Questions re: Gym membership and/or excercise in general...

Originally Posted by ArtyLady

Do you play an instrument?
...
If noise is a problem you can buy the electronic drums kits and wear headphones but the effort is the same - just a thought

No, I don't play any instruments, but I've just bought my 4 year old an electrc drum kit. Might take the excuse to teach him how to pound it to within an inch of it's life, whilst annoying everyone else in the house. I used to play the drums many many years ago - so long ago I can barely remember what a drum looks like now!

I've also had some pretty good news, which has lifted a fairly hefty weight. Basically, it boils down to the fact that from Jan, my bank account isn't going to have £110/month taken out of it. So that opens options up considerably IMO.

Originally Posted by Moffatt666

If you still want to go to a gym then try classes such as circuit training as spinning. It's hard graft but it works and you feel great afterwards!

The gym I'm looking at going to (mainly) has pretty well advertised classes, and I'd already considered circuit training. At first though, it's probably just going to be a matter of pounding the treadmill. Can't say I'm that interested in weights, so if I end up going to the gym, at least at first, it's going to be treadmill, rowing machine & swimming.

Originally Posted by Ed

Hi Baph. There's no shame in going to see the doc y'know. I did - I didn't really want pills but he gave me amitryptyline (sp?) nonetheless, but they helped me through a rather nasty time.

I don't really have a problem going to the docs about this subject (I've been & happily embarrassed the doc about personal problems in the last - love seeing that look on their face). It's mostly because of exactly what you describe that I don't want to. If the local doc was to try & force me to take pills, he'd probably have to have them surgically removed.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

This thread is useless without pictures

+1, C'mon, I need cheering up - well, I'll stick to that excuse if it'll work.

Originally Posted by andywilson460

Whatever you choose to do, try to build it into your routine, so you have to do it - I bought a season ticket without the Tube, so I had to cycle - it's that forcing that makes it valuable - also remember that for something to become 'routine' you will need to do it consistantly for over 3 months before it becomes normal, so keep plugging away and it will pay off.

Whatever I end up doing, building it into any sort of routine will be very difficult. I work in a 24/7 IT support environment, and as BP'ers know, especially recently, the shifts have been random at best. There's really no pattern to it, and I think they use a random number generator to design the shifts.

From this thread, it seems that cycling/running has come out on top. I just don't see myself getting out for a run/ride when the weather is bad (like now, throwing it down outside).

For now, I reckon a couple of months down the gym, then maybe look at the cycling/running thing when the weather gets better. I won't be tied into a minimum monthly term if I get gym membership through work, and my bank account will still be approx £80 better off than it has been anyway. Some of that money will almost definitely get spent in the bar at the gym (genius idea that, putting a bar in a gym!!)

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Baph

Whatever I end up doing, building it into any sort of routine will be very difficult. I work in a 24/7 IT support environment

I know that feeling, I suspect thats probably some of the reason why you feel like you do, I know with working weird shifts with no notice or emergency work I used to feel terrible. I used to not sleep or have disrupted sleep and it used to leave me feeling completely drained and fedup.

Originally Posted by Baph

From this thread, it seems that cycling/running has come out on top. I just don't see myself getting out for a run/ride when the weather is bad (like now, throwing it down outside).

You'd be surprised, I actually like riding in the rain, the splash of puddles and you try riding on 23mm wide road tyres on slippy winter roads, it takes a certain elemenet of bike handling skills to do it.

I think when you get into it you wont feel like that about gonig out in the wet. You dont get cold because you are working and if you wear the right kit, base layers for wicking sweat away, decent merino wool socks and proper cycling stuff with a decent jacket you wont get wet either, and if you do you wont feel cold.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I know that feeling, I suspect thats probably some of the reason why you feel like you do, I know with working weird shifts with no notice or emergency work I used to feel terrible. I used to not sleep or have disrupted sleep and it used to leave me feeling completely drained and fedup.

Surprisingly, work helps to lift my mood, depending on who's on shift. Some of the conversations definitely wouldn't be post-able on here, and now & then I laugh so much I'm trying to stop myself wee-ing.

Unfortunately that's not consistent though, and there are also days like everyone else undoubtedly has, which are crap & stressful.

I'm with Fizz on this......running in the rain is perfect conditions (although only for short runs)..........splashing through the puddles with a blatant disregard for anything in the world.

You may still be £80 per month better of with a gym membership, but remember that the gym won't be open when the servers are back up again. Your running shoes or bike will be available whenever you feel a bit down or when you have time for a run........

and if like me you are carrying a few pounds extra round the waistline CV work will give you better results and faster than weights etc.

