Good Bye Pool, Hello Gym...

Fatboy

Fatboy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Finally after 6 years of hell(back problems, 5 monster operations, 427,943 pills). I finally feel good enough to go to the gym. I stopped pool in 94ish and started the gym because of back pain, the gym made the pain go away. I liked the gym, I never had the desire to compete or the genitics, I was too fat-best I could do was a 4 pack of abs(kinda funny same for 9 ball-if I could break it would be lots more:mad:). So I'm a 4-Pac Body Builder and 4-Pack pool player. LOL I look the worst I have since 94 because I havent been able to go to the gym in 5.5 years, I went until i collapsed in pain. I never looked great, but I did like how I looked then compared to now and more importantly I felt better. Feeling good was my main motivation to go to the gym.

Since I can go to the gym again with out any problems, i'm going. I cant train like before and have to be very careful about my back-I'm gonna give it a shot. I hope it makes me feel better, and when I have reached a point in the gym I'm happy with I'll come back to pool. I know for 6 years I played pool at home when I was 100% gym and I played good 9 ball, But thats the only game I knew how to play back then. Being in good shape made pool seem easy. So I figure taking some time off pool, getting into shape cant harm mny pool game much. Infact I think I got the best of it, If I do it right. I'd like to do both

I think I can do both, before I really couldnt because I was body building and that makes your muscles numb and stiff, you cant stroke the cue right. This time I'm older, not BBing, just getting in shape. Thus I think my pool game will be ok. But I'm stopping pool 90% until the little voice comes along and tells me to go play pool. I'd hope its 90 days but I'll bet its going to be longer.

I'll be around here some and everything Fatboy will be pretty much normal. what ever the hell that means.


I'm really excited about this, i'm starting slow and careful.

Thanks everyone here(yes even the haters),

eric


Oh yeah my new joke-Whats the difference between a loser and a hater? Answer: The last 2. LOL
 
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I had to lay off the gym for a couple months recently do to a shoulder injury, and I can definitely sympathize with you missing the gym. I can tell you when I worked out I felt better mentally and physically, and my pool game seemed to be more consistent. I think working out gives you a confidence that can carry over into your pool game.

I always laugh at folks looking for a miracle drug to lose weight, or even a miracle drug to play better pool. There is simply no substitute for hard work and discipline at anything we do in life. No matter if it's the gym or the pool table.

Good luck, and go light.
 
I work out and play pool. Going to the gym definitely helps with endurance in pool. Of course, do everything in moderation.
Regardless, good luck at the gym. I think you are making the right decision to go. The tables will be around when you come back.
 
Fatboy2 said:
I finally feel good enough to go to the gym. I liked the gym, I never had the desire to compete or the genitics, I was too fat- I never looked great, but I did like how I looked then compared to now and more importantly I felt better. Feeling good was my main motivation to go to the gym.

Since I can go to the gym again with out any problems, i'm going. I cant train like before and have to be very careful about my back-I'm gonna give it a shot. I hope it makes me feel better,

I'm really excited about this, i'm starting slow and careful.
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To maximize the benefits, I'd like to suggest that you work with a trainer. Not only will losing weight be easier on your back, it will also be easier on your heart and joints too. Good luck! :smile:
 
Good luck getting back in there. First two to three weeks after a layoff are always the toughest... Especially after an injury (shoulder here). Go slow and stick with it. No better stress reliever than heavy shrugs...lol.
 
In case you need some additional motivation...yet another reason to go to the gym:
 

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Both !!

No reason you can't do both Eric...

As of now, I'm working out 5x/week,, weights 3x/wk and cardio the other two days, and the following week I reverse it, Boyer Coe really popularized that program in the 1980's....

Back in the day, I would go balls out ,,max bench at 305,, these days at the age of 56,, it's mostly dumbbells,,,

Speaking of doing both, I recently saw ''Jennifer Baretta'' at the ''Turning Stone'',, man,, is she freakin ripped !!

Her back and shoulders look like Michaelangelo carved them out !!

