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Aug. 11th, 2017 04:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
turpsTo update on the gym situation. I went to the induction yesterday and everything went very well.
Not that it got to a good start as we weren't booked on the system, but one of the men who worked in the gym was there and happy to give us the tour and work on our goals and memberships.
In all that took around 3 hours, and he was great. He did have some extreme views about nutrition and how often that could help when medicine can't. But, at the same time, he admitted that the views were extreme, and kept saying we had to research everything and not take his -- or anyone's -- word as gospel.
He made me feel really relaxed and worked out a programme for both me and James based on what he thought we could manage. Mine includes the recumbent bike, the treadmill, and leg strength work on the weight machines. When he was showing us the equipment he said he could tell I'd relaxed because when I was on the bike I was smiling, and I was. No one was looking, no one gave a damn that I was sitting there and doing exercise in a gym. It was just good and achievable and I felt a foot taller when leaving.
Then later we called into the local gym I'm going to be using -- the induction was done at the bigger one the next town over -- and I gave my workout a try. I also checked out where the lockers were, the changing room situation, doing those little things that had been worrying me, like starting machines off on my own.
Then this morning I walked down on my own and spent a good hour doing my own thing. And again, no one was laughing or looking and I just got on with things. I even tried out the arm weight machines and felt comfortable and happy as I moved to each new thing. I bought myself a water bottle but must remember a small towel next time because I had to keep wiping the seats off with the edge of my t-shirt which really wasn't a good look.
But I did it, and am chuffed at myself.
Thank you to everyone who gave advice and encouragement in my last post. Yesterday was the first time I'd ever stepped foot in a gym, and it was hard and scary. But today it wasn't at all, and I'd have never have got to that point without all of your help.
Oh, and this is the outfit I went with in the end. Modelled just after I'd left the blood donation place.
Not that it got to a good start as we weren't booked on the system, but one of the men who worked in the gym was there and happy to give us the tour and work on our goals and memberships.
In all that took around 3 hours, and he was great. He did have some extreme views about nutrition and how often that could help when medicine can't. But, at the same time, he admitted that the views were extreme, and kept saying we had to research everything and not take his -- or anyone's -- word as gospel.
He made me feel really relaxed and worked out a programme for both me and James based on what he thought we could manage. Mine includes the recumbent bike, the treadmill, and leg strength work on the weight machines. When he was showing us the equipment he said he could tell I'd relaxed because when I was on the bike I was smiling, and I was. No one was looking, no one gave a damn that I was sitting there and doing exercise in a gym. It was just good and achievable and I felt a foot taller when leaving.
Then later we called into the local gym I'm going to be using -- the induction was done at the bigger one the next town over -- and I gave my workout a try. I also checked out where the lockers were, the changing room situation, doing those little things that had been worrying me, like starting machines off on my own.
Then this morning I walked down on my own and spent a good hour doing my own thing. And again, no one was laughing or looking and I just got on with things. I even tried out the arm weight machines and felt comfortable and happy as I moved to each new thing. I bought myself a water bottle but must remember a small towel next time because I had to keep wiping the seats off with the edge of my t-shirt which really wasn't a good look.
But I did it, and am chuffed at myself.
Thank you to everyone who gave advice and encouragement in my last post. Yesterday was the first time I'd ever stepped foot in a gym, and it was hard and scary. But today it wasn't at all, and I'd have never have got to that point without all of your help.
Oh, and this is the outfit I went with in the end. Modelled just after I'd left the blood donation place.
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Date: 2017-08-11 05:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-12 08:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-11 07:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-12 08:00 am (UTC)It's very comfy, and I feel okay wearing it, which is good as it's a ten minute walk in public to get there.
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Date: 2017-08-12 12:06 pm (UTC)Yay for comfy! That's the key to gym clothes. I made the mistake of buying leggings that keep rolling down. I really need to get rid of them.
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Date: 2017-08-11 07:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-12 07:58 am (UTC)I was so scared beforehand, but it really was good.
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Date: 2017-08-11 10:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-12 07:58 am (UTC)I felt comfortable in my outfit, and knowing in advance it would be okay helped with that.
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Date: 2017-08-12 04:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-12 07:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-12 05:08 am (UTC)I'm glad your first time there was fun and non-intimidating!
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Date: 2017-08-12 07:56 am (UTC)I'm glad the first time is over and done with. Now to keep it going!
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Date: 2017-08-12 01:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-12 06:51 pm (UTC)I agree. He helped so much, and actually came out and said he was supposed to up-sell personal training etc, but wouldn't be doing that. I also like how he explained each machine, something I really needed.
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Date: 2017-08-12 06:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-12 06:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-12 06:49 pm (UTC)Which is good, as if it had been a bad fit it would have taken a lot to find somewhere else. That's if I ever did.
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Date: 2017-08-12 08:28 pm (UTC)I am so glad to hear it went so well! I am also side-eyeing the hell out of induction guy, but as long as he admits his weird nutrition views are not gospel, he may get away with it. *coughHaveYouTriedYogacough*
In short: YAY YOU! *\o/*
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Date: 2017-08-12 08:59 pm (UTC)This all sounds like great news about gym-going. :) I really like going to gyms, and I generally find them pretty friendly places. I used to have a lot of reluctance to talk to people who were into weights, especially, thinking they would judge me for my relative weakness, but most weightlifters I've met turned out to be big nerds whose topic of nerdery is the best way to position your feet in order to maximise your deadlift or whatever.
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Date: 2017-08-12 09:06 pm (UTC)Also, you're looking really good.
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Date: 2017-08-12 10:10 pm (UTC)*mwah*
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Date: 2017-08-13 05:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-13 05:32 pm (UTC)I love your outfit! The striped shirt is so bright and festive.
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Date: 2017-08-14 07:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 02:56 pm (UTC)but, outfit aside, i'm glad you had such a positive experience! going to the gym can be totally intimidating, no matter how many times you've done it before. especially if it's a gym with a certain kind of atmosphere. it's awesome that the people at your gym made it feel like a safe space!
congrats congrats on giving something scary a try! you're awesome.