How Did you go from Gym Avoider to Gym Regular

myrightweight

If you used to avoid going to the gym but now love to go to the gym and go regularly, please share your secret!

I am tired of not getting my money's worth out of my gym membership and really want to use it and enjoy it!

usmcmp

At first I just went and walked on the treadmill. It was the only thing I really knew how to do and it was also my escape time from my kids.

Eventually I did a few things on the machines (only after watching others do them).

Then I found a program on Bodybuilding.com that was short and simple. They had videos for everything. I took that in and actually used the dumbbells.

I enjoyed my "me time" and I liked how the exercise made me feel, so I kept going. The trick is simply to explore things and find something you love. If you really like what you are doing you'll want to keep doing it.

Unknown

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sofchak

Might not help you at this moment since you already have a membership... But my process was to start with the great outdoors and a few basic weights at home as my "gym". No travel time, no open/close hours to work around, and no waiting around to use equipment someone else is using. Once I found exercises I enjoyed (running/cycling/strength/yoga) and established a healthy baseline for time to dedicate daily toward my fitness goals, I then went to find a gym to complement my routine - decided on the YMCA because they had an indoor track for running/walking on the really hot or cold days, had yoga and cycling classes, as well as a pool for when I need a recovery day for my muscles. The open hours and locations fit within my established routine so it was easy to justify a slight tweak to go to the Y on a regular basis.

As for your situation, life is too short to do something you don't enjoy. If you don't feel motivated to go to the gym presently, maybe you need to take some time to find a fitness activity you do enjoy. Talk to a personal trainer at the gym to see if they can help you brainstorm. If you MUST go to the gym, find an accountability buddy - someone who will either join you at the gym or somehow hold you accountable to go.

Otherwise, go out and see what else is an option - as an example, my husband recently discovered rock climbing at a local gym/warehouse and now he's super motivated to do that when before, he was not very active at all. Go do kickboxing, yoga, barre, tai chi, find a walking group or running group, swim at the local lake, take your bike for a spin - try a million things until you find that one activity that you truly enjoy. Then see if you can incorporate it at your gym. If not, cancel the membership and move on now that you found what motivates you.

My two cents :-)

AJ_G

Go into the gym on your first day, find the biggest looking dude in there, walk up to him and punch him in the face. You've just made yourself the new leader there. Your people need you, you have to be there every day. Don't let them down.

brdnw

I just made a goal to go every single day. I felt that making it a persistent part of my day would make it easiest to continue. That was 7 years ago and I've averaged probably 355/365 days a year ever since.

ugodb55

Hire a reputable personal trainer for the first few months to motivate and to teach you how to exercise. The investment will pay off in the long run.

Exercise is a science. Understanding how to exercise, what muscles to use, will give you confidence. Relying on fad workouts and quick fix plans will not motivate you to change your life.

I recommend trying out the trainer once or twice before committing yourself. The trainer should have an understanding of your fitness level, your age, and your physical limitations. The trainer should have a good educational background, including a reputable certification. The trainer should be a model of good fitness. And the trainer should be positive.

Find a gym that is convenient, and that is positive in atmosphere. You must feel good about the space.

Ciao!

Your friendly personal trainer

88olds

The gym business depends on people who don't show up.

I became a gym regular by going back again, again and again.

Secrets? I had a home workout backup. There were some days when I just couldn't get to the gym. But my workout habit stayed in place. Workout time was workout time 6 days per week.

My six days included weekends. Getting to the gym on weekends was easy.

Want to watch the game? The gym is a great place to watch sports.

DebLaBounty

I put workout classes (yoga, Zumba, BodyPump) on my calendar and treated them as appointments I had to keep. Usually go three times a week, sometimes four. Then it became a habit. My gym is $25 a month and I get my money's worth.

