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Fat, unfit, middle aged and new to gym....am I overdoing it?

62 replies

HornsOfADilemma01 · 21/08/2021 18:48

Hi Mumsnetters, I'm mid 50s, 3 stone overweight (was 4.5 stone, but I've lost 1.5 stone over the past couple of months by low carbing) and incredibly unfit. I've also had a hysterectomy and I've had a slipped/bulging disc in my neck since December (still under physio and waiting for an MRI).

I joined a gym about 4 weeks ago and, since then, I've gone pretty much every day. I mainly do group classes (which I find really enjoyable and motivating), and mindful of my level of fitness and physical limitations, I've been trying to do a strength/flexibility class (Pilates, yoga or BodyBalance) one day then a Zumba class the next. Oh, I also swim when I can be bothered with the faff of hair washing, wet towels, etc ☺

I've avoided the very energetic classes as my physio has advised me not to "jump around" too much. I've also not used the main gym much (I've been in 4 times so far, and only if I can't join a suitable group class) but I've used a few different gyms over the years and I know how to use most of the equipment safely, etc. When I have used the gym, I tend to power walk on the treadmill at a bit of an incline for 30 mins, then maybe 20 mins on a seated cycle (low setting) and then I'll do a circuit of the weights machines (they're the cable type, not sure the correct name for them). I do low-ish weights and 3 x 12 reps.

I have a PT session booked for Monday at which I'll get a gym plan (this is reviewed every 12 weeks).

However, I'm absolutely exhausted, proper bone achingly, can-barely-find-the-energy-to-move knackered. My legs feel like lead. I've even taken a couple of LFTs this past week because I've felt so drained (all negative).

Am I overdoing it? It's an expensive gym, I think I might possibly be guilty of trying to get my money's worth!

OP posts:
HornsOfADilemma01 · 21/08/2021 21:48

@spicetime

I do Pilates as my exercise, so I reckon you are overdoing a bit. I can definitely ache after a full on Pilates session.
Me too @spicetime!
OP posts:
HornsOfADilemma01 · 21/08/2021 21:47

@midgemagneto, not respecting my body is - unfortunately - how i ended up 4 stone overweight and ridiculously unfit in the first place Blush

OP posts:
spicetime · 21/08/2021 21:26

I do Pilates as my exercise, so I reckon you are overdoing a bit.
I can definitely ache after a full on Pilates session.

HornsOfADilemma01 · 21/08/2021 21:23

@UnsuitableHat

I think you might be overdoing it but am no expert! I’m 50, overweight and go 4 times a week. Sometimes feel energised; sometimes knackered and often pay the price if I haven’t stretched enough. I think your PT session sounds good 👍
Thinking about it, I do sometimes feel better/energised when I've been to the gym. But I think 70% of the time, I'm completely wrecked all day afterwards!
OP posts:
midgemagneto · 21/08/2021 20:16

Once you get fit your routine would probably be fine , but at the minute you are probably building muscle strength and such which may mean the odd day off is needed , and it's easy to get carried away in Zumba

You need to learn to listen and respect your body !

UnsuitableHat · 21/08/2021 20:10

I think you might be overdoing it but am no expert! I’m 50, overweight and go 4 times a week. Sometimes feel energised; sometimes knackered and often pay the price if I haven’t stretched enough. I think your PT session sounds good 👍

HornsOfADilemma01 · 21/08/2021 20:00

@MacavityTheDentistsCat, thanks for replying. Based on your regime, it does sound like I'm hammering it a bit hard!

I've been especially drained today but I did an hour's BodyBalance followed by 20 mins pretty fast swimming (I was a moderately successful competitive swimmer as a child, so I go into training mode as soon as I'm in the pool - I only got out so soon today because i was getting annoyed by the dawdlers!)

I'll see what the PT recommends on Monday.....I suspect advice will be to build in more rest days!

OP posts:
MacavityTheDentistsCat · 21/08/2021 19:46

I would say you're overdoing it. I'm early 50s and go to the gym three, maximum four, times a week for about 90 minutes. In that time, I do about 50 minutes of weights and 30 minutes of hard cardio. Any more sessions per week and I'd be shattered! I find the rest days critical.

HornsOfADilemma01 · 21/08/2021 19:25

@CovidCorvid, yoga definitely feels quite restful to me. I find pilates and body balance a bit more demanding but that's because I have crap muscle tone and my disc problem makes my arms a bit wobbly.

I think you're right that, if this continues, a blood test would be useful.

OP posts:
CovidCorvid · 21/08/2021 19:20

Well to be honest I would count Pilates/body balance classes as a rest day so to me it doesn’t sound like you’re doing too much but you should listen to your body. Might be worth a blood test though to make sure you’re not anemic, etc.

HornsOfADilemma01 · 21/08/2021 19:12

Thanks for the reply @PollyGray. I think I've had 4 days off since joining (but 2 of those were spent walking around London on a weekend jolly, so not much in the way of "rest").

I'm really enjoying the group classes, and i cope with them physically quite well (I do run out of steam towards the end of zumba, though). I think, in addition to wanting to get value out of my membership fee, i think I have a bit of FOMO Blush

I'll definitely try to build a couple of rest days in from now on. I can't function in my day-to-day life while I'm in this state of knackeredness!

OP posts:
PollyGray · 21/08/2021 18:54

I think you might be overdoing it, yes. You need to build in rest days to your exercise programme so that your body can recover and don't overdo it when you do go.

I speak as someone who should practice what I preach - I'm nursing sciatica which is a direct result of overworking and injuring myself and i've been a regular exerciser for many years, so take it from me!