Classes vs. solo workouts
Anyone else prefer classes to solo workouts? I discovered this soon after joining a gym (for the first time in my life) at almost 55 last year. I've been a member for 3 months, and a couple of times I couldn't get into a class because it was full, so I tried the elliptical trainer and absolutely HATED it. I seem to feed off the energy of the other people and feel more accountable in a group setting (though sometimes the instructors are TOO perky, which annoys me). When exercising alone it's all too easy for this inner dialogue to take place:
Me: Do I really have to do this? Me: No, you don't. Me: Oh, thanks for telling me. Guess I'll stop now. So, I don't think I'll be buying any exercise videos soon. I know other people who hate classes and much prefer going solo. It always interests me to learn how different everyone is. Feel free to comment on your own experience. Freelance |
I have Social Anxiety so classes scare the crud out of me. x.x
The closest I get to working out with others is seeing my personal trainer. :D |
One thing I've always loved about classes is that they're harder to procrastinate about. If i just have plans to exercise, I can put them off until they don't happen at all. If I have a class, it's like having an appointment (and, I may have paid extra for it) so I'm more likely to be there on time every time.
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Honestly I love exercise classes because I find that I push myself harder. It's only been recently that I've been willing to challenge myself solo. Without the motivation of the scale, I've needed to work towards fitness goals.
I also find that in my group fitness classes that you build up a family and a support network. If you're not there they will notice! I remember during Christmas break when I was off and I went in the mornings instead of the evenings...when I returned the following week the evening crew was asking me where I was! Haha! They said stuff like "what you think you're skinny now so you can stop coming?" :lol: They forget that I'm a teacher sometimes...so whenever the schools are closed I will go to the gym in the mornings instead. Some people CAN do it alone, but I think for a lot of us it is just so much easier if we have people we can be accountable with and can push us further than we thought we could go. |
I dislike classes because I don't like people seeing me workout. I know that people aren't really watching me, but I like my privacy. Now if only there was a way to set up the tv so that at 7:00 AM it auto turned on and loads up an exercise video. That would be like having a set time for a class!
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It IS possible, tbh. |
I love classes and I have a lot of anxiety issues too! I have found my morning group to be quite regular and over time we've built relationships and like Sontaikle says, they will ask where you've been. :lol:
I'm good with solo exercise too. I'm a numbers girl so I'm equally motivated to watch myself go further/faster or lift stronger. No outside motivation needed. But I just get more enjoyment out of the classes and look forward to them. Plus, it feels like there's no thinking required. |
I cannot do machines, period. I cannot just stretch on my own or lift on my own. Period. I have absolutely no inner voice that says to just DO IT. I need that class environment to want to do it. Plus, I would hate the monotony of a machine. I need variety of movements - constantly. So, classes it is.
Now, with my last weight loss venture over a decade ago, I did it with workout videos, but I felt I was a member of the class. I was "among" them. But now that I've been to live classes, I haven't been able to force myself to do a single video. Though I think I would if my only other alternative was machines or the treadmill or the like. |
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I wish I had a friend so we could do workouts together. That's what makes me give it my all and keep going. |
I wish I could join a gym or hire a trainer but that's just not in the budget right now. So I workout at home, totally solo. I do have a program that I'm following so that provides the guidance. The closest thing I have to a workout buddy is occasionally my older son who is 10 will join me for a sprinting session at the local high school track which is always fun. Other than that, it's just me.
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I've started taking some classes and I'm surprised that I like it - it gives me a structure of the exercises to do, I get a teacher to correct me, and everyone is really into their own work-out, so I'm not self-conscious about what I'm doing. And once the time is up, I'm done.
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Count me in as a person who loves classes. I try to go to 2-3 a week. I work out on my own otherwise, but if I could, I would go to a class 6 days a week.
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