HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-11-11, Page 21ECE
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inton News -Record
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1987 SECOND SECTION
Weight training is fitness for the masses
By Shelley McPhee Haist
VANASTRA - The Universal Gym sits in
the middle of the weight training room at
the Recreation Centre here.
It's a rather ominous looking piece of
equipment. Steel bars jut out from the struc-
ture in various directions. There are wheels
and ropes, and numerous black blocks piled
atop each other. There are benches and
seats, none of which look particularly
comfortable.
On first appearance, the Universal Gym is
not unlike a piece of modern sculpture.
On a second look, it resembles an ultra-
modern children's play centre, perhaps a
futuristic model of the Jungle Gyms that are
found in school playgrounds.
Twenty years ago, the Universal Gym
was an unknown. Fifteen years ago, in 1972,
it came into being as a revolutionary design
phenomenon. For the weight lifter, the body
builder, the Universal Gym took free
weights, the traditional dumb bells and bars
and redesigned them into a more convenient
package.
Today the Universal Gym is considered
the grandfather of modern weight lifting
equipment. Modern equipment now include
hydraulic weight lifting systems and water
systems.
Still, to the average person, the Universal
Gym is a relatively new component in the
fitness scheme of things.
It used to be that weight training was a
technique solely used by the likes of seven
time Mr. Olympia title holder Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno and Tom
Platz among others - Samson -like men who
competed for such titles as Mr. Universe
and Mr. World.
Today body building, and in particular
weight training has reached the masses -
people like you and I.
Such was evidenced at the Vanastra
Recreation Centre on November 7 when a
Weight Training Clinic was held. Par-
ticipants, ranged in age from 15 to 72 years
old. Both men and women took part.
Instructor Kevin Duguay of Fergus said
that the one -day clinic was the first of its
kind to be held at the Recreation Centre.
"It's being offered to a wide range of peo-
ple,. ages and interests. The common ele-
ment is that we're trying to raise our fitness
level."
Kevin Duguay, a former recreation direc-
tor in Clinton, teaches weight training at a
private club and at a public recreation cen-
tre in Fergus. He also works as rec director
in Fergus.
While living and working in Clinton he of-
fered individual consultation in weight
training at the Vanastra Recreation Centre.
Weight training is not a sport or a fitness
regime that can be readily learned without
some professional instruction.
Mr. Duguay said, "The problem with the
Universal Gym is that it's like driving a car.
You can't put somebody behind the wheel
and give them the keys if they haven't
driven before."
Still the Universal Gym is not as inac-
cessibleor as complicated as it appears. In
the past five years, weight training has
become one of the most popular fitness
techniques used today.
The average person uses weight training
as a toning and fitness program, as'a way to
look good, feel good and turn flab into
muscle.
"This stuff works if you're looking to
maintain as reasonable fitness level," Mr.
Duguay said. "You'll often feel the results
quicker than you see them, but you'll see the
results if you keep a daily (weight training)
diary.
"Weight training is not a weight loss pro-
gram. It's toning that's emphasized and
good eating.. In combination with other pro-
grams it could work as a weight loss pro-
gram," he explained to the clinic
participants.
The 14 people that took part in the eight
hour clinic were a diverse lot.
Dianne Badley, of Brodhagen has been
weight training for three years. She has her
own. gym at home and she works out three
times a week.
"It's a nice feeling to go out, do a work out
and feel great. I have enough energy to
clean my house before I 'go to bed," she
chuckled.
Dianne figures she's lost some 15 pounds
in the three years that she's being lifting
weights. She's pleased with the results when
she stands on the bathroom scales. More im-
portantly, Dianne says she feels better and
she looks better.
Why do people choose weight lifting as a
fitness program? Mr. Duguay suggested,
"Weight lifting is a sport. You can sculpture
yourself into an entirely new person. You
can challenge yourself. You can set objec-
tives and goals."
Doug Rhude of Clinton regularly works
out at the Vanastra Recreation Centre. He's
an avid weight' training enthusiast. Of this
interest he said, "Weight lifting is one area
of life where you can push yourself to the ex-
treme limit."
Weight training is popular in that is flexi-
ble enough to meet individual needs and
choices. It provides mental and physical
challenges. Programs can be easily
taylored to meet individual needs and they
provide an excellent training ground for
other sports.