Originally Posted by krhall

You may still be £80 per month better of with a gym membership, but remember that the gym won't be open when the servers are back up again. Your running shoes or bike will be available whenever you feel a bit down or when you have time for a run........

and if like me you are carrying a few pounds extra round the waistline CV work will give you better results and faster than weights etc.

I'm in the fortunate position at work where I turn up to do my shift, and go home when the clock says so. If there's a high priority job that comes in just as I'm leaving, tough. Just like if I'm working on a high priority issue & the clock says home time. I'm gone.

Only last week I was in the middle of an investigation involving 7 figure sums, our client was suspecting fraud, and details of the issue had gone as high as the board of directors for the company I work for. The clock said home time, so I had a 2 minute chat with someone to let them know what I'd found so far, and left.

As for CV work being better than weights etc, you've obviously missed the part I said above about treadmill/rowing machine/swimming. I'm not carrying any extra weight though, and I don't remember ever being over 65kgs in the last 10 years. That's been my weight constantly since around the time I left school, regardless of what I eat, or how much exercise I do.

Yep missed that, not sure how? should've gone to specsavers I guess.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Baph

I don't really have a problem going to the docs about this subject (I've been & happily embarrassed the doc about personal problems in the last - love seeing that look on their face). It's mostly because of exactly what you describe that I don't want to. If the local doc was to try & force me to take pills, he'd probably have to have them surgically removed.

From this thread, it seems that cycling/running has come out on top. I just don't see myself getting out for a run/ride when the weather is bad (like now, throwing it down outside).

For now, I reckon a couple of months down the gym, then maybe look at the cycling/running thing when the weather gets better.

That sounds like a plan to me, even I'd admit this isn't the best time of year for cycling, cold wet weather and dark nights. It's certainly cheaper to kit up for summer riding, good waterproofs, lights etc do add up (my 2 offroading lights set me back about £70 frinstance, that's actually more than I paid for my road bike!) Plus, I don't know what your fitness level is like now but it can't hurt to raise it a little now.

I'm not going to claim to have any real insight on the medication thing, because I did the same as you, but I think with hindsight I have to admit that my reasons for avoiding medication made no sense at all. Which isn't that shocking really considering. It worked out OK for me, but I think it was a wrong decision, it probably made things a lot harder

[Nobbylad]

Hi Baph...only skim read this thread, but I took up kick-boxing again last year after quite a few years of absence.

I wanted to work out and knew that I wouldn't keep up with the routine of running and I needed something that would challenge me as well as get me fit.

I go twice a week and the training is really great, there's a great bunch of people, all ages/abilities and the instructor is really helpful too. We do lots of stretching and warm up exercises to get the blood flowing and then there's pad work and sparring which give you a really good work out.

Although it's full contact, it's not as bad as it sounds and nobody goes mad!

I've found that when I get home after a session, I'm WAY more sociable and positive than before I went and I get a real sense of well-being afterwards.

Plus there's the challenge of perfecting your technique in terms of belts/gradings that gives you an aim or objective over and above just working out.

Might not be everyone's cup of tea but you never know...

[johnnyrod]

Hi Baph, there's a hell of a ot on here, but here's my 2p...

Martial arts, great idea, you can give it a go and if it doesn't work out then try something else. Many different types and styles, keeps your head engaged as well as your body. Training sessions are always at the same time so you can get into a routine.

Other types of exercies, really it has to be something you enjoy or you'll jack it in quickly. Don't be afraid to try something, odds are you'll want a change sooner or later anyway. Not sure how good the council leisure centres are round your way but i's a cheaper way to get involved than a private membership where you commit to 12 months up front and it's serious money.

If you can afford it, get a personal trainer. You can see them as little or often as you like. Their job is 50% technical know-how of making you fitter/stronger/whatever you goals are, and 50% motivation, this is the key bit. See www.nrpt.co.uk Gym instructors (in general) aren't a patch on a good personal trainer.

Good luck buddy!

I unfortuantly suffer with depression, have had a lot of tablets in the past, but now know the warning signs.
So when the black cloud starts to descend, I pick up my camera and walk, walk, walk.
Last Christmas was my last bad bout, and Mr Lou and I walked from our house for miles, we ended up with some fantasic photo's, went early one morning down to a local mill and it was foggy, I apolgise for posting one of them, but was so pleased with it.

Exercise is a good answer, but as I've said before, depression is a chemical defiency of the brain, and sometimes you just need medication to put the chemical back (as advised by my doctor!)
Lou