Just started taking Gym seriousely, does it get easier???

Sharon87

As above it does get easier doing the same weights, but then you need to move onto heavier weights. I find free weights work best for me as machines aren't designed for everyone's body size and shape.

Is it your muscles that are hurting? If so, that's good news. If it's joints then you need to take it a bit easier or work on increasing the strength in those joints.

If you do weights eat more protein, especially after the workout otherwise you will be breaking down you muscle and not building more of it. I buy premade protein shakes as I don't like the powder ones where you mix it yourself. It costs a bit more but I usually get them when they're half price in Tesco (£1 for U-fit protein shakes when on offer).

Good luck!

trinidadone

I went to the gym yesterday. I burned 500 cal on the glider (30 minutes) I think I am getting fitter, as no way I could of done that a few weeks back.

I spent 15 minutes on the various weight machines. I I can see I have increased slowly the weights I have used. Its the muscles which hurt, joints are fine, but the pain is getting easier (or i might be getting better at dealing with it).

jenniewb

trinidadone wrote: »

I went to the gym yesterday. I burned 500 cal on the glider (30 minutes) I think I am getting fitter, as no way I could of done that a few weeks back.

I spent 15 minutes on the various weight machines. I I can see I have increased slowly the weights I have used. Its the muscles which hurt, joints are fine, but the pain is getting easier (or i might be getting better at dealing with it).

Please spare yourself the heartache! (Been there before myself; trust me on this!) Please don't trust the gym machines calculations for calories burnt, they are to put it mildly, incorrect. If you want to research into that there is a wealth of info online to back up it being false.

In addition to being wrong, (they estimate far greater than you actually burn) and wont estimate when you become used to an exercise and burn less. It can also feel depressing when you burn say 1500kcals and then realise your weight is not falling off because the machine over-estimates.

If you try for example the stairmaster, it will give a higher rate than the cross trainer yet the cross trainer will require more muscles to work and push you harder to work, yet give over 50% fewer calories given the same heart rate (I used to exercise with a heart rate monitor to check I was pushing myself hard enough).

If you want to use a method of motivation, go on time, level or set up a number of intervals and see how many you are able to do (intervals being a sudden exertion of energy, eg going from level 5 to level 15 for 20 seconds then back to level 5, that boost would be an interval).

Glad you are noticing a positive difference- in terms of weight loss, you will see a far greater difference in what you eat rather than what you do but exercise is also vital in helping things like appetite control and overall calorie requirements to stay alive as it (exercise) has effects elsewhere in your life which will help you.

trinidadone

I got introduce to a few more weight machines today, so i now have six machines under my belt. i think i have now mastered the CV machines quite well from rowing to the cross trainer, but i am rubbish at the weights at the moment. I am hoping to mix up weights and CV machines, and maybe also alternate one day a soliud weight only machine session, and one day a cv only session, what ever i fancy. I think the best think thing is keep is attractive, different and exiting each time.

My weight seems to of stopped somewhat, but the trainer said i should look at the measurement around my waist, rather than weight, as increase muscle can be shown on the scales.

I have very recently started bringing the usual head phones and music, which is very inspirational.

in a weeks time i met with a trainer to see if i can fly the nest on my own, by graduating from the programme, and "doing it alone".

my arms are killing at the mimment

Sharon87

I always listen to music at the gym, either that or watch a programme on Netflix that I've seen before. It makes the time go faster, but because I've seen it before I don't slack, I still push hard, but I find I can go longer because my brain isn't watching the clock all the time. It only looks at it to see when the intervals change (I do one fast minute, then one slow minute)

Good to hear it's getting easier. Just keep pushing beyond that. A year ago if my trainer asked me to use 2x 8kg kettlebells I wouldn't have been able to hold them that long, or even use one 8kg for kettle bell swings, I wouldn't have been able to do it. Now 8kg for me seems to be a lot lighter, I just wish my gym had 10kg ones, I'm not sure how I'd handle the 12kg ones!

UKTigerlily

I'm finding it only gets easier if you don't keep pushing to do more! My bench press started at just 10kg (mostly because it was one thing I was worried about doing so he wanted a weight I knew I could do, but it was still wobbly), now it's 27.5 and aiming for 50kg eventually. Today i'm sore as hell and this is almost 6 months in lol, worth every ache and pain though x

cazs

Do not worry. It is not unusual for it to feel achy the day after using new muscles. Your body will soon get used to it.
Start low with the weights. You will quickly work out the right level for you.

trinidadone

I did ten minutes on the glider, ten minutes on the bike, ten min on the treadmill yesterday.

I then did 20 minutes on three three weight machines, and ended with another ten minutes on the bike.

I seem to glide through the CV machines with ease, but the weight machines, I seem to struggle with. I use the weight machines, get pain the following day, dont use them for a week or two, and then do the cycle again. I assuming what people have typed, is to stick with it, and keep using the machines, as i am using different muscles.

i weight myself daily, dont seem to see much change, even though i have gone every day last week. staff work have notice a change in my face, and my waist line (i cant see it), and this keeps me going.