New to the gym

SusanleeBee

Okay, so I just got q gym membership, but I'm having a hard time with my workouts. Before the gym, and on non gym nights, I usually walk, "briskly" with the dogs for about 3 miles. Tonight I went to the gym for the first time, and I wanted to include some new cardio and weights, so I did circuit training. I was only able to do 5 stations of the circuit (with a stair stepper as cardio) before I felt like my legs were giving out. At that point I moved to the treadmill, and set it to about 3mph, which is my usual stride, but was only able to manage for about 5 minutes before my legs were jelly, and really wouldn't support me anymore. What's the deal? I have much more stamina on my regular walks!

I think I need help. How did you get started with a workout?

FYI, I am 30 years old, 330lbs, so I can't do anything high impact yet, because of the weight on my knees and ankles.

thefuzz1290

It could be a variety of things: diet, mood, time of day, hydration, or doing the circuit training prior to walking. Just keep it up!

rcramer7

I want to give you some ideas based on what I've done. And my logic.

First, I walk(brisk) outside trails and that's all the cardio I do. For me 215lbs and walking fast is a pretty good workout. I assume it is for you too. At this stage that pretty much covers your lower body workout. However, starting to practice squats is a great idea. Legs are important to train but, don't forget you are carring more weight around. If you do a bunch of leg stuff you'll be spent before you get to other stuff FAST!

I would consentrate on all your upper body and do a little abdominal if you can for weight training. The more muscles you exercise the better but, pick a weight you can rep 12 times for 2-3 sets and build from that. Try this for starters for a couple weeks.

Whey protien will help you recover faster too. I don't use anything else short of multi-vitamin

TotalTiger

I was exactly the same when I started 6 weeks ago. I felt awful every time I went for the first 2 weeks then it all clicked. I also have just cut back my cardio. I think over the years we've had the whole you've got to move to lose and you think that the faster and harder you go, the more you'll lose. But I've found that since I stepped up the strength training, I'm enjoying the workout more (it's not so boring) and I can feel in my muscles that it's all starting to work. I lost 1.6kg last week on the back of more strength, less cardio.

Can I suggest doing a session or 2 with a personal trainer who can show you the correct techniques and also write a program for you. It might cost you a little at the start but the benefits will be enormous.

SusanleeBee

Thanks so much you guys! I much prefer my walk with the dogs to the treadmill anyway. I'll stick to strength training at the gym. I get a couple of free training sessions, so i'll definitely do that too.
Xoxo!

secretgirl4611

Sounds like u have a bit of a plan already. heres maybe another way you can try things out @ the gym:

FIRST do your cardio: and always def. switch up your routine thru out the wk so you always keep ur body guessing whats next.
ALSO I AM SUGGESTING THESE NOT TO BE DONE ALL AT ONCE YOU CAN PICK ONE OR 2 OR ALL 3 IT IS UR CHOICE AND ON WHAT DAYS TO DO WHAT AND FOR HOW LONG.

TREADMILLl: do a 4min warmup, after that pause it and "STRETCH" your legs out good, then resume and if you can INCLINE it as far up as you can handle it and walk for 10-15min, then lower it and do your reg. 3speed walk. if and when your ready too always try and take it up a notch or 2 on your speed. Some ppl on the biggest loser were @ speeds of 6-9 and some even 10, but dont push that hard at first. unless you want to for a few SECONDS then back to reg. 3speed. that will burn alot of calories and weight off faster. its called TREADMILL DRILLS if you go from slow to fast to incline to slow to fast to incline. (just an idea of how or wat you can be doin. eventualy:)
STAIRSTEPPER: on a easy level for about 10-15min.
ELLIPTICAL: try to aim for about 20min.
STATIONARY BIKE: I reccomend to pick the fat burn or cardio workouts they should have programmed on their. as they are good and will make u push urself harder to get it done. usually they start at and easy resistance then go to a higher resistance where u really have to push down on that pedal just to get it to go around. you may love and hate it..but it will work awesome for you
THEN AFTER THAT:
JUST DO UR REGULAR CIRCUITS YOU ARE DOING WITH WEIGHTS.
REMEMBER LOWER WEIGHTS LOTS OF REPS OR HIGHER WEIGHTS LESS REPS. EITHER WAY U WILL KNOW HOW HARD YOU WANT TO PUSH URSELF. HOPE THIS HELPS!!! SORRY FOR IT BEING SO LONG.. AND GOOD LUCK IN UR JOURNEY I WISH U THE VERY BEST..

amyy902

im a personal trainer. you're not used to using the equiptment so you need to build into it. id recommend you start building some strength. start out with the bike because it supports your body, if you feel like you can addd some resistance to start building up your leg strength, continue walking, set the tread mill on a gradient and get going. att in some lat pull downs etc.

SusanleeBee

You guys are great! I so love MFP.

Alkirra

I want to give you some ideas based on what I've done. And my logic.

First, I walk(brisk) outside trails and that's all the cardio I do. For me 215lbs and walking fast is a pretty good workout. I assume it is for you too. At this stage that pretty much covers your lower body workout. However, starting to practice squats is a great idea. Legs are important to train but, don't forget you are carring more weight around. If you do a bunch of leg stuff you'll be spent before you get to other stuff FAST!

I would consentrate on all your upper body and do a little abdominal if you can for weight training. The more muscles you exercise the better but, pick a weight you can rep 12 times for 2-3 sets and build from that. Try this for starters for a couple weeks.

Whey protien will help you recover faster too. I don't use anything else short of multi-vitamin

THIS!