I wanna join the gym

trini_honey

I'm able to have discounted membership at my local gym, being a student. My concern is what to wear. I'm overweight and I'd feel very uncomfortable in clothes that stick to my upper body.
Could you suggest somethings to wear that wouln't be out of place?

Nile

I wear polo shirts for playing sports. I buy them from Matalan at around £4 per shirt but they're even cheaper sometimes if you buy two. I know you can buy polo shirts elsewhere but I like Matalan for their dressing rooms........and their polo shirts wash well in the machine.;)

If you are worried about the large sizes (I'm assuming you're female), bypass the women's area and go for the mens polo shirts. The women's fit can be clingy so I always buy the mens size for plenty of room.

I've noticed they're doing some girly (pink) colours in mens polo shirts so you should find a colour to suit too.

Make sure you try them on for size before you leave the store.

zacspeed_2

Don't take this the wrong way, but in my experience of using gyms, most people in there are far more concerned with what they look like than worrying about anybody else That's probably why they put so many mirrors in them!

trini_honey

Thanks, I feel a bit embarrassed to admit this.....I've never been to a gym. So that's why I asked, what to wear. Also what about the sauna? Anyways tommorow I'm going to have a closer look and tour, and decide if to join.

zacspeed_2

You won't want to wear too much in the sauna, they rua @ between 60-95c.
Swimming cossie with a towel should suffice.
Steam rooms are a far nicer experience IMHO

funky-footprints

Im guessing you are a girlie ? Id go for a big baggy t-shirt and either a pair of leggins or some some shorts, depending on how hot you get. why not look at a womens only gym ? ? is that possible ? anyways its the taking part that matters.

I honestly wouldnt worry, nothing can be as embarressing as my attempt at working out with the welsh rugby team working out being me, I wanted a bag to put over my reddy sweaty face !!! I failed miserably at getting one contraption to even work, and had to pretend it was broken and move over to something far easier, for one of them to jump on after me, move it from level 1 (easy peasy) to level 100 (mega hard)
my lesson 1 ... dont go to gym during 6 nations !!!!
enjoy it .. good luck !!

trini_honey

By the way I'm a girl.....woman...female....however u like to look at it. Thanks to all of you for you replies. I'm gonna have a look around the gym and decide if i like it, or if i'm brave enough to do it.

Savvy_Sue

I agree, big and baggy in the gym is fine, as little as possible in the sauna. If you haven't used a sauna before, do read the instructions and follow them! It isn't an endurance test: start off low down and only move up a shelf if you feel comfortable. If someone puts water on and makes it too hot, move down or move out. Don't be afraid of the cold shower: if you don't cool down enough between your hot sessions, you will start to feel woozy!

The shelves in the sauna get jolly hot, so a towel to sit on is a good plan. Also any bracelets or necklaces you wear may get very hot and burn you.

trace-j

zacspeed wrote:

Don't take this the wrong way, but in my experience of using gyms, most people in there are far more concerned with what they look like than worrying about anybody else That's probably why they put so many mirrors in them!

lol, that's true there are so many posers absorbed in themselves to notice anybody else. It may seem scarey at first, but as a former gym virgin 2yrs ago, I'll say it will get easier.

I started out in tracksuit bottoms and t-shirts as I tried different things I found leggings/shorts were better in aerobic type classes as I had more movement. Also try and get cotton clothes, will help you keep cool as opposed to synthetic garments.

I started exercising by going to loads of different group classes, it certainly gave me the confidence boost to stick with it and most of I enjoy it. I also made loads of friends and we have a laugh. Don't be afraid to ask for help, you'll be paying your fees, make them earn it.

If you can afford it have a one off session with a personal trainer, they'll do a fitness assessment, give you some exercises to do to set you on the right track to help you achieve your targets and show you what the equipment does. The gym inductions always go in one ear and out of the other.

Good luck and most importantly enjoy it. As soon as it becomes a chore theres no point in going, I just go to forget about yet another crap day at work:rotfl:

trini_honey

Well I did it, I went and joined, I even had my induction today. I wore a polo tshirt and a track suit bottom. I was comfy, you all were right other people were doing their own thing to be bothered looking at me. It wasn't bad. The young gym instructor was F.I.T in every sense of the word.

Jay-Jay_4

Yay for you :j

I was gonna post to say that maternity vest tops are great for the gym. I didn't realise that mine was maternity, just thought it was flattering and unclingy .


I'm not really overweight but I find that the branded gym stuff it REALLY tight. :eek: I have a Nike top in Large which rides up so much it ends up just under my boobs after 5 minutes on the treadmill Gawd only knows who designs these things :rolleyes: ........ probably a man!