The Gym Thread

I am a bit of a gym geek.
I started exercising in 2000 when I joined Weight Watchers for the second time, after I put back all the weight I gained on my first go-round.
I aim to go three times a week, unless I really cant make it due to travelling or illness or something important. Even if I dont feel like going, (which is a lot of the time) I drag myself. The hardest thing is getting started.
I had one of the trainers put together a program for me last summer as I felt I wasnt getting the most out of my work out. He had me do running and weights, 2 things I swore I hated. But I am glad I do them now.
Now my routine is, 20 mins running on a hill program, 10 minutes on the cross trainer and 10 minutes rowing, followed by weights and abs. Plus I attend a 30 minutes ''abs blast'' class on Mondays. I used to do aerobics classes only, but I developed pain in my shins so I gave them up. Plus the music used to get on my nerves, too boom-boomy. And one of the instructors is too shouty. I miss woking out in a group but I like having my Ipod and doing my own stuff too.

Well I made it through, it wasn't so much cardio today but I did do a 2 min jog...that was tough.

We are now onto Circuit training, and yes this too is kicking my butt....I would rather go back to the cross trainers.

We are now onto Circuit training, and yes this too is kicking my butt....I would rather go back to the cross trainers.

Ahhhh...but its such a good calorie burner and builds muscle!  Good work!

I swam laps again today for 40 minutes and it felt gooood. 

I know 1 hour of circuit training in the gym is like doing two hours the other way...but it is a bugger for my body.

Cool on the swimming I love to swim.  I usually drag my hubby along, it increases his confidence in the water, as he has had some bad experiences but he is getting a lot more confident everytime we go.

Finally got my lazy self into the gym again today...   I've been so bad ever since our November trip to the US.  I was in a really good habit of going regularly before that, then we went to the US at the end of November, then there was the runup to Christmas & time was short, then Christmas/New Years - blah blah blah...and then I didn't feel like going anymore.   I know it's my fault & I need to take responsibility, but tbh I kind of blame the winter a little bit.  I **hate** winter -- particularly this time from January until spring shows up...  I just want to stay home under a blanket & hibernate until spring.

Anyhow, I finally got myself there (I think it's only the 2nd time since the New Year!)...did my weights & managed 35 minutes of cardio.  I went with my friend from work but she left before I did.  When we were walking in, there was a notice up in the gym about a special 'Pink Event' they're doing in February for the ladies something to do with raising money for breast cancer...and the event is we could try out POLE DANCING!!!  ROFLMAO!!!  I was splitting my sides over that idea, and my friend - who is also on the large side - comments, 'It'd have to be a really strong pole!'  And then I really couldn't stop laughing.

I am hoping I sleep well tonight!  I haven't been sleeping all that well lately, although sometimes when I work out I sleep like a baby & then sometimes I'm more restless.

Oh & another thing...for some reason, the longer I go on either the cross trainer or the treadmill, the bottoms of my feet start to go numb.  On one hand, I want to keep going longer on the equipment, but the feeling is very unpleasant - what can I do about that?  Today after going a long time, afterwards the bottoms of my feet are sore & tender -- not like muscle pain, but like friction burn kind of feeling.  Does anyone know if there's any kind of special socks - with more padding on the sole or something - that I could buy here in the UK?  And where to buy them?  That's the only thing I could think might help with the soreness like I have tonight, but not sure what to do about the numbness thing.

Oh & another thing...for some reason, the longer I go on either the cross trainer or the treadmill, the bottoms of my feet start to go numb.  On one hand, I want to keep going longer on the equipment, but the feeling is very unpleasant - what can I do about that?  Today after going a long time, afterwards the bottoms of my feet are sore & tender -- not like muscle pain, but like friction burn kind of feeling.  Does anyone know if there's any kind of special socks - with more padding on the sole or something - that I could buy here in the UK?  And where to buy them?  That's the only thing I could think might help with the soreness like I have tonight, but not sure what to do about the numbness thing.

I had that and I found out my shoes were too big and not meant for the kind of workout I was doing.  Do you have "running shoes"  this helped emmensly

I had that and I found out my shoes were too big and not meant for the kind of workout I was doing.  Do you have "running shoes"  this helped emmensly

Yes, I do have Asics running shoes - bought in the US.  Maybe I need to lace them up tighter?  But I was wondering if thicker socks would help.

I love my Asics!  Yes, buy some running socks.  I bought mine back in SF, so I'm not sure where to get them here, JBB sports maybe.  Or online.

My toes, my little toe goes numb sometimes during running.  But my new shoes (also a size bigger than normal) makes a difference.  Try getting some running socks.  See if that helps.

My toes, my little toe goes numb sometimes during running.  But my new shoes (also a size bigger than normal) makes a difference. 

I second this. My toes would jam against the front of my shoes and someone told me you should wear your sneakers a half size bigger when you're running in them. It made a world of difference.

I wish we could all work out together, I think we would have a great time.

I think I might have something in the works to keep going to the  same gym even after that promotion is over...fingers crossed.

I wish we could all work out together, I think we would have a great time. 

That would really be great if we could!

I think I might have something in the works to keep going to the  same gym even after that promotion is over...fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed for you!

Thanks for the suggestion on the socks, ladies.  Today, I went to a running specialist shop we have here in Leeds that I'd forgotten about - durrrrrr....  (Ha ha - like I ever thought I'd be in a running specialist shop & I'm not even running in any case!)  I got one pair of cushiony running socks & two pairs of socks they said would help to reduce friction/blisters (they are thin but with a double layer of material) - so will see how I fare with them.  They also seemed to think maybe my shoes were too tight, but I think I have the right size - not to mention that having bigger shoes if I'm having trouble with friction/blisters seems counterintuitive?  But maybe that's just me...

In any case, I bought two - not just one(!) - pair of Asics when I was in the US in November & I'll be d*mned if I'm not going to wear them out.

I wanted to go to the gym again tonight.  However, I have blisters on the pads of some of my little toes from last night, plus my muscles from lifting weights are kind of sore because I added a little more weight last night than what I was doing before.  So I gave it a rest for today.

I wanted to go to the gym again tonight.  However, I have blisters on the pads of some of my little toes from last night, plus my muscles from lifting weights are kind of sore because I added a little more weight last night than what I was doing before.  So I gave it a rest for today.

My instructor at the gym told me I should rest my muscles at least a day in between when I'm doing my weights I understand now why he said that. I can do as much cardio as I like as long as I have at least 1 day completely away from the gym to let my body rest. makes sense to me cause if I over do it I cant go back to the gym till I'm better so I take at least 1 full day away from the gym seems to be working for me.

That is what they do in Boot Camp.  One day running the next push-ups, sit-ups and stuff.