How long before gym health benefits
Discussion
Hi, I am quite fed up with my own lack of fitness (panting after running 50 metres, musles aching with any heavy tasks. thankfully I have no major health problems. I am 38, 5ft7, bit overweight but not obese. I am basically a "couch potato" who has never been to a gym... and I want to get a fitness instructor to get me on the way.
I have no illusions of running a marathon after a month but just to prepare myself for the road ahead, how long before I can expect some general improvements in overall fitness and flexibility?
Thanks
I have no illusions of running a marathon after a month but just to prepare myself for the road ahead, how long before I can expect some general improvements in overall fitness and flexibility?
Thanks
It'll get worse before it gets better. 
You'll get aches and pains in places you didn't know you had, but it doesn't last long.
Within a few weeks you'll feel the benefit, assuming you go three times a week. After a couple of months you'll be wondering why you didn't start this years ago.
You'll get aches and pains in places you didn't know you had, but it doesn't last long.
Within a few weeks you'll feel the benefit, assuming you go three times a week. After a couple of months you'll be wondering why you didn't start this years ago.
I wouldn’t bother with a gym but do the nhs couch to 5k (c25k) plan. You will be able to run a parkrun distance in about 10 weeks. That will represent a massive lift in your health. The key is start really easy and very slowly build up. So if you can only run 50m then do that then walk 100m then do another 50m. It will build up from there.
Fairly quickly if you apply yourself and you're committed.
But just to warn that the aches and pains may be considerably worse for the first few weeks/months as your body gets used to being used properly again, but you should reap the benefits after that.
It's no quick fix, and better as a lifestyle change rather than a means to an end for 'results'
Start now, commit, and by xmas you'll feel like a new man.
But just to warn that the aches and pains may be considerably worse for the first few weeks/months as your body gets used to being used properly again, but you should reap the benefits after that.
It's no quick fix, and better as a lifestyle change rather than a means to an end for 'results'
Start now, commit, and by xmas you'll feel like a new man.
xyz123 said:
Hi, I am quite fed up with my own lack of fitness (panting after running 50 metres, musles aching with any heavy tasks. thankfully I have no major health problems. I am 38, 5ft7, bit overweight but not obese. I am basically a "couch potato" who has never been to a gym... and I want to get a fitness instructor to get me on the way.
Good! Too many people turn up at a gym and completely waste their time as they don't have the first clue how to get the best out of themselves and the gym equipment. A (decent) PT will also have you working harder than your own motivation ever can.Try and select your PT via a recommendation rather than rolling dice with the gym's cab rank.
LordGrover said:
It'll get worse before it gets better.
You'll get aches and pains in places you didn't know you had, but it doesn't last long.
Within a few weeks you'll feel the benefit, assuming you go three times a week. After a couple of months you'll be wondering why you didn't start this years ago.
Perfect. I read somewhere that for the first 6 weeks it'll feel like you've been in a car crash. You'll get aches and pains in places you didn't know you had, but it doesn't last long.
Within a few weeks you'll feel the benefit, assuming you go three times a week. After a couple of months you'll be wondering why you didn't start this years ago.
No idea on gyms but you mentioned running, as other have said Couch To 5K is good. I could feel the difference week by week, as you do the same run 3 times a week (starting with something like run 30 seconds and walk a couple of minutes) and the third one each week felt way easier than the first.
I was similar to the OP; at the start of the year I was unhappy with my fitness so I signed up for a 5k and started C25k.
I (slowly) ran my first race at the end of May.
I've slipped since then, holidays and life have gotten in the way. I'm feeling unfit, fat and fairly unhappy. However, I've booked a gym review in which I hope to add new exercises to supplement my running. I'm also recommitting myself to health eating with the goal of losing a stone and a half before I go on my next adventure in April '19.
Here's to making wholesale lifestyle changes :
I (slowly) ran my first race at the end of May.
I've slipped since then, holidays and life have gotten in the way. I'm feeling unfit, fat and fairly unhappy. However, I've booked a gym review in which I hope to add new exercises to supplement my running. I'm also recommitting myself to health eating with the goal of losing a stone and a half before I go on my next adventure in April '19.
