To Gym or Not to Gym?

Dame J · March 29, 2007

Okay so this question goes out to everyone but especially to those who have been in the weight loss game for awhile. I am wondering if it is worth it to join a gym. A gym opended up by me and it has everything pools, indoor tracks, weights plus all the great perks of hottubs steam rooms you name it. Anyway I joined a gym once before 4 years ago and I went for a few months and then stopped. I am worried I would do the same again. Friends tell me to just work out at home and walk but I really feel like I have to do more than that.

What is everyones thoughts? Do you go to a gym? How often? What do you do there? Do you think it is worth it? And if you go to a gym did you create your own program or did you have a trainer?

:help:

Paulax · March 29, 2007

I hate gym, I think gyms suck, I hate exercise, but I know it is a must if we want permanent changes in our weight.

I love Oprah, I love that she hates it too, she says she hated it, still hates it but does it because it makes her feel better afterward.

So now after YEARS of thinking of joining a gym. I joined a brand new women's only. I hired a personal trainer for 12 sessions and I am so glad I did. I still hate the gym, but, it is a necessary evil.

I can now feel the endorphins. I feel whole and strong after I go, I feel like working harder on what I eat and now I am actually LOOKING for ways to add extra fitness into my day, like going on bike rides with my kids etc.

So I say GO, GIRL GO!

The thing that really sent me to the gym was something Bob Greene said on Oprah one day. He said loosly quoted. "...if you are not willing to do the work, (exercise), then you are not ready to lose weight..." That shocked me into joining a gym. And my own walking in my neighbourhood was not enough to make bodily changes. I still walk around my neighbourhood, but on the days I don't go to the gym.

dumb as it is....

Go to the Exercise sections and read some threads there.

Now GO!

Doddie63 · March 29, 2007

I am not motivated to exercise and I am so thrilled to hear I am not alone. Joining a gym is good, but I would join a ladies only. I have gone to the community gym and found that co-ed made me feel uncomfortable. There was always some macho guy standing beside the equipment I was using glaring and me and jogging in place. At the moment, when I can get my self outside the house, I am going to aquasize until I loose some weight. Walking on a treadmill and the weights hurt my joints too much. Wish you motivaton and success. Doddie

Iulizbug · March 29, 2007

I used to HATE the gym but learned the only way the lbs would drop was to exercise. I noticed that my walks weren't causing the scale to drop so I started going to the Y 5-6 X a week and making myself do cardio or weights for at least 30 min. That was when I really started to loose. Some ppl are fortunate to loose with just calorie reducing and better food choices but I was not. I have been at my goal weight for over 6 mos now and I still workout 5 X a week, to maintain now....Find something that you enjoy and start slow. I started with walking fast on an incline and swimming because it was easiest on my joints. Now that I am thinner I love running but I think running can be painful when you are too heavy--it was for me. Good luck!!

~Liz~

03/10/06

241/155/160

5'8''

Gaffer · March 29, 2007

I have been a gym member since I was in University, but not always a gym user.

Right now I have been going to the gym pretty faithfully since my surgery, and I have to day that is what makes the difference for me. I have done it all to lose weight, but really my most successful attempts were combined with exercise. It is a neccesary evil for me.

I hate going to the gym, I dont like getting all sweaty, but I have to.

I also find that I cant work out as well at home. We have an eliptical trainer that was about $1000 when we bought it, but it is just not the same as the industrial stuff at a gym.

If you can, sign up for a gym that allows you to go month to month and does not make you sigh up for a contract. Also watch out for those initiation fees, they can be killer. Finally, tell them you want a week pass before you sign up so you can get the flavour of the gym. I have been a member at a few gyms that we terrible, and would not have signed up for had I know what the environment was like.

Andrew

Yoda · March 29, 2007

Whether or not to join a gym is a personal decison and will vary with everyone; the key is TO EXERCISE....regardless of whether it is at a gym or not. Some people need the gym, others don't. Some people "want" a gym atmosphere; others don't. You have to do what works for you.

Me....I do both....and like both (ie. going to the gym and doing it at home)....for me it is all about variety (so I don't get bored). The advantage of belonging to a gym is you have a lot of variety.

If you DO join a gym, I agree with Andrew....try it out first to see if you like the environment before you shell out a lot of $$. Also, if you aren't familiar with the equipment (whether it be carido or weights) and/or if you don't know how to use it....definitely get a trainer for a few sessions to help you out with that and to help you design a program.

Just keep trying till you find the correct "exercise prescription" that works for YOU!

loriely · March 29, 2007

I go to aquafit 3-4 x a week then sit in the hottub for 20 mins. I really enjoy it. I have a threadmill at home but i only use it maybe 1x every 3 weeks. I got to use it more.

