Gym vs. Makeup: What's your routine?

Hey Jelda, I finally started hitting the weights recently. I’ve officially survived the first month. It was pretty rough at first—lots of soreness and constant muscle aches—but things are finally starting to level out.

But I have to point something out. At least 80% of the people there are just showing up to pose. They show up, spend maybe 20 minutes working one single muscle group, then spend the rest of the time standing around sipping some overpriced energy drink, acting like they own the place, and then they just head out. You can barely tell if they even worked out.

And then everyone acts surprised when they don't see any results. They just want to sweat for the sake of sweating. The truth is, just walking into a gym won't magically give you muscle mass, definition, vascularity (since apparently that's *so* sexy to women), or help you drop weight.

I actually asked a buddy of mine who goes there what he expects to get out of waving weights around for 15 minutes. He told me, "Well, I go there every single day." I told him, "Look, you can go every day or even twice a day, but if you aren't putting in an hour and a half to two hours of actual solid training, you're just wasting your time."

swiftscout8 said:I asked a buddy of mine who hits the gym there what the point of waving around for 15 minutes even is, and he just goes, "Well, I go every single day." I told him, "Listen, you can go every day, but if you aren't putting in at least an hour and a half or two hours of real work, you're just wasting your time!!"

So they just show up so they have something to brag about, like "Oh, I go to the gym EVERY day."
Not everyone sees what (isn't) actually happening. 😛

They aren't just makeup artists; they are trendsetters. They heard going to the gym was the latest craze, so they show up without having the slightest clue what they are actually doing there.

BTW, spending two hours at the gym is overkill. Isn't training for more than an hour or ninety minutes actually counterproductive for building muscle? Plus, you won't see any weight loss unless you include cardio.

Frank Lee6 said:By the way, spending two hours at the gym is overkill. If you're lifting for more than an hour or ninety minutes, you're actually working against yourself, especially if muscle growth is the goal. And don't even get me started on weight loss—that won't happen unless you're actually hitting the cardio.

It’s honestly pathetic how some gyms don't even have trainers on staff to guide people, ask about their goals, or show them the ropes.

Instead, people just flip through some little pamphlet and then wander around having no clue what they're doing. They end up wrecking their spines because they aren't even performing half the movements correctly. Then you've got these self-proclaimed "experts" trying to teach them. They'll demonstrate a tricep extension and tell someone it's for their back. 🙄

Then there are those meatheads who choke down tons of creatine just to bench press 220 pounds for a few minutes and call it a workout. They look like they were inflated with a bicycle pump. You poke one and they'd probably fly off with a *pssssssssszzzzz* sound.

I've stuck to cardio because I need actual mobility. Cycling, various dynamic stretches, high-rep sets with light weights—about 4 sets of 15 to 20 reps. An hour and a half is plenty of time to get everything done. By the time I'm finished, I'm properly worked and sweating. Believe me, I sleep like a baby after that. 🙂

Total rookie question here from someone who’s basically never stepped foot in a gym... does it seriously not count if I'm putting in about 20 minutes of work every single day?
Is it totally pointless?

That depends entirely on what your goals are. But let's be clear: if you're looking at any workout under 20 minutes and actually expecting results, it has to be high intensity. We aren't talking about just posing in front of the mirror or sipping on a Red Bull.

So, I've been at it for about two months now, but between being slammed with work and catching a nasty cold, I've started missing sessions. Usually, I hit the gym three times a week on alternating days. By the time I finish my cardio warmup and get through my initial sets, I'm looking at about an hour and a half total. Honestly, I’m not much of an athlete, so it actually caught me off guard when I felt that muscle soreness—and it was that delayed kind that doesn't even hit you until two days later.

If you show up to the gym without any guidance, you pretty much have yourself to blame. Is anyone actually forcing you to go solo? It’s like deciding to go dragon riding without an instructor, or maybe skydiving. Okay, maybe that’s a bit extreme.

As for how long workouts take, it really just depends on what program you're following. I stuck to a basic beginner routine for the first 10 or 12 sessions just to get my body used to the strain, then switched over to an antagonistic AB split. I've noticed some solid progress since then—I can actually feel my muscles working, they're starting to show a bit, and I just feel firmer overall. And I haven't even fixed my diet; if anything, I'm eating poorly because I skip meals and just eat whatever's around.

Anyway, that's just my humble take on things.

Regarding all that "gym fashion" stuff... look, there are always trendsetters. Don't sweat it too much. In about six months, this whole look will be totally washed up and everyone will have moved on to the next thing.

In a place like Des Moines, you've got this crowd aged 18 to 40 made up of kids from wealthy families, social climbers, the rich guys themselves, and all the suck-ups. A few years back, tennis was the big thing. Everyone was waving rackets around just to look cool, mostly annoying the actual players who were just there because they genuinely love the game. Then, suddenly, it was all about the aero club. You had to show up to the BBQs even if you didn't know the first thing about planes. Some people would even try to tag along on flights like cargo; those "ultra-cool" types would start flight school but never actually get past the theory part. After that phase died down, they all migrated to the equestrian club. Even the mayor, Gertrude, rides horses occasionally, so being seen there was a smart move. Everyone was out at the local stables. But once the new age craze hit, that same group pivoted straight to yoga. Now, the latest fad is Pilates, with everyone twisting and turning in studios everywhere. The guys are a little worried that Pilates isn't "macho" enough, so they grab some dumbbells to compensate. I mean, can you imagine some guy with pomade in his hair and driving a black diesel Golf doing Pilates?

Yeah, that's basically how it goes...
You should worry more about people doing exercises wrong or wasting their time on movements that are useless or even counterproductive. And as for creatine, I don't see the issue with it based on what I know. There are plenty of much worse things out there that those self-proclaimed "experts" will try to sell you.

swiftscout8 said:Then you see these meatheads slamming tons of creatine just to max out their bench press by 220 pounds for two minutes and calling it a workout. They look like they were inflated with a bicycle pump. You poke one and the guy just flies off with a "pssssssssszzzzz" sound.

Do you honestly believe they look like that because of creatine?
Besides, you’re talking about it like creatine is in the same league as steroids.

Melissa Gonzalez21 said:This sounds like a question from someone who has absolutely zero gym experience... does it really not matter if I work out for about 20 minutes every single day?
So you're saying there's zero impact?

Twenty minutes isn't a workout; it's just a warm-up.
Cut half the time you spend grabbing coffee with your girlfriends and actually put in a solid 60 to 70-minute session three or four times a week. Trust me, that’s going to be infinitely more effective than wasting your life away at a cafe.
If you don't believe you should be investing that kind of time into yourself, your physique, and your health, then you really shouldn't be lurking in the Health subforum in the first place.

George Bailey2 said:Twenty minutes isn't even enough for a warmup.
Cut that time you spend grabbing coffee with your girlfriends in half and hit a solid 60-70 minute workout 3 or 4 times a week instead. Trust me, it's way more productive than just sitting around chatting...
Honestly, if you don't think you should be investing that kind of time into yourself, your looks, and your health, you probably shouldn't even be hanging out in this Health subforum.

I knew someone was gonna call me out😁 (and I totally said "stupid question" to myself first!)
Every day except Sunday, I go for a brisk walk for about an hour or maybe even ninety minutes (I actually got super lazy for a couple of months, but I'm finally back at it!).
Since I live out in the countryside, I can wander all over these different trails...
😁 Plus, I do about 20 minutes of stretching, core work, and crunches every morning.

The gym is the real struggle because I’d either have to bug my brother to drive me into the city or deal with the bus... and let's be real, I'm way too lazy for that 3 or 4 times a week.

But hey, I'm all ears for any advice I can actually do at home! Just a heads up though—I'm not trying to get super buff or anything...

Melissa Gonzalez21 said:Getting super bulky muscles isn't really my thing.

Women just can't get "jacked" like guys can—unless they're using steroids, but that's a whole different rabbit hole... It's mostly because we have way less testosterone (I think I read somewhere on an American fitness forum that it's about 10 times lower). I used to feel the exact same way before 😵, but then I actually did my homework, joined a local gym, and the trainer there walked me through everything and showed me the ropes... Now I'm hitting it about 3-4 times a week for an hour and a half, and honestly, it's such a better use of time than just rotting in front of the TV. Plus, when I hit the hay at night, I actually feel like I did something good for myself! And once spring hits and I start adding some running to the mix... 😁 So pumped...

