Will going to the gym 3x a week for 30-45 minutes be worth it

[MaybeItsTimeForMeNow]

Quite literally, with 3 under the age of 7 the only time I feel I have to go the gym is in a lunch break, I wfh with a gym 5 min car ride away. If I sign up will it help see results? I'm overweight, a size 16 now, I'd love to drop a dress size by the summer holidays. I have cut out a lot of food stuff but basically unless I'm chasing the kids I'm fairly sedentary with work. Is it going to be worth the ££ not being able to do longer sessions?

That can be plenty of time at the gym ime. Do weightlifting as well as cardio is my advice!

I go to the gym 2/3 times per week but only lose weight if I’m dieting. Apparently weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise, so it certainly helps a bit, and definitely makes you feel a lot better

Thank you. I've been thinking about it for a while but it's on the edge of my village and I'm ashamed to go, be the out of breath unfit blob, as I'm sure half the village goes. I caught myself in a reflection yesterday, the first proper day in a t-shirt and 3/4 and I can't believe how round my tum and bum have become. Sigh.

Time to put my big girl pants on right

It will do you the world of good to move, get a PT if you can and get under some weights. I think the focus on exercise just in the moment and just for weightloss is wrong, it will do way more give you a boost of energy, good feelings, make you feel fresher and a sense of achievement that carries though to what you eat and drink.

on days I do go to the gym I find myself being kinder to myself food wise, so even 2-3 sessions whatever you can do will have a huge impact but even if you don’t loose weight you’ll feel better in your clothes and body.

Thank you so much 😊

ABSOLUTELY!
Think of it as ‘me time’. You’re investing in yourself today but also your future health so you can feel amazing not just now but when you’re running around enjoying your future grandchildren.
Get an instructor to set you up with a basic routine - 20 mins cardio, 25 mins strength/ resistance.
Try to walk briskly most days too - even ten minutes is a benefit.
Good wishes to you x

Yes, it will make a difference (gradually) to your fitness, muscle strength and body shape. It probably won't help you lose weight unless you also diet. Definitely worth doing though. I wish I had started when I was much younger.

3 x a week for 30 to 45 minutes would be a good routine! Also good for your mental health and energy levels. Just don't expect instant results - set yourself exercise goals, rather than weight loss ones, and see where they take you. Goals are easy to come up with if you're using machines - e.g. faster/ longer times on cardio at increasing effort levels; heavier weights, more reps on weight lifting machines etc.

Yes I plan to diet too. I have also started taking supplements this week - I'm 39 and starting to feel odd things with menstrual cycle 😔 and I've cut down alcohol by around 70-80% I'd say as I got in to bad habits over Christmas time which I failed to stop in the new year. I'm also cutting out bread, and trying to increase protein instead. Time for a new me!

If you want to get your diet right there are Macro checks you can do online which will give you some guidelines for your diet.

Following these has helped me as I had literally no idea what to eat.

I know you’re not bodybuilding and nor am I but it showed me that it’s fine to have carbs but equally important to have fibre etc macros and calories

Yes but only if you lift heavy. Get a PT to design you a programme.

I did 5 months of lifting 3 times a week. It was a bulk and cut, I went from 32% body fat to 23% body fat. I was 6lbs heavier at the end (I didn't actually have weight to lose but it was all untoned) but my body looked much smaller and better.

Don't worry too much at weight on the scales, if you can get one of those scales that checks body fat though that's quite a helpful guide as to the direction you are going in.

Focus on lifting a bit heavier each time.

For me exercise is way more about how it impacts my mental state. I know science says weight loss is more about the foods you eat than exercise but they don't take account of the improvement in mental health that might help you make better food choices. My advice is go for it but think about it more from the - this is good for my overall wellbeing.

Absolutely! You'd be amazed what you can do in even a 30 min session. If you can do two of 5 mins cross trainer / slow running machine / rowing /rowing machine for cardio then you'll have 20 mins of weights to play around with.

Or 5 mins stair climber for cardio. That thing is quite fun if there's one you can set for skyscrapers.