Lifestyle - Gyms near Beida / Tsinghua

[SriapornM]

Dear All,

Wondering if anyone can provide any insights on locations of some good workout gyms. Either university(public) or private gyms are good as long as they have some equipment.

I've heard of a gym called Fusion located in BLCU, but not sure if they allow outsiders. Is Bally Fitness anywhere near Beida ?

Thanks,

Mark

[amandagmu]

They'll take anyone who pays them at Fusion. No problems. There are several others in the vicinity -- particularly, walk out the gate near BLCU that goes up towards the golden(?) towers -- just ask everyone where the starbucks and subway are -- and you'll see two other gyms. There's one of the left side walking up in that direction, and another in the golden gate towers (I think). If I go back I'm going to go check those out and how much they cost. Also --- I just remembered -- right outside Qinghua's gate near WuDaoKou there's a new gym. It's pretty big and hard to miss (is it called Nirvana? anyone know?).

[amandagmu]

I should also ask what you want to use the gym for - because if it's weight lifting, Fusion is perfectly fine for your needs. I don't know how much the others cost but Fusion usually has "deals" quite frequently.

[SriapornM]

Hi Amanda,

Thanks for the information. I'm basically looking for a gym to work out with weights - free weights and machines (lat pulls, cables, etc). Would be great if they also have swiss balls, stretch mats, etc. I'm not really into cardio machines, as I'd rather jog outside. (is there a park nearby you can recommend ?)

Since you seem like a workout kinda person, I'd also like to ask you regarding nutrition supplements. Are there any nutrition supplement stores nearby (vitamins, protein powder, etc). I usually don't take much as I'd rather eat whole foods, but I think Beijing food is very much flour and rice, and would like to make sure I'm getting complete nutrition.

Many thanks ! I'll look around for some gyms when I get there and will share my thoughts.

Mark

[amandagmu]

Hi Mark - well, bad news on both of your questions. I absolutely cannot stand running on treadmills... but in Beijing it was necessary. I contracted numerous upper respiratory (sp?) infections while I was there from running outside -- I was only there for two months and in that time I was sick 3 times. The third time was on the way home so I got some good antibiotics to clear it up once I returned. Seriously, the air pollution in Beijing is no joke. My coach warned me not to do it, but I really cannot stand being inside... what got me through my time at BLCU was knowing I'd be at home running in clear air soon. The air pollution in the city can do irreparable damages to your lungs so don't mess with it.

I would look into calling/ signing up with the MOB listserv guys (backchannel me and I'll provide some cell numbers for you and an e-mail address). They are multi sport people who run once a week outside the city (I think) and definitely bike ride (mtb and road) outside the city. I've also heard the Beijing hash harriers are a good place to look for runs outside the city once a week. During the week, I hate to say it, stick to the gym treadmill (bleh).

On the nutritional supplements... I *think* fusion might sell protein powder, but I could be very wrong here. This is another area you are not going to find similar at all to home. I had a friend who does the supplements here (USA) and he told me he was eating a lot of tuna because it's easy to find in Beijing and gives him the protein. They sell a mean tuna fish sub in the western style cafe above the dining hall at BLCU, it's about 15 kuai (< 2 bucks) and it's the best post workout meal on campus, hands down. ;) Now, if you want glutamine, whey protein powder, l-carnisine, recovery drinks that have more stuff in them than a typical powerade/gatorade, you better bring it with you. When I go back I'll be bringing a lot of endurance drink powders with me (in unopened, labelled packages so I don't get in trouble at the airport!) for those long days on the treadmill. It got might hot in there. The only endurance drink I saw a lot was Coca-Cola's Asian gatorade called "Pocari Sweat" (yes that's the real name) and similar "off-brand" names of the same thing. Oh, and I brought a bunch of clif bars and power bars with me since they don't have anything of this sort either... you can find generic granola bars (oats, raisins, etc) at some of the imported food stores though, and they're worth picking up as snacks.

Finally -- Fusion does have like two swiss balls and a few floor mats. It has the weight machines you want too. You can take a little tour around the two small rooms they have before signing up, they're pretty nice about that. A one day fee is like 30 kuai so you could try it out and see if you like it first. Two of the nice perks I liked about the place were that it had a water cooler and changing rooms/plus a downstairs shower stall I could use.

Anyways, hope this helps. If you have more questions on training just ask. I did it for two months this summer. I had a couple of fall events (oly-dist triathlon, duathlon short-course worlds, and a marathon) that I was training for.

Amanda

[SriapornM]

Thank for the information, Amanda.

Mark

[deezy]

The air pollution in the city can do irreparable damages to your lungs so don't mess with it.

Damn, the incessant smoking everywhere is bad enough. Has the air pollution also gotten that bad within the last 5-7 years? Is it mostly from all the coal-burning?

I want to go there for a month, and maybe do some active things from time to time. Ugh. Should I consider another city possibly - or wear one of those mouth filters? Are there also times of year when it is least bad?

[amandagmu]

秋天天气很好or so everyone says. I was there in the unforgiving summer months... either way there's a reason 16 of the top 20 polluted cities are in China. I don't know if Beijing is among them, but it should be.

[got_no_jaffas]

I know of 2 people who have had respiratory problems while living in beijing last year. makes you wonder how the olympic athletes are going to cope in 2 years time!

don't they have specialist bicycle shops in beijing that sell maltodextrin powder & energy bars? otherwise i'll have to make do chinese style & pack a lunchbox of dumplings instead!

at least i hope somewhere sells cough sweets.

[amandagmu]

Cough drops and other goodies at Watson's, western-style drug store (also a good place to buy a personal product you can't find anywhere else, like decent smelling deodorant, though a bit pricey -- expect American convenience store prices).

I think I previously posted on all my upper resp. issues. If not, beware. Even my doctor back home was surprised how bad I was when I got back home. Of course, she's been to China several times (her husband is Chinese) so she knew what the problem was right away.