what should I expect going to a gym for the first time ever?

[nageov3t]

ever since I changed jobs (went from working in a data center, running around a giant faciity lugging equipment all day, to working in a more technical position where I spent 8 hours/day staring at my monitor), my weight loss has slowed down... and try as I might, I just can't get into the habit of biking to work (seems like no matter what I do, I'm always rushing around running late in the morning and just never have the time).

so I think I need to find a gym... I've never been to one, though, and the whole idea just intimidates the hell out of me for some reason :laugh:

 

[Megatomic]

Who needs a gym to lose weight? I lost over 100 lbs. and completely transformed my body without ever stepping foot into a gym. Buy some dumbbells and some running shoes and you are good to go. There are excellent dumbbell and bodyweight routines out there. You can ride your bike and run for cardio. Watch your intake. That's all you need.

 

[EvilYoda]

PAIN

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
Who needs a gym to lose weight? I lost over 100 lbs. and completely transformed my body without ever stepping foot into a gym. Buy some dumbbells and some running shoes and you are good to go. There are excellent dumbbell and bodyweight routines out there. You can ride your bike and run for cardio. Watch your intake. That's all you need.

I'm down like 200ish from my highest weight, but it's been slowing down as I get into the last 50 or so pounds I need to lose, especially since I just moved into a significantly more sedentary job.

I've got a bike, but I'm thinking about selling it (or just driving a couple miles out and dumping it on the side of a deserted road if I can't find a buyer). it's just too easy to talk myself out of riding it (ie: too hot, too cold, too humid, etc, etc). can't have free weights or exercise equipment in my apartment; lease specifically mentions them.

 

[Megatomic]

Well, I guess you have two issues then:

1. you need to come up with some motivation

2. you will have to work out in a meatmarket, I mean gym.

Good luck.

 

[silverpig]

Gyms can be alright, but I find mostly you have to pick a good time to go. If you go when everyone else goes, then you end up spending a lot of time there waiting for equipment to come free. Also, they often put maximum times you can be on the equipment so other people can get on. Once I started running longer than 30 minutes the treadmills became rather useless.

Pros:
-Tons of equipment
-If you're there and not socializing, you're working out
-Usually have good information there
-Warm, dry, it never rains
-Bathroom is only steps away

Cons:
-Gotta get there and back (as opposed to just running from your house)
-Can be busy/restrictive
-You can always stop. Hitting stop on the treadmill is easy. If you're a few miles from home on a run, you still gotta get back.
-Can be loud/annoying
-Not as nice as outdoors on a sunny day


I'm sure others will add to this. My recommendation: Find a gym that has drop ins where you don't have to pay a monthly membership and go for a week or two and see if it works for you.

 

[Bucks]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: Megatomic
Who needs a gym to lose weight? I lost over 100 lbs. and completely transformed my body without ever stepping foot into a gym. Buy some dumbbells and some running shoes and you are good to go. There are excellent dumbbell and bodyweight routines out there. You can ride your bike and run for cardio. Watch your intake. That's all you need.

I'm down like 200ish from my highest weight, but it's been slowing down as I get into the last 50 or so pounds I need to lose, especially since I just moved into a significantly more sedentary job.

I've got a bike, but I'm thinking about selling it (or just driving a couple miles out and dumping it on the side of a deserted road if I can't find a buyer). it's just too easy to talk myself out of riding it (ie: too hot, too cold, too humid, etc, etc). can't have free weights or exercise equipment in my apartment; lease specifically mentions them.

Sounds like the first thing you need to do is commit yourself to wanting to lose this weight. The big thing that helped me WAS joining the gym. It cost me $50 a month and as a college student that is a big expense. I didn't want that to go to waste. Besides that, I had already set myself the goal to surprise everyone at the end of the summer back at school by bulking up.

 

[state 08]

If you're still commited in about 6 months, it's gonna get crazy busy at the gym for about a month due to everyone making new years resolutions to lose weight/get fit/stc. Then it should be back to normal... it's just a lil annoying.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: silverpig
Gyms can be alright, but I find mostly you have to pick a good time to go. If you go when everyone else goes, then you end up spending a lot of time there waiting for equipment to come free. Also, they often put maximum times you can be on the equipment so other people can get on. Once I started running longer than 30 minutes the treadmills became rather useless.

