Gym/Exercise - How to get started?

Shaddix

Member
I know that no-one will offer up a miracle cure that will get me off my sofa and to the gym.. but I was just wondering how some of you got started with exercise?

I have a months free trial at a gym through this weight loss class I've been doing..I've been for my induction and to be shown around, but really.. the thought of going makes me feel really sick.

I think its just a confidence thing, and it wouldn't be so bad if I could go with someone. But I dont have anyone to go with, as my boyfriend works and I'm the only one with the free trial.

Any tips/stories would be greatly appreciated.
 
Shaddix said:
I know that no-one will offer up a miracle cure that will get me off my sofa and to the gym.. but I was just wondering how some of you got started with exercise?

I have a months free trial at a gym through this weight loss class I've been doing..I've been for my induction and to be shown around, but really.. the thought of going makes me feel really sick.

I think its just a confidence thing, and it wouldn't be so bad if I could go with someone. But I dont have anyone to go with, as my boyfriend works and I'm the only one with the free trial.

Any tips/stories would be greatly appreciated.

I'm no pro but make these suggestions
1. Set yourself some goals (e.g. no_ of hours exercise for the month or per week, inch loss, weight loss, etc)
2. Decide what you'll be doing -usually a combination of some cardio, resistance & stretching.
3. Decide how you'll be doing it -what machines to use. Get a plan going!
4. Get more info on how the exercises work
5. Log your exercises (notebook & pen, PC, app on phone, anything!)
6. Use a forum like this; fantastic for support!
7. Take some 'before' photos, and be ready to take some 'after' ones too
8. Get 'that' outfit out of your wardrobe that you'd love to wear but can't anymore. Keep it in view for motivation!
 
I think the one thing I learnt when I actually used a gym (though I hate them, it has nothing to do with what I'm about to say) is that you may think everyone is watching you, but the only people doing the watching are the people who are worried about being watched themselves. Most are too wrapped up in their own little world to really take notice of other people - alot of people who use the gym use it as a kind of release or time to think things through, as well as for physical purposes.
 
I agree with everything that the others have said. The one thing for me that really got me going was setting a goal & achieving it & the feeling of doing so. I started off by doing C25k & in the beginning found it tough but each week thought I wonder if I can manage this or will this be the week that beats me and each week, sometimes surprisingly, I managed it. The feeling that I was able to do something that a month ago I couldnt was amazing. I initially started exercising purely to lose weight but now I exercise because of how good it makes me feel & how much I enjoy it. I really do think the key is to find an exercise that you enjoy doing.. some people prefer the gym others prefer classes at the gym. For me I enjoy exercising outdoors so running was perfect. That being said I discovered kettlebells a few months back & I enjoy them every bit as much. Whatever you decide to do join a thread on here & that will help to keep you motivated. Even have a read through some of the other threads to find out what others do & you might find something that appeals to you.. thats how I discovered kettlebells (I didnt even know what they were before that!!!)

Good luck & keep us posted on how you get on :)
 
Thank you all for your replies :)

I actually got up and went this morning, even though I felt really sick and was shaking a little.. and I followed the plan that the gym had set out for me.
I did:
-Treadmill for 6 minutes, with a cool down (which was like 3 extra minutes on the treadmill).
-Stretches
-Bike for 6 minutes, with cool down (3 extra minutes)
-Chest press (I think its called..) for 12 reps, repeated twice
-Crosstrainer for 2 minutes with cool down (1 minute)
-Treadmill again for 5 minutes.

I was told that the crosstrainer would be easier than the treadmill, because its lower impact or something. But I just couldn't do it. My legs just wouldn't work, my knees got really weak and I felt like I was going to fall off. So I stopped. The chest press.. I'm really weak anyway, so found it hard to do 12.
I'd try the chest press again, but with the crosstrainer.. I dont think I'll go on that again. Well, not yet.

Since I am really unhealthy..and I found the treadmill the easier thing to do, going from no exercise at all to this.. would it be better for me right now to go on the treadmill more than the other things which I find really difficult, until I improve my health? I know it will seem like I'm looking for an easy way out, but I think I'd be more likely to stick to it if I went on the treadmill more until my health improved, rather than pushing myself to the point of pain (like on the crosstrainer) and just giving up.

