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Original poster

Gym regulars, do you take the piss out of the newbies?

104 replies

HarryB · 27/05/2009 11:51

Ok, so enough is enough, I'm finally going to bite the bullet and get my size 16 butt to the gym or I won't fit back in my work clothes . Am a bit scared, however, of looking like a plonker in front of the regulars. Do you fit young things laugh at the newbies and judge their big bums or take no notice?

OP posts:
skihorse · 29/05/2009 09:12

HarryB They probably will weigh you but at my gym the scales are in a corner behind a curtain and I've yet to hear a PT laughing or screeching out "holy shit guys - 22 stone 10lbs!" - so you'll be safe! On the other hand last time I had an evaluation I refused to be weighed - I told him I was well aware I was fat and I didn't need his pair of scales to tell me that. He didn't argue - obviously I'd have sat on him if he'd tried.

I'm really impressed with all the ladies who continue to exercise whilst pregnant. There was a lady at my gym who was always on the x-trainer at 28 weeks plus, good for her I thought - but there always seems to be some busybody who tells you that you're being irresponsible.

Ceebee74 · 29/05/2009 10:12

Ooh can I join in the 'smugness' then I continued exercising (x-trainer/treadmill etc) until I was at least 30 weeks in my first pg. Second pg, I actually carried on with Body Attack classes until I was 30 weeks pg (but I was starting to look a bit ridiculous at that point as I was BIG so I thought I had better stop)

I was swimming up until the end both times aswell.

And yes all I kept hearing is 'ooh should you be doing that', 'you are taking it easy aren't you?'

Original poster
HarryB · 29/05/2009 10:32

My friend is 13 stone at 5'2 and a size 18. I'm 5.4 and a size 16 so I figured I may weigh a few pounds less or perhaps the same, so I googled my possible BMI and it says I'm obese Since when was being a couple of dress sizes over classed as obese. What if I was a size 20, would I have a BMI reading of At death's door.

OP posts:
Joolsiam · 29/05/2009 10:40

I'm 5 ft 3 and 12 stone 10 (but actively doing a strict diet). I wear size 16 jeans very comfortably (need a belt) and have some size 14 skirts.

Because I do a lot in the gym (circa 8 classes per week, including Body Combat, Attack, Pump, Spin, Balance etc, then I'm not convinced BMI is accurate as muscle weighs more than fat.

When I lose another 9 lbs, I will be officially overweight and no longer obese

I couldn't imagine stopping the exercise for a pregnancy either - I am addicted to it Am very impressed with anyone doing Body Attack in the 3rd trimester I've seen plenty of PG ladies doing Pump or on the cross-trainer, but not in high impact aerobics classes

skihorse · 29/05/2009 10:54

Joolsiam I think BMI is absolute pump - most professional athletes are considered "obese". Not one of my super-sporty friends is below 12 stone. Last year when I was a size 12 I was 13 stone... fat caaaaah!

Ceebee74 · 29/05/2009 10:54

Jools I wasn't doing all the high-impact stuff at the end - certainly no jumping jacks and I jogged on the spot in a corner rather than run round the studio during the running track. I would have missed it so much if I hadn't gone - as it is I had a 4 month break whilst I had DS2 by c-section and it was torture!!

Harry agree BMI is not all it is cracked up to be. I weigh 13st 7, am 5ft 8 and am a comfortable size 16 - and I am only just under being obese But (and if you need any more encouragement to go to the gym), I weighed 15st 9 at the start of the year and was pushing a size 20 - although I have been dieting aswell, it is exercise that has really shifted the weight....just another 2 stone to go

Grattage · 29/05/2009 16:44

Harry= what is the deal?

LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune · 29/05/2009 17:42

Whilst I don't think BMI is particularly useful it's a guide that does apply to the majority of average people. All professional athletes and people such as body builders know the BMI doesn't apply to them.

The only accurate way to measure body fat is to dunk someone in a tub of water and have scientists standing around doing calculations, therefore the best way to see if you are changing shape is measuring and using skin fold calipers (again you shouldn't convert those measurements into fat just use them as a guide)

HarryB - have fun on Sunday

Original poster
HarryB · 30/05/2009 07:27

By Grattage on Fri 29-May-09 16:44:38
Harry= what is the deal?

How do you mean Grattage?

I am really looking forward to getting started. Thank you for all your upbeat posts and support.

DH made me laugh. He asked me if part of joining the gyn was to get some time to myself. Err, YEEESS!!. Do keep up hubby

OP posts:
Grattage · 30/05/2009 10:38

no i meant, , have you started and what is it like?

