February 2008

Gym a Drag?

Staying in bed rather than going to the gym?

Whoever wrote that ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ clearly wasn’t an avid gym-goer. If, like me, your relationship with your local gym is a fickle one, don’t panic, help is at hand.

It’s right around this time of the year that most people are taking a break from their gym relationship. The gym is a place that promises so much but in reality can end up making more of a dent on our wallet than post Christmas belly.

As someone who has often shied away from going to the gym I hope to impart some new ways of thinking to change the gym from something to be endured, to something to be enjoyed.

First Thing First:

You need to start to think of the place in a whole new light.
Think about your end goals (10k run, marathon, triathlon, gym challenge), what you do at the gym and when you go. I suggest you jot these down on a bit of paper or, even better, at the front of your training diary (more about that later). Review your answers at the start of each session to use them as motivation to get you pumped for your workout and make the gym a place of new possibilities and achievements. These goals can also be used for visualisation - see article ‘Think it. Become it. How to use visualisation to improve your sporting performance and determination’.

Timing:

Up to about 6 months ago I always went to the gym in the evening. But found after a hard day in the office I was tired and lacked motivation, it also made supper very late which is not a good thing straight after a work out. So I ditched the evening sessions for 7 am sessions and the progress (as well as my enjoyment) increased dramatically. Suddenly I was achieving more and feeling more invigorated in the day time. Something as simple as changing the time you go the gym can have such an impact. Another tip is to change the days you go. This way you don’t see the same old faces every time!

Mix It Up:

My first foray to the gym included use of the running machine and a few random weight machines if I was lucky…..until I saw the cross training light and was introduced by a friend to the joys of using other machines like the rower, bike, and other weights machines. This spiced up my workouts, making them more enjoyable, so I suggest to you to mix it up a bit! Of all the tips I can give this would be the most important one. Using a new machine will also work different muscle groups giving you a better all round work out.
Don’t be afraid to experiment, after all you are paying for the whole gym and not just your favourite machines. If you are not sure how to use a machine just ask a member of staff, they are there to help.

Track It:

Whether you are a new member or seasoned gym-goer one vital thing you must do is keep a track of your sessions. What good is it to run for 30 minutes and then not record how far you ran!? Whilst you aren’t going to beat your personal best every time you go to the gym, over time you will see an improvement if you go regularly and this will keep you motivated! Use the training diary with your training goals at the front. As you record your progress you can look back and see if they are in line with your initial goals. By focusing on the goals you wrote down in your training diary and keeping them in mind your work-out becomes a focussed one, rather than an aimless wonder around the gym jungle.

Whilst absence sometimes can make the heart grow fonder, this simply isn’t the case when it comes to the gym-going. The more you go and more importantly the more you use the gym to your advantage, the faster your goals can be realised!

So, if you are stuck in rut, these simple new ways of thinking abut your gym-going habits can help spark you into action and make you achieve more in the gym in 2008!