Bodybuilders and gymrats

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Anyone here working out? I've been procrastinating on the issue for a long time due to health reasons, but I really am starting to look like a cross between a 10-year-old boy and a rice noodle, it's shocking. So, I'm going ot start working out again. Really. When I was boxing I was starting to get good definition in my arms and shoulders from the speed-ball, so boxing again would be an idea. Other ideas include :
1. Running – increasing distances at slow speeds, plus timed interval training to build respiratory endurance + heart health. Also promotes drinking more water.
2. bench press – work shoulders, biceps/triceps, forearms and hands. Best to use dumbbells in each hand to target chest rather than rigid bar.
3. squats – work arse, legs. Holding dumbbells by sides best to start with rather than rigid bar across chest.
4. curls – arms – biceps/triceps and forearms. Dumbbells + rigid bar
5. push-ups – shoulders, chest, arms
6. Chin-ups – arms, chest, stomach. Twist hips to include back
7. Crunches – stomach. Upside down + with feet wedged under dumbbells and including standing up with each rep
8. Roman seat – stomach. Quick picking up knees close to chest, + slowly lowering legs + one at a time
9. Extensions – back – holding weight close to chest
10. Boxing – all around for cardio and strength, especially speed ball
11. Rope skipping – cardio/respiratory + heart
12. kick bicycle – stomach, waist
13. Dips – arms, shoulders, pecs
15. Hanging leg raises
16. Hanging “corkscrew” leg raises
17. raise dumbbells - face down and pull up, elbow bent
18. dumbbell “rowing”, face down and upright
Yeah ... I'm definitely going to die if I do all that at once. Anyone else got any fitness ideas going on?

Actually, yes... I have fitness on the brain lately. Like most things in my life, I go in spurts with exercise, and when I do it, I tend to be very much into it. I am currently getting back into it. I got one of those bands a few years ago and have really enjoyed it. I have this 'routine' I do where I start by shuffling/punching to get my heart rate up, I'll do lunges, squats, bicep and tricep strengthening, rows... I do a lot of core strengthening because my back is not in great condition, so I need a strong core to overcompensate. Awhile back, I took to removing the cushion from one of my chairs so I can hold myself up with my arms, support my back and lift my legs straight out in front of me... much more comfy than the v things I had been doing on the floor. I have been trying to do chin ups on my stairs, but the upstairs landing proved to be a horrible thing to hold onto. I keep thinking I should go hang in my garage, but the nesting birds deter me. Heh.

Anyway... I have decided to get a gym membership next month. I used to like to go to the gym, but I have been holding back on doing so due to economic factors as well as my need to stay away from people. As a part of my therapy, I am supposed to try to keep a somewhat regular contact with the outside world that is me focused (not just leaving to get groceries, but for something I enjoy) so the gym seemed to me to be a logical thing to do. I am actually looking forward to it. I used run four miles a day until my back went hooky on me and I got all the nerve damage... so I am excited about being able to get on the elliptical machine as it seems to give me the cardio I want as well as the foot stability my body now requires.

Aside from my Aikido practice and cycling, all I do is variations on pull ups, press ups and squats (no weights). I think that covers nearly everything.

Honestly, I'd say to start now, and start slowly so you don't burn out. Most often I see people starting a gym program too hard & fast, and they quit after a week or a month. I work out 4-5 days/week, and eat right, and I have been doing it that way for years and years. It pays off! If you're like me, the motivation is in the mirror... Keep with it long enough to see some results, and then it will snowball in a good way, and you'll crave the feeling of accomplishment and continue to earn it!

Charles

Yeah don't do too much too soon.

I was quite religious with it for a little over two years, like Icarus I flew to high though and cracked my labrum. Now its mostly just conditioning via martial arts rather than weight lifting. I probably should get back to some light amount of it but not until I'm certain that my shoulder won't throw me right back out of the game again.

I'm guilty of the too-hard-too-fast thing. I'll go at it so hard I'll end up with shin splints, pulled muscles or aggravate the chronic pain issues until I end up having to stop for months. So increasing steadily is definitely good advice.
I'm also thinking of going with free weights rather than machine this time. A few years ago I bought one of those home-gym machines, but I'm a tiny dude and to be honest I think the machine was designed with bigger people in mind. All the exercises that the machine allowed can really be simulated with free weights I think - such as instead of lateral pulldowns one could do deadlifts or ... whatever the move is called where you wrench a dumbbell behind your head.
Gymrats love to endlessly argue the topic of machines Vs Free weights, but i think if you got yourself a decent bench-press table with a peg, you could probably do everything off that???

Lol, what blew my mind was that it was a bowflex ultimate, I didn't think it was possible to hurt myself with that kind of resistive scale. Moral of the story though - watch your lat pull-downs, if you do em too wide or end up putting excessive stress on your shoulders you can be in for some very long and unwanted hiatuses.

I'd recommend Kettle Balls for a full body workout. Recently tried this and it was crazy.. There seems to be less stress on the body than typical free weights too. I am not into bodybuilding, I focus on strength/power/cardio, regardless Kettle balls can give a really intense full body workout for way less than the price of free weights and machines. Check out some popular workout routines if you're interested... maybe watch a youtube video even.

There is no argument. Free weights and body weight exercises own all for developing functional strength. I'm talking about lean and light strong- fighting, rock climbing, etc.

I also tore my labrum!

I didn't do it by over-training though... I was rock climbing, slipped off my foothold and tried to catch myself with one arm... POP...Oww! went 1.5 years without climbing Thats what I get for getting scared.

I just fully recovered from the surgery I had to fix it. Feels great now! Almost good as new and definitely stronger now that I've had all this physical therapy.