Yay, no more sucky gyms for me (thread about getting back in shape, all welcome)...

[Chuff]

In the UK I used to go to the gym around 3x a week to train, and since around 4 months before coming to Switzerland, and then 9 months after, I stopped completely, and as a result lost around 6KG in lean mass... depressing, considering i'm an ectormorph and every KG gained is like crossing the antarctic naked. Well anyway, just as I was about to resign myself to joining an extortionate Swiss gym after not finding any reasonably priced decent weights bench etc, I just in the last couple of weeks managed to get my hands on a used but decent quality Crane weights bench and 60KG of weights that a friend was selling. In total I got the bench and weights for 220 CHF (delivered and setup, a mission in itself), and then added another 20KG of my own (including two dumbell sets) from nearby Brunaupark of my own making a grand total of ~350 CHF, not bad for all that I think when you factor in the price of a gym membership!

Anyway I wish i'd done this years ago... it makes SUCH a difference having everything in the same place as where you live... no: "Can I be arsed or can't I" feelings, no: "Excuse me, are you using that?" as some muppet sit there on the bench with a blank and bored look on his face, and best of all... a post-workout protein shake and shower can be done in 10 minutes flat without worrying about having to shakily drive home afterwards with jelly arms and legs.

I'm really glad I stuck to my guns and got a 3.5 room apartment now, as without doing that i'd never have the space to hide it out of the way of my main living area. I really advise anyone with the space to look at doing it, over the long run it works out much cheaper than a gym, and lets face it, who needs poncey running or cycling machines when Zurich is such a safe and easy city to get about in.

So err... not too much point in this thread really other than to say how chuffed I am with the new kit. It feels really weird starting to get back into it, like I almost never did (I fall out of routine quite easily if not careful) and I know it's going to be a year of hell before I start getitng back in shape again... but there's only so much abusing your body you can stand before the self-esteem hits a low and it drives you to make some changes I guess. I've had 9 months of getting wasted far too much since i've been here, and it's time to try and cut down all my bad habits to a more irregular and healthy minimum. Even more impressively (for me) is that i've started really making an effort to eat regular good meals and get a balanced diet down me, aided immeasurably by the bet thing ever invented, The Steamer. Veg is painless now!

Sorry for the rambling on... i'm also wondering if anyone else recently started to try and get in shape lately or is getting back into things after a long break? If anyone lives close to me (Sihl City) i'd be really interested in joining you for the odd run a couple of times a week (bear with me though, my fitness/stamina level is currently equivalent to an asthmatic ant with heavy shopping, which is going to take some work) to work on some cardio.

So go on, if you're in the same boat then post here and lets have a sensible natter about it and maybe share some tips or learn something useful along the way.

[Michigan68]

I've been well out of shape for years -- since I moved here I've managed to quit smoking (after 24 years) and get my butt off the sofa. I've taken up gardening - inline skating - bike riding - and right now trying to figure which mountain to hike on Friday. I hiked 1/2 down Pilatus a couple weeks ago and I want more..... I've also improved my eating habits -- but not enough yet to begin to drop the pounds.

I guess my Swiss mantra is -- It's here - you're here -- just do it

[Natasha]

I am going to start getting fit again....

Tomorrow.

Hey congratulations!
I just signed up for the gym that is right beneath the building where I work. It was not extremely expensive (~600 CHF) including sign up, 1 year contract, a special bracelet that you se to sign in and out etc.
I am glad I did they offer a LOT of classes and the machines are really modern and I can calculate (or rather they do it for me) how many calories I burned and the kilos I lifted, since in each machine I can put my personal code.
I need to lose some serious weight and I am very happy I joined. Also some dieting of course has been implemented haha only cuttng down on what I eat...
Well hope you enjoy your workout

Take care

Angela

[Chuff]

	Quote:	Michigan68
	I've been well out of shape for years -- since I moved here I've managed to quit smoking (after 24 years)

This is my biggest problem and worst vice above all others... I just can't seem to knock it on the head. I've gone for weeks, months before without smoking but I always come back to it, usually one night when drunk thinking: "Oh go on then, one won't hurt" and then all of a sudden my infamous paper-will discipline kicks in and it then starts getting frequent. Well, if I manage to kick that this year I will consider it a major success... if I turn 30 and am still smoking I am seriously going to be having words with myself!

[Michigan68]

Richdog -- you'll know when the time is right -- I woke up on April 1st (great day eh) and said that was it. It's been hard -- and I've probably put on about 10 pounds -- but I'm managing day by day. Of course leave it to me to leave the confines of anti smoking America for Switzerland where smoking is everywhere - to quit.

<shaking my head> some days I don't even understand myself -

[Isis83]

i feel your pain and now your joy
i used to have a BB life,and since i came to switzerland i had to give it up.
of course my lean mass bye bye and i had an incrasing on that lovely BF (im an endo).
So congrats on your home gym, wish i could do that same

[Chuff]

	Quote:	Niranjan
	Hi, Basically, as you yourself admit, you are an ectomorph. Instead of stressing your systems by pumping weights and gain kilos, I would suggest doing activities that your body type is naturally good at, endurance cycling and running, for example. Stop weighing yourself for 6 months and instead focus on how healthy and fit you feel, and what measurable progress you are making in your chosen activities.

