JOINING THE GYM

The gym. A scary prospect for those of you who have never been to a gym I bet, that included me before I joined just over a week ago. I've been wanting to join the gym for a few years now but I never really had the motivation to go, mainly because I was scared of going as I haven't had many sporty friends who actively go to the gym on a regular basis or are even interested in sport full stop. I am interested in a few sports myself (watching, not so much participating unfortunately). I have enjoyed watching the tennis along with the Olympics and any athletics tournaments for as long as I can remember. At school, I was an active youngster, studying GCSE PE as well as participating in competitive swimming, cross country running, biking and walking with the family at weekends and long distance running in athletics. However, since starting my A Levels and moving to a different part of the country for University, I didn't really participate in any sort of exercise for around 4 years apart from the occasional jog on the treadmill if I was ever at home (which is a very rare occurrence).

Since meeting my boyfriend around 8 months ago (which has gone stupidly fast), I've become interested in watching a few more sports, mainly because he is very interested in sport. He studied a degree to do with sport and is now studying to become a personal trainer so sport is quite a common topic of our conversation. The first sport he got me to watch that I had never watched before was American Football. The Superbowl was the first, and only at present, American Football game I have watched but I would more than happily watch it again, even though some of the rules are a little confusing. The second was UFC which I absolutely love. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a combination of boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts which is all genuine fighting. At first I was a little apprehensive but after watching quite a lot of matches, I love it! I think I like it because it's not just about the fighting content but also the tactics. It doesn't seem to be that well known in the UK yet but I'm sure it will be in the upcoming future. The third and final sport so far that my boyfriend has introduced me to watch is the basketball which he is literally obsessed with! With it being the NBA (National Basketball Association) play-off's at the minute, he thought it would be a good time to introduce me to the sport as the games should have a pretty close score. I think it may take some for me to get used to the basketball as it is a very quick sport, I don't even know where the ball is half of the time.

After watching all these sports as well as feeling lazy, inactive and unhealthy, the gym was a consideration, I knew my boyfriend had been wanting to join the gym again for a while after his old membership ran out but he just didn't have the time. To ease ourself back into exercise as it had been a few months for my boyfriend and a few years (which is shocking) for me, we had some gentle jogs around the park. After a few weeks of jogging, we decided to finally join the gym.

I've always had the same stigma for a gym as I have never actually been to one. I believed they would be full of massive, muscle-machine men looking at themselves in the mirror whilst lifting their humongous weights. I have to say there are a few men I've seen like this so far but I actually find it rather amusing. But generally, the people that are there are just people who are wanting to maintain or improve their fitness. The cardio section which I will mainly be using is mostly used by women so I can slowly ease myself into the whole gym process and become more confident. I find it so inspiring when I see 60 year old's working out. My fitness is currently very low, even just walking at a fast pace makes me slightly out of breath which of course is not a good thing at all so it is time to change.

I knew I would be fine at the cardio exercises as that is all I have ever done. So the Treadmill, the Bike, the Cross Machine and Rowing Machine were absolutely fine. I actually surprised myself at how long I could use the machines for, I am going to start to focus on interval training as this mixes it up a little and will burn the calories faster. 

The next machines I tried were the resistance machines. I tried quite a lot but I literally didn't have a clue how to use them. There are of course instructions on the machines and staff to ask but luckily for me, I have my personal-training boyfriend who showed me how to use them all properly. Not only is it beneficial for me but it is beneficial for him too as he can practice explaining how the machines work for me as that is what his job when he is qualified will include. The resistance machine I enjoyed the most was the Leg Press although it did cause me the most pain the next couple of days afterwards. Going down the stairs or any steps was the most painful, even walking made me grimace, however, I see the aching as a good thing, as a sign I have actually been active and have worked my muscles. I could only lift 39kg which I suppose isn't too bad considering I have only ever done cardio, however, compared to my boyfriend it seems tiny, He could lift 140kg much to my surprise. 

The machines I struggle with the most is anything to do with the chest and arms as I have no upper body strength at all. The Chest Press was quite a struggle I found. When I tried to use the free weights, performing the Deadlift as well as the Clean and Press, I could only lift 10kg which I found humiliating. However, when you think about it, everyone has to start somewhere, even the bodybuilders will have had to start somewhere so I shouldn't and no longer feel ashamed. 

Although I only joined just over a week ago and of course can't see any results, I am more determined than ever to get the body I have always wanted, along with a mix of clean eating which I am really enjoying. Apparently after one month, I will begin to notice my body changing. 

There is no reason why you can't join the gym so if you're sat there thinking about joining, then do it! Find a friend or two and convince them to join with you. I have already convinced my housemate and she will be joining in the next couple of days. I find it such a bonding experience with my boyfriend too. No one judges you and no one even looks at you because they are too busy doing their own thing which is a bonus! I'm sure there will be the odd starer or creepy person at some point but I am yet to encounter this! If you're worried about time, many gyms are open 24/7. You only need an hour or two a day 4 or 5 times a week so time is no excuse! So join today and get the body you've always wanted!

Are you put off from the stigma that gyms have? Would you consider joining the gym after reading my post?