What got you going to the gym? What kept you there?

rainbowbow

This picture:



I remember seeing this picture on instagram one day and it just totally making me want to start working out immediately. As a previous 8-pack gymnast I was thinking it was something i could accomplish (naturally) and within 6-12 months with exercise. LOL... oh rain, so naive.

What kept me in the gym was my inherent passion for sports and my competitive nature.

AmyOutOfControl

I signed up for 8 weeks of personal training with a friend. Lost 2 inches from my waist and dropped a size despite only loosing 6 pounds over the 8 weeks. Talk about motivation!

aaimar16

I started the gym because it's hard to exercise at home and I had hit a plateau in my weight loss. I joined a month ago and go 4 times a week, I spend 30 mins on cardio and about 45 minutes on the weight machines. I have so much more energy my body is so much toner and it's a great stress reliever. It makes you feel so good.

coralred1965

I've always been skinny/fat. I'm only 5ft 2 and 108lb. For years I did swimming and bike riding. And although I had a good shape I never felt "toned".Then for some reason one day I decided to try the machines at the gym, as the gym package was cheaper than going swimming all the time and it included swimming sauna and steam rooms. One of the staff told me (they could've told me earlier as I'd been swimming their for years).
I started lifting light and loved it. I hired a personal trainer for an hour to show me the main compound movements and check my form as Ive Sciatica so I can't lift heavy with squats but I found that my body comp changed a hell of a lot quicker and wished I'd done it years ago.
I had an injury so I gave up for a few months and also changed gyms as the one I went to got too expensive. So I've sort of started again this July. And with eating at maintenance I can see it's not going to take me too long to get back to where I left off last year.
I'm 52 ,and most,if not all of my friends are moaning about their weight gain and menopause and what do you expect at our age. They keep saying why do I go as I don't need to loose weight! But it's more for health reasons. Lifting is good for the bones and its a preventative hobby as well as a feel good one for me. I'll keep going for as long as I can

oregonlady

when i started, i did not go to gym to exercise! :noway:
i went to "earn" my shower! i wanted to get a bit sweaty first so sometimes i'd just go and sit in the sauna. :laugh:
and putting my toddler in their daycare was nice break for both she and I.

so i went to a gym very close and convenient most every day.

that was almost 100 lbs (and 15 yrs) ago! :noway: (pics in my profile if you want to see!)

now i go to the gym and enjoy working my body every day. the best habit for this obsessive lady!

CipherZero

Lost a bunch of weight by moving more and eating less, heard lifting iron was good for keeping muscle mass, got addicted to it. Got sick as hell and used it for recovery. Now it's chasing bigger numbers and learning how ot program lifts beyond a novice stage so I can start coaching in my retirement years.

Shawshankcan

I was 14 when I Started lifting because I wanted to look like a super hero or a pro wrestler.
Even boys grow up with body images.