With all due respect thanks for the advice but as I said in my OP I used to work out a lot, and know what my body is capable of, and it is not endurance-related activities, and never has been. I was always a sprinter and bad at long-distance, even when I trained for it. I'll stick with the weights as there's no reason not to (being an ectormorph is no reason to weight train, surely you know that) and cardio as my aim is to get back to what I used to weight while getting fitter. I'm young and my body is there to be stressed, it's perfectly healthy.

	Quote:
	I would rather spend money on the choicest food and nutrition and do free hand exercises, than spend 100s of dollars on fancy equipment and gym fees.

$200 is hardly a fortune, nutritious food doesn't haver to be expensive if you know what to eat, and free hand exercises aren't going to do much for your physique when looking to build it up...

[J.L-P]

Is "Richdogs Gym/extra bedroom" taking memberships?

[terryhall]

Outstanding - I've been looking for somewhere to put in a "home gym" for ages, have wasted so much cash on crap sauna gyms since I got here. If you fancy a training buddy give me a shout

Especially if you have a power rack, I'd crawl over broken glass to be able to do a proper set of OHP / Hang Cleans / Push Press etc...

edit -p.s I train for hurling / gaelic football at Saalsporthalle twice a week, if you fancy a decent cardio / upper body workout on a Thursday or Sunday for an hour or two, head down...also I'm in training for the Greifenseelauf half marathon, not out to break any records but if you fancy a running buddy could be up for that as well.

Who needs a gym when you have the figure of an hourglass..!

(snapped off in the middle without the top half)

[John1975]

Congrats on your setup! I feel your pain losing 6 KG of lean mass.... I had an accident last year and was in your boat. Don't worry, it will come back faster than it would had you never trained in your life!! Something to do with "muscle memory" not to mention you are not a begginer so won't have to go through any "rookie mistakes".

If you can find one, get a doorway chinup/pullup bar... (unless your own new setup already has a chinning device built into it somehow!)

When I was living in Canada I had built up quite the basement gym and can definitely agree with the benefits of having your equipment right there at anytime when you want it.

I'd have set one up here as well but there is no possible way I would be able to perform any serious deadlifting renting a room in an old flat on the 4th floor.

Anyhow, enjoy it!

[ze devil's advocate]

I wish I had the space. Dumbbells, pull up bar and that push up thing is all I have at home. I prefer going gym though. More motivating.

[Chuff]

	Quote:	terryhall
	Outstanding - I've been looking for somewhere to put in a "home gym" for ages, have wasted so much cash on crap sauna gyms since I got here. If you fancy a training buddy give me a shout Especially if you have a power rack, I'd crawl over broken glass to be able to do a proper set of OHP / Hang Cleans / Push Press etc... edit -p.s I train for hurling / gaelic football at Saalsporthalle twice a week, if you fancy a decent cardio / upper body workout on a Thursday or Sunday for an hour or two, head down...also I'm in training for the Greifenseelauf half marathon, not out to break any records but if you fancy a running buddy could be up for that as well.

Well i'll tell ya what i'll keep than in mind, cheers terry.

	Quote:	John1975
	I'd have set one up here as well but there is no possible way I would be able to perform any serious deadlifting renting a room in an old flat on the 4th floor. Anyhow, enjoy it!

Hah that's why i'm glad I got th ground floor... I could drop an elephant and just about get away with it.

Been thinking of trying to find a few firm mats too just to further deaden anything dropped.

[parnell]

	Quote:	John1975
	If you can find one, get a doorway chinup/pullup bar... (unless your own new setup already has a chinning device built into it somehow!)

Haven't been able to find one which allows a neutral grip... am considering getting my old man to weld me one and bring it over...

	Quote:	John1975
	I'd have set one up here as well but there is no possible way I would be able to perform any serious deadlifting renting a room in an old flat on the 4th floor.

That's why I have 180kgs of rubber weight - 200 euro in Stuttgart on ebay...

Home gyms are great - I have a squat rack and a good bench but I still miss having a competitive partner - I made a mistake when I signed up to Swiss fitness for one year (mostly to use the pullover machine).

[Sada]

Richdog, are you taking pictures of your body, you know, before and after?

[Chuff]

	Quote:	Sada
	Richdog, are you taking pictures of your body, you know, before and after?

Nah, no need for that.

[Longbyt]

He doesn't need to. One photo is enough - Photoshop will do the rest.

[Chuff]

	Quote:	Longbyt
	He doesn't need to. One photo is enough - Photoshop will do the rest.

Damn right.

[Bindu]

Hey congratulations!
I just signed up for the gym that is right beneath the building where I work. It was not extremely expensive (~600 CHF) including sign up, 1 year contract, a special bracelet that you se to sign in and out etc.
I am glad I did they offer a LOT of classes and the machines are really modern and I can calculate (or rather they do it for me) how many calories I burned and the kilos I lifted, since in each machine I can put my personal code.
I need to lose some serious weight and I am very happy I joined. Also some dieting of course has been implemented haha only cuttng down on what I eat...
Well hope you enjoy your workout

Take care

Angela




And could you share the name of the GYM with us, sounds like a good deal. Also the location would be helpful

Cheers