Paulax · March 29, 2007

Well, I'd sure recommend Good Life Fitness Club for women's only. It is AWESOME!

argon · March 29, 2007

I've been going since I was 7 months out of surgery. I try for 3 times a week. I was good for that up until maybe 2 months ago... then I started slacking. I still go at least a couple times a week :|

I hate exercising... really. But, same here... I do feel good after. Even during. It's just getting there that's the struggle. If I had to do it at home, I probably wouldn't.

For the first couple months, I bought a punch pass which was 12 visits, which lasted me a month. The trainers there set me up with my own program, showed me how to do each exercise, and set me on my way.

I hesitated to buy a LONG membership, but I did buy a 3 month one. It's a commitment, but not AS scary as paying for a full year. If you can buy less than a years membership, or single months, or punch passes, try that first. Definitely get yourself into a habit though. Specific days and times. For me it was M,W,F, directly there right after work. If I went home after work, I know I wouldn't want to leave again!

Day One - arms and chest, Day Two - legs, and Day Three - shoulders and back... every one of those days I do abs. Uggg...abs. 99% of the time, I'll do maybe 20 minutes on the treadmill, before or after.

I definitely think you should exercise. After just a few weeks, my legs felt hard... my arms felt hard... even my stomach felt harder. That is, what was below the fat and skin felt nice! I don't think it's helped me lose any faster (although I think it has helped with the crazy inches I've lost!), but I think I am all the better off for doing it, and in the end, things will look alot better than had I continued to do nothing but walk to and from my car each day. (believe me, I still mostly do that, but at least I add the gym into there too!)

Good luck, let us know what you decide! That gym sounds great!

MCOBandita · March 29, 2007

Dame J,

I am not sure what part of the country you live in but I recommend Planet Fitness. It is $49 to sign up + $10 a month thereafter - with no contract! It is clean, with new machines, and doesn't have that meat market/show off factor that a lot of gyms have. I usually go duing the busiest time of day 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. and almost never have to wait for a machine.

You can see if they have a location in your area by going to www.planetfitness.com.

j.s. · March 29, 2007

My first year I went to curves, not the most strenuous but it did teach me to go every day and got me into the "routine" of going to work out. I also used my treadmill at home. Then I quit curves after that year was done and joined a gym (in sept). I go 5 x week. I just recently hired a personal trainer and I cant say enough good things about this guy. He has taught me so very much and I am seeing great results working with him (I only get him 1 hour a week). I definitely know for me the trainer has improved my overall effort tremendously. And because I see results.... I work harder....getting more results.... for once I am in a good circle...

Yoda · March 30, 2007

Dame J,
I am not sure what part of the country you live in but I recommend Planet Fitness. It is $49 to sign up + $10 a month thereafter - with no contract! It is clean, with new machines, and doesn't have that meat market/show off factor that a lot of gyms have. I usually go duing the busiest time of day 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. and almost never have to wait for a machine.

You can see if they have a location in your area by going to www.planetfitness.com.

Okay, do we have to wave the Canadian flag EVERY time we post on the Canuck thread???!!!!!

:tired

MCOBandita · March 30, 2007

Okay, do we have to wave the Canadian flag EVERY time we post on the Canuck thread???!!!!!
:tired

I didn't realize it was under the Canadian Support page; I saw it under the recent posts section. Excuse me for trying to be helpful! Geesh!

Jachut · March 30, 2007

I think its totally worth it.

I have a treadmill at home and mainly just run both on the treadmill and outside, I run long distances five or six times a week.

However, I'd love to do some strength work as well but I need the gym for that, I just dont have the space or equipment at home to do it as quickly and efficiently as you can with the gym. And I'd love the option to do some classes like Spin or boxing rather than always running.

But the deal was, no gym fees till we've paid off the treadmill. Which is next month, I cant wait!

Yoda · March 30, 2007

I didn't realize it was under the Canadian Support page; I saw it under the recent posts section. Excuse me for trying to be helpful! Geesh!

Hey, I'm all for being helpful but it gets tiresome real quick when people not from Canada come onto the Canadian Thread and post about things that are NOT avail in Canada (ie. types of meds, types of food, types of Protein drinks and now types of gyms etc). By all means, non-Canadian are very welcome here but just keep in mind that this IS the Canadian Thread and not everything American applies to our wonderful country. We are NOT the same. I don't know how many times I had to tell fellow Canadian bandsters to give up the search for the " whatever " because someone came on here (from the US) and told them to go buy this or that or to ensure you have this before the surgery etc.

Yeah, I know the problem with the "recent posts" but, I always check first to see what thread I'm in before I respond. Common courtesty and common sense go a long way.

I know that some of the longer Canucks that have been here will know what I'm referring to; we went through some issues before with incorrect/misleading info from our US counterparts. This is WHY we are on the Canadian thread.....so that our info is related to OUR special needs etc.

I've never once said others aren't welcome (who the hell am I to even suggest that?)...but as I said, some common courtesy goes a long way when you are on a differen't country's thread. I'm not gonna go to the Australia thread and suggest to them they do something or get something that may only be avail in Canada.

Ya....sore spot with me. :nervous