If you go to a gym, what do you like best?

[SallyOMalley]

I used to love going to the gym, but haven't been since I've had kids - 8 years!

I've joined a new gym and feel very excited about it. Inspire me ... If you go to the gym, what classes do you love, what sort of programmes do you follow? I'm up for classes (body pump maybe?) and weights / cardio. Not afraid of working hard - I just need to get going again! (Btw I already do Pilates every week and will continue to do that.) Ta!

I had a day pass at a local gym yesterday, planning on joining this week so am also excited! I will do probably yoga classes and maybe body pump. Not keen on heavy aerobics classes plus have nagging Achilles problem too

Am planning on doing weights three times a week and looking at some PT sessions to get me started, so I don't look a total dick trying to work out what to do

Bought 'the new rules of lifting' a few months ago after it was recommended on mumsnet. Looking forward to getting back into fitness.

I like classes as I'm no good at self motivation on the gym floor and give up too easily.

My 3 favourites are;

Body pump - great all round strength workout and has done a great job of toning - particularly my arms and shoulders.

Body attack - fantastic cardio class - fun, sweaty and I feel great afterwards.

Bootcamp - hard work but lots of fun and class is varied from week to week.

I enjoy spin, hard work but you can take it at your own pace and build up your levels :)

I like grit & body conditioning too :)

Body combat, grit cardio and clubbercise

I like classes, I'm not keen on the actual gym itself- I'm never really sure what I should be doing! I like yoga, Pilates, Body Balance. Bums and Tums is good too and Body Combat.

Our gym also has a pool and recently I've been doing a lot of swimming too and aqua fit.

When I first started going to the gym I liked the classes best but now I can't make it to most of the classes so I lift weights. It's taken me a long time to feel remotely confident in the weights room but now I know what I'm doing (ish) I love it more than I ever loved classes. It's really motivating to be able to lift heavy weights and see progress. My goals used to be about losing weight but now they are more about gaining strength, which is a much more positive goal to have in my opinion (and I've lost weight too).
Hate all of the cardio machines, for cardio I prefer to go for a run outside.

Spin I love spin snd spin

I want to do weights this winter but not body bump so any advice welcome

I love body combat.

Thanks everyone. It's interesting to read what you get up to in the gym! I've got my induction tonight - looking forward to getting stuck in.

I like the variety! I used to do lots of classes, then moved more to treadmill and machines. Over the summer I've done more running and cycling outside and used the gym for weights and yoga. I like the fact I can adapt it to how I feel and how I want to exercise!

I love lifting weights. It's really satisfying when you can increase the weight to more than you thought you'd be able to. Feeling strong does wonders for my confidence as well.
I also like boxing-type training, but I've had very mixed experiences with those (some brilliant, some where the instructor didn't really know how to throw a punch!).

only here - when I was a regular gym goer before kids, I used to really enjoy weights for the same reason. Do you use free weights or the machines?

I used to do spin classes week in week out for many years. I had a great class, loads of regulars, fab teacher and we all encouraged each other on, and made sure to welcome new people and help them out so they came back etc. That was what made it for me.

Its also an amazing energy booster and workout that you can take at a pace that's right for you. best of all, it never gets easier, you just get better!

I use free weights and machines. I don't have a very structured approach, just do what I feel like at the time! If one set of muscles is aching from the last workout I'll focus on another area.

I use free weights and a few weight machines. I don't like classes and I don't like to do cardio.

Spin - I do about 3 classes a week
Circuits - great for overall body exercise. I do 2 classes a week
Body pump - great if ur new to weights and need motivation. Also excellent music