Working out alone?

[kg4ghn]

Does anybody work out alone? I want to lose weight and just be healthier in general. I took a class at work called Thrive! which is not really a diet, it just shows you how to eat right. Portions, timing, good combinations, etc. I have that part down and lost 25lbs before I started working third shift and had my second child. I started eating out all the time again and gained it all back. Everything has settled down again now and I am getting back to eating healthy again.

I want to start exercising as well. I have a thing at work where I can get into the local YMCA, which was just renovated for like $15 a month. But the thing is I don't have anybody to workout with. Is it possible and safe to just go by myself and workout? I have never worked out at a gym before. If not, what would be my best bet for exercising alone?

 

[Patrik]

This is going to be a little all over the place, but I hope it helps:

Yes, it is possible and safe to work out on your own. OK, so you've got people checking you out using peripheral glances in the mirror, but everybody does that to everybody, IMO. Not necessarily because they're being sleazy or nosy - I find it's a great way to learn new exercises and improve my technique with certain lifts (especially deadlifts, squats, and Romanian deadlifts).

I love working out alone - it's just me and plenty of kickass tunes versus gravity and The Iron. On the rare occasions that I work out with my wife or a friend, my workouts suffer because I'm either teaching or shooting the breeze and resting too long between sets. Every now and then I ask someone to spot me, and everyone I've ever asked has been more than happy to oblige.

And I've made friends at every place I've lifted at - both here and in Canada. So chances are you'll end up with a workout partner within a few workouts

The point of all this is: go for it!

Best of luck!

EDIT: Here's an awesome essay about lifting by Henry Rollins: http://www.wannabebig.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-262.html
And a couple of great, 3-day-a-week workouts to try are Stronglifts 5x5 and Wendler's 5/3/1 routine.

 

[breadstick]

There is a thread on P90X that I heartily recommend trying. I used it with great results. It is a true plan that tells you how to eat, when to eat, what workouts to do on what days, and how to modify all the workouts if you need to. If you search P90X you should find it. I promise it is well worth the investment if you follow it.

 

[ambrose]

Most of my working out has been alone, once in a while a friend or my brother would train with. As I learned how I wanted to train, I ended up liking to train on my own better. I was able to work out much faster and to my preference with less distracting conversation that got in the way. Get yourself an ipod and continue on your path to healthiness

 

[Timmy Dee]

Definitely go for it - I train by myself almost exclusively. Occasionally I'll work out with friends but I find I get more done when I'm alone with some good music.

Just make sure that you get a good exercise plan set out, that way you can keep track of your results each session and use those figures to try and one-up yourself each session. It's almost as good a motivator as someone encouraging you, I've found.

 

[spoonman]

I also workout alone majority of the time. Like the others have said, when I workout with a mate it always takes longer and intensity drops off. Gyms can tend to turn into social places where people stand around machines or benches chatting away - working out alone and wearing an iPod can save you from this. Get in there, workout as hard as you can, and get out.

I strongly agree with Timmy Dee in keeping a record of your workouts. It not only motivates you, but shows you how much you have improved over a given time.

If you're trying to lose weight and maybe tone up a little, IMO you're best off not worrying about the 'beach muscles' (traps, pecs and biceps) and sticking with bodyweight exercises like push ups, body squats, chin ups/pull ups and dips. Having said that, everyone will have different advice for you!

 

[Patrik]

Just make sure that you get a good exercise plan set out, that way you can keep track of your results each session and use those figures to try and one-up yourself each session. It's almost as good a motivator as someone encouraging you, I've found.

+1

For toning, two things that I've found extremely effective are complexes (http://tinyurl.com/l3yukx) and tabata (http://www.tabataprotocol.com/). Just don't try them until you're back in fairly decent shape - this is especially true of tabata.

 

[Monkeydad]

My only workout partners are my 2YO son who likes to watch and use a 5-pound dumbbell (has soft rubber coating, don't worry) or my dog who likes to lay under my weight bench and chew a bone while I'm on it.

Free weights, pushups, pullups, crunches...these kind of things.

Will probably try P90X when my "rehab" is complete.

 

[Stubblefield]

I work out alone, at home. Squat stands, bench , bar, and bumper plates. Have been doing it for years.

Nothing builds strength like lifting iron.

EDIT: Here's an awesome essay about lifting by Henry Rollins: http://www.wannabebig.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-262.html
And a couple of great, 3-day-a-week workouts to try are Stronglifts 5x5 and Wendler's 5/3/1 routine.

Great links, Patrik. I have been using Wendlers 5/3/1 for a bit, it is a great program.

 

[michiganlover]

I joined my local gym about a year ago.

I work out by myself most of the time. However, I do enjoy a handful of classes too (aquatics, and Zumba).

Classes are a great place to meet new people, and hey being one of two guys in a class full of women can't be all bad!!

I mostly do cardio at this point.

