I recently joined, and I'm still in that phase where I can cancel, otherwise I'm locked into a 12 month contract.
I have stuff at home, a recummbant bike, weights, weight bench, leg press, and Wii Fit. But they are dusty.
Should I give my home gym stuff a try - or stick with this gym?
The problem at the gym is that I feel very lost and out of place.

I know what you mean. It can be really intimidating... When I first signed up, I took advantage of the special offer for some personal training, because I was pretty clueless about weights and stuff. It was a huge help, I learned a lot, and it was nice to know that someone would say hi to me when I ventured in. But I couldn't keep it up, too much $$$!! At least it made the gym less of a foreign country for me!

Do they offer classes for aerobics and all that? I find the classes far more motivating then going in and working out by myself. I did yoga for a while and after a few months some of the women were fairly friendly. I'm doing a toning/free weights class right now, the teacher is a sweetheart and I had her all to myself for a few sessions before Christmas, which was great! Since New Years the class is full and they are all snotty, unfriendly women, but the teacher is still good so I will soldier on. Need to get back to t he yoga class too and see if some of the nice peeps are still around

If you have a friend who you could go to the gym with, that could help too and make it a bit less scary. That never worked out for me, but I am really pushing myself to go even when it feels unfriendly. A few of the clients are o.k. and the staff are all friendly, which is a definite improvement on the Curves I used to go to, where the other clients were all unfriendly and the staff were downright mean!! (Hasten to add that NOT all Curves are like that - before I moved house I went to a really good one, but after I moved, the local club was awful, but I think it was just that one location). I'm really working on getting over my self-consciousness about being there on my own and working out in front of strangers. It seems that most people there don;t really care about watching others; if they are there with friends they have their own socializing going on and if they are there solo they are focusing on how they are doing.

Hope these thoughts help. Good luck!

Sure, I felt hopelessly lost when I first started. It may as well have been a nuclear power plant or cockpit of a jet plane - complicated, I didn't understand! Stick with it, sticking with it is how we lose weight after all, eh?

Perhaps see if the gym offers an orientation or spend the money for a trainer to show you about.

You're the new kid in school right now is all - give it a week and you'll be giving the freshmen twirlies.

Definitely see about having an orientation with a trainer. They can make you feel right at home

Also, can you bargain with your gym about the 12 month contract? I've always been month-to-month with every membership I've had. In 3 months you could decide that you enjoy your home gym much better, you know?

But I discovered that the more I went and the more I was just there, the more comfortable I became. You'll be there in no time

You should have gotten some training sessions where someone at least shows you how to use the equipment and given you an outline of what sequence to follow when you go to work out. Ask at the desk about this. Do it right away, because the clock is ticking! If you're going to stay a member, you need to know what to do while you're there.

Jay

Thanks for the replies. I do not have any family in town, much less in the same state. I do know one girl who goes, she lost 70 pounds in 14 months and looks awesome. I didn't believe her until I saw her before pictures. So I know she will help me out, yet at the same time I don't want to hold up her own workout.
Good point about people not paying attention. I just cant help but to feel awkward.
I did use the free personal training session one day. I was incredibly sore, but the guy did not write stuff down, I might remember some things, but not all. And it was only for legs and stomach.
The squat machine was cool - but it's near where the guys work out, which is what gets me more paranoid.
The last 6 years (how long I've been over weight), I can find one excuse after another to give up. Right now I have 3 mornings a week to myself for 2 hours, and I thought I should use the gym.
I just worry about the $39 a month fee. I know in the summer it will be harder to go with kids out of school, but I also wonder, how much could I gain by going from now thru early June. Could I lose 40 pounds? If so, then the $30 a month is worth it, right?
I'm just trying to tell myself - don't lock into that contract.
Why?
Because like FB just said, it's like - "It may as well have been a nuclear power plant or cockpit of a jet plane"

It's only worth it if you're going to use it, make the most of it.

From my experience, your friend who lost weight or the scary guys at the gym - everyone would probably be flattered to help. Who doesn't like to consider themselves an expert?

The scary guys at the gym? Pshaw! Forget them - they're certainly not worried about you, the person next to them or each other - they're there to do it - same as you.

You need to use it, obviously, in order for it to work, to see results. The same with your equipment at home. What's stopping you? Don't be scared of other people at the gym. Everyone there was new at one point. Everyone.

This summer the kids can go into the childcare your gym provides (if it doesn't provide it find another gym).

With all good thoughts sent your way - lock into a contract with yourself. That's what this is about? Committing to you? Don't stop yourself before you've started!

Cool on you and congrats for using the trainer! That's an awesome step. Yay!

It's worth it if you make good use of it. I know a lot of people who cancel their memberships during the summer months because they just never go. They know this and plan for it. But they are also active people anyway and just spend more time outside.

