Going Back to the Gym..Bring on your Best Advice & Worst Experience ( Archived) (10)

Hi everyone...used to run several miles every other day, and work out in the gym 3-4 times a week (minimally I worked out 5-6 days a week) Well you know how it is...you have kids (grown now-love them) and as a woman seems easy to put everyone and everything ahead of yourself, job, family, etc., etc...but now it's time for me to get back to racing 5k races...I'm a lady in my prime..still have great muscle tone (though it's hiding..hee!hee!) and I've joined a gym close to me..love to work out, but want the advice of my online friends of their experiences working out now that you're not 20 anymore..help, what's working for you guys and gals??? Then someone, everyone share your worst workout experience either at a gym, home or other..Help I need to be beautiful by May, daughter's getting married...

The hardest part is walking through the door. I gained 60 lbs last winter, and in my picture I am still carrying 30 of it. I have now lost most of it, and have now gained ten pounds in muscle.
It had been a while for me too. I was always active in the gym in my early twenties....but got lazy after a while. Then I was a family guy, and sat around eating to cure the boredom.
Go slow at first, don't try to keep up with the kids. A common misconception is that everyone is judging you when you are at the gym. If anyone is, then they aren't there to actually make progress. I have to deal with 18 yr olds in my gym. Some of them do stand around making fun of people, but who cares what some cocky kid thinks? Lets see how they look when they are thirty.
Now i have a question for you......I get something called shin splints when I jog regularly....any advice on how to avoid them? Also, I have symptoms of tennis elbow. Any advice for the pain in my elbow?

Thank you 2good..for the info. I thought maybe everyone around this forum had perfect bodies,and I was out in the cold in this one.

Shin Splints, hate 'em, but primarily get them if I run on cement (you know cement is the worst surface to exercise or run on..second being the sand at the beach cause it twists your ankles so bad)

I'll stay in touch tell you how it goes...

Have a Great Day...

I've thought about joining the gym up here, but right now that's all it is, a thought. LOL

I'm kinda scared of hurting my back again. I've been sticking to walking instead of the work-outs in the gym.

Good luck Peaches!

about 2 yrs ago i had lost 80lbs not workingout just started to watch what i eat and now i eat and watch it go into my mouth although i am trying to eat better and get into shape again its hard when i work 8 hours a day then go home and have to take care of my son single mom and all and thake care of my mom


but anyways i say take it slow and do what you can not all at once

Thanks CajunFroggy..you're sounds like advice I can live with...

well I am at the gym for the first time really. Gained weight slowly over the years . Started in university. I got diagnosed with diabetes not too long ago so after the shock and denial stage I have to suck it up and do something about it. I am on pills now but hoping with the drop of weight and regulsr exercise I can get back to diet controlled. I know I have got my work cut out for me but I also know I only have me and I'd like to keep my limbs and mind so I'm gonna give the fates a break and do my part. I have a program set up cause after trying to wing it myself it became abundantly clear that some of the machines there were ment for Chinese torture and perhaps I needed guidance. Nice to know there are others out there waging war against themselves for themselves...smile

That's great Lilyofthevalley, hang in there. Yeah, I go home pretty sore sometimes. But I am starting to look forward to the pain. It means progress. Don't get disouraged, most of the gains lie underneath the surface. So it takes a while to see any improvement. But you start to notice the other benefits early on. Like more energy to do things. I feel like doing more now, rather than just vegging out. Good luck.

Like everyone else is saying, take it slow.
I'd run if I could but due to an injury while in the Coast Guard my knees can't take it. About once a week, usually on Fridays I'll walk to the bank and back which is about an 8 mile round trip.
If I'm at the family camp in Lyman NH I like to walk around seeing where the animals (mainly deer and coyotes) are and it's a lot of uphill walking. May get lucky and see moose plus I know there are bear as well. There used to be a couple albino white-tailed deer years ago.