How to not blow it this time!

[UtahGirl12]

So, today I joined a gym! It's only the local council gym, but the main one I will go to is in a brand new building, with lots of Les Mills classes, gym, pool, health suite etc.

Now I've joined many gyms before, and always start off like a bull in a china shop! I get carried away too quickly, and it's unsustainable. I end up not going at all then.

I'm 55 with a lot of weight to lose (60+ pounds) and I'm generally lacking in energy. My eating is coming under control, as I'm 2 months post Zoe results, and like my new way of eating although the weight is very slow to come off.

I have all the incentives to go.... I desperately want the health benefits of losing weight, plus I'm post menopausal and know how important exercise is. My eldest child is getting married abroad next summer, so that is a huge kick up the bum. I also finished work last year, so time is not an issue. I can go when I like, and do what I like.

I guess what I'm asking for here, is how can I get a good, sustainable balance that will give me the results I need ? I have no idea how to structure my week, and at the moment I'm looking at all the classes (salsacize??? 😝) and wanting to click "book".

My main wants are to include several yoga classes, get back swimming and so extra things that are fun to lose inches. I prefer classes to solo gym time as I tend to faff! Any suggestions for good Les Mills classes and how many to realistically do in a week?

I am sure someone more knowledgable will be along shortly, but I think weight lifting is really good for toning up and burning calories, so I would start with that. Do they have kettle ball classes or something?

I would start with 2 a week and build up.

So I swim regularly and there are days,vweeks when I really really don't want to go. I play mind games with myself:

I tell myself I will feel so much better after my swim. I remind myself of the zen feeling I get.

I tell myself I don't have to do that long. 20 mins is fine. And then when I go I do 20 mins and then I tell myself - what's another 5 mins. And then another 5 mins and so on. For this to work you do occasionally have to quit at 20 mins otherwise I won't believe the lie I tell myself.

In the pool I have little races with other swimmers - they are none the wiser.

Sometimes I think the hardest thing is going there, getting changed so if you can overcome that then you are most of the way there.

Well done you. First step is often the hardest.

I am probably not the person to ask advice from - I can manage, on a good week, about 13 classes. It takes up a lot of time!

I believe the proper ratio is 2-3 strength classes, so that would be body pump.
A couple of cardio, maybe spin if you were looking to start off being kind to your knees? And a stretching one, body balance is a lovely combination of yoga, Pilates, tai-chi.

I love HIIT and Step, but they are hard on the joints and need a fair amount of stamina.
Body Combat is ace for removing frustration too.

You need to have a set day/ time. I exercise every Monday & Friday at the same time, doing the same strength based class. I go come rain or shine, pre book it, and i have to be on deaths door ill not to make it!

Well done OP for getting your diet under control, and back on the gym horse, so to speak.

It is not going to hurt if you do book everything to start with, and find out what you like. Sometimes you don't click with a class instructor or the class is not what you thought it might be. Maybe do it over a couple of weeks rather than booking 4 classes a day, and then pick the classes you like and work out your weekly timetable, but be realistic and don't commit to going every day to start with.

Do make it easy for yourself by packing your gym bag the night before so you don't have an excuse. I have a wash bag with shampoo, shower gel etc, and a bag with clean pants and socks that I keep permanently in my bag.

Can you identify why you always gave up before and be aware of it this time?

@Jewel1968
In the pool I have little races with other swimmers - they are none the wiser.

Me too! Do you have a commentary like its the end of the olympic finals running in your head, or is that just me?!

@MagpiePi well I haven't but you have given me an idea.

I do also like the activity watch thingy. It kinda motivates me as I see my performance.

Thanks all, some good advice. I've always been very much "all or nothing" and it's been nothing for too long now!

Yes to the fitness watch... I find the stats so motivating! Just spent ages adding different workouts like Pilates to my favourites on my Garmin watch!

Good suggestion too for my gym bag. I just sorted all that out, including toiletries, hairbrush, dry bag with swimsuit & towel etc.

The health suite needs to be pre booked for an hour at a time. I think that will be quite motivating to have that as a chill out reward at the end of a session.

Just spoken to a friend who is a member, and we've booked for Body Pump together for Tuesday. I'm definitely aware the strength type classes are important at my time of life.

Also agree routine is important; once I establish what I like I can then set routines up.

Excited now!

What worked for me was getting into lifting. I could never stick at a gym previously. Now it's four times a week and I hate rest days, I'd go every day if I could. It's my favourite thing, hands down. It won't be for everyone but for me it hits so differently to other gym stuff.

My advice is break this cycle of behaviour OP. Start small. Pick one day you can definately go to do weights or swim. Pick one class you can 100% get to. Maintain that for a couple of weeks and add another weights day or swim. Maintain that for a couple of weeks, and so on. When you get to your max, ensure that includes a couple of rest days. If you do the same as always, it ends the same way, always. Goodluck. (I thoroughly recommend adding pilates to the mix - most people feel taller and fabulous after a class, and drop outs are very rare in our class). It seems an awful waste if you don't do weights - make use of the gymbstaff to guide and motivate you. Also, if you exercise some restraint, you'll be all the more eager to go for planned sessions. Good luck, and post to let us know you are still going in 6 months!

I have a bullet journal for fitness where I create my plans and log what I do. I start with my regular classes and then structure the other exercise (usually running, maybe swimming) around them.

Set performance related goals for the short-medium term, that will work towards the longer term goal.

Make it easy to go. Have a suitable bag set up that's good to go. Have the kit ready. Put sessions in your diary.