To Gym or not to Gym

[Clingy]

Sadly no low cost Gyms around here and the only village centre with equipment does not do mornings. The local sports centre does a one month trial contract for £40. I can try everything including machines, weights, sauna, swimming, spinning classes and some new fangled vibrating thing, so will give it a go if only for the experience. Off road cycling might be OK around here, but I guess I'd need a half decent bike. Cycling on the roads (or lanes) around here is not to be advised....lights or no lights it's dangerous. Wife is not keen having equipment at home . Swimming is not the type of training I'd like to do....I am more in favour of short bursts of high activity. Running is not a favourite either....never liked it, and it's high impact. I'll let you know my Gym experience.

[b0redom]

Wife is not keen having equipment at home . ....I am more in favour of short bursts of high activity.

Sounds like you have the potential for an ideal workout at home then.

[peterb]

Sounds like you have the potential for an ideal workout at home then.

I think he means more than 30 seconds

[j.o.s.h.1408]

I pay 45 a month for my gym that's 2mins away from home. Been going for like 7months now. Beats sitting at home playing video game for hours

[kalniel]

I pay 45 a month for my gym that's 2mins away from home. Been going for like 7months now. Beats sitting at home playing video game for hours

Get outta here

[j.o.s.h.1408]

I still play some games but late from 10 to 12

[Clingy]

I think he means more than 30 seconds

Who's been talking?

Have had four sessions now including one "induction" session. Have another induction session booked for Sunday to go over weights. Then I'll book an induction for the "Power Plate" which sounds both interesting and frightening at the same time . Much to my surprise I am enjoying it at the moment, although the early morning session today was rather difficult. Perhaps the novelty of it all is keeping me interested. And what a wonderful place to "people watch"....lol. I am rather taken aback at how many overweight and old folk go to the Gym. Not that many youngsters like me .

[InTheBlack]

It is about getting into the routine

[xodianbarr]

A gym has a lot more benefits going for it than just access to facilities. If you're serious about getting fit it will offer support on how best to achieve your aims, advice on nutrition, access to facilities, professionals on hand to offer assistance, trustworthy equipment & safe environment, and most importantly - motivation! Of course their are the cons too! Being self conscious may put you off attending, the cost may outweigh the benefits, and you may well be motivated more than enough without a boost from the gym.

Of course you dont 'need' to attend the gym to get fit. It all comes down to dedicating your time to the proper pursuits, educating yourself on how best to train, balance your diet, and rest. But perhaps more important its about establishing a good routine and sticking to it. A gym just offers a good base for support truth be told. The rest is up to you!

[Raz316]

Cling0r: Offer to work in the mail order warehouse once a week, shut the air con off in the server room and have yourself a lil sauna in there (put DND sign on door!) oh and suggest to everyone that you all walk to the other pub on Friday

Edit: Ahh see it's been a month since you posted, still keeping with it? How's it been?

[sabre74]

My gym gets a lot of girls in rom the local college. I find that strangely motivating :-p

[Spud1]

How did you get on in the end OP?

I had a similar quandary recently..I clearly needed to lose a little weight and get back in to shape - in my case it was snowboarding rather than skiing that showed it up, but very similar!

I'm in Manchester where there are hundreds of options for a Gym, but I really didn't want to have that £20-£60 (depending on if you just join a gym or join a "heath club") dripping out of my wallet each month when odds are by june i'll have suddenly got no time to go etc etc.

The answer for me was home exercise combined with a video "game". EA Sports Active 2.

You can get it new from amazon for £12-£20 now (marketplace sellers), and it includes the "game", a heart monitor, resistance band and motion sensors (resistance band can be replaced with weights for strength training). The idea is that the "game" is a personal trainer, who sets up a training plan for you based on what you want to do (strength training, general fitness, cardio, weight loss or a mixture) and keeps you motivated.

The key difference to this and most fitness games out there is that by using the motion and heart sensors it knows what you are doing and how well you are coping, adjusting the fitness regime to match. So if you are constantly struggling and your heart is going crazy, it will calm things down a bit to let you recover.

Most of the exercises are your basic stretches, running (on the spot), jumps, general aerobics type, but manipulated to make them more fun. For example there is one exercise which is based on basketball, where you have to lunge to catch a ball and then jump and throw your arms forward at the right time to throw the ball in the net. Simple but effective.

I've been doing it for 6 weeks now and it's keeping me going and I already feel the benefits - it's really spooky just how accurate it gets when it predicts your workout..it predicts when you will start to "feel the burn" and a rough idea of what your heart rate should be during the session - 9/10 it gets it right.

This is not "Wii Fit" or another gimmick - it's a proper fitness/workout system which is generally highly regarded by those that own it, it just didn't sell well due to it's £80 original price (a lot for something most people will still see as a game).

Best £12 I have spent this year imo!

[kopite]

Now its getting lighter start running

I was going the gym a few times a week and would go out running once a week. now I go out running 3 -4 times a week and dont bother with the gym at all,.

I`m fitter than ever and have even done a few half and full marathons

[phil4]

The gym has lots of things going for it not least:
i) Multitude of equipment so you can find things that work for you, or vary your routine to improve in a rounded fashion.
ii) Advise on hand from instructors/clasess to ensure you're doing things right
iii) A monthly fee that could be seen to encourage your return monthly.
iv) In some regards a lack of distraction.

That said I did a while back, and within a 3 months had stopped.

Now I do exercise at home, with a treadmill and see some of the upsides as follows:
i) Can fit some exercise in more easily, and thus can exerceise more frequently.
ii) Can do what I want without interference
iii) No monthly fee

That said, it does take up room, I've not got he variety of equipment and I've no instructor.

It's worked quite well for me to date, but that's not to say I won't slide back down the hill again, though I'll try not to.

I've been using a "heart zone" approach, such that I limit my exertion to a certain amount of time in each zone, the zone being dictated by heart rate. For example 15minutes per week in 110-130 bpm. I'm finding this improves my real world running quite well, without me feeling like I've thrown everything at eash session.

My biggest problem with the treadmill vs real running, is the boredom.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

going to gym or not has its benefits just as doing it at home.

i would only do it at home if i could not go to the gym due to other commitments. at least when its at home i can gym any time when i have free time. the gym i go to is not open 24/7 and i wil be hell bent if im gunna spend extra £20 for a 24/7 gym or travel a few miles down the road for one. no way

[ConnorLowe]

I find it bizarre how much some gym's charge these days! I pay £16 per month on a 12 month contract (unable to cancel). Unfortunately I haven't had much time after work to go as I play football twice a week and do other things in my spare time.

The best things to do in my opinion to keep fit and healthy, without aiming to build muscle mass would be:

- Drink plenty of water, around 3 liters a day.
- Eat healthy, i.e. cut the crap.
- Go for a jog/walk every other day.
- Swimming, great cardio and overall workout.
- Cycling, good workout and good for cardio too.