Mirelle242

I'd say hire a trainer to help you learn the ropes or carry a gym rat friend with you to work out with you for a little while.
Then what I usually do is just still ear buds in my ear and ignore the world.
Happy training

jdlobb

Honestly? By regularly reading fitness magazines. The constant input of both ideas and motivation, as well as the subtle body shaming and unrealistic expectations, helps keep my mind on the gym and remind me what I'm working toward.

ladyhusker39

I found things I enjoy doing at the gym and accepted that there are things I don't enjoy, so I don't do them no matter what someone else tells me I "should" do. I go 5 - 6 times a week now.

vespiquenn

88olds wrote: »

Want to watch the game? The gym is a great place to watch sports.

Hah, I'm glad I'm not the only one that does this. I didn't have cable and my gym was not even a block away, so it was where I went to watch Packer games. Best part is the gym was always empty.

OP, another thing I did for myself to get over the gym anxiety I had was to set a time to go to the gym and treat it like work or an appointment. I wouldn't randomly skip out on a day of work, so why should the gym be any different? It really helped getting into a routine.

Duck_Puddle

What is your reason for not going? Are you anxious about going? Are you not sure what to do when you get there? Do you not like it when you go? Just don't feel like going? All of these have different resolutions. But it really depends on what is keeping you from going now.

Mr_Healthy_Habits

You build momentum, and start to show progress which builds more momentum... Soon you just can't stop!

The only difference really between who I was and what I've become is momentum!

GiddyupTim

I cannot say I was ever an avoider.
But when I first started going to the gym, I went for the hot tub and steam room and sauna.
The gym we went to, which was very typical for the day, had chrome dumbbells and weight machines and, maybe, two benches for bench pressing.
We'd spend five minutes in the weight room and then head to the back for the tanning lamps.
But, you know what? We gradually learned that it felt better in the back if you had worked up a sweat in the front first, and it grew from there, until the best part of it was the working out and the feeling that left you with, sauna or no sauna.
I might suggest you find that kind of gym, the kind where you can get an easy reward like that, one that will make you want to go in.

Shells918

I found the right kind of gym for me. I used to go to a general kind of gym, and I basically went for the classes or the personal training. When I moved, I tried Curves, but the clientele was not in my age range and the workout was not to my liking. Then I went to a yoga studio, and while I enjoyed the classes, the people were unfriendly and it wasn't a friendly environment. The place I'm going now is the most positive environment I've ever worked out in and there are people there of all ages shapes and sizes working at their own pace, and everyone is friendly.
My thought process is, it's only an hour, just go and get it over with.

myrightweight

Thank you all so much for your replies! I have read and reread your posts several times and given a lot of thought to why I am not going to the gym and what it is I really enjoy.

So, I have a plan now that incorporates your ideas. I only need to go to the gym at least once a week to get my money's worth, so I will schedule that in like an appointment and make sure it is something I enjoy each time I go. No need to feel guilty if I choose not to go more than that. I won't be intimidated by anyone at the gym - I have my own goals!

The gym is not my whole health and fitness plan! I started an at home walk program today that I will do every morning to get me moving. I found out about it, "Walk With Leslie", in another discussion. I will include doing something active outdoors everyday, or add on another home fitness session in the evening if I haven't been at the gym that day. I have set a weight loss goal with an end date in mind to reach my goal by losing 1lb a week.

Bonus if I go to the gym more than once a week and lose more than 1lb per week but it's important for me to have very achievable goals!

Thanks again and good luck with your goals.

sarahjacqulin1212

I know everyone knocks it, but try crossfit. Find a good gym! Try a few different ones. I hated three different boxes (crossfit gyms) before I found one that I get along with the people and it's so much fun to go! They care a lot about my body and limitations and always do their best to scale things for me

dancoon7469

For me it was just a case of I'm shelling out the money so I'm going to get my money's worth. The gym I use is open 24/7 so there really is no excuse not to go. I told myself I would definitely go on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and one weekend day but I've found myself going Wednesday and the other weekend day too as I quite enjoy it.

asianolikeyou

I used to hate the gym, but I learned to feel comfortable in that space and now I go regularly. Initially I'd stick to the treadmill, then I progressed to taking classes like Zumba and Kickboxing, eventually worked my way over to lifting weights.

VeronicaA76

I would just force myself to show up. At first I had no plan so I just walked on the treadmill. After a while going to the gym just became part of my daily routine.