 

[otherstar]

I workout alone all the time. I don't lift weights anymore, so it's pure cardio. I'm one of these people that no matter what muscle groups I use weights on, all I do is bulk up, and fast. I'm 39 and I'm probably physically stronger now than when I was 18 (I work on cars when I have to, and work around the yard and house quite a bit so I have developed quite a bit more natural strength than I find weight training to give me).

The only class I take is karate with my two oldest girls (since January of this year) and that's doing wonders for my flexibility and legs.

 

[hifigeezer]

The Y should set you up with an exercise routine for free. Consult with your doctor but unless you have special risk factors don't worry about it. In theory if you were doing something ultra-strenuous and fainted it would be best not be alone; you will seldom be the only person at the Y. The staff is trained in first aid. Coordinating with a partner could be make it harder to get to the gym and make your workouts slower. Some folks get extra motivation from the social aspect but that's very individual. I've worked out alone at a Y or commercial gym for years with no problems. Once in a while you will meet someone verbose or ill-mannered but that is life in the big city! It's safer than walking outdoors alone, but walking is in my experience the best way to lose weight. Good luck with your program.

 

[kg4ghn]

The Y should set you up with an exercise routine for free. Consult with your doctor but unless you have special risk factors don't worry about it. In theory if you were doing something ultra-strenuous and fainted it would be best not be alone; you will seldom be the only person at the Y. The staff is trained in first aid. Coordinating with a partner could be make it harder to get to the gym and make your workouts slower. Some folks get extra motivation from the social aspect but that's very individual. I've worked out alone at a Y or commercial gym for years with no problems. Once in a while you will meet someone verbose or ill-mannered but that is life in the big city! It's safer than walking outdoors alone, but walking is in my experience the best way to lose weight. Good luck with your program.

I live in the country in a really nice small town, so walking wouldn't be a problem.

The Y in the next town is cool b/c my whole family can go there. They have a nursery for babys, daycare for smaller kids, and Wii fits for the older kids. Me and the wife could go, drop the kids off, and she could do her thing while I did mine. And we get a discount from the wellness program at work.

I have been reading all of the suggestions, and right now I am leaning towards the stronglifts 5x5 if I do start going to the gym and not doing something at home.

 

[DogHair]

I've been working out alone for years. I pretty much have everything I need in my garage. Squat rack, bench, chin-up bar, reverse-hyper, preacher bench and about 700 lbs of plates. We also have a few tires and a dragging sled out back. I've scrounged most of it for cheap or free. Occasionally I lift with my son or his friend but mostly it's just me. We had a Lifetime Fitness membership for a little while but I didn't like it. I'm more of a sweaty, grunting, chalk user that drops heavy stuff.

I work out alone, at home. Squat stands, bench , bar, and bumper plates. Have been doing it for years.

Nothing builds strength like lifting iron.

Great links, Patrik. I have been using Wendlers 5/3/1 for a bit, it is a great program.

5/3/1

 

[ackvil]

I work out alone at a local gym at least four times a week. My wife sometimes comes to the gym with me but we don't work out together.

To me, working out alone results in a faster workout without any BSing. There are always others around, however, who will spot you as needed.

 

[Pro2010]

I've had some of my best workouts with a partner, as normally I work out alone. And it's more disciplined, last night I just walked around the gym as I didn't know what I was doing, or had no idea what I wanted to do.

So, a successful workout alone would be planning, iFitness for the iPhone is a great tool for that.. I can have my workouts pre arranged and then record it. If you know what the hell you are doing going alone is great, but in my case I would rather go home do one hundred push up program and couch 2 5k instead. Though I didn't when I got home

P90x is amazing from what I've used of it. I'm tried using it at the gym and it was not great. I only have a 20lb dumbbell so I felt limited so I might try resistance band. Don't feel obligated to workout with a partner then you will only workout with a partner so you should workout alone when you can't with someone.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Start out doing a machine circuit, it'll be a 'no brainer' way to get some basic fitness under your belt. After a month or so, start switching in some free weight exercises for specific machines and eventually you'll learn enough to do a full routine on your own.

By the way, I always work out alone. Gym time is for focusing, not for chit-chatting.

 

[The Nid Hog]

I've been working out alone since I took my current job about eight years ago. My old workout buddies all live somewhere else. My wife and my daughter go to the gym with me, but they do their own thing (we do run together pretty regularly). Get a good workout planned out and go at it. You'll get to know people at the gym and maybe even find somebody to work out with if that's what you want.

Good luck--have fun too!

 

[rjt65]

25 years religiously working put in a gym - (running outside as well) but Lifting alone. Of course make friends in the gym and when i was younger and did the 1- 5 rep super heavy reps I would ask for a spot for super heavy. Now i just do 8-25 reps depending on my cycle, my doc advised against hevy lifting as i have an enlarged aorta. but I still work out regularly, just not the super heavy anymore.

if alone just ensure you do not try to tackle a free weight that is too much to handle of do too many reps that u will struggle to do the last rep .

Safety. Mens health .com has some videos to show you proper form---G luck

 

[kg4ghn]

Thanks for all the help guys!

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