To not go to my expensive gym?

[gaspingwaythroughlife]

I got a bit carried away in January and joined an expensive gym.

I am at least 5 stone overweight.

I am useless. Rubbish, hopeless. I do around three minutes and am gasping for breath, in huge amounts of pain and hating it.

I now retrospectively realise that I should have shifted a couple of stone BEFORE joining but anyone got any suggestions in the interim?

Have a read of this: hbr.org/2014/02/how-to-make-yourself-work-when-you-just-dont-want-to

It's really helping me stop procrastinating.

Seperate weight and fitness. As others have said, weight is mainly dependant on diet but exercise will make you healthier, fitter and probably make you subconsciously make better food choices.

Another fan of slimming world here. I lost 3.5 stones pretty easily. I've fallen off the wagon slightly but now I run 5 times a week so I can still eat cake.

I promise none of the super fit gym bunnies will have anything other than admiration for you (that's if they even notice you. I know I'm in a world of my own at the gym. Not that I'm one of those super fit gym bunnies!) They may well have been where you are now once.

Find something you enjoy. Do they do classes? I always found it easier to have someone to motivate/shout at me and I could hide at the back. Mix it up and keep doing different classes so you don't get bored/ find something you like.

Two year six ago I was in your position.

I knocked off the cardio, in the gym and did weights.

Weights really do work and change your body shape. I lost five stone in seven months. I walked outside of the gym, it's coming up to the perfect time of year for walking and intermittent jogging, if wanted.

Your eating has to get better, but the calorie restriction doesn't apply.

I'm around 5 stone overweight too, I started with a half hour workout... that way you can start building your stamina up slowly. But I wouldn't stop going, especially if it's expensive- it's a waste of money. What's included in your membership?

I agree to ask if they have a Personal Trainer around to help you with a plan of action. swimming is very good too. If its a more upmarket gym it should have people around to help you.
I feel the same about a class ihave started, everyone is very good at it and lots of alpha female types there too, but i just grit my teeth and try my best. I am older than a lot of them and have knee problems, but it does help me so i will carry on with it. dont give up!

Oh I wear Primark workout clothes too! I do want to get slightly more expensive work-out clothes but at the moment, I'm fine with Primark. Nobody will care where you buy your workout clothes, you're there to work-out- not take part in a fashion show!

Book a one off personal training session, you're doing the wrong stuff, the instructor will show you what to do for your level of fitness and then how to build that up.

What you wear is irrelevant, you're just feeling self conscious. No one cares but you, promise.

I don't think other people care but I do think they judge, if only in an 'aw, look, a fat woman trying to get fit!' way!

gasping oh I get that feeling! But at least you're doing something about it (everyone has to start somewhere). I'm not as confident in the changing rooms though!

Please don't worry about how everyone else looks. You may think they are perfect by I bet they are looking in the mirrors and cursing their bum or thighs or tummy!
Do what you can now. In a few months you will be slimmer and fitter and be able to do more and more.
If your gym is decent they should write you a programme to help you meet your goals and avoid injury. (Eg I'm probably wrong but I think a slight incline on the treadmill is better for preventing injury.)
Good luck. Enjoy!

I like to think that people are thinking "good for her!".

I'm an exercise returner and have had an injury; you have to listen to your body. Some days I can't walk on an incline as it hurts, or the crosstrainer hurts my knees within a minute; I just accept that now and walk on the flat, or whatever doesn't hurt. You have to build slowly and have a couple of rest days in between. Well done!!!

Yes but - I don't really want anybody to be looking at me, even in a'nice' way

One thing I think is important to remember, not just in relation to the gym, but life in general....You are not that interesting to other people. Most people are so consumed with themselves and their own lives, they are not thinking about you.

If your legs hurt on the rowing machine, you're actually doing it right.

Rowing = legs- far more muscle there. Arms just make the stroke longer

but please do speak to the staff at the gym to see what support/ programmes would be available to you (including stretching etc to avoid injury)

Exactly what pp said! I used to be so self conscious at the gym but i sort of trained myself to only think about myself and what I'm doing. You can't read people's minds. You don't know what they're thinking so tell yourself they're too busy thinking about themselves - they probably are!
I've never ever thought anything about anyone at a gym. I'm too busy thinking on doing the exercises right and not passing out!
I go bright red and get very sweaty in the gym. That's just what happens when I'm hot!
You need to stop with the positive language you use when talking about yourself. I used to do that and I read something that said to try actually saying 'stop' to yourself whenever you do it and forcing yourself to find a positive comment instead. It's hard at first but honestly it made such a difference to how I see myself. I never say anything negative now. I talk to myself the way I'd talk to my friends - with love and respect.

Aaaaah I obvs meant negative language!

OP do you go to any classes? I can't do 5 mins on a treadmill but can get through a 1hr class. I never step foot in the 'gym' part of the gym! They're fun motivating and you can take it easy to start then build up to harder stuff within the class. Week by week you can see a difference in what you're able to do and is so motivating. Things like body pump, yoga, Pilates, zumba etc find what's right for you!

Stay at the gym, ask for a training session. Failing that I'm more than happy to give any advice I can. I was one of those "gym bunnies" and I can honestly tell you I didn't look at anyone. I couldn't tell you who else was in the gym. I was there for me, as long as you weren't stopping me exercising I didn't notice who was there. We all have to start somewhere anyway. Also, what's your diet like? That's the most important thing. Only 30% of weight loss is through exercise, 70% is diet (approx. obviously).
Feel free to message me if you want any help

Try not to worry about other people. This is your time, you are making the hard first steps to be healthier. i am sure gyms vary but mine is very friendly and as pp have said te instructors are really pleased when they see someone making big progress, and most people are either in a world of their own or are encouraging! Try to forget what you used to do - your baseline is now, little steps at first and get the techniques and habits in place. Good luck

What other people think is beyond your control. The only way to deal with that is to simply accept you have no say in what others think, and it would be madness to live your life attempting to avoid other people seeing you.

Good luck with the gym. The more you do the better you feel, and every step is a step towards your goal.

I don't think other people care but I do think they judge, if only in an 'aw, look, a fat woman trying to get fit!' way!

They're honestly, truly not. And I say this as a regular gym-goer at an expensive gym.

Nobody is judging: people really are in their own little bubbles.

Get into your own bubble and ignore them all.

Be active in your daily life. Don't save it all for the gym.

Get off the sofa and off the computer. Turn off the television. Go for a walk.

Don't drive places: walk (most people drive the shortest of distances-anything under 2 miles you can walk in my opinion).

Don't take the lift: use the stairs.

Do housework with energy.

Be active throughout the day.

And then I suggest you forget cardio at the gym and lift some weights. Build muscle: it'll raise your metabolic rate and you'll see a difference much quicker than just cardio.

Can I ask what people's typical weight sessions at the gym are like? I go to the gym twice a week but have been doing some body weight exercises and weights at home. I'd just like to have a routine for the free weights, Kettlebells and machines at the gym as i sometimes feel clueless and others seem to be bashing out a routine!

Does you gym have a pool? Can you get a pt to start you off?

I'm not a massive fan of swimming, to be honest. I enjoy the bouyancy of being in the water and how warm/cool it is - always have done - but actual swimming to tone up/lose weight I would be rubbish at. Plus, it makes me hungry!