Bill Prest of Goderich is a swimmer. He
competed in the U.S. Nationals in Portland,
Oregon last year. He's scheduled to take
part in the Masters Swimming Competition
in Toronto.
Doctors say that Mr. Prest has the heart
of a 16 year old. That's an admirable ac-
complishment for a man who is 72 years
young.
Of the weight training clinic Mr. Prest
noted, "I have been hoping for a program
like this. I have to build up. I need strength
and stamina for my swimming."
Rowena Wallace of Seaforth is also look-
ing to strenthen her muscles with a weight
training program. She noted, "My job is
labor intensive. I'm a dairy farmer. My hus-
Clara Scott of Bayfield proves that you can never he too old to lift weights.
This 68 year old woman was among the participants in a Weight Training
Clinic held on Saturday at Vanastra. Instructor Kevin Duguay shows
Mrs. Scott how to use the Universal Gym equip- ment. (Shelley McPhee Haist
photo)
Weight training also means sit ups and push ups and a variety of exercises to keep
the body in shape. Mary Swinkels-McLellan of Seaforth and Dianne Badley of
Boradhagen show how push ups are done. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo)
band lifts weights. I work out every eight
months or so, when I need energy or I'm
feeling guilty."
Now, with a specially designed work out
program and the instruction given at the
weight training clinic, Mrs. Wallace plans to
continue training on a more regular basis.
Mr. Duguay suggests that weight training'
programs be carried out two or three times
a week for upwards of on hour. Working out
less than twice a week reduces the benefits.
He advocates a well rounded, total body
program that exercises all of the body. Us-
ing a weekly program of three sessions
could include sessions for the upper body,
another for the lower body and one session
for the circuit.
His weight lifting program includes a five
minute warm up and stretching period, a
work out period that includes stomach exer-
cises and weight lifting and a five minute
cool down.
Mr. Duguay stressed that proper techni-
ques, natural progression in increasing the
weight load and no over exertion are the
essential components to a successful
program.
He emphasized, "Don't cheat, it takes
away from the legitimacy of the exercise
and it could cause injury."
He suggests working with a partner an
ideal way to begin weight training. Partners
help ensure that proper techniques are be-
ing followed and, partners provide en-
couragement and challenge.
Sisters Nora Heard and Clara Scott of
Bayfield took part in the weight training
clinic. Both are senior citizens.
Mrs. Scott said that she and her sister
signed up for the program, expecting a
weight loss clinic, not a weight training
seminar.
Despite her` initial surprise, and her reser-
vations about the clinic, Mrs. Scott noted,
"I'm encouraged about what I've learned. I
would recommend this program to anyone.
You can do this on your own time and at
your own.pace."
Mrs. Scott admitted that she doesn't take
part in any regular exercise program, with
the exception of walking and bowling. This
68 -year-old woman now plans to weight
train at Vanastra on a regular basis.
John MacKeigan of Clinton also had some
reservations when he arrived at the
Vanastra Recreation Centre for the clinic.
A regular swinuner at the centre he was
encouraged to register for the weight train-
ing clinic.
"This morning when I got out of bed, I
didn't want to come here and face a group of
25 year old jocks."
To his pleasant surprise, Mr. McKeighan
found that his fears were unfounded.
There appears to be a myth about weight
training, a false preception that is
associated with the muscle bound rnen and
women who have gained international
celebrity status through body building.
In fact, there is a distinct difference bet-
ween weight training .and body building.
Weight training is the program that Mr.
Duguay prescribes as a system that tones
and conditions the body.
Body building programs are for the excep-
tional few that seek to push their physical
limitations beyond the normal. Body
building is for people who are motrivated to
create huge muscles, who want to lift
Turn to page 2,1 •
Doug Rhude of Clinton works out regularly at the Vanastra Rec Cen-on at the Recreation Centre on November 7. (Shelley McPhee Haist
tre. Doug enjoys the challenge of weight lifting, of pushing his body photo)
to the limit. He took part In a daylong Weight Training Clinic put
Curtis McCone of Clinton works on his calf tre weight training room. (Shelley McPhee
muscles and building the tops of his thighs Haist photo)
Oil the leg machine at the Vanastra Rec Cen-