Not my gym just a friend on a workout
Gyms confuse me.
I know what you’re thinking. How can a gym confuse you? You’ve been going to gyms almost your entire life.
Yes, I’m completely and utterly baffled by gyms nowadays.
Just the other day I was in a 24-hour Fitness. They’ve dedicated an entire section of the gym to the TRX workouts and equipment.
For the uninitiated, this is a simple gadget that I think was originally supposed to be used if you didn’t have any gym equipment. It’s a series of straps you’d hang from anything available to use your body weight to strengthen everything from your arms and legs and your core.
Does it work? Yes. But let’s face it, it’s somewhat of a convoluted workout at best.
Before you tell me that I don’t know what I’m talking about, I do know that some exercises are better with these straps. But to take up that amount of space in a gym?
I wouldn’t normally complain, but during rush-hour, our gym could use another squat rack, treadmill or elliptical. That space is being taken up by useless junk.
Then there are the idiots who jump on and off from boxes, doing plyometrics.
Why are people jumping on and off of boxes? Plyometrics have been proven to increase speed and power. If that’s the goal, I say go for it.
I told you that to tell you this. None of these exercises are inherently bad for you.
Plyometrics work for basketball players and boxers (or any other fast-twitch sport).
But it has little to no bearing on the slow-twitch game (cycling and triathlon).
As far as some of the TRX equipment, I see so many people who are misusing it. They would do much better by spending that time on cardiovascular work (stair climbers, elliptical, treadmills, stationary bikes).
The bottom line is most people have limited time in every part of their lives. The gym is no different.
Just because there are shiny new toys to play with, it doesn’t mean it’s better for you.