FairMidden · 30/05/2009 13:38

My joggers and MP3 player arrived today

I have my gym induction this week [pale]

Joolsiam · 30/05/2009 13:59

Ceebee - did you keep to the same routines during the first trimester ? First pregnancy, I cut out Attack, reduced the intensity of Combat and Spin and miscarried. Next time, I kept going with 9 classes per week - no slowing down or compromising aswell - and miscarried ...

I don't want to, but fear I may end up living in an exercise-free bubble of anxiety on the sofa next time, which is not going to do me any good at all ...

Ceebee74 · 30/05/2009 15:16

Joolsjam first pg, I completely stopped during the first trimester because I was suffering quite bad bleeding and also cos I felt so crap with sickness and tiredness that there is no way I could have exercised. I restarted at about 13 weeks and did step classes and just pottered round the gym (weights, cross-trainer, walking on treadmill) but nothing too strenuous until about 30 weeksish - then stopped completely.

2nd pg - I wasn't as sick and had no bleeding so just carried on doing Body Attack (the only exercise I was doing anyway) as normal - same high impact etc during the first trimester. Once I was into my second trimester, I stopped doing the abs work and very gradually slowed down the high impact stuff - I think I stopped jogging round the room at about 20 weeks. Again, I stopped altogether at 30 weeks but did swim 2 or 3 times a week right up until DS2 was born.

Don't know if that is any help to you - I honestly don't think what you did or didn't do would have made any difference and certainly the MW's advice is, as long as you don't start doing anything new/different, carrying on your usual exercise is absolutely fine. I always used to think of Paula Radcliffe who was still running miles and miles at 7 months pg

stitchtime · 30/05/2009 15:25

i always think people who wear makeup to the gym are a bit ridiculous.

lol, doesnt mean i make fun of them though. i just get on with my own workout.

Clure · 30/05/2009 16:03

joolsiam I think ceebee is right in that you should be ok if you stick to your usual, having said that if I was doing a lot of exercise I would want to tone it down a bit. How about yoga and swimming - both give an excellent work out but are great for the pregnant body? I did yoga right through my first pregnancy up till a couple of weeks till DD was born, think it really helped, also our excellent instructor was also a trained midwife in her previous career!

Jewelsandgems · 30/05/2009 21:16

I do agree about the make up thing, but at the same time, if my class is in the evening, I don't remove my makeup for it - it is the same makeup I have been wearing all day. So, I am not surprised to see quite a few women in makeup.

skihorse · 30/05/2009 21:40

Clure Yoga I believe is on "the list" of badmummysports!

Clure · 30/05/2009 21:54

skihorse what is this "list" please explain!!

Original poster
HarryB · 01/06/2009 06:25

Sooooo. Had my induction yesterday and they didn't weigh me. Woo hoo. Took all your comments on board, no make up and a nice baby blue t-shirt instead of black. Best of all, nobody stared or sniggered and you were all right - there are many shapes and sizes there just getting on with it.

The trainer was really great, and has given me a programme consisting of 40 mins cardio and 20 mins resistance/weights. I did a bit yesterday and was quite surprised to find that I'm not totally unfit. Looking forward to getting started on wednesday.

OP posts:
skihorse · 01/06/2009 17:33

Clure - From what I can make out, it's any form of exercise which doesn't involve you sat on your GFA eating hobnobs! Seriously... if the pg nazis had their way pregnant women would not be allowed out of bed.

HarryB that's great news - I'm glad it all went so well and that you didn't feel intimidated.

Grattage · 01/06/2009 17:54

haev you a teeny tiny ipod harry?

FairMidden · 01/06/2009 20:47

I'm not long back from my induction and I managed 45 minutes actually exercising too! And while I was there I saw one of the fabled all-made-up-and-not-really-trying people ... they really do exist.

Thanks for such a nice thread, it's got me off my bum and moving

Ceebee74 · 01/06/2009 20:52

Well done to the 'newbies'

Fairmidden I ordered some of those M&S cropped pants you linked to last week - I wore them for Body Combat this morning and they were SO SO comfortable - fantastic!! So thank you very much I am going to get another pair - hadn't even considered M&S for sports clothes.

FairMidden · 02/06/2009 07:14
Smile
Joolsiam · 02/06/2009 08:22

I have an M&S wardrobe too - has lasted for ages

I can't do my classes at the mo as I have an injury - went on the cross-trainer instead and managed an 8k jog, but am feeling very embarrassed by the size of my ipod - it doesn't even have a colour screen !