Want to work out like a real man? Lose the elliptical. Say goodbye to Pilates. Real men lift weights. Real men punch bags. Real men work out the old-fashioned way.
People have been physically fit before the advent of modern exercise technology, perhaps even more fit than today. Jack LaLanne, “The Godfather of Fitness” was born 1914 and touted as being in the best shape in the world. He set a record of 1,033 push ups in 23 minutes in 1956 at the age of 42. At the age of 65, he towed 65 boats filled with 6,500lbs of Lousiana Pacific while handcuffed and shackled. Did he work out on a Stairmaster? No.
We need a movement and gymnasium dedicated to the way people used to work out before 1950. That means nothing mechanized and no “new-age” fitness theories – just stuff that makes you sweat. People love going back to the “old” ways of doing things (just look at the paleo diet) so why not open an Old Timey Gym?
Some gyms have caught onto this already, like Doug’s gym in Dallas, TX. It still has much of the same workout equipment from the 1960s, and everyone likes it just fine.
Free weights are better for you, anyway. They engage muscles to balance and lift weight in ways that machines don’t, leading to faster, better results. They also allow for more variety and flexibility of workout. And modern exercise technology isn’t all that great for you; Cardio (elliptical, treadclimber, etc.) and weight machines both have restricted ranges of motions, leading to potentially uneven muscle development (which can lead to injury or can just look weird). But I digress - the Old Timey Gym is not based on science but old fashioned manliness.
We’ll have things like the following:
Dumbbells
Kettle Bells
Punching Bags of all sizes
A sauna
Leeches
Greco-Roman Wrestling
Yoga - not so manly but as old timey as exercise gets
If you go to the Old Timey Gym, you too could look like this:
