Starting to Exercise

[angelichosts]

I'd like to improve my overall fitness and stamina and have recently joined a gym. I know from past gym trials that I don't enjoy working out on the machines, so this time I decided to try my hardest to find classes I enjoyed, in order to keep myself motivated.

I'm finding it really hard physically and mentally. Does it get easier after a while? I'm not sure how many days I should be trying to exercise. I do walk a reasonable amount most days and have carried on with that but after a class or swim, I feel so worn out I want to go to bed. Bits of my body are aching for days afterwards. I do want to get fitter and am not looking for an excuse to give up, but would love to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Any idea when it will start to feel easier? And how long should I leave between sessions to recover, or should I just soldier on.

Yes, it does et easier - you have done the hardest bit . Google DOMS - I used to get it after every class and now usually only when I do something new. I found exercising most days worked for me (at least one rest day a week though) as I got better quickly. I had spent years doing one or two classes a week with nothing much happening.What sort of classes are you doing and are you enjoying them?

I'm doing yoga, aquafit and swimming technique lessons. Also swimming lengths. Thanks for the reassurance, I will google what you said. Enjoyed the aquafit today, although given that all the other participants were over 60, it felt a bit of a cop out.

I didn't enjoy the yoga, it was hard work and I didn't follow it all but will try again.

Aquafit is a great way to start I think. And yoga. You learn techniques in those classes that you can use in other ones. I started upping my exercise routine with aqua (and at 49 was MUCH younger than most), then added in some of the easier conditioning and core classes, then upped the intensity, now do HIIT and lift heavy weights and have just started running (which I like less). Ask around, don't be afraid to try new things, tell the instructors you are new to it, don't be put off if it seems too hard at first!