To be a 'gym virgin' and ask you to give me some advice?

[PrettyLittleBrownEyedMe]

I am almost 50 and generally have always hated exercise, although I do walk quite a lot. I am thinking of joining the gym but feel very intimidated and confused about it all! Could anybody please comment on any of these points to help encourage me?

I am within healthy weight range but nearing the top and would like to lose half a stone. I've read that exercise won't do this, though, especially at my age so perhaps that's not a good goal?

I think I'd like to try a class or two but I'm VERY uncoordinated (when I tried a village hall aerobics class I literally couldn't follow the movements even while the instructor was doing them) and anyway how do i choose from those on offer? Circuits/high energy/tums and bums/pilates/dance/'body balance'/'body attack'...it's very puzzling!

Gym machines seem scary and very dull, including spinning, treadmills etc. How would I know what to pick that would be worthwhile?

Should my goal be to tone up? Lose inches? Get fitter? Reduce stress?

I'm also about to be an 'empty-nester' and am thinking of this as perhaps a new focus/lifestyle/something to take my mind off being redundant!

I feel that I must be the only person in the world who still hasn't ever been to a gym and that whatever I do I'll feel like a fish out of water compared with everyone else...

Thank you to anyone who's read my rambling thoughts so far; I know they're not very coherent. Can anyone offer any suggestions, encouragement or share similar experiences please?

See that's interesting because I avoid classes like the plague. They are more sociable though. I just don't like being told what to do and when I can stop. Nor do I like doing the same as everyone else. I prefer to do my own thing at my own pace, listening to my own music.

So give it all a try, find what you like. Some folks love classes, others hate em, some folks love the main gym, others hate it. Some like a bit of both.

In my experience I find a lot more women in the classes and a lot more men in the gym. Not exclusively so, but I'd say there was definitely a gender bias. I'm not really sure why.

Wow, thank you all so much! Some really interesting posts with lots to think about. I might even make some notes to pull it all together! I'm so glad that the general impression is that it would be a worthwhile thing to do, and that I should just give some things a go and see what suits. Perhaps I'm overthinking it! It seems like some weightbearing exercise would be really relevant and maybe start by combining that with some pilates/yoga.
Any more thoughts really welcome.

Just to add too, don't assume you're uncoordinated. Everyone is uncoordinated in a new class, as you do more exercise you learn there's common movement patterns and common elements to a class so it's easier to keep up.

Id suggest having a good think about what you want to achieve as if you have very general goals (lose weight get fit etc) its hard to measure and hard to know what to try for the best. If you can be a bit more specific -eg goals could be want to improve posture, balance, feel less out of breath day to day, be able to run, be able to get down on the floor to play with grandkids, carry the shopping comfortably, be more flexible, not worry about getting up off a low sofa (! It sounds silly but my friend starter exercise after realising she had to use momentum to get up) - all those examples are things that would guide a gym instructor in how to help you, and are things that you could see a difference in and that helps with motivation.

Tesco band Asda both have nice gym kit at great prices. I have ditched my rotten old t shirts and leggings and feel much nicer.
If you go to classes, don’t hide away at the back, stand at the front. That way you can see and hear the instructor and won’t worry about what everyone else is doing, if you go a bit wrong. They won’t be worrying about you!

I’ve recently started Pilates and Yoga but I’ve done loads of other classes over the years. I enjoy them both. They are both calm activities but they are not a soft option!!

Body Pump is a good one to start with as it will teach you proper form for lifting weights as well. Start quite light for the first few classes and just focus on lifting steadily, using your stomach muscles. When you get more confident with the movements you can add more on.

Spinning is also really good and quite addictive, though you will be sore after your first one! Same theory applies though; go easy on the resistance until you feel more confident then start to crank it up a bit.

First of all well done on making such a positive decision.

I go to several local authority gym classes at a a few different locations.

All the classes are welcoming of newcomers - and all are a mixed bunch of abilities/ages/sizes.

As others have said just pick something and try it- if you don't like it then try another class. No harm done.
Even "old timers" like to mix up their routines and try new things as the same old can get a bit tedious.

I am older than you OP. I have tried lots of stuff over the years.

The multi gym thing is good, but I find it too easy to "cheat", cut my session short, not do as much as I should.

I find a class setting much easier, no escape and most teachers are energetic and inspiring.

Arrive early as places at the back of the class are usually taken first!

Which type of exercise you enjoy will be individual to you.

I personally hate swimming, I find spinning, treadmill etc very boring.
Body combat I find silly. and Metafit or Body attack is too high energy.

But we are all different.

I now do Body Pump and yoga- 3 or 4 classes a week.

Good luck!

Don’t wear cotton to the gym. Get some ‘technical’ items ie proper sports clothing otherwise you will get chaffing and your clothes will also weigh a ton.

