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. 💪

Well I can’t move now - ache everywhere😂
Weather is ok - still crunchy rather than slippy but it took me an hour or so to remove the big iced wodges of snow stopping us from using our usual parking. Roll on the great defrost. It is so variable round here but we are high up and got the most this time. Love the North East Coast - I am in West Yorks.

What a lovely opening post @BelgianBeers ! I hope you keep on enjoying the gym. I love it & it enables me to keep working in a high-demand job past pensionable age.

@LittleBigHead wonderful. I have such a strong sense that now is the time that makes the biggest difference for the longer term. There you are proving it. I think already the gap between inactive and active friends has grown remorselessly with the fit ones in their own super zone. I do have a strong sense that fit is in reach although half way through this morning’s class I didn’t feel that way:)

@BelgianBeers I'm the same. I feel fitness is in reach. I can walk for miles but need my upper body stronger and stomach smaller.

We can do this 💪

I do have a strong sense that fit is in reach although half way through this morning’s class I didn’t feel that way:)

I do know that feeling! I was doing a "game" (as my PT calls it) the other day of 12 rounds of 170 kilo sled pull/push, alternating with 2 mins on the exercise bike. First half felt great, but I started to tire at about the 8th round, and reached failure on the sled pull on the 11th round, so I had to do push/push on the 12th & last round.

I love being strong as fuck, but sometimes it's death to get there! And you never reach a point where you can stop - but it does get easier, I promise.

And remember that gym adage: "What used to be my one rep max is now my warm up weight. "

It's a weightlifting saying, but works for all aspects of fitness actually.

@LushLemonTart same here - especially the belly - and yes we bloody can💪.

@LittleBigHead Some “game”! Sounds tough but yes you are right. All progress is progress and at least - in some point a good few months forward -I will be able to look back and see how far I have come. I have had small wins already - I am still quite strong, especially the legs but some other aspects of my fitness are much less assured. Flexibility is positively amusing or bemusing as is my squat and those two factors are connected. Two stone off and a bit bendier and I will feel like a new woman!

I am going to do a bit of yoga everyday with Adrianne and work on my ankles and wrists which are lacking bend - can’t even get my wrists to 90degrees but I know they can. I think we should use ‘strong as fuck’ as our motto:)

How's everyone getting on?
Did a bit of swimming at the hotel yesterday. Might pop out for a walk before it gets dark?

Have done some yoga but not much else - think it will be the other end of the week before I have any time. It’s one of those weeks. I did weigh myself today so have set a 2lb target reduction for each week. 12.12 is my starting point. I am 3 and a half stone heavier than I was after my last child! Oops

swimming sounds lovely - hope you had a good walk - our slush is treacherous today

I didn't get chance for a walk. Waited in for delivery and then ended up doing chores.

I'm off work tomorrow so I'll get some exercise in.

Did resistance bands workout squats and press ups today. Then a 2 mile walk. Not far but brisk. It's such a lovely day.

For those of you who are struggling........ check out...

• Caroline Girvan for weight training - super effective
• Growingannanas for HIIT/cardio
• Yoga with Kassandra
• Plus the Bowflex 3-minute Plank every day - without fail.

That sounds good @LushLemonTart. I have eaten a family sized bag of crisps and had macaroni cheese but am only just back from work and will do better tomorrow.

@Semiramide hmmm yes I have some planking to conquer. My plank is more plunk. Thanks for the recommendations.

If you do nothing, else, @BelgianBeers , do the daily plank. After a month or so you'll start to notice a definite increase in your overall fitness - thanks to the rod of iron that planking gives you.

Yes @Semiramide planking is amazing. I keep forgetting to do it thanks for the reminder.

Oh I have those days @BelgianBeers . Crisps are my nemesis.

Well - and I could tell this after my first class - and my online yoga - my plank is awful. I can’t do thirty secs 😂. The only way is up huh.

as for crisps - live them so much. They are a passion really!

@BelgianBeers planks are very difficult. Start with 10 seconds. I'll do one tomorrow. Let's plank together 😃💪

Ok plank partner - let’s plank. I am going to work up to the 3minute thing. There was a woman at the gym who seemed to plank for about 10 mins without a ripple. Imagine!

Plank accountability starts here. I will update my times! I think I started at 12 secs🤦‍♀️.

@BelgianBeers good stuff. I'll start in the morning.

Something to aspire to...

When I started out, I never imagined that I might be able to do this.

And yet, here I am. Aged 70 and counting.

Not only doing it but loving it. Totally worth the effort 😎

Absolutely brilliant- that is inspirational @Semiramide :)

Unfortunately I have got a chest infection so haven’t made my classes this weekend. Have done some planking and mobility stuff and the odd dog walk and that has been it. Will take it easy until I have a bit more mojo and focus on the flexibility stuff. Hope you are all having a better fitness weekend!

I do yoga twice a week, I was going to this old gym, everything battered and old, full of mean looking men who were actually all very lovely and helpful....the changing room had a motor bike in pieces scattered over the floor so never used it....its closed down so now going to try a new place that is closer to home so can walk there !

I rather like the sound of your old gym @bumblebee1000 - bet your new one will feel dead posh in comparison!

@bumblebee1000 I agree sounded a fab gym.

I haven't done much. Worked a long shift Sunday. Chores yesterday then out last night for family meal. Been to a concert today and just slobbed apart from cooking.

Definitely exercise tomorrow as I feel sluggish.

Hope you feel better soon @BelgianBeers ?

Well..I did hear the old gym is now run by a Russian chap, I wonder if the speakers, size of a wardrobe and hip hop music has gone.....!!..equipment has been updated and its been cleaned...!!...the new parking restrictions mean I wouldnt be able to go now anyway as it closes at 10pm and you cant park until after 9.30pm for free in local roads...new gym seems a bit like the old one but more modern and i can walk in 7 mins...going to do a month pass for £35 and see how it goes.