shall I join a gym or is it a waste?

[emily05]

I am very overweight.

My mum has offered to pay for me to have gym membership. To anybody who has done this - did you use it? I am wondering if people actually keep it up.

any advice/opinions appreciated! (never thought I would consider a gym! brave for me)

Yes

It is worth it, you need to get a really good programme that will motivate you.

How much is your Mum prepared to spend ??

Go!

Do classes too!

Pain is weakness leaving your body.

Now MOVE!

I have belongred to the Davild LLoyd for about 8 yrws and am an intermittant user - I tend to do quite a bit for a few months then lose enthusiasm for a while, then start up again.

dh is the same.

we keep the menbership up because we take the kids swimming and it is a nice place to go for lunch or coffee with friends with kids, but it does work out expensive for how much we do use it

I have found I go through phases of actively exercising and being totally inactive. I think this is pretty common.

I think the gym thing comes down to whether or not you find any particular routines/machines that you like. Personally I find the whole thing too much like hard work and boring so my gum memberships have lasted a few months and then lapsed.

However, I do like swimming so for me, a gym with a pool where I could swim twice a week and maybe do the gym routine just once a week did help me lose weight (I'm about 3 stone overweight) and I did stick to it until I went on maternity leave last year. Haven't rejoined yet but intend to.

THe other thing I think that is really important is finding a time that suits you. I couldn't possibly get in from work & go out to the gym in an evening. I have to do it before work or on my lunch break or weekend mornings. I found a gym right opposite work and that has also helped.

Another thing is whether you are the sort of person that wants to be pretty anonymous and just get on with it in your own time or if you prefer to have social contact & support/encouragement from your gym.

Personally I'm the former and one gym that I joined that was really 'matey' just didn't work for me. I know other people though who really value that approach & find it motivating.

it's only you can decide to keep it up - lots do, lots don't

only do it if your heart is really in it.

You can do other things that don't cost any money - brisk walking for instance or running up and down the stairs - get creative

Thanks for all of your advice.

well - I joined and have so far been everyday - ok I only joined 2 days ago! I am contracted for a year - so I think that this will force me to go! There is a swimming pool there and they do classes (rather fancied the yoga) so will see what happens!

A recent survey suggest that us women attend the gym on average for the first 3months and then after that it all goes to pot! Well I'm over the 3m now as I've been going 5m. I go to our local council run sports complex and the gym membership is 18pounds a month but you can cancel at anytime after 3m. I didn't have any weight to lose but have a few slight medical problems that I wanted sorted and Its helped by going to the gym and also it gives me some me time and its also my hobby when people ask what I do!