Joined a gym - tips needed!

alisont

Thanks for all the comments I do apologise for not replying to the comments which were really helpful but I did forget about the thread!

I've been going to the gym - not as much as I'd like to be going but feel happy with the gym - great price, clean and always open.

I have made up my own routine to start off with - I try to do about 40 minutes on the treadmill power walking on an incline - the treadmills my favourite piece of cardio so I stick to that. Have downloaded lots of albums to my new phone and have Spotify free for 3 months too.

I then do stretches and use the resistance machines the ones I'm confident to use and then free weights.

Over summer I'll have a lot of time off so aim to go 3-4 times a week and then I'll ask the staff to show me how to use the machines I'm unsure of and want to find out about the kettle bells. I won't do the classes as they are all virtual and I'm not confident enough to do those.

I'm working on the diet side - I know the areas I could improve and how to do that but need to get a bit more motivated with that.

If know I need to go to the gym more often and make alterations to the eating side - that's something I'll always struggle with.

UKTigerlily

It's great that you're now going, well done! It soon becomes a habit. I do wonder why 40 minutes of cardio tho?

DCFC79

UKTigerlily wrote: »

It's great that you're now going, well done! It soon becomes a habit. I do wonder why 40 minutes of cardio tho?

What would you suggest less time on cardio and spend time on another area ?

alisont

UKTigerlily wrote: »

It's great that you're now going, well done! It soon becomes a habit. I do wonder why 40 minutes of cardio tho?

I do that as a warm up and because I like the treadmill and need to lose weight so need cardio as well as the machines/weights.

stephen77

UKTigerlily wrote: »

It's great that you're now going, well done! It soon becomes a habit. I do wonder why 40 minutes of cardio tho?

40 minutes of cardio is fine.
Saying that both 30 minutes and 50 minutes are good as well.

UKTigerlily

alisont wrote: »

I do that as a warm up and because I like the treadmill and need to lose weight so need cardio as well as the machines/weights.

There's no need to warm up for 40 minutes though, most total routines are only an hour in length everything included. Weights will help more to lose weight than cardio, too much cardio releases cortisol a stress hormone which can inhibit weight loss and weights build muscle mass (not bulky I promise) which burns more calories even after working out when at rest.

I've lost 3st 10 1/2Ibs this year and 3st 13 since end of December and do very very little cardio and that's with a really good PT. We do no more than ten minutes warm up and i've had no injuries, lots of strength and fitness improvements and feel amazing.

Still, if you enjoy the 40 min i'm not saying don't, just pointing out it's not needed for weight loss x

fairy_lights

sophy-stevens wrote: »

You should follow your gym trainer and ask your trainer about diet schedule for weight loss and most important thing to maintain your health is that just be regular on your routine.

A Gym trainer won't necessarily know much about diet though.

asajj

Also set realistic goals such as losing half a kg a week for instance. Don't believe in crash diets or starving yourself.

UKTigerlily

asajj wrote: »

Also set realistic goals such as losing half a kg a week for instance. Don't believe in crash diets or starving yourself.

Agreed! I can never see how those sorts of diets can be kept up, I love my grub (a bit too much lol) so could never eat tiny amounts lol

alisont

Thanks - I'm a lover of food and big portions so would never crash diet or anything don't believe it that or a lot of diets as such.

I know exactly what I need to cut out - the inbetween meals unhealthy snacks, bread - need to cut down, and crisps which I try not to keep in the house!

I eat loads of vegetables and protein (tofu and pulses mainly) I need to cut the sugar levels and processed foods a bit.

Over time I will increase the time I spend on weights need to read up on more routines/exercises with weights. Will have a lot more time to go over the long summer holiday.