The Gym Thread

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.

It does make sense!  Unfortunately, I've been resting a bit too much lately...pretty much ever since Nov 17th or so, with the odd exception here & there.   But as both feet & muscles were sore today, I'm resting.  Planning to go back again tomorrow though.

It does make sense!  Unfortunately, I've been resting a bit too much lately...pretty much ever since Nov 17th or so, with the odd exception here & there.   But as both feet & muscles were sore today, I'm resting.  Planning to go back again tomorrow though.

I know that feeling all to well myself I didn't go back to the gym full time till Jan 4th of this year.    So I'm slowly getting back to my stamina I once had before going back to the States in Nov. I know when I'm done at the gym I can feel I have been there especially the next day I feel it. 

Yeah, I slept like absolute crap last night (too sore & achey)...was laughing with my co-workers today that this fitness stuff must be overrated.

And I was even more sore & achey today.  I'm going to dose myself up on ibuprofen & hope for a good night tonight.

I made it to the gym again today - hooray!  Finally feels like I'm getting back into it again.

The runner socks did help - my feet didn't feel so burn-y afterward, but I do have a big blister on the pad of one of my smaller toes.  Today I tried the thick socks (not the thin double-layer ones - will give them a go next time).

My feet went really numb with my 20 minutes on the cross trainer - I hate that.

I had to take some of the extra weight off my upper body lifts (weight that I had added on Wednesday) cos my pecs were really hurting, so I did some & some.  But I added more weight to my leg one.  And I made it through a full hour of cardio!  It sure helped to take the edge off my 'it's winter, I hate it & I'm really crabby' mood.

Thanks ladies for the inspiration & encouragement!

Good for you Carolyn...I am glad you had a better time and that you are getting your feet sorted out.

I did my first spinning class ever today, I didn't think I got the best workout but that wasn't the worst part, the worst part was the VERY VERY UNCOMFORTABLE seat on the bike.  I migth be sitting down a lot softer in the next few days.

I have thought about trying a spinning class sometime, so thanks for the heads up!  Not sure I want the sore...   Good on you for trying! TheButchersWife, I know I owe you a PM, but haven't been sat at the computer much to do it since earlier on yesterday.  Getting ready to go off to the 'ball' now.

I did my first spinning class ever today, I didn't think I got the best workout but that wasn't the worst part, the worst part was the VERY VERY UNCOMFORTABLE seat on the bike.  I migth be sitting down a lot softer in the next few days.

I totally feel your pain. They make these padded seats that you can put on your bike seat. It makes a WORLD of difference! It's hard to get a good workout when it hurts so bad. I have a seat (with no intention of spinning again). It's been years since I've done it and I've decided there are other things I prefer to do. If you decide you're going to keep spinning I'm happy to send you my gel seat.

I totally feel your pain. They make these padded seats that you can put on your bike seat. It makes a WORLD of difference! It's hard to get a good workout when it hurts so bad. I have a seat (with no intention of spinning again). It's been years since I've done it and I've decided there are other things I prefer to do. If you decide you're going to keep spinning I'm happy to send you my gel seat.

One of my friends here in the UK who is physically in shape one of her friends invited her to along with her to a spinning class. so my friend went to the class she said she was sore for almost a week afterwards& hasnt been back since. So like Bmore_2_UK said there are several other things I can & prefer to do so I think I will be passing on a spinning class kudos to you who go to the class.

I also found spinning to be very hard on my knees, even though everyone insisted it shouldn't be. Not to mention I felt like I was getting big, muscular thighs. To me, this was no better than big, fat thighs!

Oh London, and it's astronomical gym prices.

I have been a member of our council's leisure centre since I moved here. At 42 pounds/month it was cheapest deal I could find. And while I like the staff, the gym is not very inspiring (particularly the changing rooms). It can be hard enough to work up the motiviation to get to the gym, and when it's not very nice, it's only that much harder!

Well, my direct debit got messed up last month, and my membership effictively cancelled so I decided to look at some of the other gyms in the area today. And oh boy, did I fall in love with Virgin Active. It was sparkling clean, and big, with lots of great classes. The cost--nearly 60 pounds/month (I paid $60/month to go to a very similar gym in NYC).

Still trying to decide if I will join. Looking on the bright side--if I'm paying that much, I will definitely be there every day!

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.

This happened to me when I was using my cross training sneakers but now that I am running, I bought some running shoes and I have noticed that I dont get the numbnes in my big toe anymore.
The numbness would only happen after using the elliptical trainer or cross trainer. I do this after my run.

Edited to add a big WELL DONE to all of us making the effort to exercise after the excesses of the end of 2007 

And oh boy, did I fall in love with Virgin Active. It was sparkling clean, and big, with lots of great classes. The cost--nearly 60 pounds/month (I paid $60/month to go to a very similar gym in NYC).

Still trying to decide if I will join. Looking on the bright side--if I'm paying that much, I will definitely be there every day!

Heads up, peeps!  If you're looking at a gym membership with Virgin Active, LA Fitness or Cannons - the Martin Lewis tip - gym membership loophole that I posted a link about earlier somewhere is definitely worth looking into!

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/health/gym-discounts

The deal is that you get a quote for a private health insurance policy with Pruhealth - the link tells you how to go about doing it & what to ask for, etc.  Depending on your age, health, etc -- you'll get a quote for the monthly premium amount from Pruhealth.  Not because you need/want the private health insurance (though that could be a bonus) -- but because the insurance pays for your gym membership.  The monthly premium you pay Pruhealth may end up costing less than the gym membership would be on a monthly basis, capiche?  Read the link through for a full understanding of the T&C.

Thanks, Mrs. Robinson.

My husband and I actually came across that last night. We're big Martin Lewis fans. I just got an instant quote, and it will be about 30 pounds/month for insurance.

However, we also found a Virgin that is closer to our place (didn't even know it was there!) and it is cheaper (no pool, and smaller club), and my husband gets a further discount because of his job, which they will pass along to me. So no matter how we slice it, we'll be paying a lot less than 60 pounds a month (and less than the leisure centre as well!).

I'm very excited to have a pretty gym to go to once again.

Cool beans!  Glad you found a deal!   The gym I've been going to is Esporta because it's right beside where I work - but I don't like paying the hefty £56 a month.   I may look into Virgin when my year is up at Esporta (in August) -- I think there's one of them a bit farther away.  Only thing is my mate at work goes to Esporta & that helps me to get myself to the gym sometimes.

Oh dear. Now I'm in a right state of confusion.... KateMate sent me over here to check out the bit about prices and... what to do, what to do. The gym I want most in the whole world to join is a Cannons. My corporate membership rate is £58 a month which I don't have.

I work for the NHS. How crap would it be to sign up for private insurance? But if I could get it for £30 a month that might work. Of course if the gym membership is only a year I'd be out of luck then, but that's then and this is now. Is the insurance commitment more than a year?

Oh dear. What shall I do?