To join a gym?

I work full time. My gym is open 5AM to11PM. Sometimes I go early mornings, sometimes lunctime when WFH, or on the way home or late in the evening - yesterday was there until 10.30PM. That's the beauty of the weights section, you can be flexible and go whenever it fits your schedule on any given day.

I would have said 100% that I "wasn't a gym person" then I actually went.....loved it!

Being amongst others "doing stuff" is motivating, the variety of equipment is enjoyable, in the main I prefer machines to free weights as I feel safer and confident that I'm not "doing it wrong" (ie. using the wrong muscles). Naively I wouldn't have said I was 'unfit', I walked every day, not overweight, but a couple of weeks of going to the gym and the difference was astounding, and very welcome.

Try it, on your own, with a PT or classes - see what suits you.

Edited to add - You may not have a choice of gyms but if you do, do try all those available - the gym I attend is warm and welcoming to all (all well behaved people 😂 no dropping weights or chatting on your phone allowed) and to all ages - one of the chaps who's a regular is 90!!

I go to my local Puregym before work 3 mornings a week, so get there just after 6am. It’s normally fairly quiet then.

You are very unlikely to lose any fat by going to the gym.
Losing fat is mostly controlled by diet.
As per PP’s, the gym is for building muscle and stamina.
Lifting weights is great for toning and strength, and great for bone health. Stress those bones!
Everyone in the gym is there to get fit. It’s a common goal.
Obviously there are incredibly fit young people there, but I’m also at PureGym and during the day, especially the mornings, is a very mixed crowd.

No one wants to end up sitting in a puddle of their own piss because they didn’t have the strength to stand up and get to the toilet.

I'm trying to make the same decision...will I go? I've also never been to a gym before. I do try to do stuff at home, but I'm never sure if I'm doing it correctly or if I'm doing more damage than good. I've got as far as looking up my closest gym. But I've no idea when I would go. There are two classes I could get to. But doing weights in the gym, I don't know if DH would be amused at me going on the weekend, and usually I'm ferrying around the DC at least one day. I'm beginning to notice I'm feeling a bit weak and pathetic, and also having difficulty accepting the muffin top which has appeared out of nowhere.
Just a bit put off by the cost, the closest one is you have to sign up for a year, the next is you have to sign up for a year, give 6 months notice but you can't give notice within 6 months of starting.

I joined a gym 18 months ago and I have loved it. I’m so much stronger and fitter, also lost weight but mostly through diet.

I pay a lot for David Lloyd which I have loved but I’ve now given notice as I’ve got into hiking much longer distances so am going less and I am struggling with the traffic driving to the gym.

I’ve learned loads and I’m going to try home workouts and if that doesn’t work, I’ll join a more local and cheaper gym. Less facilities but what I’ve discovered I love is the strength training so that’s all I really need.

@likelysuspect doing a few 1-1 sessions isn't a bad idea to get you started. I'm always a bit hesitant of the very young PTs, they often have a "lift until your drop and live your life of protein shakes" type mentality ;)

go and try it, gyms are very different in what they offer and the feeling in them. Pure Gyms are cheap but don't offer anything other than gym access and classes unless you pay for personal training sessions and the quality of PTs can be mixed in any gym. I pay a small fortune for my gym membership but as a result it makes me go to ensure I get value for money and I'd rather go somewhere nice than a budget place at a fraction of the cost. It's about my indulgence! You should be doing resistance /strength work to reduce your risk of osteoarthritis and keep you stronger for longer.

If you want to go to gym to lose weight, you may give up soon. Exercise is not that efficient for weight loss, that's down to calorie deficit.

But yes you should absolutely go to gym and lift weights. Forget about exercise bikes and treadmills for now, you want weights. Having muscle will make a huge difference.

And yes, personally I go, it's quite addictive. I don't need to force me to go - I need to force myself to take a rest day. I am older, on HRT, totally jacked with a 6-pack.

Do it OP. Book a few sessions with a PT and they will be able to advise you what is best for why you are aiming for and safe etc. You will reap the benefits!

Hi, I take AD's and have recently moved from the anti phsycotic Olanzapine (To Aripiprazole.). Both had really sedating effects, on the Olanzapine even brushing my teeth some days was a good day! I understand aboout the disliking moving!
The Aripiprazole, although with it's own side effects, are so, so much better with the fatigue and tiredness. I had been on the Olanzapine since 2011, so was very unfit myself!
I have started mounjaro and was informed I'd need to exercise to not lose muscle as well as fat. I started off very slowly. I got myself a treamill (I am housebound with agoraphobia.) and literally just started off on two minutes walking a day, then 5, etc. I have now built up to just over 20 minutes a day and a 7 minute Youtube beginners Tai Chi. That's been over 8 weeks now. I know some will find that slow bt it works for me and I'm doing it daily. I have dreams of lifiting weights and becoming defined but I know this will take a while.
I say this as someone I know wants to get fit and it was all. 'I'm going back to the gym. I'll do at least 3 days maybe 4?' Have they been near a gym since? 😂They told me they keep putting it off. So my advice is to start slowly so you don't get put off. Exercising when you're not used to moving is knackering! So little and often to start with is copeable and hopefully buildable. Good luck. 🙂

Pure gym will have staff that will offer PT sessions.

I've been on and off with gyms for years. I'm just about to start with a PT who, while self-employed, works under the umbrella of the local gym and was up on a poster with the rest of the trainers.
I chose him because he's the only who specialises in working with seniors - I'm 70. He looks about the same, but you can never tell with Australians. I'll be paying per session - no contract.

I'm reasonably fit and slim but want an exercise regime that acknowledges the utter fun of rotator cuff problems and other issues that can be a bugger as one ages.

@likelysuspect make sure you get a proper intro to the gym, where weights machines are demonstrated, with correct posture, etc.

Timing of your visits is useful - afternoons, especially Friday and Saturday sees off the gym bunnies who sit doomscrolling while pretending to rest between sets.

It might be worth investigating a women only gym, if only because I've never heard women banging the weights as they use weights above their capacity. Or grunting.

Good luck, OP.

Our council gym is really expensive too. I only go 4 X per week as I'm retired now. It was harder before.

Going to the gym won’t make you thin !! Get a couple of personal training sessions for confidence. Lift some weights and eat more protein and less rubbish then when you loose weight you will look and feel better xx. Try a class if it’s more motivating

I’m in my 50s and I go 3 times a week plus 1/2 classes.
I haven’t lost much but I can feel massive changes in my strength and movement.

I go to a local authority gym, most people seem older than me when I go. I think all the teenagers go early evening.