Gym tips?

[sipsqueak]

Today, in a moment of exuberance, I signed up for a membership at my local gym! 😨

I really want to get fitter so this is a good thing I think. However, I'm already worried that when the initial excitement fades, or when life gets busy, or when the winter hits and it's raining every day, that I will give up and stop going. This has happened to me in the past.

So, for those of you who are good at maintaining a gym routine, do you have any tips? Is there a particular approach (or mindset) that keeps you going? Do you ever use a PT?

And how often do you go? My schedule is flexible enough that I could probably go every day if I wanted to, but I know that's not realistic or sustainable. What's the norm?

I do about 4 classes a week - Body Pump, Body Balance, Functional Step. I'm not a natural gym person so I motivate myself by

a. working out how much cheaper my classes are, the more I go (local gym membership = £32/month at which classes are costed at £9, so within days I am Beating the System, Woo hoo)

b. working out what good value on a pay-per-wear basis my gym kit is, despite initial outlay

c. regarding it as preventative medicine for my middle-aged bones, rather than a punitive means to getting into smaller clothes. So I don't always love it, and I'm glad there are no mirrors in the studios, but every minute is hopefully fending off the osteoporosis my grans suffered with. And, on a similar note, I take slower, stretching classes like Body Balance just as seriously as the sweaty cardio/weights ones, as a way of maintaining flexibility for as long as possible.

Do they have classes? If so, try lots of different things...
Identify the best time for you and your schedule to go...maybe 2 slots per week to start with.
Don't set unrealistic targets..build up to more as it suits.
Don't focus on 'results', just getting there regularly is enough to start with.
Try to make.it enjoyable with whatever....e.g a good podcast/ watching soaps on the gym tv while on treadmill....just whatever works.
I can easily spend an hour on the treadmill if there's stuff on I like.
Don't feel the need to waste money on gym gear. Leggings and old t shirt does the job.
Good luck!

I tend to lots of cardio (mainly running) so for me the gym is for conditioning and swimmin as cross training on non running days but I'd advise getting a PT once a week or fortnight as you start out. Make it clear when you book that you are a novice looking to be given a programme to follow and when you have your first session get the programme written down. Agree that when you have your next session you'll show the PT a log of what you've done. As I don't lift my log is a bit different but would typically be
Monday - long run/walk x miles using y interval taking z time
Tuesday - swim x distance z time, conditioning workout - list the exercises and sets/reps I've done
Wednesday rest
Thursday - short fast run x miles/y intervals/z time, conditioning workout - list the exercises and sets/reps I've done
Friday - hill reps - list the reps
Saturday - Parkrun z time, conditioning workout - list the exercises and sets/reps I've done
Sunday rest or swim

Also second @emmylousings advice that if you use the cardio machines you need something to read or watch. WHen I had some niggles earlier in the year I had to do some of my shorter runs on the cross trainer - only way I could get through them was to read on my kindle but that became a bit of rather lovely"me time" and I ended up missing it a bit when I recovered so I do sometimes swap a shorter run for a cross trainer session.

Hello. I started going to the gym about 2 years ago. I enjoyed the training, I could go every day because it gave me pleasure. Unfortunately, I have been struggling with a huge lack of motivation for several months. It's hard for me to get going and do even the shortest training. Do you have any tips for finding your footing in sports again? I will be grateful for even the smallest help.