*** The 2013 Gym Rats Thread ***

Freefaller said:
Yes but I just want a gym, I only use the weights section. So it's my fault for not exploiting my membership fully. But fortunately the cost of the gym tends to keep a lot of the riff raff away.
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Indeed, it's the only reason I joined my current place due to the cost and its barebones setup - Literally has the weights section, cardio stuff, some machines scattered around then changing rooms with showers.

Syla5 mentioned there is another gym opening up not far down the road actually, will be interesting to see what it's like :)
 
Freefaller said:
But fortunately the cost of the gym tends to keep a lot of the riff raff away.
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This is so important. Summer where I work is a nightmare because of all the interns we have.

Which equates to loads of students or recent grads crowding up the gym to bench, squat like ducks and do tricep push downs for 3 months.

Damn I loathe students. :cool: :D
 
Freefaller said:
If I had some spare capital I'd open up my own gym. However specialist gyms are a risky business investment.
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It's something I like the idea of, as Benny pointed out to me and like you just said unless you can cater for the masses as well, there isn't much of a turn over.
 
I've done a business plan and I could get away with 35-40 per month, but would need at least 250 members a year to make a decent return. 170 would be too close to the wind, but I've used very pessimistic numbers in terms of depreciation, net asset vaue and purchases. Exciting to think about though.
 
Freefaller said:
If I had some spare capital I'd open up my own gym. However specialist gyms are a risky business investment.
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Delvis said:
It's something I like the idea of, as Benny pointed out to me and like you just said unless you can cater for the masses as well, there isn't much of a turn over.
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Yep, unless you're based in a large city/town with a higher density of serious lifters you're not going to get the memberships to make it financially viable, probably. Not without charging a premium rate which I suppose serious lifters would probably stump up but the place would need to be large and even better equipped which bumps up overheads again.

The real money in the fitness industry (specifically gyms) comes from cardio bunnies and a spit and saw dust style gym with battling ropes, tyres, prowlers, lifting platforms, chains, sleds etc isn't going to attract the sort of customer who wants to barely use their membership and when they do not really 'depreciate' (if you will) the equipment much.

That said renting the premises to PT's is a surefire way to ramp up your revenue but there needs to be enough potential business and an attractive environment for them to A) want to pay and b) stay.

Setting up a reasonable gym (from a resistance POV with some cheap commercial CV alternatives, concept2's etc) isn't expensive but managing to churn a profit, take a salary and employ people, I imagine, is.
 
My old gym was run and owned by one guy. He pretty much lived there, it was awesome. Physical Culture in Putney, best gym I've been to in many years of gymming.
 
Freefaller said:
I've done a business plan and I could get away with 35-40 per month, but would need at least 250 members a year to make a decent return. 170 would be too close to the wind, but I've used very pessimistic numbers in terms of depreciation, net asset vaue and purchases. Exciting to think about though.
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what area of the country is this based on though? the cost of space must be a massive impact on the required numbers?

I would love to be able to open up a gym, a complete job/lifestyle change. It would be awesome, if it made a profit that is.
 
Based in the south east. You can get some decent land, but wouldn't need THAT much space if you think about it carefully, especially if you can have 2 storey building, already specc'ed it out with some friends thinking of doing it as a joint venture, there are a lot of hangar type buildings that you can do this around us... You would have to take a hit financially initially though.
 
TheCenturion said:
Warning: incoming rant.

Why is it that on Tuesday I could go into the gym and squat 40 kg like it was nothing, yet today I struggled to finish my sets at 35 kg? I should be feeding off newb gains, and my strength should be going up, not down!

The only other thing I was able to do in today's session was dumbbell rows, for the first time in nearly a year. Yet I still couldn't feel jack in my lats, felt everything in my tris.

I've made no progress at all in the last 6 months. Hell, I still can't squat my own bodyweight. I go into the gym everytime pumped up and ready to perform. But before I've even finished my sets, I can't wait to leave. It shouldn't be like this :( At the moment every session makes me feel completely **** about myself :(

Rant over.
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Lame rant is lame. Stop trying to be a doctor and actually lift some ****. ;)

On a side note, more sleep + more food = more gainz.

As a med student, you will be replacing your decent food with booze, which will have a knock-on effect for your sleep. Coupled with exams? You might as well stick to the elliptical trainer. ;) :D
 
TheCenturion said:
Finished uni 3 weeks ago. Haven't had a drink at all in a month. Been sleeping 9-10 hours a night :o
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Then you have no excuse. ;) :D

In all seriousness, stuff like this occasionally happens: lifts don't work well, no power where it should be, etc.

Take this morning: I went for a 1RM on front squats and couldn't get anywhere near the right position or strength to complete the squat, so bailed at the bottom.

So just worked back up from a lower weight and pop! up went the 1RM.

If you're failing at a 'regular' weight, then drop it back 10/20%, bang out a good set, and then work back up. Easy.

Regarding gainz over time, I spent most of my last year goofing around with Olympic lifting, so my powerlifting 1RMs haven't budged in pretty much 7 months. Training consistency is one thing, keeping focus is another... you have spent a lot of time on your form, which will pay loads of dividends over the rest of your powerlifting career. So stick at it and enjoy*! :)

*By enjoy, I actually mean MTFU. ;) :D
 
TheCenturion said:
Warning: incoming rant.

Why is it that on Tuesday I could go into the gym and squat 40 kg like it was nothing, yet today I struggled to finish my sets at 35 kg? I should be feeding off newb gains, and my strength should be going up, not down!

The only other thing I was able to do in today's session was dumbbell rows, for the first time in nearly a year. Yet I still couldn't feel jack in my lats, felt everything in my tris.

I've made no progress at all in the last 6 months. Hell, I still can't squat my own bodyweight. I go into the gym everytime pumped up and ready to perform. But before I've even finished my sets, I can't wait to leave. It shouldn't be like this :( At the moment every session makes me feel completely **** about myself :(

Rant over.
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40kg and you fail? whats your routine like?

i've been on strong lifts for ~3 months now and my squats went from 40 to 110.. while pb's went from 60 to 130! you're doing something wrong.
 
grudas said:
40kg and you fail? whats your routine like?

i've been on strong lifts for ~3 months now and my squats went from 40 to 110.. while pb's went from 60 to 130! you're doing something wrong.
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I think TheCenturion might have some load order error issues. I haven't followed his progress much except for odd posts in the form thread. The movements have become more natural for him but still aren't second nature/subconscious motions quite yet.
 
BennyC said:
I think TheCenturion might have some load order error issues. I haven't followed his progress much except for odd posts in the form thread. The movements have become more natural for him but still aren't second nature/subconscious motions quite yet.
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He needs icecold's tender touch. :o ;)
 
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