My NROL Experience - Page 72 - JP Fitness Forums

stingo · 04-15-2008, 11:09 AM

PF has two memberships - one, available for a limited time has a $59 sign on fee, a yearly $20 membership fee and $10/month but no contract.

The other membership has no sign on fee (for now), but costs $20/month and a $39 yearly membership fee, and is a minimum 12 month contract. ($58 fee to buy out of the contract early).

I agree that having a trainer would indeed help, which is why I'm considering going to PF, as I don't want to go through a break-in period with a new person.

tcoy777 · 04-15-2008, 12:00 PM

I think what your gut is telling you to do is the right one. Move with Tim, as you trust him and he already knows what your dealing with. Then with his advice tackle the diet issues, being fervent in logging your food so you and him can see what works or doesn't. You have done such a great job so far, now its on to the next level.

stingo · 04-15-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcoy777

I think what your gut is telling you to do is the right one. Move with Tim, as you trust him and he already knows what your dealing with. Then with his advice tackle the diet issues, being fervent in logging your food so you and him can see what works or doesn't. You have done such a great job so far, now its on to the next level.

I agree - and if I don't like it, I can easily return to the Y. As for the money, I've spent a lot more to get a lot less, and if this can get me to my goals, then it's worth the effort and expense.

RebeccaC · 04-15-2008, 06:32 PM

Hey Tom, I think you are doing the right thing sticking with Tim. He knows you and can adapt your new direction and probably help you dial in your diet to start seeing some results from all your hard work. The way I see it is you do all this work (not many work harder in the gym than what I have been seeing in your log) and you're the only one who can see the evidence. OF course, your overall health improvments are paramount but I am sure dropping a bit more weight would be so satisfying.
good luck, hope i didn't overstep with my opinion.
Rebecca

stingo · 04-15-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RebeccaC

Hey Tom, I think you are doing the right thing sticking with Tim. He knows you and can adapt your new direction and probably help you dial in your diet to start seeing some results from all your hard work. The way I see it is you do all this work (not many work harder in the gym than what I have been seeing in your log) and you're the only one who can see the evidence. OF course, your overall health improvments are paramount but I am sure dropping a bit more weight would be so satisfying.
good luck, hope i didn't overstep with my opinion.
Rebecca

Not at all Rebecca - thanks for your input. Yes, I was thinking if I got a new trainer, it'd take at least a month before that trainer would even begin to know me/my situation. That'd be more than the Planet Fitness membership startup right there.

stingo · 04-15-2008, 07:41 PM

I got the pair of 16kg kettlebells I ordered! Worked out to just over $70 bucks each from Wichita Falls. So of course I've been going through the Encyclopedia of Kettlebell Lifting DVDs that I also got, to have programs readily available for my use. I was looking at the workouts included in the DVD and noting the set and rep schemes for the beginner workouts, thinking (before I actually had the kbs here) that the rep count seemed awfully low. Well, having tried a few of the exercises, I can say I'm going to be grateful that the reps are that low to start out. The 16kg bells are at the very top of the weight range I can move, so this is going to be an experience to be sure. Even though the stated weight is slightly over 35lbs (35.2lbs to be exact) it feels a lot heavier.

The bells themselves are gray, probably a few shades darker than the ubiquitous gray hex dumbbells, and have the weight in kilos on one side, and pounds (rounded) on the other. The handle is of a good thickness too, and I have small hands, so that was a concern as well. Having attempted a few swings, cleans and part of a TGU I like the smoothness of the handle as well. Just smooth enough to get some traction but not so much as to be slippery. Very much looking forward to using them in the near future.

Espi · 04-16-2008, 01:58 AM

That's exciting: kettlebells seem to be really versatile and fun to work with!

LWilson212 · 04-16-2008, 06:31 AM

Oooh new toys! That's awesome Tom. It sounds like you made a smart choice if they seem almost too heavy now. You'll grow into them without them getting easy too fast and having to buy more.

stingo · 04-16-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Espi

That's exciting: kettlebells seem to be really versatile and fun to work with!

Yeah, I'm pretty excited - I was trying out some of the exercises in the first beginner program yesterday, and found out I suck at TGUs, particularly on the left side. The other ones I tried were better, particularly the swings. I have to hand it to Steve Cotter though, he makes everything look so easy on the DVD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWilson212

Oooh new toys! That's awesome Tom. It sounds like you made a smart choice if they seem almost too heavy now. You'll grow into them without them getting easy too fast and having to buy more.

I agree - and as expensive as kettlebells are, it's not something I can just run out and buy (unlike say, a pair of dumbbells). I still have to be careful though as I don't want to irritate my shoulders so as to let them heal a bit more.

dillytl · 04-16-2008, 12:10 PM

New workout toys - how fun!!!!

DanceDiva · 04-16-2008, 06:20 PM

Hi Tom,
One plus to going with Tim is that he seems to be very creative with your workouts; therefore, the type of equipment in the PF gym shouldn't be an impediment to him in still making your workouts challenging. Do they have spinning?

stingo · 04-16-2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanceDiva

Hi Tom,
One plus to going with Tim is that he seems to be very creative with your workouts; therefore, the type of equipment in the PF gym shouldn't be an impediment to him in still making your workouts challenging. Do they have spinning?

Nope, no classes at all, but the corporate gym I belong to has spinning Mon-Thu so I'm set there.

kfisherx · 04-16-2008, 09:17 PM

I agree with everyone else that you should stick with Tim. Who cares if the gym sucks? Let Tim manage that part of it for you and taylor your workouts for the gym. Of course you will have to bite a towel for the real lifting part of your workouts. Or at least I would have to bite a towel.

stingo · 04-17-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kfisherx

I agree with everyone else that you should stick with Tim. Who cares if the gym sucks? Let Tim manage that part of it for you and taylor your workouts for the gym. Of course you will have to bite a towel for the real lifting part of your workouts. Or at least I would have to bite a towel.

Yeah it's going to be interesting to be sure... That's the ONLY reason I'm switching over... I've got 5-55 lbs in dumbbells (with platemates) as it is so I'm about as well stocked as PF. Maybe moreso because I have kettlebells now.

stingo · 04-17-2008, 09:44 AM

I tried out some of the exercises in one of the "Beginner" program from the KB Encyclopedia I got. I was dismayed to find out that I can't do the deck squats, nor the tgu's (even without weight) so I'm not sure if it's a lack of physical ability or lack of technical ability/form that's the problem.

Lost Dog · 04-17-2008, 10:02 AM

Here's a video showing progressions. You can see all the stages of the tgu and work on the ones that are "areas of opportunity."

Kettlebells Training Video - The Turkish Getup Exercise

some people just say "get up" however you need to, but I think this is better, as it addresses a lot of areas where people might have issues.