what to do in the gym

[shesaidgleeba]

i have recently joined a gym and i'm really lost, at the moment i'm doing 5 minute rotations on the exercise bike, stepper and cross training for 45 minutes, plus 2000m on the rower and a bit of free weight lifting (but i'm clueless with this) i don't know if i'm best doing everything for longer each time or whether i should do 30 minutes on one thing and then rest, i really have no idea! if it helps i'm an apple shape, REALLY need to lose my tummy weight and run 5k 3x a week (planning on going to the gym 3x too. thanks!

Are there staff at the gym who can put together a program for you? What you should do at the gym really depends on what your goals are. Maybe you could try doing some classes at the gym if you want some direction - I find the classes motivate me much more than using the machines, and I work harder in the classes too.
If one of your goals is running 5k you could do some of the couch to 5k programme on the treadmill maybe.

The best possible thing you could do at the gym is free weights.

Have a look at new rules of lifting for women. You tube is good for checking form.

Most of the car so stuff/ weight machines are pretty pointless.

sorry when i've reread i realise where you've misunderstood, i already run 5k 3x a week (that's why i don't use the treadmill at the gym) there isn't classes it's a uni gym so the staff aren't as qualified/helpful as a regular gym (i don't think) main goal is fitness and loosing that tummy weight. thanks for replying

Oh I see - I had a book years ago called 'the real women's personal trainer' which gave me lots of ideas for workouts in the gym. You could probably google similar info but I found it pretty useful at the time.

A session with a personal trainer (outside the gym), and asking them to put together a program, would be an excellent idea. 1 session should be £20-£40 ish. Or if you can get to a bootcamp-style class, that should help you learn the exercises then put a routine together.

If you can't then I'd suggest books, magazines or YouTube. This month's Runners' World has suggested crosstraining sessions that tie in with running goals - e.g. if you want to run on trails, there's a gym session that replicates the movements needed for trail running. Women's Fitness, Health & Fitness and Zest have programs each month that are quite easy to follow - though you need to be careful about technique, as they can't tell you when you're getting it wrong...

Books - I recently got the Men's Health Belly Off Diet book from the library, that has some great workout ideas. I have Jillian Michaels' Making The Cut too, which is a bit more extreme...

Pilates is excellent for the tummy when combined with running - can you do any of these classes? agree with getting gym staff to do you a bespoke programme

thanks everyone, i think i thought i could join the gym and work it out myself but it's really not happening, i'm going to keep getting used to everything and talk to the staff there (i feel a bit shy about that for some reason) i will also youtube some ideas and think about my diet too as i won't lose my tummy without sorting that out too!

itsallgoingtobefine is right, don't waste your time on the cardio machines, especially if you already run regularly. Free weights are the best thing to do. Failing getting a PT for a couple of sessions to help you design a programme and make sure technique is good, Runners world website will no doubt have some exercises using weights to help improve your running and reduce the risk of injury. New Rules book mentioned earlier is also very good.

If you want to do some cardio, make it HIIT, short and high intensity, 10-15mins, after you've done your weights, to blast the fat you say you want to lose.

I asked a bloke who worked at the gym to put a programme together for me. It was free, and worked out very well. I just said I wanted to be slimmer and lose the tummy, plus I hated weights. He worked it all out and told me to watch my diet as well:)