Here's to making wholesale lifestyle changes :
I would think if you're consistent you'd likely start to feel the benefits within a few weeks .. even just getting off your ass helps with your mood/endorphin levels.
What is it you want to do? Run a 10K? Just be fitter? Or look better aesthetically?
I'd not recommend running tbh if it's the latter, find a good PT (this can be very hard actually, most PT's at commercial gyms are terrible no matter what sort of sport science qualification they have), hit the gym, follow a balanced diet and keep at it.
What is it you want to do? Run a 10K? Just be fitter? Or look better aesthetically?
I'd not recommend running tbh if it's the latter, find a good PT (this can be very hard actually, most PT's at commercial gyms are terrible no matter what sort of sport science qualification they have), hit the gym, follow a balanced diet and keep at it.
Just to clarify, Are you asking when you will notice a difference or when other people will notice a difference 
I only ask because a lot of people start into fitness/weight training with great gusto and then it slowly peters out when they realise that, although they feel a lot better in themselves (and are undoubtedly healthier), they don't look massively different and the motivation starts to leave them when, after 3 months of work, nobody has commented on their appearance
I'm sure that's not the case here, but every gym has members that are only in there when the clocks are on British Summer Time IYSWIM.
I only ask because a lot of people start into fitness/weight training with great gusto and then it slowly peters out when they realise that, although they feel a lot better in themselves (and are undoubtedly healthier), they don't look massively different and the motivation starts to leave them when, after 3 months of work, nobody has commented on their appearance
I'm sure that's not the case here, but every gym has members that are only in there when the clocks are on British Summer Time IYSWIM.
Thanks for useful replies.
Re some questions asked, I have no particular requirement in terms of wanting to run 10K or looking better physically. My main aim is to improve general fitness, reduce chances of any future cardio/diabetes related health problem. Anything else that comes in addition like better appearance s or being able to run in a competition, are all a bonus.. Thanks again.
Re some questions asked, I have no particular requirement in terms of wanting to run 10K or looking better physically. My main aim is to improve general fitness, reduce chances of any future cardio/diabetes related health problem. Anything else that comes in addition like better appearance s or being able to run in a competition, are all a bonus.. Thanks again.
xyz123 said:
Thanks for useful replies.
Re some questions asked, I have no particular requirement in terms of wanting to run 10K or looking better physically. My main aim is to improve general fitness, reduce chances of any future cardio/diabetes related health problem. Anything else that comes in addition like better appearance s or being able to run in a competition, are all a bonus.. Thanks again.
One other benefit of C25K is that its free and will give you an idea as to how motivated you will be in keeping to a program.Re some questions asked, I have no particular requirement in terms of wanting to run 10K or looking better physically. My main aim is to improve general fitness, reduce chances of any future cardio/diabetes related health problem. Anything else that comes in addition like better appearance s or being able to run in a competition, are all a bonus.. Thanks again.
If you can't get out 3 times a week for 30 mins or so for the C25K then its better to know that before you blow money on a gym that you probably will give up.
Once you've proven to yourself that you CAN keep to a fitness program then consider spending money on a gym/PT.
My 2p is to go for a programme that will be build you're fitness steadily so you don't get too disheartened when you're blowing out your arse and give it.
C25K is good in that way as I suspect other than the really obese following the programme will get you running 3 miles or 30 mins by the end of it. If you go this way invest in some good trainers which will save some aches and pains.
Once you've improved your base level of fitness you can explore other things. Depends on your goals but I'm personally a fan of cardio and resistance.
C25K is good in that way as I suspect other than the really obese following the programme will get you running 3 miles or 30 mins by the end of it. If you go this way invest in some good trainers which will save some aches and pains.
Once you've improved your base level of fitness you can explore other things. Depends on your goals but I'm personally a fan of cardio and resistance.
Biggest factor is nutrition. I use to work in personal training and huge into bodybuilding. Seen people year in year out looking exactly the same as their nutrition was awful and they did not train correctly either. Maybe check out hiring a proper trainer. Check out bodybuilding nutrition videos. Obviously you don’t have to bodybuild but the vast majority of diet information has came down from bodybuilders over the years. Dave Palumbo is a great trainer. At your age, maybe you should get your hormone levels tested.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff