I go to the YMCA about 4 times a week. My regimen is as follows:

10 minutes on the rowing machine to warm up

Lift weights for a little over an hour (I do legs and back twice a week and chest and biceps/triceps on the other days)

40 minutes on the elliptical trainer

20 minutes of stretching (this is the most important, as I have chronic lower back problems thanks to football and punk rock)

I think weightlifting is one of the most therapeutic, meditative activities known to man: breath and balance. I've lost 25 pounds since October and am just now starting to bulk up a little bit. I feel great.

Can we have someone chime in here about saunas and steam rooms? Is there a benefit to these? Is it just to "sweat out impurities?" Is it somehow therapeutic? Or is it just a waste of time and space?

I go to the Y daily and have been for several weeks and its been pretty enjoyable. I do the nautilus machines: leg extension, leg press, abdominal press for 3 sets of 10 reps and then do 20 sit-ups and push-ups, then 10 pull-ups and do curls and bench press, then tredmill for about 30 minutes. The radio that the place puts on is unbearable though, so I bring headphones with me and work it to the black eyed peas

MorphineCharley wrote:Can we have someone chime in here about saunas and steam rooms? Is there a benefit to these? Is it just to "sweat out impurities?" Is it somehow therapeutic? Or is it just a waste of time and space?

Probably. All I know is they feel splendid, and that undergoing a lot of physical activity whilst inside them is discouraged.