following day.

I might start fucking with ashwagandha and ginger extract.

a lot of positive studies out there on the benefits of using a sauna regularly. I personaly use the sauna at my local gym most days out of the week. I strongly suggest to use the sauna post workout or just go on rest/lighter days.

I love saunas but the one at my gym is an electric sauna that you have to turn on an hour before you use it. It looks like some small microwave.