Need inspiration, motivation and a kick out the door

[MeIAm]

Have been a member of a gym for about 3 years. In that time I have been .... twice

I would love to become a regular gym goer and improve my fitness. I just can't get myself out of the door to go! Part of it is probably laziness but it's mostly me being a little scared and nervous.

I have been in there before and it's a nice non intimidating gym, no Lycra clad ladies or muscle bound men (they were probably there but I just didn't notice them). So, why do I find it so hard to actually go?!

The trainer there wrote me out a plan and showed me the machines on my induction, I can remember how to set the bike, running machine and cross trainer, can't even remember what the others look like! Maybe I should go first thing (will it be quieter then?) and just use the machines I feel I won't make a fool of myself on and leave the others until I feel more confident?

I don't want to lose weight or plan on running any marathons so I have no time limit to reach a certain goal - maybe I need one?

Anyone overcome this hurdle and love the gym now? How did you do it? Slowly or just throw yourself into it? I'd really like it to become part of my daily routine.

[nbee84]

Does your gym offer classes? Mine does and you need to book on - which can be done online, over the phone or at reception. I look for classes that fit in with work/family life and book a couple at a time. I'm then committed to going

[MeIAm]

Yes it does have classes but have just looked at the timetable and they're mostly when I'm at work. I'd also be a bit afraid that I'm not fit enough or have the coordination to manage a class at the moment.

Are any classes suitable for absolute beginners?

[nbee84]

I started off doing pilates - didn't feel fit enough (or brave enough) to do anything that involved jumping around. Before my pilates class was a Zumba class and having watched the last few minutes each week thought I'd brave it out and hide at the back After a few weeks I felt fitter and braver and tried classes like body conditioning and body pump. I now do all sorts of different classes each week and am much stronger and fitter.

What I have noticed from all of the classes is that you get people with all levels of fitness and the instructor will give a range of exercises to take that into account. You don't really notice what the other participants can or can't do in class as you're concentrating on doing the exercise yourself. Everyone has been friendly.

I find the body pump classes to have been the best for strength and toning and you really can do them as a beginner. There's no jumping around so you don't need a great level of cardiac fitness and you keep the weights really light.

[nbee84]

And as for the co-ordination - I have none so thought I'd be hopeless at Zumba, and I was to start with. There'd be quite a few of us going left instead of right and getting our feet in a tangle but after you've done it a few times you do start to get it a bit.

[MeIAm]

I'm currently trying not to sit down! Back of thighs and bum are really, really achey from yesterday - I only did a couple of hours walking around so wasn't even planned exercise!

I'm going to bite the bullet and at least walk to the gym door in the morning and see how I go!

[londonmummy1966]

I found it really tough at first but the gym I went to had really friendly staff so it helped. Do you have a friend who might go with you? Otherwise think up little rewards to incentivise yourself - I "allow" myself a bunch of flowers from the stall at the end of my run if I have done 2 runs that week. A friend of mine splashes out on the £15 bottle of wine she loves if she has stuck to her training plan all month. It really does seem to help. Like most things though it is getting over the threshold the first time and making it a habit.

[Whyhellodaffodil]

I've just started going again and have taken the approach of trying to get it to become routine - so I have been going on the same evening,straight after work, for 6 weeks now and it feels like a routine, just what I do on that day I don't think about it or give myself the option of not going! I write down what ive done on the machines etc when I'm there (I started off using the notes bit on my phone then found an app) so I can see my progress, and it means that I know what I'm going to do before I get there. My next aim is to build in another evening, and work up to classes too. I also do 12k steps a day and have started doing a bit of yoga in the evenings just to build my general fitness. Could you have a refresher from the gym as to what all the machines are? (And maybe get them to write the routine down so you can remember it).