WanderingRivers

I'm still a gym avoider. Between cost and a horror or being seen exercising by other humans, I can't see myself stepping into a gym ever.

cenafan

I actually like my gym time. It's my no thinking time. I go to yoga 4 days a week, bodypump 2-3. I don't use machines in the spring/summer/fall because I'd much rather be outside walking/hiking.

GemstoneofHeart

I don't go to the gym but maybe the principle still applies.

I used to never ever want to go for a run outside because I was embarrassed by how slow and jiggly I was. So I worked out at home but that just didn't work for me. Too boring and not enough room.

So I had my husband take a bunch of pictures of me, which I now use as my "before" pictures.

That sure did whip me into gear! I rarely have a day that I don't go out for a jog. The jiggling went away too after losing 30 lbs.

azulvioleta6

I was never a gym avoider--I was too ill to exercise for several years. However, some of the things that I did might be helpful for you.

1. I started with the easiest thing and the thing that I enjoyed the most. For me, that was swimming. Bonus: it is low impact, so injury is unlikely and you don't even have to feel sweaty.
2. I rewarded myself for going to the gym, especially when it was really physically difficult to get myself there. At first, I rewarded myself with espresso drinks. Later, I rewarded myself with nail polish...the reward could be anything that you like, but obviously non-food rewards are the best. At first, I needed the caffeine!
3. I am very motivated by music, so I started buying music *specifically* to get myself going at the gym.
4. I continually set new, small, attainable goals.
5. I challenged myself to new things. Zumba, for example, was a BIG challenge when I started, even though I had been a serious Latin dancer in my youth.
6. Buy yourself gym clothes that make you feel good. These don't have to be expensive (my favorite workout shirts are from the corner Mexican store: $5 each!), but wear something that is a fun color, comfortable or motivating for you in some way.
7. Go at a time that works for you. I was always told that you HAD to go to the gym in the morning for weight loss, but that just does not work for my body rhythms. Going right after work (directly: before going home) is the right solution for me. Do whatever works for you in terms of timing--all movement is a good thing.
8. Make an appointment with yourself. I like to print out weekly schedules (odd and variable work schedule) and then I make an appointment each day for the particular exercise that I am going to do. I post this in a place where I can see it and pre-track my exercise here.
9. Think about setting larger goals of things that you can do outside of the gym that are tied to fitness. This will get you motivated to work out. For me, I wanted to be fit and healthy enough to go to a Salsa Congress--basically three days of dancing with people half my age, doing workshops all day and social dancing all night. It took me several years to reach this goal.
10. If you have choices (I did not at first) shop around and try different gyms--some are much better than others, and some will be a better fit for you than others.
11. Make friends! The gym was a huge social outlet for me for a long time, and that helped me to get there often.

Brabo_Grip

Started at a non traditional gym. If my only option was a traditional gym, I would still be avoiding it. (They bore me to tears.)

rsamuelsgold

Before I joined a gym I did blogilates at home. I started working out and stretching then I signed up at a gym in my office building and went during lunch. I lost weight. Then plateaued and stopped gaming but kept doing blogilates at home.

I recently started again. How? I pack my gym bag every day and go to the gym. AND I love it. It's my alone time.

I also dance at a dance school so even if life happens and I don't get to gym I still have at least a 90 minute dance class twice a week.

Mostly I just showed up. Going to the gym is easy now I like feeling my body do stuff be it running or stretching or suspension training.

I even have a punching bag now... at home.

beefley

I eventually loved the way I felt when I was fit and that motivated me to keep going to the gym (you have to just stick at it for a while until it becomes a habit), but I got married, moved and ended up with a long commute to work (up to 2 hours driving each way) which meant realistically I was never going to use the gym regularly again (it just didn't fit with my schedule/meal times,etc). But then I hated feeling unfit. One day I was sitting in my car stuck in traffic and saw a guy running on a treadmill in his garage. Luckily we had room, but for less than the cost of a year's membership I bought a treadmill which I use at home at least 4x a week and haven't looked back since. We have added weights and a cross trainer and rowing machine and I am probably the fittest I have been in my life (at 49 and perimenopausal