Do I join the gym?

[vestanesta]

Puregym opening up near me with a very low opening monthly fee. It's walkable from my house but more realistically a very easy drive with loads of parking.

I am about 3 stone overweight, very unfit and peri menopausal. I have a damaged knee joint.

I used to run a bit and swim and walk a lot but am very sedentary now mostly due to wfh in a stressy job. I do some light yoga and the odd easy YouTube work out. So a pretty poor baseline.

I would like to increase my strength to help manage peri symptoms and support my knee better (I'd like to start running again maybe). I did used to like a class back in the day as well.

But I'm not consistent, I'm lazy and easily bored. I work a lot. I'm worried it will be full of youngsters and if I did get some PT classes it would be with someone who didn't get what I wanted. I don't want to be weighed or have a diet plan or anything.

On the plus side, my husband quite fancied it so it could be something we do together.

Should I sign up or save my money and carry on with a bit of YouTube?

hmm i've been to Pure Gym and I don't like them (call me a gym snob), I find them very impersonal, full of young lads hanging around the weights area if you want anything like a personalised programme or induction session (beyond being shown how to sit on a bike) you need to pay extra so factor that in. On the plus side, they don't usually have a joining fee or contract so you can try it and quit if you don't enjoy it. If it's a new one it might be better than the ones i've been to which were quite old, the changing rooms were grotty and some of the equipment was in need of replacing.

I saw give it go, if it’s something you and your husband can do even if it’s 3-6 months it’s better than nothing. Cheap and cheerful try it out. You can always cancel.

Say*

If you like a class I’d go somewhere that does them, and it will become a habit.

I'm currently in Pure Gym now! Lots of space and a hugh choice of equipment. Ages vary, as does sizes. I love the gym and have been going regularly for 3 years. I'm 51.

Apart from your husband is there anyone you can 'buddy up' with? Much easier to stay motivated when it is a joint enterprise with someone from outside your household with similar goals? Although expensive it is worth having a couple of PT sessions initially to get you up and running. A decent PT will listen carefully to your goals and put a programme together for you so you are not just aimlessly wandering around the gym. Forget about what others in the gym may think, the vast majority will not give a shit.

definitely join forget gym side if it and do a few classes
you don’t have to interact or feel self conscious . All you gave to do is turn up it’s all planned for you
cross trainers good no impact
Also treadmill on incline brisk walk is brilliant but watch the knee

used to be an instructor we don’t care who comes to our classes and a good instructor should give u some options for exercises if u struggle

body pump
hitt
zumba
spinning
Would be more than suitable for you

If it's cheap just join up and give it a go.
Even if you just go once a week, it will be a reasonable investment.

Also on the classes, as I'm now 50+ I was a bit worried they'd be full of young people, but I went to an early morning one on a Sunday and it was mostly oldies as too early for the young people to be up. Also the instructor was in his 40s/50s and had lost loads of weight so was very motivational during the class and happened to show changes to exercises where needed.

I'm at a Pure Gym and have a PT. I go in the morning and there's a mix of people, usually older. I've been in the evening when the mix is younger and it's busier, but I only go to classes in the evening.

I love the Pure Gym I go to, the PTs and staff are friendly and greet you. My PT only offers a diet plan on request and mainly focuses on protein. Pure Gym also offer sessions to teach weight lifting in small groups which is useful.

I have a dodgy knee and PT has helped a lot with that. Mainly by doing lower body strength training for that aspect. I have never permitted any PT to be involved in my diet. I have made this clear from the outset and none of them has ever overstepped the mark and tried to offer unwanted advice, even when I was obese.

Thanks for all of this. I think I am gonna do it. Like you say, easy to cancel and it works out the cost of a cup of coffee per week.

I will invest in some PT sessions I think. The knee injury is long term and whilst it can be managed that takes care.

Ohhh I'm quite excited now.

I'm a long term gym subscriber who wasn't actually very good at going.

Game changers for me have been:

1. a PT - he keeps me accountable
2. ease of access
3. lovely facilities - the shower there is MUCH nicer than home and someone else washes the towels. Sometimes i go and swim just because I want a nice shower....
4. Classes. I've realised at the ripe old age of 45 that if I'm just going to work out on my own I'm highly likely to cry off because I'm tired/ get a better offer but if I'm booked into a class and short notice cancelling has consequences I go. I've also started doing all sorts of bonkers stuff like spinning (if you met me you would be shocked. I'm very overweight).

PureGym you can get day passes, maybe get one and go and see what you think.
The facilities are good in the ones near me but they are absolutely packed out with teenagers a lot of the time

Yes! why not give it a try you can always cancel if not for you. I used to be an avid runner but recently switched to weight training due to an injury and i feel so much better for it ! if you need any motivation a girl shared this article in a girls lifting forum about the mental benefits you can get from weights and they are amazing !