Gym newbie in need of help

[Familyguyfan]

I have never been particularly active. Not really into sports, not really into exercise. I started to be a bit overweight in my 20s and stayed a bit overweight until now (mid 40s). I'm very, very good at controlling my diet but I have tried not to obsess about it, as I feel like it would be bad for my mental health really, so I was okay being happy and a bit overweight.

However, I seem to have a new energy and now want to lose my weight and get myself into shape. I have started from a low bar. So I was a size 16 and did almost nothing. I am now a 12/14 (more 14 than 12) due to long walks and an increase in activity (along with controlling my diet). However, now I want to join a gym and really kick start a slightly firmer body and also find some mental relaxation.

I have a pretty demanding job, a dog and children (as well as a lovely and tolerant partner). I'm just a bit hesitant about joining a gym. I don't want to embarrass myself and I don't quite know what to do. I do like running so will do some of that, but is there anything which can make a difference which is relatively quick and I won't really embarrass myself!

Thank you

A decent gym should provide you with an induction and create you a programme and show you how to do the exercises safely. This is usually either printed out for you, or increasingly on an app which might have videos of the exercises as a reminder for you. Some of the cheaper gyms don't offer this as standard but will do it for an extra charge and I would definitely recommend doing it. Or, go to a class but some instructors are better than others at explaining technique and form.

As pp said, any decent gym will give you an induction, make sure you tell them what your looking to work on / achieve or they will just show you how to switch the machines on.

BTW don’t be scared of weights, 3 months ago I hadn’t set foot in a gym in at least 5 years and was overweight and just turned 50. I feel ten years younger, weight is falling off and I no longer give a shit what anyone thinks of me in gym!

i would join a gym with classes that you like - maybe a bootcamp type that will push you more than you’d push yourself? Also lets you see lay of the land in there.
but def induction or programme as well. Good luck!!!

If you want a firmer body then weights are your friend. For that you need a gym, and some instruction on how to handle weights, especially if you use free weights (which imho give the most bang for your buck). I would check with any gym you consider joining what instruction they will give you as part of the membership and what personal training options they have if you are prepared to stump up a bit of extra cash at the beginning to get proper tuition in using weights (plus a decent program to follow). Whatever you do, though, go with an open mind and have a go at plenty of things, even if you think you won't like them. You may be surprised.

Thanks all. I hadn't considered weight training (or an induction meeting - I've never been to a gym before!) but this has been really useful. Fingers crossed it works. I've already sworn off cake and bread so exercise might be easier!

can you afford some sessions with a personal trainer? That really helped my confidence in the gym as well as pointing me in the direction of what I needed to do. I did 8 sessions and then went alone armed with the print outs of what we had done and where we were at.
I’m thinking of going back to her because I need a boost!

I’ve started CrossFit - was size 16 when I started and slowly ticking down the clothes sizes. It’s great as they really teach you how to do the exercises and you use heavier weights so my body is really developing some muscle. When I’ve done gym classes, the instructors just stand at the front doing the class too and shouting out some instructions. With CrossFit they really focus on improving your form and always happy to modify the exercises for me. I’ve always found my motivation to go to the gym fade over time. It’s the opposite with CrossFit. Time flies. I personally find the warm up the hardest bit as if focuses on flexibility, which has always been rubbish for me. I’ve got muscle definition and I’m so much stronger. Post-pregnancy pelvic floor issues have disappeared and I’m enjoying it more and more. The time flies whilst I’m there and it really lifts my mood.

I go to a women's weight lifting class once a week, about to be twice a week. I go and do couch to 5k on the treadmill which is boring but am too scared to do a spin class and I need some cv work!