Joined the gym. Please tell me what to do

[Racmactac]

Ok so I joined the gym but I'm really at a loss as to exactly what exercises I should be doing.
Any easy to follow plans or can someone make it simple for me???

Will one of the staff members not help you work out a programme?

It's hard to say without knowing what machines etc your gym has, and it's also really hard to discribe exercises without demonstrating! Most gyms offer a free induction, I would recommend using that as they can show you how things work and tell you what things to use to reach your goal

Do the classes they offer and see what you like

If they do a weights class like body pump this could be a good one as it's not actually very strenuous or sweat inducing but is fun and effective

Personally I hate being in the actual gym on the treadmill or whatever, but I love classes

You only need to do a couple a week to feel the benefits and it's much more fun than just working out and trying to stay motivated on your own!

Depends on what you want to achieve, and how you want to get there really. What are your goals? Do you want to tone up, lose weight, become stronger, improve your cardio, improve flexibility, etc - someone training for a marathon will have a hugely different exercise regime to someone who wants to be a bodybuilder.

I personally hated most classes so I did 30 mins on cardio equipment (treadmill, stepper, rowing machines, bikes) and then 30 minutes on weights (was desperate to improve my bingo wings so did all the arm ones and a few leg and core ones)

If the staff haven’t already been through all this with you I’d be looking for a different gym. They should have weighed you, discussed your health and fitness and any medical conditions, what it is you want to achieve, eg. weight loss, fitness, etc and worked out a plan for you. They should have shown you how to use everything, the most appropriate machines, times, resistance, warm ups, etc. Make an appointment to speak to them and hopefully they’ll do this before you start.

Some gym chains will offer you free personal training sessions when you join, I got 3 30 min sessions at mine. That might be a good way to start?

I like classes. Good workouts and don't have to use your own imagination, and everyone doing the same means you don't feel awkward.

If they do a weights class like body pump this could be a good one as it's not actually very strenuous or sweat inducing

Whenever I do BodyPump I sweat buckets & cant walk properly the next day. Or lift my arms.

If they do a weights class like body pump this could be a good one as it's not actually very strenuous or sweat inducing

You need to increase your weights if this is how you feel!

Sammysquiz - you're doing it right then If the sweat doesn't drip off my elbows in the squat track I know I haven't gone heavy enough!