Pros:
-Tons of equipment
-If you're there and not socializing, you're working out
-Usually have good information there
-Warm, dry, it never rains
-Bathroom is only steps away

Cons:
-Gotta get there and back (as opposed to just running from your house)
-Can be busy/restrictive
-You can always stop. Hitting stop on the treadmill is easy. If you're a few miles from home on a run, you still gotta get back.
-Can be loud/annoying
-Not as nice as outdoors on a sunny day


I'm sure others will add to this. My recommendation: Find a gym that has drop ins where you don't have to pay a monthly membership and go for a week or two and see if it works for you.

I think the bolded one should actually be a pro of going to the gym.

 

[nervegrind3r]

hot girls to motivate you!

OR

possibly distract you and ruin your workout

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: silverpig
Gyms can be alright, but I find mostly you have to pick a good time to go. If you go when everyone else goes, then you end up spending a lot of time there waiting for equipment to come free. Also, they often put maximum times you can be on the equipment so other people can get on. Once I started running longer than 30 minutes the treadmills became rather useless.

Pros:
-Tons of equipment
-If you're there and not socializing, you're working out
-Usually have good information there
-Warm, dry, it never rains
-Bathroom is only steps away

Cons:
-Gotta get there and back (as opposed to just running from your house)
-Can be busy/restrictive
-You can always stop. Hitting stop on the treadmill is easy. If you're a few miles from home on a run, you still gotta get back.
-Can be loud/annoying
-Not as nice as outdoors on a sunny day


I'm sure others will add to this. My recommendation: Find a gym that has drop ins where you don't have to pay a monthly membership and go for a week or two and see if it works for you.

I think the bolded one should actually be a pro of going to the gym.

Nah, silverpig is right, it's a con. Makes it easy to quit running.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: silverpig
Gyms can be alright, but I find mostly you have to pick a good time to go. If you go when everyone else goes, then you end up spending a lot of time there waiting for equipment to come free. Also, they often put maximum times you can be on the equipment so other people can get on. Once I started running longer than 30 minutes the treadmills became rather useless.

Pros:
-Tons of equipment
-If you're there and not socializing, you're working out
-Usually have good information there
-Warm, dry, it never rains
-Bathroom is only steps away

Cons:
-Gotta get there and back (as opposed to just running from your house)
-Can be busy/restrictive
-You can always stop. Hitting stop on the treadmill is easy. If you're a few miles from home on a run, you still gotta get back.
-Can be loud/annoying
-Not as nice as outdoors on a sunny day


I'm sure others will add to this. My recommendation: Find a gym that has drop ins where you don't have to pay a monthly membership and go for a week or two and see if it works for you.

I think the bolded one should actually be a pro of going to the gym.

Nah, silverpig is right, it's a con. Makes it easy to quit running.

Except for when you gotta go to the crapper. I HATE the 3 mile butt-pinch run home.

 

[bommy261]

\

Except for when you gotta go to the crapper. I HATE the 3 mile butt-pinch run home.

lol

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: silverpig
Gyms can be alright, but I find mostly you have to pick a good time to go. If you go when everyone else goes, then you end up spending a lot of time there waiting for equipment to come free. Also, they often put maximum times you can be on the equipment so other people can get on. Once I started running longer than 30 minutes the treadmills became rather useless.

Pros:
-Tons of equipment
-If you're there and not socializing, you're working out
-Usually have good information there
-Warm, dry, it never rains
-Bathroom is only steps away

Cons:
-Gotta get there and back (as opposed to just running from your house)
-Can be busy/restrictive
-You can always stop. Hitting stop on the treadmill is easy. If you're a few miles from home on a run, you still gotta get back.
-Can be loud/annoying
-Not as nice as outdoors on a sunny day


I'm sure others will add to this. My recommendation: Find a gym that has drop ins where you don't have to pay a monthly membership and go for a week or two and see if it works for you.

I think the bolded one should actually be a pro of going to the gym.

Nah, silverpig is right, it's a con. Makes it easy to quit running.