I have actually gained weight since August, but I have made pretty good use of my membership and have no plans of giving it up. It's simply a resource in maintaining my health overall.

I would say to not use weight as a reason to keep or lose your membership between now and June, but the frequency in which you use it. Let's say you make this goal of losing 40 pounds by June, but you only lose 25 or 30 (still, awesome numbers)- yet you have been using your membership regularly. Would you consider that not successful and cancel your membership?

Great advice so far! Everyone was new at one point.

Remember, you are PAYING for this service so don't be shy. When you work with a trainer, take notes. Ask a million questions (my trainer is used to me asking questions about V02 max and lactic acid threshold, etc.) Ask your trainer to write down a workout for you. Check out the book New Rules of Weightlifting for Women. It is full of tips and has a weightlifting program laid out for you.

This is a new skill! You aren't expected to be an expert. Weightlifters are excited about weightlifting and I bet that most of the folks in there are happy that YOU are in there too!

Oh, it's much much easier to figure out than a nuclear power plant or a jet plane, swear it. There are more people in the world who workout than nuclear physicists or pilots. Once you get the gist of it, which happens quickly, everything clicks in your mind - you'll understand the logistics of working out better.

A trainer for more sessions might really be a good investment for yourself. Don't let them force you into a package, buy one session at a time until you feel ready to spread your own wings. I always liked to see my trainer and then workout a few times on my own applying what she taught me to the workout before seeing her again.

I got a trainer for some time- and she really helped me know how to use EVERY device in the gym- and I love it! Now when I go in I walk over to the machines, do my thing- then go hit the elliptical or something.

Definitely invest in one- even if it's only for three months- I told my trainer I wanted to learn how to do it all on my own- and she even wrote good basic weight training plans for me.

And pft- those guys that are scary looking are usually very nice Don't worry if they are grunting- just join right in and grunt with them lol.

Okay a little (and i mean little) story about my first experience with a co-ed gym. I had been going to a women's gym and they closed. But the co-ed gym down the road was taking over the women's only gym memberships (so i got to go for free because my year was paid for). Anyways, I used those grunting guys as my eye candy while i worked out. Took my mind off of what i was doing. After awhile, i was working out next to them and had to ask for one of their help. Next thing i know...i'm flirting with the big, sweaty guy. Moral of the story....don't really have one...just wanted to let you know those guys are not all that scarey. :-)

Anyways...i also recommend having someone show you around a couple of times. That's what they get paid for. After a few times, you'll feel brave enough to do it on your own. And that book about weightlifting for women, sounds like something you may want to check out from the library. I think i will.

Good luck!!

I've had horrid experiences at gyms, including having ladies make fun of me in exercise class!

If you're really going to go, then go. But if you're not, and you will work out at home (since you already have the equipment), take that money and put it away every month, and at the end of the year take it and do something special for yourself.

It's all in how motivated you are. If you will do more by getting a trainer and being with other people, than the gym is your best bet. If you can discipline yourself and maybe even get the kids involved in the Summer, than exercise at home.

Whatever you do, just really do it. That's the most important thing, just really do it!!

Hey again,

I just got home from the gym. I go 5 times a week and have been doing this for years. But it made me think about what you said originally.

You have all that equipment at home. Why aren't you using it? It won't cost you $39 a month for a year to use.

You will still have the 2 hours to yourself, so why spend part of the time driving to a gym where you feel uncomfortable at present? And that costs you $39 a month?

I'd say, cancel that membership while you still have the chance. Make up your own workout routine using the equipment you have at home. Get some books on the topic, as others suggested. This is the easiest and cheapest way to go, since you already have the stuff.

Jay

I know everyone is different but I have not only exercise equipment at home I have a room dedicated as a home gym that I set up with dumbell rack and adjustable seat, mats, mirrors, Air-Dyne bike with TV (dvd) and radio in front of it. I have big exercise ball and an assorment of other exercise equipment on a shelf ... and ... I never use it.

Everytime I do the phone rings, someone comes over or I'll remember something I forgot to do.

Then I joined the YMCA (50.00 a month) and ever since I joined I have not missed a day unless I had to go out of town for a gig.

It is because it costs money is why I will go, I don't want to waste my money.

I have used my home gym a few times now since I got serious about working out but only for off days when I don't have time to get to the Y.

You may feel a little out of sorts going to a gym but thats because it is a new environment. Keep going and make some friends because humans are creatures of habit and many go the same time every day.

You make some friends there and I bet you'll start feeling more comfortable there. After a while it'll seem like you are working out at YOUR gym! LOL!

Here's something I did though. I asked the staff if they had a printout of the peak times when most people come in and they gave me one (or they could just tell you) and I come in on the off peak hours and I virtually have the place to myself! I love it!