Stafford gym / keep fit advice

[Wormella]

I feel podgy and overweight so I'm looking at Gyms in Stafford. Narrowed it down to 3 choices - the uni gym (close to work and my friends go there), Stafford gym - not exactly far and closer to the house) or the college

I want a flatter belly, slightly better tone and generally be a bit fitter. I do not want to get 'beefy' , my colleagues favourite past time..

Problem is none of these words make sense to me. can someone please explain / decode this jargon?

Stafford leisure center classes

Uni Fitness Centre

Stafford College

I'm most keen in Yoga, or Bellydancing (everyone in Stafford seems to do Belly dancing). But I'd appreciate suggestions / knowledge / gym horror stories (just to put me off)....

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

I am obviously not everyone, as I have never done belly dancing (although I may do at some point - as long as I'm on benefits it only costs a fiver)... There are descriptions of all the courses towards the end of the Stafford College prospectus, but I agree that they're not brilliant so you might want to give them a call (or two as you will probably need to get hold of the actual tutor).

Absolutely no idea about the uni facilities, but it always helps to have the support of friends! This is probably the best idea if you're lazy when it comes to exploring all options.

I know they have (or did have) a list with descriptions at Stafford Leisure Centre (probably far better than me trying to explain them all here, some of them I'm not sure of myself). The Leisure Centre is generally a nice environment and there is a wide variety of people who use the gym there. They can put a gym programme together for you, based on your aims.

If you are overweight/obese (you'd be surprised how little this is - but then the BMI chart is a big pile of poo!) or have certain health conditions (depression is an obvious one these days, and anything cardiovascular I guess), you should be able to get a referral from your doctor (it's a good idea to see him/her before you embark on some kind of exercise programme anyway).

Ultimately, it is up to you to do what you want - exercise should be fun!

 

[Doctor]

The big benefit of the Stafford Leisure Centre is it has a pool. You may not be thinking you want to use it now but swimmong is good all over excercise and can be done without tutors and classes etc so can often be at a more convenient time. It's not full of superfit atheletes either. Their are lots of 'normal' people just going and doing it at their own pace.

I would also recomend just getting out and walking - it's free and suprisingly good for your health (http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/live/welcome.asp?id=978). Then, of course, there is cycling which is just the most fun way to get fit (not involving another willing adult).

 

[db]

I feel podgy and overweight so I'm looking at Gyms in Stafford. Narrowed it down to 3 choices - the uni gym (close to work and my friends go there), Stafford gym - not exactly far and closer to the house) or the college

I want a flatter belly, slightly better tone and generally be a bit fitter. I do not want to get 'beefy' , my colleagues favourite past time..

Problem is none of these words make sense to me. can someone please explain / decode this jargon?

Stafford leisure center classes

Uni Fitness Centre

Stafford College

I'm most keen in Yoga, or Bellydancing (everyone in Stafford seems to do Belly dancing). But I'd appreciate suggestions / knowledge / gym horror stories (just to put me off)....

i can't pass comment on the others, but i go to the uni gym and am very happy with it

it's certainly not the biggest or best-equipped gym in the area, but it never gets rammed and it's not full of obssessive meat-heads showing off their guns lol.. if you're feeling fruity, there's also the infra-red sauna, use of which is free if you take out an annual subscription.. i've yet to try it myself, but it certainly sounds interesting so hopefully i'll have a crack at it before too long!

it's about £200 for a year, which includes full use of the gym, sauna, and (i think) all the classes.. of course, you can choose to pay per session if you'd rather but, as with all gyms, this is a very expensive way of doing it (approx. £4 per session, i think)..

 

[Wormella]

I already cycle and walk everywhere - one of the many bonuses to not driving - buti have some definatly goals in mind and I realsie i[ve fallen into the habit of playing games / going to the pub / watching telly when I could do something else.

So I actually got off my butt and went to a 'bodyJam' class at the leisure center yesterday. all in all (even with only one other person in the class) it wasn't that scary.

I'm going to check out the uni gym on my way into work today and I suspect end up swapping between to two.

I have to hand to to the council, the new leisure center is really friendly, and not at all off putting as it so easily could be.

 

[Astro Boy]

try reducing your carbohydrate intake through your general diet. when doing exercise your body will use up the carbs quickly and start burning off the fat.

downside: burning fat for fuel is inefficient and you will reach fatigue sooner.

dont completely cut them out as you will damage yourself. its a delicate balance thats easy to get used to, but as said already in this thread - consult your gp before embarking on any serious diet change and exercise regime.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

try reducing your carbohydrate intake through your general diet. when doing exercise your body will use up the carbs quickly and start burning off the fat.

downside: burning fat for fuel is inefficient and you will reach fatigue sooner.

dont completely cut them out as you will damage yourself. its a delicate balance thats easy to get used to, but as said already in this thread - consult your gp before embarking on any serious diet change and exercise regime.

Indeed, this isn't the best thing... Just eating smaller portions will automatically lower your calorie intake and you will start to burn the stored stuff, therefore losing weight. Also, I find that worrying a lot and being ill can cause a good few pounds to just slide off!

 

[db]

try reducing your carbohydrate intake through your general diet. when doing exercise your body will use up the carbs quickly and start burning off the fat.

this is defo the quickest way to shift flab; the more you can cut out the better..

"low fat" food invariably replaces the fat with carb's, so stay away from that muck.. just try cutting out "bad carbs" - white bread, pasta, potatoes, sugar, etc.. you can get plenty of sustainance from fresh veg, fruit, etc.. you will find yourself craving bread like there is no tomorrow, however, so it doesn't hurt to have a little wholemeal now and again, just to stop you cracking and pigging out on a foot long or something! lol..

one thing i have noticed since i started going to the gym regularly is that my appetite has definitely increased.. i find myself feeling very hungry at around 21:00, and end up going to bed early just so i don't start eating lol..