Gym for beginners

[loverrr]

Morning all, total novice wanting to start exercising. Can anyone give me any pointers on where to start please?

Think about what you want to achieve and what you might enjoy. Gyms are very different things to different people. For me it's about getting strong. For others they might prefer doing cardio, or classes or all sorts. Finding the thing you enjoy makes a massive difference. Does your gym offer an initial intro session where you get help with how to put something together to achieve your goals?

Thanks for replying @RayKray!
I want to lose weight but also feel healthier & fitter. I am nervous to do classes because Im so unfit at the moment! Do you think cardio is best place to start, and is that basically treadmill or cross trainer?

Consider working with a personal trainer at least at first. They’ll create a programme catered to your needs and will check your form.

Hello good for you embarking on your exercise journey! There are plenty of options - walking either outside or on the treadmill is a great start as is the cross trainer. Have you thought of a few PT sessions to start yourself off? That way they will be tailored specifically to you and your fitness goals.They can give you a programme which you can then follow yourself in the gym. Most personal trainers will give you a free initial session to check that it fits in with your needs. Otherwise any activity is great - could be a dance class or yoga/pilates - don’t worry if it’s the first one you have done everyone has to start somewhere! Best of luck!

Have a think about what you want to do, what you enjoy and what will make you actually do it.

I was extremely unfit so wanted to do something at home so no embarrassment and no initial expense required and no excuse that I didn't have the time to go there.

Having tried and given up a few times I also knew it was absolutely vital that anything I did was low impact and knee friendly - when you are very unfit your quads don't support your knee caps properly and I would end up with awful knee pain and give up.

After trying a few Youtube workouts I went with Team Bodyproject (Fitness Blender is also good) and have been doing it for a year now.

I don't know how unfit you are, but I was lie down on the floor after 10 minutes in a state of collapse unfit. So classes would have been an absolute no-no to start with.

How motivated are you?
I was similar to you, but am extremely lazy, I couldn’t (and still can’t) manage a gym session on my own. I get bored and lazy and slink off home. But classes leave me no room to be me, so I work hard and enjoy them.

Everyone’s fitness journey starts somewhere, and every single person in the gym recognises that. So being the newbie in the class is fine, everyone’s done it.

You do you, if you wanna try classes do them, take the easy option the instructors offer, and fuck everyone off who isn’t kind to you.
Starting is the hardest and should be celebrated.

I would recommend a class, but a nice easy one at first, something like dance fitness, or Zumba would be good.

I go to two sets of classes, one lot at my gym, and another at a community hall type of place. The classes at the gym are much harder, but those at the community hall are very friendly and much gentler to start with. Unless you've already joined the gym, something like that might be a good start.

I started the gym about 3 months ago and only focussed on the 'usuals'. Treadmill, bike etc. then I realised that I get far more enjoyment out of the strength part of it. My goals at the moment is to do 5k on the bike then 30mins of weights. Leg press, lat pulls etc. I can feel that my body is getting stronger and a bit tighter around the core. Set small goals and work up

For me, no cardio is tedious and doesn't feel good. I lift heavy stuff, and it makes me feel amazing. I had a gazillion failed gym memberships before I found lifting, now I go 4 times a week and wouldn't miss it for anything. I also wouldn't enjoy classes cos I don't like doing things with other people.

But that's me, the best thing for you will be what you enjoy and want to do cos then you'll do it. Exercise should be enjoyable.

For losing fat nutrition matters much more. I exercise cos it feels really good and I enjoy it. If fat loss is a priority you'd burn more calories being active day to day than doing a burst of cardio in a gym. If you exercise you might improve your nutrition and that have knock on impacts - I care about what I eat cos it's fuel for lifting more and growing more muscle.

I agree with others a good PT might be helpful. But not a crap one, and it can be hard to tell the difference.

I think you just need to try lots of things and work out what you enjoy.

What I thought I'd like: yoga and pilates
What I actually like: boxing and weights

There is something out there for everyone, the problem is finding it.

Yet another one saying PT.

If your gym offers a free session with one, I’d take them up on it. If it doesn’t, pay for one if you can manage it - even if it’s just one session to get some pointers!

For your first visit, I'd just go and familiarise yourself with everything! Where the changing rooms are, do you need a padlock for the locker etc, have a wander round the equipment. Make it very low pressure for yourself. The exercise bikes are an easy one to start with, as are the cross trainers. I would just go for a visit and get comfortable in the environment on your first session, if you're a beginner. Also you can get an induction - sometimes for free - in most gyms, where they show you round and show you how to use all the machines. This is worth doing too. And most gym staff are really friendly and well qualified and will be happy to help if you have any questions 😊

Definitely get a PT as their experience and advice (and accountability) is invaluable.

Dont go straight into lifting heavy, work on balance and body weight exercises. I did things like slow and controlled step ups for a few weeks when I first started and it’s definitely helped.

If you can, find out quieter times to go.

My first time at a gym, I always head for the cross trainers to gauge what's going on etc and look around. PT is the obvious answer but if you can't afford/aren't sure then look on instagram and the like for workouts. Some gyms have an app that provide free workouts. I'm with pure gym and they have loads of advice and workouts.

You need to mix up cardio, weights and flexibility. See if they have an easy circuits or beginners yoga / pilates class.
I never enjoy exercise but it's like brushing teeth or loading the dishwasher. It all pays off in the long run.

In your position, classes can be a good way of starting out, because you can pick up technique and have fun doing it.

If you pick the right sort of class, you'll be in good company.
For example, I wouldn't pick a 6am "Bootcamp" class! At my gym, the 9:30am classes have a mixed bunch of ages & fitness levels. The 6pm Pump class is generally full of fitter people, but always has some beginners in it. The 6pm Spin class is full of super-fit people.

Start gently. If it helps, stay at the back & follow others. But it's always good to introduce yourself to the instructor and they'll keep an eye on you, if they're any good. In that case, if you go to the front (maybe to one side) then you can get some coaching & correction.

But remember, most people are in the gym, and in classes, for themselves. They don't really notice other people. Or if they do, it's maybe because those other people are doing something special! I'm always gawking - in admiration!!! - at the amazing things I see other gym members doing.

I used to always go to the gym then life got in the way, but started back this summer. I had an induction which I would recommend. They show you how to use all the equipment safely.

I enjoy cardio and have always enjoyed cycling, so I do a cardio session on the bike first, then I use the weight machines. I don't want to be bulky, just healthy, but there are people who only use weights and not cardio and vice verser.
HTH.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8UiuICH9aJ/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I used this program when I first started and it worked really well. There’s suggestions in the caption for exercises.

Hello everyone
I read the comments about wanting to start working out
If anyone would like to start working out , my advice would to start at home with a push-up board
You can work much more specific muscles than just doing regular pushups, if i started with this back then i would've been much more forward by now
If you WANT TO CHANGE you need this
https://amzn.to/4iDyofr