To hate the gym

[OhOfCourse]

So recently joined a gym with a pool. I love swimming so in my first week went three times for an hour each.

Today I thought I'd try out the gym. Treadmill, cycle, etc. I hated it. Hate sweating. Hate. Hate. Hate.

Problem is I have tonnes to lose (literally!).

AIBU to ditch the gym and keep to swimming? Would be interested to hear from gym bunnies who know their stuff!!

I have always been active and sporty but I hate the gym - never go. It's boring and a means to an end. I prefer to run and cycle outdoors, do classes, or swim. There's no rule to say you have to go to the gym to be fit

I have just started out with a personal trainer.

Also have a cross trainer at home. .
On an eating plan from him -
Need lose over 2 stone and WILL DO IT!!

I would suggest that any exercise is better than none, plus swimming is really good for you Mon impact etc. If you enjoy it then you'll be more likely to keep it up too.

Have you tried weight lifting? If you team that with swimming, you should see some good results. Get a PT to show you a routine at the gym and do that a few times a week. Also, weights will involve some sweating, but not as much as cardio.

I read a quote somewhere saying 'sweating is your fat crying'.

Take a book with you and read it on the bike. Just pedalling away with no distractions is really dull.

Can you do classes at your gym? They are loads better than just pounding away on a treadmill alone.

I go to the gym to do minimal cardio, maximum weights. I love it and go 3 times a week without ever thinking "ugh". I have a Personal Trainer and he has completely changed the way I view exercise. I never thought I'd love the gym but I really do now.

Weight loss is mostly diet anyway. Cardio is great but can be boring so if you enjoy swimming stick with that. Maybe try the weights

I liked the gym, i'd warm up on the treadmill for 10 mins then use the weight machines and listen to podcasts.

For years I thought that I didn't like exercising. In fact, I only hate treadmills and cycles. I work out at home, on my own, using a variety of cardio exercises. I started with Jillian Michaels, now I almost exclusively use FitnessBlender.com. Perhaps it is worth a try?
Like several previous posters, I strongly advise you to lift weights. It makes a much bigger difference to your shape than cardio.

So I can do swimming and weights? Maybe when I slim down a little I won't mind the other stuff.

Recommend the weights, but make sure you lift heavy weights, as in something that you really struggle to do more than 6-8 reps of each set.

The extra muscle you build will increase your resting metabolism. Losing fat is a lot to do with what you eat though.

Yoga/pilates for toning?
Zumba or other dance classes?

Thanks @Joey7t8. On MFP and sticking to calorie intake religiously

Sack it off if you don't like it. Exercising should be enjoyable otherwise you won't stick to it

I find classes are better for keeping me engaged. But the treadmills at my gym have massive screens so you can watch to while you run, it almost distracts you from how bloody awful running is

Yeah it's difficult, I tend to focus on weights because I enjoy those a lot more than cardio. The gym I go to has an app and a leaderboard thingy so that sort of spurs me on more than anything

Can you join a class, so it becomes a social thing as well as exercise?

Boot camp, circuits, spinning. That sort of thing?

Surely you can't have tonnes to lose, literally?

Take heart OP, I really hated running when I started 8 months ago. I think I must have hated it at least as much as you do.

Here's what I found was key:

MUSIC - get yourself some excellent playlists and some excellent HEADPHONES and you'll enjoy it more/hate it less

Get yourself some cute ensembles

I swear it gets easier. I'm now running 5 miles 4x weekly, I struggled to run 1.2 when I started.

Sweating... the hard part is to get to the start of sweating and then it's easier to just keep sweating, I find. Once I'm sweating then not so bad.

Whatever is sustainable for you is fine, but getting used to sweating can be a good thing. Swim-only membership might be cheaper, make sure you get your money's worth.

But the treadmills at my gym have massive screens so you can watch to while you run, it almost distracts you from how bloody awful running is

We have an antiquated treadmill in our basement that I use, and I am tempted to join the gym for this reason.

@TipTopTipTopClop literally a tonne (4stone).

Can someone pls tell me swimming laps is ok and I'll lose weight that way?

Can someone pls tell me swimming laps is ok and I'll lose weight that way?

Swimming laps at a steady pace doesn't burn thay many calories in comparison to running. Sorry.

Also it doesn't improve bone density.

I was going to say the same as PP. I would do the swimming and then weights. Different for everyone I suppose but I love weights. If you get someone to show you how to use the weights machines and even do some deadlifts for extra. Deadlifts really get my heart rate up and are apparently cardio too.

Good luck. It's all better than not doing anything and swimming is good for your health and well being all round.

Ok Spotify and running it is (and swimming!)