BRAVING THE GYM - Weight Loss Part 12

I need to work on my tan... But it's November!

Before I started on my mission to walk more the only real exercise I did was walking when I had to. I’ve always loved swimming, but, as my bigger self, felt rather self-conscious getting in and out of the pool.

When it came to the gym I had no idea what to do! I went once years ago, and didn’t go back...

I also went to a Zumba class once, about eight or nine years ago, but didn’t enjoy it. So, walking, cycling, and potentially swimming were my only real options in terms of getting fitter under my own steam. My bike still hasn’t found its way out of the shed though…

At the end of March I went to my GP on an unrelated matter and the subject of weight loss came up. He suggested a referral to the local gym might help. I was a bit sceptical, or possibly simply nervous, at first. But then I thought, what have I got to lose? Apart from half my body weight... I thought, if I’m going to do this I need to go at it all guns blazing and at least try!

So, I found myself walking into my local gym, GP referral in hand, and asked the guy a reception, what next? The deal was a 10-week tailor made gym programme for £2.20. Not exactly bank breaking…

The first step was an induction to gauge my strength at that time and show me how to use all the equipment. After that I received my first two weeks’ worth of training programmes and I was on my way!

I’ll admit the first few weeks were hard, and at first I only went once a week. After that though, once I’d gotten used to the routine and the equipment, I started going two or three times a week.

I also started going swimming again.

I still felt self-conscious about people seeing me in a swimming costume, but I soon realised that people weren’t actually paying any attention to how I looked, and the pool was full of all shapes and sizes, and abilities.

When it came to worrying about whether or not people were looking at me, in the gym or the pool, I realised that it was all most likely in my head. The chances that someone was actually paying attention to what I looked like in the gym, or pool, were pretty slim.

I realised I had to go at it with a bit of a “F**k it” attitude and just get on with it. Ignoring the demons in my head.

And as my fitness grew my confidence did too.

I felt more able to try new things and the worry I had about people staring at me faded. At the end of the day, people who go to the gym, regardless of fitness level, have a common goal. We are all there for the same reason! To get fitter and stronger, or at the very least, maintain our fitness.

There were certain things in the gym that were particularly challenging. Especially if it involved any upper body strength. I remember part of the body weight exercises in my programme was to hold a 30s plank. This was possibly one of the hardest challenges in the beginning.

 A lot of us don't plank properly. I have found this video best explains exactly what you are trying to achieve when you plank and how to achieve it.

In the first few weeks I could only manage a plank from the knees. But then I started trying to hold a proper plank. The first one I did lasted about 5 seconds before I dropped to my knees. Now I do a plank most mornings and my best time so far is 54 seconds! This inciteful article on how to plank properly is quite useful.

Challenging myself like this, to make small improvements every day, or week, has been an excellent way to motivate myself, and is responsible for the steady improvements in my fitness.

Remembering not to expect too much of myself, or push myself too hard has also been vital. I did just that in the gym one night, and it ruined my whole training session!

 

I don't know how over weight you have to be to get a gym referral from your GP, but if you are medically obese, and are struggling to both lose weight and improve your fitness, it's worth asking.

I had no idea that you could get a referral for the gym for weight loss until my GP suggested it. And although I was nervous and shy about going at first, it put me on the right path to improving my fitness, and gave me the confidence to try other things!

DISCLAIMER: Just a wee reminder that this is what has worked for me. There's no guarantee that it will work for everyone as we are all different. I’m not a professional!