Pre New Years Resolution Advice

Credit-Crunched

Every year, without fail the gym come January is rammed to the rafters.

Come Feb its back to normal, so thought it might assist some people to offer some guidance on how to not be one of those people!

a) Set realistic goals - you can't go from not training, to training 5 days a week. Start with 2 or 3 times

b) Go gentle - don't hit the treadmill for an hour straight off, ease yourself in

c) Don't see weights as intimidating, they are an excellent resource for both male and female to increase lean muscle mass. Ask a gym instructor, or someone who is using the equipment. Most of my knowledge has come from asking in the gym, lots of valuable knowledge.

d) Diet - the old adage is that six packs are made in the kitchen / you can't out train a bad diet is so true. Make a food diary, it is quite surprising what goes in!

e) Stay away from 'sports' drinks! They are riddled with sugar and the 'increase' in performance is minimal in anyone but elite athletes

f) Stay away from 'fads' - detoxes, gels, 7 day shreds, 9 day 15 pound loss claims. They are purely there to take your money, and spit you out. A change in your body, is gained by hard work and determination.

g) Enjoy it! If you hate the gym and treadmill, don't do it, find something that you will enjoy. Use 2015 to find a way to keep fit that you love to do, and one that will get you out in the rain, cold and dark

Martial Arts . 5 a side football . Running . Walking . Body Weight Exercises in your garage. Swimming - So many ways to keep fit, and lots of them not even expensive!

gfplux

Great tips.
I would add that men should try aerobic or aqua gym classes. They are not for wimps, they are very hard work.

FBaby

I would add that it will most likely take time before you see the benefits from a weight loss perspective. If you are very unfit before you start, your goal is to get fitter. It is once you really start pushing yourself that you will see the results.

I have seen so many people starting at the gym, going on the machines and putting on settings that hardly gets their heart going (a few will go on to have conversations for 1/2 hour whilst they do it!) and then complain after a month that their metabolism is not right because they've only lost a pound or two.

thx1138

Great tips.

I know I'm going to see an inevitable upsurge at my gym after the first of January. I am enjoying the relative calm of late December in the meantime and am taking full advantage of it ...

barbarawright

A new gym has just opened near me so I am thinking of taking the plunge. But, as I won't use it very often (prefer running outside), I want it to be as cheap as possible. Do people know if all the discounts are in the new year or if it's worth waiting a few weeks until new memberships have trailed off? It's one of those that doesn't really have staff and is open 24 hours (Anytime?)

thx1138

barbarawright wrote: »

A new gym has just opened near me so I am thinking of taking the plunge. But, as I won't use it very often (prefer running outside), I want it to be as cheap as possible. Do people know if all the discounts are in the new year or if it's worth waiting a few weeks until new memberships have trailed off? It's one of those that doesn't really have staff and is open 24 hours (Anytime?)

I got a big discount from my council-run gym because I was referred to it by my doctor. I got the referral because I'm a diabetic. So if you have any medical condition it might qualify you. My first six months have been heavily discounted.

I didn't really 'need' the discount but, hey, I pay full taxes and as my wife and I are childless, why not?

BusPass_2

gfplux


They cordon off 2/3rds of my local pool on a Thursday evening for an Aquarobics class. Lasts for an hour and 75% of them don't even get their hair wet!!!


Makes me laugh but at least they aren't watching soaps. I do admire them but it doesn't appear to be too taxing.

YORKSHIRELASS

Good post. I would second the bit about easing yourself into it gradually - the idea should be that regular exercise becomes part of your life.

I would also say that any exercise is good for you - even if its just a brisk 30 minute walk every day. I remember years ago buying a book about starting running and getting disheartened because I wasnt able to run for the suggested time after 3 or 4 weeks on the plan. I did far better when I got rid of the book and did it on my own.

There can be too much pressure to overdo it when you join a gym. Someone once gave me some good advice about listening to your body and doing what feels right for you. Its fine to push yourself but if something really hurts then you should stop. Building up slowly is always best.

thx1138

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

Good post. I would second the bit about easing yourself into it gradually - the idea should be that regular exercise becomes part of your life.

I would also say that any exercise is good for you - even if its just a brisk 30 minute walk every day. I remember years ago buying a book about starting running and getting disheartened because I wasnt able to run for the suggested time after 3 or 4 weeks on the plan. I did far better when I got rid of the book and did it on my own.

There can be too much pressure to overdo it when you join a gym. Someone once gave me some good advice about listening to your body and doing what feels right for you. Its fine to push yourself but if something really hurts then you should stop. Building up slowly is always best.

I completely agree, with one cautionary. I have seen many a person fool themselves into thinking that minimal exercise will atone for a multitude of sins, and it doesn't. There has been precisely one occasion in my life when I could literally eat anything I wanted and not gain weight. That was during an 18 month period in my 20s when I was running 120 miles a week. Even today with a minimum of two hours of exercise every day I still cannot eat with complete abandon.

Some people actually gain weight when they begin an exercise regimen, because they overestimate the amount of calories they consume.

Apart from that I think you're right. The key is consistency. Keep at it. Make exercise your number one priority ahead of just about everything. Failure should not be an option.

gfplux

Hello buspass.
First of all during Aqugym you do NOT normally get your hair wet.
So I think your understanding of it shows you have not ever taken part. If you do you will perhaps think differently.
Why not try it and come back here and tell us about it.
One final point moving in a pool for one hour is great excersise. If you swim Buspass you probably know that an hour swimming is good for you. My wife does laps for 40 minutes but you probably do much more.
I do Aquagym once a week for 40 minutes with 5 minute warm down, relax at the end. Our ages range from 30 to + 70 with the ratio of 10 ladies to 1 man. Everyone does it at the intensity they feel comfortable with from very intense high tempo to calm and relaxed.

purpleshoes_2

I used to teach aqua aerobics and the ladies did get their hair wet, is aqua gym something different?

I dont mind getting my hair wet when Im in the pool, Id rather that than have to wear a swimming cap.