New gym membership-how do you get past the pain?

I started working out after being EXTREMELY SEDENTARY for 5 years. I was very overweight (well..still am, but 49 lbs lighter)..and believe it was hard.

After the first week or two, the pain diminished. (That pain that lasts for a few days) I still get sore after strength training, or pushing myself extra on my cardio, doing new stuff, etc..but that initial HURT I know you're going through goes away. Believe me.

You just have to have the courage to do it and keep going. After you make it through the first week or two, and make working out something you do consistently, you will find it doesn't hurt in the same way anymore, and you can somewhat enjoy it

If you have pain that feels injury related, that is another thing. You of course, would not want to hurt yourself anymore.

I went and had a massage after my first 3 weeks of working out. Although I was quite sore the day after it, I felt more limber the weeks following.

Good luck, and keep trying!

I give myself a few rest days between resistance training days.
And I ignore the pain....:smokin:

You may have become nauseous from eating too soon before your workout. Working out is all about listening to your body and figuring out what works for you, often times that means how long before or after your workout that you eat, how much water you need, etc. It is a learning process, but when something like that happens, I tend to think, "Hmm, that's odd! The human body is so strange..." and figure out how to get it to work the way I want it to, like a big science project. Bwahaha! Try to think objectively I guess.

In my opinion, if you felt that bad on the first training session with a trainer - either you've lied about your current activity level and strength, said you're feeling ok and the weights ok when it's not, or he's incredibly bad at his job!

And if you've been honest with the first two things - or said that it's two much and he's carried on at that pace - i'd ditch him and find someone else that better understands your needs - as like you said, you'll associate going to the gym with feeling awful and won't go again.

And if you puke, you wouldn't be the first. If you look at the old school body builders, they kept puke buckets next to the squat racks.

I joined a gym about 3 weeks ago and have been going at least 5 days a week. I'm sore ALL THE TIME-- not an injured sore, just a constant dull achiness, but you just have to ignore it and keep going, you know?
If there's ever a day that's really bad I'll take a rest day and a nice, hot bubble bath.

Unfortunately, it is going to hurt. But throwing up/passing out is not good. If you feel yourself getting close to that again, tell your trainer you need to slow down a bit. Work back up within a few weeks.

Also - stretch! I stretch before and after my work outs and it makes the biggest difference.

A professional trainer should be able to customize a workout for you that will take into consideration your fitness level and your goals. Did you do a fitness test with this trainer to see where you are, as a base? This trainer should also be preparing charts for you to be able to come into the gym on your own, in between sessions with him/her -- and work on your plan to get stronger & more fit. This should include some cardio and strength training in combination.

The good news is, that after starting a plan of work several days a week, the soreness will become bearable, and you will start to see results which will be the best motivation of all.

I agree. There's no reason to start at such an intense level. It causes stress and stress makes you retain fat. The key is commitment to regular work outs, building a routine of going to the gym and enjoying it. Intense work outs will get you there faster but not if it makes you avoid the gym. Muscle pain? Ibuprofen and a hot bath with a few drops of juniper and lavender oil.

You'll get through it I promise. I just started working out with a trainer this year. 13 years desk job and over 100 lbs overweight. My trainer recomended MSM, it helps with reducing the swelling and this helps to reduce the pain.

Now I know I'm doing good if I hit the point I'm about to throw up. It means I've pushed my body hard and I'm getting my money's worht out of my trainer and my gym membership!

Just remember that it's worth, before long you'll feel small improvements and then you'll start to see them. It'll get addictive and you will be able to enjoy your beer without feeling as guilty!

I have never been to the point of nausea. It is good to work out hard, but make sure you listen to your body. When I started to lose weight I was 33 years old, 260 pounds at not quite 5'3", very sedentary and have asthma. I stopped eating fast food and junk food and walked. I started slow because it is what worked for me (2.5 mph for 20 minutes). I pushed myself as hard as I could even if all it was was walking. Just be sure to always push yourself hard and listen to your body.