Reporting back after 1st gym visits in 20+ years

[BelgianBeers]

Hello

Lots of you have me advice when I joined a PureGym - I ordered clothes and stuff then got ill so didn’t go. Now better I have been attending and can report that is has been great. If you are considering joining I would absolutely recommend it. I have been helped by lots of different staff, done classes and use two different venues. Have found it all
very friendly and easy to engage with. Am just back from a session and feel great. Now I just have two ish stone to get rid of and some cardiovascular fitness to get back. 💪

@BelgianBeers well done. It's great there's people motivating you.

I'm not joining a gym but am upping cardio/walking etc. Doing some weights. I need to lose 2 stone at least. Food is changing too. Smaller portions.

Well done, getting started is the hardest stage.

It's great when you can see consistency resulting in gains. I keep a notebook and pen so I can record what I do and refer back to it if I'm mixing things up.

Whooop. I joined a while ago and I love it.

LushLemonTart - I fear our names show where this extra stones arrived from! Diet needs to improve for me too.

I noted down today what I did but do feel the urge to transcribe phone notes into a little cute book - might help me keep the focus.

Have just booked some classes too as I know I will struggle when back at work so if I put it in the diary rather than wait and see how I feel it should help.

@BelgianBeers I don't have a sweet tooth tbh but do like beer. I don't drink much now though. I love lemon and am a tart 🤣

I'm going to dance more too. Even if it's sticking Spotify on and dancing in the house. I lost loads of weight once doing that.

Ha how else is a tart to lose weight - I mean it has to be dance right? I will give a bit of dancing a go too.

How are you getting on @BelgianBeers ? I've done a workout and had a 2 mile walk along the cliffs today. I use resistance bands for working out.

A cliff top walk sounds lovely. I did some yoga today - I am spectacularly stiff so this is a target but I will admit it was more needed as was sore after the weights. It’s a good feeling though. I was out for a meal in the evening so was not moderate but just had one drink and no pudding. I hsve a six hour drive today so will prep some food rather than eat huge bags of crisps as I go then have a gym class - my first in thirty years - tomorrow! My son taught me to bench and reported me as stronger than many a teenage boy which I took as a compliment:)

That first week is always the worst but as you get comfortable with the place and equipment you will begin to have your favourite machines and know the best time to go when it's not as busy.

When I first started the gym I was fat and had no clue what I was doing but I got braver with weights and tried the chin up machine, I got a great routine going and used my technogym key which told me I was training like a sports person 😅 sessions which I loved.

The gym had a complete refurb and shut down for a month so I tried a slightly nicer gym on a 2m trial, back to square one with the equipment and trying out which kettlebell is best etc. I once went at 7pm when it was full of late teen hotties in lycra and lads posing in the mirrors which put me right off but month later I have found my favourite times to go, best equipment, lockers etc I particularly loved the pool, steam room and jacuzzi as a reward for a good workout.

I went back to my old "new" gym and I hated it, the machines didn't work with the key anymore, there was no floor space for weight workouts. It was shiny and new and busy but the chaning rooms were still grim and the parking was often a nightmare. I cancelled straight after that and will be staying at my new gym.

@BelgianBeers well done on abstaining. Hope your drive is OK and ice free?
I have friends coming tonight. Dh is at work. I'm doing something pretty healthy. They eat healthy anyway. Both are slim. One goes to the gym a lot and walks loads.

@EveryDayisFriday glad you're settled in the right gym 😊

Hello LushLemonTart,

The drive was fine thanks but a bit longer due to traffic congestion still I was home for 2am. Hmmm this week is disastrous from a weight loss perspective though - I took my son to the chippy yesterday when we arrived and succumbed to a portion and today there is a celebration family meal out at an Italian restaurant, tomorrow I am meeting a friend for lunch and next Sat am off on a big night out full of cocktails and a huge tasting menu. This is not my usual at all! Today I am doing some squat/bench/deadlift with my son and then I have a class booked tomorrow first thing. That will be a challenge to getup for! I hope that you are doing better at continuing the healthy approach. I am hoping for 2lbs weight loss a week but can see this week might be an issue!

