Joining a gym - or not?

TiredTrophy

Skipping will be painful with achilles problems! Football with dodgy knee?

I would spend my money on getting fixed first! Sports physio via the leisure centre? Someone involved with the football club your child is with?

DD265

TiredTrophy wrote: »

Skipping will be painful with achilles problems! Football with dodgy knee?

I would spend my money on getting fixed first! Sports physio via the leisure centre? Someone involved with the football club your child is with?

That is a very valid point plus the physio would be able to recommend the kind of exercise you should be looking at

Delia_Cardei

I guess now u just can not make up your minds to go to a gym and afraid to give up. If so, perhaps you'd better go and keep doing exercise.

YORKSHIRELASS

DD265 wrote: »

That is a very valid point plus the physio would be able to recommend the kind of exercise you should be looking at

Thanks, I mentioned it to my GP some time ago and they more or less said it was just something I would have to live with so I have never bothered to take it further. I have always assumed that I wouldnt be able to afford a sports physio but maybe I should make enquiries. I would love to be able to run again, it would solve all my problems!

Now that I dont have to do the school run for a few weeks I am going to start cycling to work, even if I only manage it a couple of times a week.

SomethingGood

I would see if you can ask the gym for a free trial or something like that, or just pluck up the courage to be asked to be shown around.

All gyms will do an induction and some offer tailored advice (even the local authority ones) and do a one-on-one check every 6 months (for free usually) to check you're happy. This is good because it means you're not aimless - I didn't want to lose weight but wanted to be toned and to have more core strength, so they designed workouts that would do that without boring me - this was at my local authority gym and later at a Virgin Active.

This might help to keep you motivated. Also if you're not used to the gym you will find motivation in seeing your fitness improve dramatically in quite a short space of time. Also some gym equipment comes with a special key fob that tracks your progress - they had this in my local authority gym (plus freeview TV in each machine!).

Just try something, speak to someone, see what you think. Good luck!

mottyt

If youve never been to a gym then the thought of it and first few times in there will feel like a horribly uncomfortable place. Many often find they go a couple of times and its so far out of their comfort zone they quit within a week and waste a lot of money.

If you have concerns about gyms and money is tight id suggest trying to get a free pass somewhere or finding a friend that can take you as a guest. If you go alone the chances are you wont make the best of it.

Gyms are great once youre used to them - you realise no one cares what youre up to and similarly you couldnt care less if anyone looks at you anyway, but it takes a couple of weeks for that to happen and usually only once youre comfortable in a routine.

Id suggest, as above, trying to go with a friend to start with or, if you can find the money and are serious, starting with a PT.

There are websites like bodybuilding.com with a tonne of info for people who arent sure of exercises and equipment etc.. you can put in your level of experience and goals and itll return the best matched routines and theyre really easy to follow. Dont ve put off by the term bodybuildung, its just a phrase not a lifestyle and whilst theyll bombard with adverts for supplements on the site, its easy to avoid them.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

dandelionclock30

Yorkshire Lass they do 1-1 swimming lessons for adults at THe EDGE near Leeds University. Its Just opposite the enterance to the Leeds General Infirmary. Here the email and the link, SwimmingLessons@leeds.ac.uk

http://sport.leeds.ac.uk/page.asp?section=552&sectionTitle=1%3A1+and+1%3A2+Sessions

G.Ps are not really interested in sports injuries unless its really causing a person extreme problems I've found. I've been to a sports physio who was brilliant and sorted the problem out. Theres no way I would have got that level of treatment on the NHS. It was £45.00 a session which lasted an hour and was money well spent.
If anyone wants his details and are around Leeds/Bradford them P.M. me.

loveka

Pure Gym has loads of classes! I go to 5 a week for my £10.99 membership- it will go up to £16.99. They are brilliant, a real revelation to me as I used only machines for 12 years!

I also do Zumba there, which you pay £2 extra for. It is utterly amazing, such good fun.

So join a gym and do classes there, it will be cheaper, plus you can try out the machines if you fancy it.

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi all

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been recommended a physio who costs £30 for an initial 45 minute session so I am going to give this a try.

I have been doing a bit of cycling alongside my classes which I enjoy but this knee problem is bothering me and I do think I need to get it sorted out. This would give me many more options.

Katgrit

Google "pay as you gym" or "payasugym" - I'm sorry I can't remember the website name but you should find it easy. Its a site that let's you buy day passes for various different gyms so you could visit a couple nearby to where you live and check them out. The gym staff will be keen so sign you up for a monthly or yearly membership so they'll be lovely and friendly and keen to show you round their gym.

My gym buff boyfriend comes to stay with me for a week every couple of months and is having a great time visiting all the local gyms one by one. Some are really basic gyms in converted churches with odd non-matching weights and only 3 treadmills for £2.50 a visit, some are posh chain ones for £6.95 where you can make a day of it and sit in the jacuzzi and they have an additional emale only gym room. Should be ideal for you to check out some places without feeling too embassed, and get a feel for places before you commit to a full month.