Ah, ok. I see what you mean now.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: loki8481
ever since I changed jobs (went from working in a data center, running around a giant faciity lugging equipment all day, to working in a more technical position where I spent 8 hours/day staring at my monitor), my weight loss has slowed down... and try as I might, I just can't get into the habit of biking to work (seems like no matter what I do, I'm always rushing around running late in the morning and just never have the time).

so I think I need to find a gym... I've never been to one, though, and the whole idea just intimidates the hell out of me for some reason :laugh:

pricing

you get like 2-4 free lessons.
afterwards, the trianer will try to sell you a package of more lessons.

oh, and visit at least 3 different gyms at the times you plan to go there. if it's too crowded, avoid. ask how often they replace their machines w/new ones.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: bommy261

Except for when you gotta go to the crapper. I HATE the 3 mile butt-pinch run home.

lol

Hahaha, luckily I haven't had that happen to me yet. Not even on my long runs. I make sure to poop before I go out.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
Who needs a gym to lose weight? I lost over 100 lbs. and completely transformed my body without ever stepping foot into a gym. Buy some dumbbells and some running shoes and you are good to go. There are excellent dumbbell and bodyweight routines out there. You can ride your bike and run for cardio. Watch your intake. That's all you need.

Some of the healthiest things you can do for yourself are squats, deadlifts and bench presses... while you can buy the equipment at home, it will be problematic if you live in an apartment or are otherwise cramped for space. A gym makes excellent sense for many people.

loki - the only thing that hasn't already been mentioned is the regulars there. They'll give you a hard time, anything from wannabe macho stares to verbal hostility. This will go on for a while until they realize you're serious about fitness or they lose interest. It's really not unlike a trip to the chimp enclosure at the zoo.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: CKent

Originally posted by: Megatomic
Who needs a gym to lose weight? I lost over 100 lbs. and completely transformed my body without ever stepping foot into a gym. Buy some dumbbells and some running shoes and you are good to go. There are excellent dumbbell and bodyweight routines out there. You can ride your bike and run for cardio. Watch your intake. That's all you need.

Some of the healthiest things you can do for yourself are squats, deadlifts and bench presses... while you can buy the equipment at home, it will be problematic if you live in an apartment or are otherwise cramped for space. A gym makes excellent sense for many people.

loki - the only thing that hasn't already been mentioned is the regulars there. They'll give you a hard time, anything from wannabe macho stares to verbal hostility. This will go on for a while until they realize you're serious about fitness or they lose interest. It's really not unlike a trip to the chimp enclosure at the zoo.

I don't know what kind of gyms you guys go to, but the bold statement is completely unwarranted. Sure, people may be conceited and such, but verbal hostility is just as rare in the gym as it is in the real world. Who cares about what other people are doing while you're in the gym. You're there to benefit yourself and that's all that matters. If you keep to yourself and aren't a jackass, there won't be any problems at all.

 

[Megatomic]

The gyms I went to in my youth were Navy co-ed facilities and they were meat markets. It was horrible to go there and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I've visited other gyms over the years and never witnessed any open hostility, but I did see something else quite telling: many of them have women only sections to shield them from the leering pervs.

 

[dealmaster00]

I remember the first time I went to a gym other than the intention of running, I just did random machines. When I started doing a real routine a month later it was definitely awkward since I had never so much as laid a finger on a barbell before but I became quickly familiar with the equipment.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

hot chicks at the gym are my motivation.

 

[Lamont Burns]

Originally posted by: CKent

loki - the only thing that hasn't already been mentioned is the regulars there. They'll give you a hard time, anything from wannabe macho stares to verbal hostility. This will go on for a while until they realize you're serious about fitness or they lose interest. It's really not unlike a trip to the chimp enclosure at the zoo.

I'd laugh if that had happened to me, which it did not. I walked right into the power cage and to the squat racks and didn't even get 1 odd look. Sounds like a HS gym or a gym full of morons.

Perhaps I was lucky.

 

[NGC_604]

..

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: CKent

Originally posted by: Megatomic
Who needs a gym to lose weight? I lost over 100 lbs. and completely transformed my body without ever stepping foot into a gym. Buy some dumbbells and some running shoes and you are good to go. There are excellent dumbbell and bodyweight routines out there. You can ride your bike and run for cardio. Watch your intake. That's all you need.

Some of the healthiest things you can do for yourself are squats, deadlifts and bench presses... while you can buy the equipment at home, it will be problematic if you live in an apartment or are otherwise cramped for space. A gym makes excellent sense for many people.

loki - the only thing that hasn't already been mentioned is the regulars there. They'll give you a hard time, anything from wannabe macho stares to verbal hostility. This will go on for a while until they realize you're serious about fitness or they lose interest. It's really not unlike a trip to the chimp enclosure at the zoo.

Change gyms immediately. This should not happen.

 

[Megatomic]

CKent, I do squats and lunges using dumbbells. If I really want to lift, I have a Bowflex machine in the garage that gets no action. lol