Almost joined the gym

Lost a bit more so decided to join the local gym today. Almost made it but then felt too lazy ...

[Hidden]

Don't waste your money Hidden unless you love boring treadmills and static bicycles 😂. Gyms make their money from people who join up with an initial enthusiasm but get bored and don't use their membership to the full. I joined one for a year three years ago, and I did keep it up for six months, going swimming once a week and doing a Pilates class. But gradually I found excuses not to go, and by the end of the year, I was able to stop feeling guilty! I much prefer walking my dog and I have joined a Pilates class, only £6 per hour, only max 8 of us, whereas there were 40+ at the gym class.

That's all the negative stuff, maybe someone will convince you otherwise, but be really sure you can afford to not get your money's worth! 😊

[Hidden]

My daughter and I have joined our local gym. Helps thats it's literally 5 minutes walk away. Completely hooked. My feelings of wellbeing are much higher, anxiety has pretty much gone. I mix weights, cardio and classes, all included in the price. And all the staff are helpful and supportive of everyone and their individual goals. Walking through the doors for the first time was terrifying, but it was unfounded. I'd give it a go...

[Hidden]

Hidden I joined the local hotel gym but although I'm getting my money's worth I only use the swimming pool 3 times a week there and intend to continue doing just swimming but as Hidden said I also much prefer walking and cycling (no competition, no pressure) and it's free 😆💪 xx

[RG07 Maintainer]

I have joined 3 gyms over the years and within a year or 2 they all went into receivership- so I avoid joining a gym to help the local economy! However I have lost weight and toned up with mainly walking- I increased my pace from doing 18min/mls to 13-14min with occasional dip nto 11mins (depending if I am listening to really good heavy metal!!) I also have Wii which had been gathering dust including the various fitness discs, but also NHS Choices have various exercise regimes which you can access via NHS Choices website on the living well page. Ther is also gardening which is a good form of exercise. Why not try the free options first but then if after a couple of weeks you find that you make up excuses not to do the exercise- its recommended to build up to 150mins of aerobic exercise/week and 2-3 lots of strength exercises like pilates, NHS exercises, yoga, gardening etc. If you find you need motivation then a gym maybe helpful until it becomes a habit so may be able to self motivating.

Good luck in whatever you decide

[Rignold 3kg]

You can do cardio just as well by walking or jogging without joining a gym, but the gym is excellent for resistance exercise: lifting weights and so on, and resistance exercise is one of the most underrated tools in the arsenal for losing and maintaining fat loss.

[sandrabuxton]

I tried to join the gym under the NHS live well scheme as you are entitled to 12 weeks free membership. I went along for my induction and during this the instructor asked about heart problems and chest pain/being out of breath which I said I did get ...... bless her she sent me along to the doctors for checks, so during the last two months I have had a series of tests done on my heart looking for angina..... I am in fact due to get the results of last week's tests later today. So maybe one day I may get there but at least I have had a full health check.