EverydayisFriday - I can see how much feeling at home in your gym helps. I am using two different gyms from the same chain and they are very different as one is in town and full of students while the other is at a retail outlet in a very depressed town. It has its own women’s only gym within the gym which I didn’t use initially but which was great when it got busy and which I will use again.

Sounds like you're still exercising though @BelgianBeers that's good.
I'm working a late shift today so going to do my exercises now. I won't have time for a walk.

I'm not too worried about the scales for now more toning and strengthening. But I do need to lose weight.

Well I was snowed off from my class and haven’t done much today. I struggle to worry about scales enough but I need to do it all when it comes to improvements and I feel the extra weight is causing my arthritic foot to be more tetchy. I hope your plans are going well. I am going to do some yoga today and see if I can face the weights!

I did a 16 minute zumba on YouTube yesterday in the living room. I was on a late shift did that had a nice bath and went to work. Off today dh and I are going to a spa hotel with a gym. So I'll do a workout before sauna and hot tub.

It's good posting here it's motivating me. Plus I work with a very fit lady same age as me (56) and she's my motivator. She does kickboxing.

Are you drinking plenty of water @BelgianBeers ?

Well let’s be motivating buddies - you can motivate me to drink water. To my shame I drink very little water. I am addicted to fizz so am transferring my allegiance to fizzy water.
Hope you had a good day/hit tub:)

Oh fizzy water is better than pop.

Had a decent workout in the gym. Drank and ate plenty though too 🙈

Well my son made an excellent cake today and I keep just pinching a slice then another although I have done a weights session. I have been in the cellar ‘gym’ with my eldest who is determined I will master the squat. I am very very non bendy and I need my arms/shoulders/chest to get more mobile - I mean then there is the squatting bit. Bought me out in a hot flush. Enjoying it though. I haven’t got to my planned classes this week as it’s still snowy and icy here so will wait until the roads and car parks are reliable. Hope you are doing well.

Do you wfh @BelgianBeers ? I have to go out and drive to work. Thankfully the roads are ok atm as our streets don't get gritted. I'm working tomorrow and Friday.

I was tired yesterday from not sleeping at the hotel. I drank too much 🙈 There's a pub near the hotel and it's so friendly you end up staying too long. Wasn't drunk just I don't drink much now. I had a few wines and 2 pints of ale. So I had a long nap when we got home. I'm doing my workout today and a long walk.

Squats are so good for you. I do a few in my workout.

Oh I love an evening that is so much fun the drinks keep flowing:). Impressed that you still did your workout.

I don’t wfh - am a teacher but it’s the first day back today because if the snow round here. It’s good to be back - now to see if I can sustain the exercise alongside the school days. I went to my first stretch class - hmm really enjoyed it and clearly need to do one daily as with the exception of hip openers am dreadful.

I have a healthy meal planned lunch - mind you ate well yesterday then ate half a big bag of peanuts!

@LushLemonTart How are you doing? I finished my run of meals with the tasting menu and if I hadn’t had 7 cocktails wouldn’t have been into much danger calories wise. As a good eater I did find the bijou portions a refinement too far. From now on I plan I eat more moderately.
Did gym on Saturday and went to machine floor - last week it was a confusing place and this week I was merrily changing seat heights and faffing around with more confidence. I ache pleasantly so must have done something.

@BelgianBeers well done. You're doing well sticking to it.

I tried some online zumba with weights yesterday. Only managed half! It was relentless. I'm sticking to usual work out today with resistance bands and dumbells. I do feel the muscles today though. Especially on my bum 🤣

I haven't weighed myself in a while and have put a few pounds on 😟 I did have a couple of pints and pub food last night though. So hopefully just water?

After I messaged you I remembered I had booked a Sunday class for 9.30 so off I went to legs bums and tums. It was not a pretty sight! Def a work out though. I can’t lunge well - I will need to try them at home. Like you my bum is feeling this action.

I think weight does go up and down a bit but it is so disheartening when the scales don’t reflect effort! Impressed with the Zumba - I can’t do the dance/movementy classes as I am so very dreadful when it comes to coordination but I think they look great fun.

Well impressed you've been out exercising this morning. I really feel so achy today.

What's the weather like where you are? I'm north east coast and it's a bit icy. Worse inland I think? I was thinking of having a walk but dh is off to work and don't fancy risking falling on my bum without someone help me up 🤣