Gym virgin

[Blobbyweeble]

Well not quite virginal but haven’t been for years!
I’m mid fifties, 13 stone 2 , 5ft 6in so fairly overweight, have osteoarthritis in my knees and have been advised not to do running.
I’d really like some advice on what to focus on, not keen on the cardio stuff although I don’t mind rowing but I really want to increase my strength particularly upper body. I am spectacularly weak!
Hoping to get a PT in the next few months but would like to make the most of my time until then.

I’m going to the gym in 1 hour.
I’m NOT a fan of the gym & used to do Circuits / battleslam / HIIT stuff but last 6 months have trailed off & I’m now suffering from acute plantar fasciitis in my left foot, so no impact stuff for a while.

I’m meeting an instructor there who will help me put a program together. I feel quite nervous. I have 2 stone to lose (at least). Planning 3 or 4 sessions a week! Hopefully he’ll have some good ideas.... I shall let you know!

Good luck. I’ve just been reading a thread which says if you can do 3 sets of 12 reps reasonably easily it’s time to up the weights, looks like I will be going up today.
I feel really intimidated by the free weight area as it’s always populated with young men who seem to spread out over all the benches even when they’re not using them. Got to try and find a quiet time.

Thanks! Good luck to you too.
I’m mid 40’s & feeling quite intimidated just going (which is not me at all). The classes at our local gym are so busy, I can’t get booked into them. So gym it is!
I used to do Body Pump, which I loved.

Cross trainer is low impact on your knees and good for upper body strength and toning. I am alternating it with the recliner bike at the moment due to arthritic knee.

Hi Blobbyweeble I'm 50ish, 13st and 5'6 and a bit with duff knees so I hear you!

I re-started gym almost a year ago when I was 15st and walked on the treadmill, at first slowly with 2 deg slope, worked my way up to 5km a session then have been gradually increasing both slope, speed and distance. Since Jan I've been dieting as well, and I can now manage a decent workout on the elliptical without my knees hurting. In fact knees haven't hurt for a while so something is working!

I have 2kg weights at home that I found in SportsDirect. They are useful for doing more daily training.

Abdo/core is also worth doing. Is there a mats/gym ball area? Legs on ball, shoulders on mat and trying to pull tummy up so you're in a straight line will help core if you do 3 sets of 10 while counting to 10... ouchie

Also get a gym buddy!

8am on a Sunday is very quiet, btw, if you can make it/if they're open.

Well.... I have my program! at 45 I was the youngest there! But i won’t be able to go on a Tues lunchtime 🙄
I’ve got rowing machine - 5 mins warm up, the 500m / 1 min rest x 6
I then have lower body weights program (some free, some machine) & upper body weights program (some free, some machine) - I will alternate between lower & upper each session.
Then to end on the bike! 10 mins.
It’s all been written out for me.
Happy that it’s done & actually looking forward to doing my first session, will probably be Thurs!

That sounds brilliant, hope you enjoy it.