Any Benefits...?

[woodelf]

I'm thinking of joining a gym, mainly for treadmills and exercise bikes so, apart from screaming muscles (or is that Francis Bacon?) and a sore backside, have any ABers used such equipment and have they found any long-term benefits from them? Ta Muchly and Still Take Care All.

[ummmm]

I hated the bikes when I went to the gym. Treadmills are really good though. I used to do walk and run, up hill, down hill.

I got to the point of being able to jog round our local park (about 2.5 miles) without barely breaking a sweat.

If possible...swim as much as you can. It uses all your muscles and it's kind on your joints.

[Ken4155]

All forms of exercise will reap benefits in the long run. If you haven't done much exercise for a while, i suggest you stick to the treadmill until you've shifted a bit of excess baggage and toned your leg muscles enough to progress to the bikes. Otherwise your muscles will cease up, you will hardly be able to move your legs after sitting for a while and this may put you off revisiting the gym :-(

[woodelf]

Many Thanks Both for your advice and cautionary warnings - definitely treadmills first then!

[Ken4155]

You're welcome, Woodelf. I don't always follow my own advice and tend to overdo things on day 1 or day 2. Then suffer the consequences :-(

[calmck]

Swimming also good

[Sqad]

You are basically talking about ANY exercise, whether in a gymnasium or outside.
Yes, it certainly is good for the heart and circulation, so we'll done.

[barry1010]

As well as cardio exercise which is great as Sqad has said, do gentle stretching exercises in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Keeping flexible and supple is essential for mobility in later life and it makes life a hell of a lot easier if you can bend to tie your shoelaces, get out of your armchair without struggling and stretch to get to the back of the kitchen cupboards. Hopefully wards off aches and pains, too.
I love a cross trainer for cardio - works arms and legs and supports your hips, knees and ankles but is still weight bearing so is good for your bones.

[woodelf]

Thank You too, Sqad and Barry!