I joined a gym!

Jo2926
Jo2926 Posts: 489 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I decided to join a gym - having previously used a personal trainer at home. Would have loved to keep doing that but can't afford it at the moment.

I have my induction later today and they are going to set me up a programme. I'm guessing it will be a pretty bog standard 'run for 20 mins, and then do 3 sets of 15 of each of these machines'. Not exactly rocket science or particularly inspiring! Because I used an at home trainer I have no idea about the equipment at the gym - i'm used to running round a field and doing press ups in mud!

So I wondered if others that used gyms had any tips. For example - do you stick to the same programme each time? Weight machines or dumbbells? Are all cardio machines created equal?

My goals are simple - maximise weight loss and shape up my very wobbly bits! I intend to go 3 times a week for about an hour. Happy to do heavy lifting (I did charlene extreme at home, but borrowed the weights and now had to give them back).

Any help gratefully received.

Replies

  • AlyRoseNYC
    AlyRoseNYC Posts: 1,075 Member
    YAY!!! Good luck!
  • ShanaGore
    ShanaGore Posts: 58 Member
    Find what works best for you. I like to start out w/30 minutes of cardio. My fav for cardio is the elliptical trainer. It is easy on the knees and has lots of settings for resistance and incline to help vary your workout. Then I move onto weights. I think with the weights you need to mix it up some. The gym has so many different weights to use it is easy to have lots of different workouts. Some people like to work a specific muscle group each day (ie have a leg day, arms/chest day, ect) Being it is your first trip, I would ask the staff to show you around and show you what everything does and how everything works. Also, check to see if your gym has group fitness classes. I found l like the classes best!
  • Jo2926
    Jo2926 Posts: 489 Member
    Thanks. Hopefully my induction will show me how to use the machines - they look quite scary!

    The main reason for joining is the lack of cash to buy equipment to use at home (the trainer always brought everything with her), and I'm worried that I won't get the most out of what is available. My past experience of gyms was that everyone gets the same programme regardless of goals.

    Fingers crossed this one will have some good trainers - but its a budget gym so I am guessing I will need to do a lot of research myself.
  • Jo2926
    Jo2926 Posts: 489 Member
    Also, check to see if your gym has group fitness classes. I found l like the classes best!

    They do have classes - which do you enjoy?

    The zumba and spin class looks quite fun!
  • JeepBrah
    JeepBrah Posts: 150
    like a boss
  • torshi
    torshi Posts: 107 Member
    Good luck! You're going to be amazing at it! I'm trying to talk myself in to getting a gym membership again. I just always feel lost when I'm at the gym and tend to stick to the treadmill, and then that annoys me since there is so much open road out here for me to walk/jog on. I need a workout partner who knows good routines that won't get me bored.
  • Jo2926
    Jo2926 Posts: 489 Member
    like a boss

    Sorry I don't understand your comment?
  • Jo2926
    Jo2926 Posts: 489 Member
    Just finished - and as expected it was pretty bog standard. 10 mins on rower, then 3x20 reps of various dumbbell exercises (chest press, shoulder press, bicep curls, triceps extensions, squats, bridge and abductor raises, all with between 2 and 4kg) then 10 mins on cross trainer with 1 min intervals of higher level.

    On the plus side it was hard work and I burned 500 cals on my HRM. On the downside I am supposed to stick to this routine exactly for next 6 weeks. I am going to get bored very quickly!

    A couple of machines caught my eye - power plate, wave machine, and a funky exercise bike so I may have a go at these sometime.
  • juliexiuu
    juliexiuu Posts: 118
    I watch what the fit people do and copy them :p

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