Anyway,,,be good and train safe,,

,,,,,,Alan ,,,,,,,,,,,,
 
P90x

Eric.... Try P90X Nathan and I have been doing it since June and have had fantastic results.... the best part is that you don't need to buy all fancy equipment just mostly free weights and you can do everything in your house. The guy that teaches it on the DVD's is very motivating and gives you different options for less extreme ways to do it. I highly recommend it.
 
PoolSharkAllen said:
To maximize the benefits, I'd like to suggest that you work with a trainer. Not only will losing weight be easier on your back, it will also be easier on your heart and joints too. Good luck! :smile:
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I think this is great advice. Not just because I'm a trainer , but if you do something wrong you could kill any gains. I one piece of advice I would suggest if you do get a trainer. Is ask the question " Why? ".
Why do I put my hands this way..why ? why ? whatever is asked of you make sure you understand the reasons why you are doing it a certain way. It will also let you know if your trainer knows his business. Personal training is one of the most unregulated industries out there. Anyone can call themselves a trainer and with an online certification ...wham bam instant trainer.
Good luck with your endeavors.
 
Falcon Eddie said:
I think this is great advice. Not just because I'm a trainer , but if you do something wrong you could kill any gains. I one piece of advice I would suggest if you do get a trainer. Is ask the question " Why? ".
Why do I put my hands this way..why ? why ? whatever is asked of you make sure you understand the reasons why you are doing it a certain way. It will also let you know if your trainer knows his business. Personal training is one of the most unregulated industries out there. Anyone can call themselves a trainer and with an online certification ...wham bam instant trainer.
Good luck with your endeavors.
Click to expand...

The best personal trainers are the ones that been there done that,in the gym,builed their own bodys up,not no over weight or skinny man or women that just compleated a few classes,the guys that kicked there asses in the gym day in and day out,learn all the exercises in the gym,not in some note book,so take it from a pool player thats been in the gym for over 20 years,with no big stops in between!not bragging but i will spot any living pool player the 7 8 in the gym!
 
Thanks to everyone for the advice and support.

I actually did train people for a while years ago. I spent 16 years in the gym and the first 5 years, I had 2 different trainers, best move I made. I wish I would have done that with pool-I'd be a much better player today If that was the case.

I enjoy the positive atmosphere of the gym, its lacking in pool. Pool is negative compared to the gym. I wish that people in pool had the attitude of people in the gym.

I went again today and it was very humbling, I'm so weak compared to before I got sick. But thats ok-at least i'm there!! and can move!!!! I never was real strong anyways. I was the weakest big guy in the gym. Just my muscle type. It dont matter to me how much weight i'm moving, it just feels good to be back.

I did 40 mins of cardio as well, longer than I planned on, I was on the treadmill and wasnt paying attention to the time, it felt so good to be able to be there(not home trapped in bed) I lost track of the time. I feel good now 2.5 hours later.

My best friend in the gym died in Feb or March, I made a thread on him here I think, man I was devastated by his passing. All my workouts are dedicated to him, he taught me so much during the 10 years we trained together. He was a trainer, sometimes I'd cover for him and train his clients as a favor once in a while. Its a very rewarding feeling to help someone. That's what pool is missing, action is why. Ya cant have it both ways,

best and thanks

Fatboy
 
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Fatboy2 said:
Finally after 6 years of hell(back problems, 5 monster operations, 427,943 pills). I finally feel good enough to go to the gym. I stopped pool in 94ish and started the gym because of back pain, the gym made the pain go away. I liked the gym, I never had the desire to compete or the genitics, I was too fat-best I could do was a 4 pack of abs(kinda funny same for 9 ball-if I could break it would be lots more:mad:). So I'm a 4-Pac Body Builder and 4-Pack pool player. LOL I look the worst I have since 94 because I havent been able to go to the gym in 5.5 years, I went until i collapsed in pain. I never looked great, but I did like how I looked then compared to now and more importantly I felt better. Feeling good was my main motivation to go to the gym.