I am in the gym af least five days a week. The thing that keeps me going, if I'm brutally honest, is pure vanity.

Yes I love the high I get etc, and I want the health benefits, I like feeling strong and fit, but at 49 I am much more toned now than I was in my twenties. I look like I work out. If that makes sense.

So it's vanity for me. Do I enjoy it, yes, the latter half of each session. I always feel great at the end. I'd say three days out of five I need to drag my sorry arse in there whilst thinking of reasons not to.

Once you start seeing results, it becomes a habit basically, because you start to see the difference it makes to your body.

I do suspect for many people fhere is a vanity aspect they don't wish to admit to, in terms of what motivates them to keep going.

Bluntness100

I don't think vanity is a bad reason.

I am 56.
I was giving my DD (18) and her friend a lift a few weeks ago- they were chatting about exercise.

My daughter said to her friend " do you know my Mum has a six pack- it's annoying".

I smiled.

lol that's fairly impressive !

My daughter keeps starting in the gym then giving up, but she's the annoyingly tall slim one and has to walk to train station for work and back again, so has the perfect 21 year old body with no extra effort.

Sigh. It never came so easy to me.😫

Bluntness100

My 18 yo DD does 15 hours of ballet a week, 4 hours modern/jazz etc.

So super fit, but no 6 pack.

I guess that's the benefit of weights and specific exercises, you can target certain body areas- and yes for vanity- but why not?

We get our nails done, use make up, I think vanity is a good enough reason to exercise, and keeps us healthy to boot.

Agree. 😁

I just wanted to put it out there and be honest with thr op. That exercise isn't always fun, but it is addictive, and it becomes addictive when you see your body change.

It is one of the few things in life where the work pays off in guaranteed results, but,, but....

You can't outrun a bad diet as said, and if you play at it, then it's fairly pointless. I see many women in the gym, who sit and cycle sedately, watching something on tv, and as much as I'm sure it has health benefits, they don't break a sweat or put any effort in. As such, there is no real visible results. I couldn't be arsed with that.

Do it, but do it properly would be my advice. Your fitness builds very very quickly.

Bluntness100

Totally agree.

I actually don't enjoy exercise a huge amount, but the benefits outweigh the pain.

For me there is a psychological element too.

I am prone to anxiety, have been for decades, exercise is a vital tool to help me manage that. I can't overestimate that point.
Exercise almost totally eradicates my negative thoughts.
An hour at the gym, I am literally pumped, head full of endorphins, serotonin, tired body gives me brilliant sleep.
I rarely have times when I feel anxious thanks to exercise.

I'm still reading! It's been really great to hear people's experiences and how many different benefits people get from using the gym. I'm interested to hear about the negative thoughts, bluntness, as I'm also prone to things going round and round in my head and endless worrying. Maybe the right exercise for me might help with that too. So much to think about! But I definitely think I'm going to go for it - it's time! I'm still really quite flexible and energetic for a sedentary person and I suppose I should take steps to try to make sure this continues as I creak into old age! Some of your stories have been really motivating so thank you.

I'd also agree with that. I can drag my arse in there feeling shit, like I can't be arsed with anything, and my mood is always enhanced, ready to take on the world when I come out.

Sometimes I also get a bit, I don't know how to describe, it, pacey, on edge, pissed off, and I know I need to go burn off some energy to sort it out. Those are the days I do cardio, but weights also makes me out of breath. It's just a different kind of out of breath.

I was with some friends a few weeks back and someone I hadn't seen for ages was there. And he asked if I had any hobbies and what I did in my spare time, when I said I did nothing, my husband said "that's not true, you exercise, you run and stuff " .i never thought of it as a hobby.

My boss is in another country, he's my new manager due to a job move but I've known him for many years, and he acrually said to me a few months ago "what did you start doing blunt, is it running or the gym , Its clear you do something" whilst looking me up and down (not in a pervy way, a curious one ). So it's clearly visible.

Op, the honest truth is some days you've got to force yourself to do it. Laying on the sofa eating shite seems much more appealing. But you never regret it when you do. And it gets easier also the more you do it.

That's as honest as it gets. 😳

Bluntness100

Totally understand.

My ( lovely) family always kindly suggest the gym when I am a little disagreeable.
Generally a happy home, but me spending an hour in the gym leads to a harmonious house!!

But you never regret it when you do. And it gets easier also the more you do it.

Yes,

That's totally honest. Many times I drag myself to the gym.
Really don't want to go.
But I come out like Tigger.

Always worth it.

And I don't want to be too negativ because at least two out of five times I'm postively looking forward to it. All five I feel great when I come out.

If I'm working from home which I do often, I often put my gym gear on when I get up, this way it forces me to get myself in there at some point. It's like a mental prod. If the gear is on, I'm going 🤣