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Good Circuit / Workout Builders?

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10:55 am
January 6, 2010


CodeMonkey

Roswell, GA

Member

posts 40


Anyone know of any good workout builders?  For example, I want somewhere that I can plug in: 60 minutes, full body workout — or — 45 mins, upper body workout, etc.  Then, it would generate a workout for me.  I guess I'd have to let it know what I have access to:  Free weights, machines, medicine balls, etc.


http://fasttrackforweightloss.com/ does it, but, I'm tiring of that site, and I want something new.  (And, I'd like to stop paying for it too!)


There are a couple of apps for the iphone, but I'm not sure how good they are.  And, I've heard good things about Men's Health, but I haven't tried their site yet.  (Gonna do that after this post).


-Dave

In the paraphrased words of Socrates, "I ate what?"

3:58 pm
January 6, 2010


Rafe Brox

Shrink Geek Orbital HQ (Weight Room)

Admin

posts 43

This is the Elitist Jerk in me coming out for a minute:

"The best 60 minute workout builder is your brain."

Admittedly, this is only useful advice for folks who have already gotten a fair bit of familiarity with the various exercise options available. Call it "intermediate to advanced advice."

Nobody knows your goals better than you do. Nobody knows your body better than you do. Nobody knows how you feel on a particular day better than you do — if you're ready to kick butt, why limit yourself to the workout that some app or piece of paper says you "should" do if it's an easy day on the program's schedule? If you're having one of those days where just showing up is an accomplishment because you slept like crap, or lunch is sitting funny, or whatever, there's no sense in killing yourself excessively.

What it sounds like you're looking for is a programming app. I don't know if there are any with any sort of learning curve (the way Yourself Fitness or Wii Fit or other PC/console applications have) for mobile devices.


Basically, you've got a hierarchy of priorities that will shape your thinking.

Overall Goal: This is the broad, all-encompassing bracket; think of it as the game system (d20, etc). Stuff like "losing weight," "getting stronger," "running faster," whatever.

Current Phase: This is the module (program) you're involved in. If you're doing a particular workout plan that says "Wednesday is leg day" or "Add some intervals to your run," or something like that.

The Daily Self: How you doin'? If you're feeling like gangbusters, go strong. If you're feeling off, do what you can.

Regardless of what you end up with, it should fit into your overall goal, and the current phase of what you're doing to achieve it.

I may wake up with a particular workout pencilled in my log book; when I walk into the gym and put my hands on the weights, however, that may or may not dictate what ends up getting done, to varying degrees of adherence.

This approach tends to work just as well for strength training as it does weight loss, in my personal experience (this will change when my focus shifts to more running and less lifting).


If you TL:DR this, so help me…. Cool

This is only a test.

4:07 pm
January 6, 2010


CodeMonkey

Roswell, GA

Member

posts 40

I did read.  And, I agree with everything you said.  But, I disagree with some things you didn't say.  (Yes, I'm disagreeing with your allusions)


While my head can come up with some good workouts, it is not very creative.  It gets stuck into ruts, and needs to be kicked now and then.  For example, this week, I have had oatmeal every day for breakfast.  Why?  Because I really don't care much what I eat in the morning, and I know how many calories, etc it has.  I pretty much choose from three different breakfasts, and, generally eat whatever's easiest to build from the fridge at the moment.  (Oatmeal, yogurt + granola, egg beaters)


While this doesn't really matter much when it comes to meals, sticking to a non-changing exercise regimen can overlook some muscles.  Also, given the same lazy grain, I would end up doing workouts that are easy for me, and avoiding ones that give me trouble.  Today, I did overhead standing barbell military presses (in front of head).  I don't think I've done that exercise in years — I usually use the machine.  I did very little weight, less than I remember working out with in high school, probably due to my avoidance.


So, I like pre-made, or, custom-made workout circuits to change things up, introduce exercises that I may not pick on my own, etc.  


Ignoring my laziness and complacency, though, a simple tool to drag a workout together, and print it out before I went to the gym would be enough too.  I am man enough to face my flaws (work out wise) and pick the less travled path.  I just like toys to keep things together, and track them.  (And, having some pre made samples doesn't hurt either!)

In the paraphrased words of Socrates, "I ate what?"

4:15 pm
January 6, 2010


Rafe Brox

Shrink Geek Orbital HQ (Weight Room)

Admin

posts 43

We're always going to avoid the moves we suck at.

I hate the overhead squat.  HATE.  Which means I don't do it. Which means I continue to suck at it.

If you need a cheat sheet, come up with a list of every exercise you know. Group them by body part.See if you can get the same number of moves for each group.

Then go all Chinese Takeout (one from column A, one from column B, … One from Column N), with a catch.

Cross a move off once you use it during a workout. You aren't allowed to do that move again until every other move in that group has been used.

This way, if you do all your favorites up front, you're left with a bunch of things that suck… but you brought it on yourself. Obviously, I'd advocate mixing and matching, or saving dessert for last.

This is about as un-structured a routine as I can imagine that still has any kind of shape to it at all, but, hey, you're not the only lazy one here. Wink

This is only a test.



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