First time Gym goer.

[Chardius]

OK so, on tuesday on I'm re-enrolling at my old university to add on a minor and some other stuff to my BA, and that means I get my student ID back. Amongst the benefits to a student ID is total access to the university's gym and pool. Its a pretty complete gym in all ways but I'm a complete noob in all ways when it comes to having that access. I want to get in better shape, shave off the muffin top I got going on at least, and thus hopefully be able to drop below 200 lbs. I'm 5'11" and I'm currently somewhere between 220 and 230 and at my heaviest I was 260. I've already made really good strides in the last couple of years (went from near 40" waist down to a 36"). However that was from heavy physical activity during my internship with the forest service (40 lbs in 3 months working in the Sierras, WOO!).

So I've mostly kept that weight off and my newer pants all still fit BUT I think I can get down to a 34" waist and just overall be in much better shape. What are some things I should know before I even begin? What kind of schedule should I start to hold myself to? I'm not worried about the eating right aspect, part of how I kept the weight off is that I've been a vegetarian for most of the time since the internship.

What I have done before is that in one of the apartments I've lived in I had access to a treadmill and using that for a couple weeks I was able to get to where I could jog an entire mile on it without slowing down (this was totally new to me then, I was really happy but I moved and lost a job and thus also momentum). So I know how I can get back to that. I've also been using a pair of 15lb hand weights at home, I've been doing curls, french curls, and other things that I don't know the names of with them (somewhere between 10 and 15 reps a few times a week). I noticed a difference in a few weeks with these things both in how heavy they felt and in new muscle on my arm.

So I'm happy with the small steps I've taken in the past but I think I can do much better and I now have access to all the tools I need to do it. Any advice anyone could give would be most welcome.

 

[Chardius]

I guess I could be not silly and actually read the fitness thread up-top. DUR. Carry on.

 

[1091MAC]

Keep up the good work. I have also found it worthwile to have someone with whom I can workout so that I stay motivated.

 

[3nipples]

At my old Uni they had introductory courses where they looked at your overall condition and recommended a program. Check if there is something similar where you are.

Swimming is a good way to build up some initial conditioning, partly because works many muscles, you automatically get some stretching done and you're unlikely to overdo it in the first two weeks, which is something you should watch out for!

 

[bireuben]

I just recently lost about 65 lbs. (on a low carb diet) and decided that I needed to get into shape. In my case, it was because I have never been in very good shape, and I just decided that I was tired of the old me. I am lucky enough to be in a community which has a clubhouse with a training room. So I looked up a personal trainer and got going. If you are interested in some of the things I learned, let me know and I'll be happy to share. Otherwise, suffice it to say that after about 5 months, I feel better than I ever have in my life and people are already beginning to notice changes--especially in my arms. Since I have always in the past been ashamed of my body, this is especially gratifying. Best of luck to you and KEEP WITH IT!!!

 

[Chardius]

So I think to fit in with my weird third shift schedule I'll be going mid-day on Tues, Thurs, and Sun. Tomorrow I'll probably start off easy with just some cardio on a treadmill or bike machine or something, and maybe see what a rowing machine does. I never really was a big swimmer despite having access to a pool at a young age, but we'll see. I hope the field house showers are at least partially private so that I don't have to ride the bus home all stinky and what not. Oh well. We'll see what happens.

 

[Chardius]

DAMN, I have discovered kinks in my plan this week.

1. I couldn't get the ID for the "gym" till Wednesday.

2. I have gotten about 8 hours of sleep in the last 72 hours because I went to the campus twice to work on this.

3. Third shift sucks and I may have gotten screwed out of my pay this week, but I am tired and impatient so I will give my bank a few more hours to get it right.

4. Since I am not currently attending classes and the method of checking into the "gym" is unclear, I may not even be able to use the friggin thing. We'll have to see when I go check it out tomorrow. Today I am sleep....