I feel so lazy because it seems like I'm going after the easier option, which I guess I am. But I just dont want to injure myself/push it too far and give up quickly.

Going to stop before I ramble on any more lol.
 
Thank you all for your replies :)

I actually got up and went this morning, even though I felt really sick and was shaking a little.. and I followed the plan that the gym had set out for me.
I did:
-Treadmill for 6 minutes, with a cool down (which was like 3 extra minutes on the treadmill).
-Stretches
-Bike for 6 minutes, with cool down (3 extra minutes)
-Chest press (I think its called..) for 12 reps, repeated twice
-Crosstrainer for 2 minutes with cool down (1 minute)
-Treadmill again for 5 minutes.

I was told that the crosstrainer would be easier than the treadmill, because its lower impact or something. But I just couldn't do it. My legs just wouldn't work, my knees got really weak and I felt like I was going to fall off. So I stopped. The chest press.. I'm really weak anyway, so found it hard to do 12.
I'd try the chest press again, but with the crosstrainer.. I dont think I'll go on that again. Well, not yet.

Since I am really unhealthy..and I found the treadmill the easier thing to do, going from no exercise at all to this.. would it be better for me right now to go on the treadmill more than the other things which I find really difficult, until I improve my health? I know it will seem like I'm looking for an easy way out, but I think I'd be more likely to stick to it if I went on the treadmill more until my health improved, rather than pushing myself to the point of pain (like on the crosstrainer) and just giving up.

I feel so lazy because it seems like I'm going after the easier option, which I guess I am. But I just dont want to injure myself/push it too far and give up quickly.

Going to stop before I ramble on any more lol.

Thats great that you went & it sounds like you got on well. Maybe talk to whoever done your programme & tell them that you are struggling with the crosstrainer at the minute & they may adjust your programme for you & then introduce the crosstrainer for you further down the line :)
 
I would also recommend that, if u can, u exercise in the morning. It's not for everybody but, if u can, it's great.
The way I see it is that if u make it the first thing you do then no matter what you do the rest of the day you already feel SUCCESSFUL and that is great for the self esteem.

Also, I find that when the alarm goes off at 5am, the conversation with myself goes..."are you gonna train? Yes or no?" and I either do or I don't! Whether I do or dot though is never because i have anything better to do at that time (other than sleep) so I don't have the usual "I don't have the time" issues that people struggle with. There just isnt any time for procrastinating at 5am so the decision feels simple. When i tried to do it in the evenings i found that i would think of 25 things i'd rather be doing and, before i knew it, i'd talked myself out of it in favour of doing sweet FA. I then felt like a failure and so the cycle continued...

Now I just get on with it knowing that, in 10mins, I'll feel like superwoman and go to work already feeling like I can conquer the world!

As I said, it's not for everyone but maybe give it a go and see how you get on????
 
Hi there

well done for going. its a start. Im used to gyms but they can seem intimidating - its just metal and stuff and like all things you get used to it. Everyone has to start somewhere.

The cross trainer will come - very good exercise as the eliptical movement takes the pressure off your knees which you can get from treadmills. However do the things that you can - from this you will build confidence and stamina.

Just one thing - pain is a signal and you must listen to it. If you felt pain then stop. Assess the situation and you did the right thing and moved onto something else.

Set some targets - it will help with motivation. Perhaps in 4 weeks going up a level on whatever is your favourite piece of equipment.
 
I agree. Start at a pace you can stick with then move up. It should feel like a mixture of being challenging yet fun. I would leave out the cross trainer until you're ready. With the weights 8-12 reps should be ok so not to worry if you can't do 12 yet. You might want to vary the weight itself, starting at a lower weight for now.
Congratulations for overcoming your fears and turning up! Maybe for now make it one of your goals just to show up; it does get more familiar and comfortable with time. We all have initial hiccups but know this: you can do it!
 
i got into going when my beloved evil sister guilt tripped me into trying a class with her.

turned out i really enjoyed it, but she didnt.
i found out which other classes that instructor did and found out she did a fair few. so i kept them up, that instructor is the only one who works you that hard, others are tame compared to her
 
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