I constantly hear people say, "I want to hit the gym, but I don't want to end up looking bulky," as if you just wake up looking like a pro bodybuilder after two weeks of lifting weights. People walk into the gym with this ridiculous mindset, and then two months later, they quit entirely because they aren't seeing massive results—even though their workouts are grueling and the diet they actually need to follow is incredibly strict.
From one extreme to the other. 🙂

George Bailey2 said:Going from one extreme to the other 🙂

hmm, well, I'd say an actual extreme would be sitting in front of the TV all day snacking on chocolate and chips.
I actually spend like an hour and a half to two hours moving around, sweating... (I won't even count ironing, vacuuming, and all those other chores as "exercise"... though honestly, I probably shouldn't say studying for finals doesn't burn calories either 😁).
This routine works for me... I'm keeping my weight down, blood pressure is good, pulse is steady, blood sugar is fine, and my fitness is right where I want it.

Honestly, people always give me grief about not wanting to get "bulky." But for me, the whole diet obsession is what's actually getting on my nerves. I hit the gym because I want to be agile, feel strong, and have actual energy—I don't really care if I pick up a little extra mass along the way.

The thing is, I’m just not about that life where you’re eating six or seven times a day, chugging protein shakes, glutamine, and some weird grain mush meant for chickens. My job gets crazy, so sometimes I only eat twice a day, sometimes even just once. I wouldn't mind grabbing a quick shake or a snack on the go a couple of hours before or after a workout, but I refuse to overhaul my entire menu. I’m not ditching all my favorite grilled burgers, BBQ, pizza, or sausages just to replace them with some tasteless sludge.

It seems like once guys have been hitting the weights for more than two months, nutrition turns into this total obsession, and suddenly everyone is acting like everything else is just "junk food."

Furthermore, I have no intention of abandoning a standard diet. Just like Matthew Morris28, I rarely have the luxury of thinking about food, usually grabbing one or two meals a day at most. It’s a bad habit. That's a guaranteed way to pack on the pounds. Your metabolism slows down significantly between those long gaps, which naturally means you're burning less energy. This is why nutritionists swear by eating small amounts every three hours. The only rule is nothing after 6 PM. Obviously, your metabolism is going to drop while you sleep, but that's perfectly fine.

But there is a difference between what works in theory and what is actually practical. Ha. 🙂

And let's get one thing straight: hitting the gym doesn't automatically turn you into a bodybuilder. Look at construction workers; they toil away all day like beasts, yet they aren't hulking, bulging monsters. You have to distinguish between training for definition and training for mass. There's a massive difference!

George Bailey2 said:Do you honestly believe they look like that because of creatine?
Besides, you’re talking about creatine as if it’s in the same league as steroids.

Look, I don't know what else you'd call it. But they lack definition. They just look soft, like they're made of rubber. That’s how you look when you try to pack on a massive amount of muscle overnight. If it isn't creatine, then what is it? And let's be clear—that isn't real muscle. Real muscle takes work. It takes a long, long time to actually shape and refine it.

They don't have any real definitions because they're just wasting food.
Creatine doesn't actually build pure muscle mass; it's basically 90% water retention in the muscles that disappears the second you stop taking it.
At the end of the day, creatine isn't even effective for advanced lifters—it’s mostly just for beginners.

Melissa Gonzalez21 said:Since I live out in the sticks, I can wander through all sorts of trails and hills whenever I want.
😁 Plus, I make sure to spend about 20 minutes every morning stretching, doing some core work, crunches, and stuff like that.

The gym is a bit of a headache for me because I’d either have to bug my brother to drive me into town or catch the bus... and honestly, I’m just too lazy to deal with that 3 or 4 times a week.

That said, I’m totally open to any advice on things I can actually do at home, though I'm not really looking to get super bulky or anything.

Working out for 20 minutes twice a day—or even 30 minutes twice a day—combined with hitting the gym 2-3 times a week definitely pays off. 🙂 But since you're already walking for over an hour every single day, I think that's a great way to make up for it. It should be more than enough to stay fit and healthy. 🙂

swiftscout8 said:Plus, I’m not looking to ditch my regular diet entirely. Like Matthew Morris28 mentioned, I honestly don't have the bandwidth to plan meals, so I end up eating just once or twice a day. That’s a bad move—it's a one-way ticket to gaining weight. Your metabolism really drags once you go too long between meals, which basically means you're burning way less energy.

Would grabbing some fruit or something similar on the go be a viable option?

little wonder said:Women simply can't pack on muscle mass quite like men do—unless, of course, they turn to steroids, but that’s a whole different conversation. The reason? It comes down to testosterone levels being significantly lower. I believe I read somewhere on an American fitness forum that it's roughly ten times less than what men produce.

http://www.majamiokovic.com/ 😁