Since I can go to the gym again with out any problems, i'm going. I cant train like before and have to be very careful about my back-I'm gonna give it a shot. I hope it makes me feel better, and when I have reached a point in the gym I'm happy with I'll come back to pool. I know for 6 years I played pool at home when I was 100% gym and I played good 9 ball, But thats the only game I knew how to play back then. Being in good shape made pool seem easy. So I figure taking some time off pool, getting into shape cant harm mny pool game much. Infact I think I got the best of it, If I do it right. I'd like to do both

I think I can do both, before I really couldnt because I was body building and that makes your muscles numb and stiff, you cant stroke the cue right. This time I'm older, not BBing, just getting in shape. Thus I think my pool game will be ok. But I'm stopping pool 90% until the little voice comes along and tells me to go play pool. I'd hope its 90 days but I'll bet its going to be longer.

I'll be around here some and everything Fatboy will be pretty much normal. what ever the hell that means.


I'm really excited about this, i'm starting slow and careful.

Thanks everyone here(yes even the haters),

eric


Oh yeah my new joke-Whats the difference between a loser and a hater? Answer: The last 2. LOL
Click to expand...

I'm in - looking to train 3-5x a week (including running, cycling, spinning, & swimming). Call me.
 
If you've had a lot of serious medical problems that have kept you from physical activities, I would seriously consider talking to your doctor first if you haven't already. You should sit down with a certified nutrition and exercise specialist that is familiar with your particular problems and lay out a plan just to get you back in "gym" shape.

As a personal suggestion, I would start with low impact cardio, yoga, and water activities like water aerobics. I know it may sound girly and you want to lift weights, but you should have a decent cardiovascular conditioning before you dive into a lot of weight training. Getting back into the gym after a really long break like you've had requires starting very slowly and making sure you aren't going to re-aggrivate an old problem like your back.

Bottom line, make sure your doctor says it's okay first. Otherwise, you may end up right back in the same boat.

But good on you for wanting to get in shape. We all should want that.

r,

Greg

ps. I swim minimum 3 times a week and hit the gym at least 1 time for other cardio and weights and it is amazing how much better it makes you feel. Good luck.
 
richiebalto said:
The best personal trainers are the ones that been there done that,in the gym,builed their own bodys up,not no over weight or skinny man or women that just compleated a few classes,the guys that kicked there asses in the gym day in and day out,learn all the exercises in the gym,not in some note book,so take it from a pool player thats been in the gym for over 20 years,with no big stops in between!not bragging but i will spot any living pool player the 7 8 in the gym!
Click to expand...

Those kind of guys you are talking about are great for work out partners. But they are there for themselves first. You get what you pay for. When it comes to someone that has injury rehabilitation problems, you don't want to trust it to anyone.
just bragging , but I'll take that spot !! lol
 
Fatboy2 said:
Thanks to everyone for the advice and support.

I actually did train people for a while years ago. I spent 16 years in the gym and the first 5 years, I had 2 different trainers, best move I made. I wish I would have done that with pool-I'd be a much better player today If that was the case.

I enjoy the positive atmosphere of the gym, its lacking in pool. Pool is negative compared to the gym. I wish that people in pool had the attitude of people in the gym.

I went again today and it was very humbling, I'm so weak compared to before I got sick. But thats ok-at least i'm there!! and can move!!!! I never was real strong anyways. I was the weakest big guy in the gym. Just my muscle type. It dont matter to me how much weight i'm moving, it just feels good to be back.

I did 40 mins of cardio as well, longer than I planned on, I was on the treadmill and wasnt paying attention to the time, it felt so good to be able to be there(not home trapped in bed) I lost track of the time. I feel good now 2.5 hours later.

My best friend in the gym died in Feb or March, I made a thread on him here I think, man I was devastated by his passing. All my workouts are dedicated to him, he taught me so much during the 10 years we trained together. He was a trainer, sometimes I'd cover for him and train his clients as a favor once in a while. Its a very rewarding feeling to help someone. That's what pool is missing, action is why. Ya cant have it both ways,

best and thanks

Fatboy
Click to expand...

Wish I was there to help you , I'm sure it would work both ways. Maybe you need a vacation in the Keys.
 
Everybody has an opinion!;)

It does feel good to force your way through something with your own power...something you cannot do playing pool.

I spent 3hr yesterday with my heart rate @160+. I am hurt and hungry today!
 
This whole workout thing sounds like a bad idea to me with all the surgery you've had on your back. I think i'd do a diet and something like swiming first, before I'd start at a gym. In any case I hope it all works out in your favor. What does your surgon say? Johnnyt
 
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