Gym routing suggestions

[KarmenPQZ]

Hi all,

I swim and do a couple of classes a week at the gym. The issue I have is relatively frequently the classes are cancelled and often when I’m already there. The reception always say ‘oh just use the gym’ like it’s no big deal. But I hate the gym. And despite a couple of tours / sessions with a PT I find it really intimidating. There seems to be so many adjustments to do on each machine I don’t know where to begin. Plus I don’t really enjoy it.

but with classes being a bit unpredictable. And my daughter’s training meaning I’m hanging around a fair bit as well. I’d like suggestions for a 20-30 min routine I can fall back on.

I don’t really want to use a treadmill but I’m thinking a rowing machine could be a good option though?

thoughts / suggestions please! thanks!

Can you join a different style of gym? One that is only classes based? I go to a small, independent women’s gym and it’s only classes - all different types. Sometimes I’m doing yoga, other times body blast, muscle focus, cardio. Classes are never cancelled and always small. Is there anything like that near you?

It has taken me years to truly enjoy going to the gym and find a routine that works for me. What has made a difference is my favourite playlists to boogie to during the weight training and a good tv show/ movie to watch on the cardio.

I have fallen into a 40ish min workout, half weight training and half cardio.
My simple weight training is usually:
Arms: Dumbbell - shoulder press, rows, bicep curls then tricep kickback
Legs: Heavy Kettlebell - Dead lifts and squats
Stomach: Lighter Kettlebell - Arm over sit ups and leg raises
Then move onto to weight equipment, I usually only do leg press and assisted chin up / tricep dip.
Move onto Cardio:
5min rowing
8min elliptical machine - high resistance to start and reduce every minute
8min treadmill - high gradient / slow speed and speed up and reduce gradient every minute
6min sitting bike - high resistance to start and reduce every minute

It feels like a good all over workout and I hit the pool for a few lengths then steam room and jacuzzi to cool down and chill out.

The hitt company does some workouts on YouTube
High energy music a bit bouncy all you need is a step
it counts you in and counts you out tells you what exercises to do

m.youtube.com/watch?v=sOYwGvj4KV4&pp=ygUIaGlpdHN0ZXA%3D

I end up hanging around this venue a lot for my daughter so joining anywhere else or home workouts don’t really fit the bill. Indeed I’ve tried both but the home ones I’m not that motivated at and space and time is limited at home. The other classes I also struggled to find the time to fit them in or couldn’t get the right level of pushing myself plus it was a cost on top of my existing gym/swim membership so seemed silly.

thank you @EveryDayisFriday this is really helpful. Is this the standard - weights first cardio second? I wonder if I do the cardio first I can from my vantage point pick one machine and watch how others use it. To build up confidence on a single machine. They slowly expend out to others. It’s reassuring but also slightly concerning that it took you a while to become confident with the machines too. They’re so daunting

If you want rowing machine workouts I find the RowAlong ones good. On YouTube or as a podcast but also an app. Gives you different progressive workouts depending on your time and what you want to achieve.

I have no idea if this is right or wrong. When I first started, I did Cardio first and found that I was too knackered to push myself on the weights. The other way around feels better. I hate running on a treadmill so found steep incline walking much better.

First week = awful, complete newbie. Week 2 = quietly confident, observing others
Week 3 = completely confident.

Wow 3 weeks to completely confident. I’m impressed and hopefully something I can replicate! Thanks!

We've all been nervous newbies once, embrace this and get stuck in.

I use the Sweat app but there are lots of similar ones out there (probably including Apple Fitness). There is a choice of routines and you can choose whether you are doing gym based or home. You can follow a weekly program or just do on demand. I always used to use it at the gym, it will give you machine based training as well as dumbbells etc if you want it to.

thanks @greenmarsupial ovine based routine at the gym is ruled out as I prefer to keep off devises when I can but actually using it to build confidence as an interim is a good idea I hadn’t considered. Thank you!

At my gym some of the cardio machines will give you different automated workouts which I find helps with variety etc

I prefer classes too OP but struggle to make the times work often.

I do a couple of runs a week outside so never use the treadmill. I’m pretty boring but I either do 40ish minutes on the elliptical if I just want cardio. Or if it’s a resistance day I start with 10 minutes on the rower and then do a 20-30 minutes free Joe Wicks dumbbell workout. I can’t be bothered with the faff of weight machines but quite enjoy dumbbells.

Ohhh another thread has suggested the sled pulling which I reckon I can feel confident doing…. Especially as it’s actually outside the main gym away from the entrance so kinda perfect. Googling more ideas on weights / times / reps now but also please post here if anyone has any RL experience!

(still annoyed by the typo In my title…. Sorry for that one folks!)

If I go to the gym and just the gym rather than a class I will do:
• 15 mins cardio warm up - elliptical/stair climber/treadmill
• then I just use the small free weights or a barbell. I do 3 sets of 10 reps of various upper limb, lower limb and core exercises.
• stretch.

takes about 45 mins all in all. I only really go to the gym for so cross training with running to try and prevent injury. I don’t love it but it helps.