Going to the gym

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I decided to visited a gym the other day and ended up joining. On the one hand, it would seem to be the perfect environment for an aspie because most everybody is so self absorbed that they barely notice what anybody else is doing. On the other hand, it still makes me nervous because I'm not quite the most physically fit person in the world and can be like a klutz at time. I'm sure I'm doing everything completely wrong (which also makes me reluctant to try out the weight machines because I know doing that wrong can lead to injury).

Anybody else here with gym experience who perhaps has advice or just anything to add?

You might be able to get someone who works at the gym to show you how to do stuff. At least there are treadmills and stationary bikes. I thought about joining one. Strange thing, YMCA is expensive to join yet it's supposed to be reasonable while other private gyms are only ten to join/ten a month.

I spend a lot of time exercising outside so this is why I have failed to join. I figure I am doing for free outside what I would be doing at the gym. However it gets brutally hot and humid nowadays so a gym would come in handy right about now. Climate control and all.

Yeah, they do give you a tour of everything the first time you visit, and even invite you to try out one of the weight machines. I'm still not sure I'm doing it right, so I guess I could ask, but it's just embarrassing to betray how clumsy you are, you know?

I have gone to gyms many times throughout life. At first you may feel a bit self conscious but ignore it and focus on the exercises. Believe me in just a short time (weeks, if not days) you will start to feel confident about it. Especially when you start to notice the results of your training.

The only thing that bothered me was the bright lights and the loud music.

The gyms here are notoriously crowded at their peak hours. The prices are a little dear to me but they do have people to help you out. I decided to invest in my own home equipment, though. I have a stationary bike and a FIR sauna. The bike is okay, if a bit boring. The sauna, though! Oy! I sweat like a pig in it! I have a bathroom scale coming in the mail. With all the sweating I do I'm guessing I'm losing about 1/2 to 1 pound every day. Cool. I want to lose about 30 pounds. This should take me around 60 days. Around that time I'll start taking pictures and put an ad up on OkCupid or elsewhere.

I workout at a gym that's open 24 hours, and I usually go around 11-12 at night when there is little or no other people around. There's not even any employees there at that time just security cameras. It's the perfect workout environment for someone with AS especially since lifting heavy weights can be very nerve racking with a lot of people around.

Yes, mine is a 24 hour gym as well. That's a really good idea; I think I might try that. Or even go at 1 am (I'm pretty much nocturnal).

That's cool. By the way you're the only other person I've seen on here that goes to a 24 hr. gym. That's really ironic since they're perfect for people with AS that workout.

I find the easiest way to get past that feeling of embarrassment is as follows:

[1.] Realise (as I have over the years) that SO many more people than you think you have joined a gym are wondering the same thing you are and are also to afraid to ask. I've seen people watching me when I ask a question, listening and miming the actions I'm being shown as if to learn it while listening, then clearly looking relieved they could just eavesdrop and didn't have to ask too. Some of these people even say "oh good, I thought I was the only one who didn't understand how this thing worked, thank god" etc.)

[2.] BE SELF-DEPRECATING - that is: light-heartedly, with confidence and with a big smile, say "I've got NO idea how to use [x] machine. I'm so new at this! I need all the help I can get. Could you come over and explain to me how these machines work please?" Make light of the fact. Don't veer into putting-yourself-down territory though Just stick to self-deprecating.

I've relied on [2.] sooooo many times in all kinds of situations as a way of COMPLETELY removing embarrassment from the situation. I find it empowering. It helps me function 100 times better than I normally would, because times when I would just sort of stand there frozen, or run away and never come back (and miss out on a good/fun valuable thing) are gone.

Edit: I just had thought. Maybe this only works if you are a woman/girl.

Try going at times there isn't as many people.

For weights, try not to use free weights if you can. Those can cause injury if done wrong.

And get something like muscle milk.

I recently joined a Gym myself which is also 24-hours. I want to go either mid-afternoon or at night. I figure mornings and evenings are the peak hours.

I told the guy when I signed up that I had been a Truck Driver for 4 years. I feel like that almost gives me an excuse for having some belly as that's one of the most unhealthy jobs there is.

I'm still new so I'm mostly getting a feel for the equipment. The treadmills and exercise bike have little TVs with a headphone jack which is nice. I try to go at least 30 minutes on the treadmill and switch between walking up high incline or zero-incline with jogging. Otherwise getting a feel for the weight machines but avoiding the free-weights.

I don't have a particular routine in mind yet. I do think Cardio is where I want to focus the most. I could see dedicating many gym sessions to just the treadmill and 1 or 2 days to include the weights.

Lastly, I'm not sure if Muscle Milk or Whey Protein is for beginners or people doing a high performance workout with really heavy weights.

Thanks for the advice all, it's been very helpful.

I actually talked to a NT friend of mine who is going to come with me tomorrow and help me get more acquainted with the weights machines. I'm with you all on the free weights; I definitely am not to the point where I'm going to venture into that. Maybe eventually.

Anyone using supplements? Like Whey?

I talked to a worker at the gym regarding some of their products and they said Muscle Milk will help with recovery. I'm not exactly doing high performance workouts, but today I did 45 minutes of treadmill and did most of the machines. So afterward I decided to try a Muscle Milk to see if it makes a difference or affects results.

I'm thinking some days I might do treadmill only or maybe use the bicycle and I'm not sure if I'll get supplements for that. Maybe at most a protein meal bar.

Just some random thoughts I guess. It's not enough a noobie has to figure out the exercise routines and equipment but then make sense of all the related products being sold.

Stick to the free weights and find a program that is beneficial towards your personal goal.

You can find a workout on this page here and you can also find out how to do any exercise in the correct form http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbmaintrain.htm

If you are not interested in Body building and you want to train for a specific sport, it is best to research what type of training would be best for that sport and ask people who train in that sport about the type of training required.

You don't need an advanced program. Stick to deadlifts (or rack pulls, if you wish to squat more often), squats, bench press, dips, pull-ups and overead press—for bodyparts not hit sufficiently this way, add a few isolation exercises.

If possible avoid signing up for a 12 month contract (at least until you find out if you like going to the gym).

A lot of gyms rely on continuing to pay a subscription and not going regularly.