Joining a gym - or not?

skateykatey

A lot of gyms and leisure centres offer classes as part of their packages. I use my local leisure centre gym and can also take advantage of all the classes as it's included in monthly membership of about £20.

For me, I just use the gym treadmill and weights. Work demands make it difficult for me to get to a particular class at a particular time; with the gym I can just go when I want.

I wouldn't go as far as saying that I love going but when I'm there it's bearable and when I'm done I'm always glad I went. I've noticed a massive difference in my fitness and strength already after only about a month of going. Still haven't come particularly close to losing that extra stone I'm carrying around though!

YORKSHIRELASS

skateykatey wrote: »

A lot of gyms and leisure centres offer classes as part of their packages. I use my local leisure centre gym and can also take advantage of all the classes as it's included in monthly membership of about £20.

Thats interesting, considering that I am paying £8 a week now for classes. Have had a look at the leisure centre timetable and there are no classes that fit around my sons football sessions but if I was there anyway maybe I would use the gym. I am going in to talk to them anyway.

And there is a ladies football team, they keep asking me to join! I am sure you are right about some sort of imbalance causing my knee/achilles problem but I am not convinced that anything can be done about it and I cant really afford private treatment.

silverwhistle

I paid 50 euros to see a very good physio who gave me a simple exercise to balance me out, which worked. Haven't had achilles problems since but knee is playing up so shall have a session with a sports physio in my English village to see if there is a fundamental problem (apart from age!). In the long run it might be worth it, like the 1-2-1 swimming lessons. :-)

Ilona

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

My son is starting pre-season footie training soon at our local leisure centre and I have to hang about and wait for him as its not worth going home and coming back. I might go into the centre and talk to them to see what's on offer.

Don't bother going into the centre. You don't have to hang around waiting. What about spending the time walking around the outside. Is it in a park? Can you walk around the building? Or can you walk around the pitch that your son is training on if it is outdoors? Give yourself a target, so many circuits, aim to walk faster each week and increase the distance covered. There are so many free ways to exercise.
Ilona

Rummer

Our local authority/council gym scheme is really good value and for around £30/month you can access all the classes, pools and gyms that they own plus membership to a number of running clubs etc.

Not only is this great value but as you pay on a month to month basis it means that you can choose to only go over the winter months when it is too unpleasant to exercise outside.

marmiterulesok

Ilona wrote: »

Don't bother going into the centre. You don't have to hang around waiting. What about spending the time walking around the outside. Is it in a park? Can you walk around the building? Or can you walk around the pitch that your son is training on if it is outdoors? Give yourself a target, so many circuits, aim to walk faster each week and increase the distance covered. There are so many free ways to exercise.
Ilona

Good point.People forget what a great exercise walking is.Also walking up stairs instead of taking the lift.
You could do stretches whilst waiting for your son.
Skipping is a great exercise too,and costs very little.

kerri_gt

Have you considered yoga if you're looking for muscle tone? I exercise quite a bit but its all class based, I've never had a gym membership as I can't rely on motivating myself to go (as it's always there i can see 'tomorrow syndrome' setting in - as in 'I'll go tomorrow) By paying for classes I have already given the £ and am expected to be in attendance or give a reason if I won't be. I don't do yoga myself but a few moves are incorporated into the warm up / cool down of another class I do. Given I exercise 4-5 times a week I still find some of the moves really tough.

YORKSHIRELASS

Thanks all. I have been walking while son is at footie and really enjoying it but I just feel like I need to be doing more. I did call into the leisure centre but the two assistants behind the counter looked about 15 and I lost my nerve to ask them about the gym! Worried I will look like a complete idiot because I wont know what to do.

I did pick up a leaflet on their classes though, although not much fits with what I am already doing.

1886travel

I would suggest you should go to the gym as I've just been to the gym since last month... I had tried some workout videos at home before but apparently gym is better .

ibizafan_2

I joined a gym around two years ago, but only go to the classes. So, it's Zumba three times a week and maybe Legs, Bums and Tums if I fancy something else. It costs £25 per month, and you could spend all day doing something if you wanted, so I think it's good value. There's
also a pool. I find the actual gym quite boring, but love the camaraderie of the classes, and it's certainly improved my fitness levels.