I joined the gym and was shocked at how unfit I am!

[LambLamb]

I finally got around to joining our local gym and went for the first time this week. I have gained around 3 stone in a couple of years, and I was already overweight so I have been really feeling it in my energy, breathlessness, sleeping etc. Hence joining the gym. I went this week and OMG, I really struggled! I just did the bike and cross trainer, 10 minutes on each, to test my fitness levels and I was puffed out. I had a headache for the rest of the day. I am going again tomorrow and will do the same workout so I can see the improvement but please someone tell me it gets better!

No positive stories but solidarity. I have piled on the weight and do a sedentary job. I am too embarrassed to go to the gym or a class but had my first session with a PT this week - it was horrifying how little I could do. I have an exercise bike arriving tomorrow and I am going to try to do 10mins a day for the first week and take it from there. Good luck to us both!

It really does get better very quickly if you are consistent, like 3x a week. Don’t burn yourself out or get an injury by trying to go from nothing to lots every day.

The couch 2 5k plan is good for demonstrating how fast fitness can build up - in 9 weeks it goes from “run for 1 min, walk for 1.5 min to recover” to “run for 30
min” which is a massive change.

The bad news is that if you stop for a while it all goes downhill again which I find quite depressing!!

It will get better! Well done on taking that first step. As a pp said, consistency but not trying to do too much too soon is key.
That said... If you keep pushing yourself, which you need to if you want to get fitter, it is still hard. When I started running 9 or so years ago I thought that I was so looking forward to when it would feel easy. Hahahaha. I'm just on my way back from a cross country race where I felt close to spewing on the bigger hills.....

If you are consistent, cardio fitness improves really really quickly so it will be worth it!!!

Have small achievable goals so you don't put yourself off. 20 minutes straight off was always quite ambitious!

Great work for starting, it's a cliche but the first week is the hardest! Maybe next time reduce your effort to the level where you could have a conversation and try to go a bit longer. And if you can fit in a bit of strength work (there should be PTs around who can help you get started), you'll feel the results in no time.

Does your gym offer a free induction? If so I’d book one & tell the PT what you want to achieve. They should be able to give you some good advice.

I don't think being puffed but still managing to do 20 mins cardio on gym machines after 3 years of not going is that bad?

Hello are you me?

i joined a very friendly local gym a couple of weeks back. I did body pump for the first time in aboit 7 years and omg I was sore for about 4 days afterwards. AND I had to stop loads part way through each set. AND definitely noticed my belly getting in the way of those dead row exercises.

loved it though and going to keep going. Feels awesome to do something for me again!

It does get better! Take up the induction and be really honest what you are trying to do. They will help you

My eye opener was a class of people older than me by circa 20 years all effortlessly moving from one position to another with not a bother - so much more flexible and agile than me!! I still go and am getting more limber, but they are still more flexible than me 😳

Well done on joining! It does get better, and also, you may find you prefer one thing over another. I've done C 2 5k many, many times, but I've never ended up enjoying running I'm afraid (having said that, I do tend to go for short, easy jogs when on holiday - I take it as an opportunity to do some sight seeing by myself, and I do enjoy that). HOWEVER, I've been seeing a PT for years, and 'enjoy' boot camp classes and yoga classes. Plus walks with friends. So the key for me is other people to keep me accountable and to give me company, but it's taken me years to get to this place!

Thanks all! I haven't been since I posted but really do want to incorporate this into my routine so will go this evening. I won't get there until 845 but better than nothing!

Holding you accountable, in an encouraging way, OP!

I am unfit, inflexible and about 5 stone overweight.

Joined a local gym with my first class on 30 October. Have done 3 classes a week. Mix of weights/ yoga/pilates.

It seems to be helping. So yes to 3 x a week if you can!

Good for you Guffy!