Never exercised

17 rep

I"ve never exercised!!! I just joined Anytime Fitness.. I am a 52 year old female, and I am lazy! How or where do I start?

671 rep

MemberHastings, MN

YOU joined that is a GREAT start. I am 43 yrs old female & over 300 lbs...I started AF & have been there 3 times so far. I walk on treadmill sometimes 20 minutes sometimes 40 minutes. I "just do it." I get my heart rate up to whjere it is suppose to be & sweat. LOL I come home exhausted but get an AWESOME feeling for just getting there & doing something FOR ME. My advice start out slow & work your way up. "some excercise is better than none." Good Luck to you. This website is a GREAT support group.

428 rep

MemberLambertville, MI

I also just joined on Monday,I will be 52 in a month.The manager at the gym that I use was a great help.He walked me through everything and had me only do a couple things to start.I decided to hire a trainer to teach me how to do it right.Slow is the best way to go so that you don't hurt something and have to quit for a while. Cindie

1.1k rep

AlumniNanaimo, BC

Exactly, when I joined 23 months ago I was 460 lbs and could not walk 1/2 a block without my back screaming. Got a trainer (the reason Im still going 23 months later) who made sure I did not make my prior injuries worse and got me in the habit of going since I said i would never stand her up. She was my saving angel. Now Im close to 200lbs lighter. However even then its still a struggle like Im sure it is with many folks. Good luck with your new membership and lifestyle everyone.

27k rep

AlumniBettendorf, IA

See if your gym offers a free fitness orientation. It will help give you a better understanding of the equipment and correct form on how to use the machines. I also recommend hiring a personal trainer, even if it is only for a few sessions. He/She can get you set up on a customized program that is based off of your goals. Also take advantage of this site. Set up your goals and use all the tools to help you stay on track. If you have any questions about the site, feel free to ask. Good Luck and Welcome to Anytime Fitness and Health!!!

1.1k rep

AlumniNanaimo, BC

Yes like Courtney said, make use of this site. I come on here many times to watch exercise videos if I want to see new core exercises or different ways to work certain muscle groups. Stop you from doing the same thing all the time and spices it up a bit.

5.3k rep

MemberRed Lion, PA

I joined AF January of 2011. In the past year, I have changed my whole lifestyle & lost 71 lb. It hasn't been easy. There are still many times I don't want to go to the gym. But for me, it is about saving my life. My cholesterol was elevated & strokes run in my family. I also have arthritis in my knees and I really didn't want to have to get a knee replacement. So when the devil on my shoulder told me to stay home & watch TV, the angel on my ohter shoulder told me to go to the gym & improve my quality of life. I listened to the angel. My cholesterol is almost normal, I haven't had to use any pain meds for my knees since last summer, & have no pain in my knees at all anymore. And you know what? It's still hard to get to the gym sometimes. I think it will always be a struggle. But I like the outcome so I will continue to go.
Just like Nike says, "Just Do It!" Don't think about it, don't give yourself an option to get out of it. Make a firm committment to go to the gym when you plan on going. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it. And YOU are worth it!

2.1k rep

MemberAlbany, OR

For me, I've been through the gym membership a couple times before. This time I have a stronger commitment. Instead of going 2-3 times like in the past, I am committed to going 5-6 times a week. I have scheduled in my workouts so I won't get to the middle of the afternoon and make excuses. Two books have given me some great pointers and guidelines on how much and how often. They are: "Younger next year, for women" and "Working out sucks". The later is by Anytime Fitness CEO. My earlier attempts, I now realize, were half-hearted and not really committed. It was amazing after my first week, starting slow with just a 15 minute cardio. I wasn't tired and felt great. I picked three different cardio machines and did 5 min on each. then each workout I added one minute to each machine, until I had worked up to a 45 minute workout. Now, two months later, I do 60 min on the recumbent bike and then weights twice a week. It's working and I still feel good....tired, but good. Start slow and add a little bit each day. Set some goals and work towards them. good luck1

8.7k rep

MemberGig Harbor, WA

You started already! Joining the gym starts your journey! Way to go. When I joined AF, I didn't know what to do either so I just made sure I showed up. Little by little the equipment got easier to use and before long, I was brave enough to sign up with a trainer. Now I love going, it's a priority for me to workout. Stay excited about exercising and you're gonna love how you feel and look! Proud of you.