Autism and the Gym

I've never seen one of those. I don't think buying one machine will work for the ADHD part of my brain. It gets bored too easily. Keep talking myself in and out of the concept of joining the gym though. Think I will finish my physio sessions and then make a decision.

I used to have a skiing machine and I loved it, it's very low impact, but it really increases strength and stamina, I'd just use it for about 10 mins at a time maybe whilst watching telly or listening to music. They're harder to get now as cross trainers seem to have taken over, but I can't get on with them, I think it's the back and forth with my arms whilst going up and down with my legs. The cross country skiing motion seemed much more inutitive.

I go to the gym regularly. My advice is shop around and find one that fits with you ie the types of people that go there. I just want to exercise on my own and be left alone so I found a cheap gym that is pretty basic but is welcoming to all kinds of people regardless of age or body type. It hasn’t got the best equipment, but it functions and works for me 

It would have to be someone understanding. I wouldn't do well with someone barking orders at me. 

Oh yes! They would motivate, especially if they were also autistic sports psychologists.

I would add my own private outdoor and indoor gyms. 

Yes they are good exercise but I would just get bored of it really fast. 

Honestly I think the only thing that would really work is a personal trainer that would keep me accountable but my bank account definitely doesn't stretch to that.

Expecto_Patronum said:

I don't think I'd use a rower very much

Umm…I’ve been thinking about a rowing machine as it’s meant to work more of the upper body than a bike. 

Expecto_Patronum said:

But I know I really do need to strengthen up and keep myself fit but the motivation is so difficult

How to address motivation is the key.

I listen to audiobooks but that goes only a little way to ease the boredom. It doesn’t motivate the intention to exercise, especially if the environment is unsuitable. 

I tried an exercise bike at home. I just didn't use it. I doubt I'd use a rower. I thought about a tread mill but I'd still find it boring and it's not fully body workout. 

There is talk of a gym being installed at work but it isn't there yet. I think I'd be more anxious about using that because it would be Infront of people I know. 

It being boring is my difficulty. I did try buying an exercise bike once thinking Infront of the TV it'd be easier. I just got bored. I did consider a treadmill as I have done some running but that isn't a fully body workout. I don't think I'd use a rower very much.

The chlorine of the pool concerns me if I'm going regularly. 

But I know I really do need to strengthen up and keep myself fit but the motivation is so difficult.

I was always too scared to go, but years ago got roped into going with so either people. This made it much easier. I then started going on my own once I got the hang of it. I ended up very fit 

So finding a friend, relative, partner, colleague etc. for moral support is good.

I didn't stick to it. I bought a rowing machine, so I can exercise at home. It's good for cardio and overall condition, and low impact, but a bit one dimensional. I have done thousands of km on it over the years 

A gym has been installed at work. I just need to walk downstairs and I can use it for free, but I can't bring myself to use it. It is like being young again. I know if could go once or twice it would then be fine, but I can't do it.

There is a gym that I can pay for that is 200 yds from my front door. I can't go in there either.

I am not sure why it is so hard. But I sympathise with your struggle.

I have been in hotels over the years with gyms, pools, saunas, hot tubs, etc. I never been able to use them either.

I used to go to the gym but I found it boring and I couldn’t keep motivated. I enjoyed the swimming part though as I used the outside pool year round which avoided being overpowered by chlorine.

There was a welcome session where I was shown round the facilities and I had a session with the trainer. The first time I walked into the gym on my own and got changed was the hardest part anxiety wise.

I’ve always had issues with other people’s sweat on the equipment. There were wipes and sprays of disinfectant at each gym station.

Expecto_Patronum said:

But I'm getting to that point in life where I really need to up the amount of exercise I do to keep healthy. I have tried doing it at home but I just don't keep it up and give up too easily. I did well with doing couch to 5k but as soon as it got wet and dark in the evenings it went to pot. I also had some difficulties with my back which I've now had physio for so I need to get back to some sort of exercise.

That is what I’m struggling with at the moment. 

I’m having physiotherapy at the moment and I’ve been given exercises to do using exercise bands, but the physio said that continuing, I really need to use gym equipment with weights to strengthen my joints, that it’s the best way to keep mobile when getting older. I have hyper mobility and I’ve already had two joint replacements. I’ve found that building up muscle strength makes my loose joints feel tighter and lessens the pain from osteoarthritis. I’m moving so much better already. I really should be doing exercises for the whole body, but it’s so boring. 

Not quite the same reasons but this is what puts me off a little with joining the gym gym as I don't think I'd actually use much of the equipment. 

It's a long time since I've swum. Similarly to you, I disliked being forced to do it when I was younger but I did swim as an adult and enjoyed it but that was about 15 years ago now.

 A dog would help me out but unfortunately I live in a flat. I don't find walking is doing enough for me exercise wise either.

Unfortunately, my diet isn't the best. I find it hard to improve it as I have huge sensory issues with food. My logic is therefore I have to combat this with a sufficient amount of exercise. 

I'm not really allowed in gyms, I've been to a couple some time ago, when they were all the rage and as soon as they found out I had osteo-arthritis they couldn't get me out the door fast enough. I could use the treadmill and maybe the exercise bike, nothing else. Now I just have a walk most days with my dog Fearn, it's easy and fairly cheap and I get bounced on if I don't do it, we walk anywhere from between 20 mins and an hour at a brisk pace.

I swim like a brick as well as being allergic to cholrine and hating the noise and echoyness and the bad memories of being forced to go at school.

A lot of what others see as encouragement, I see as bullying and not being competitive really puts the tin lid on it.

It's £10 less a month for swimming only so a fairly good saving.

Yes I've done a bit of googling and it seems swimming is the ideal exercise for me. It's non weight bearing but is a full body exercise where as running wasn't. It can also burn more calories than running although at the speed at which I can swim, I'm not sure that'll be true. 

This is a membership I would be able to cancel any time but I'm hoping the fact it was going out automatically will make me feel like I have to.

Ideally I could do with going on the way home from work so I don't have to make myself get up again but it'll just be too busy at that time of day.

I managed to sus the layout when I had my induction/walkaround at a relatively quiet time. I would think very early / late would be similar but I haven't been late for a while. That's what I did, doesn't work out much cheaper if at all but then I only had one expectation for myself. I couldn't have gym and swim to complete when both already scared me. Think swimming is good for your back as there's less pressure on the joints if you vary the stroke?! Just tried to break it down to what I thought was possible. Motivation in theory is a start. I used to drive through fast food places and back home and bypass the gym altogether. I don't have a long (cant get out of) contract that helps with the finance guilt as its just periodically month by month and I can leave as and when. I hope you find what may work for you and especially your back.

I did wonder about changing in the toilet. I'd need to see the layout of the place to see how well that would work. I'm not sure I'll have time for an early morning swim but the gym is open until 10 so I'm hoping not many people choose to swim late in the evening.

I can join the gym for swimming only so I'm wondering whether to start with that and maybe up my membership if I'm finding it ok and want to up the exercise.

I have motivation in theory. Actually doing the exercise is another thing. I give up incredibly quickly.

Hey Expecto. I have tried going to many gyms. I thought id nailed it with Pure Gym but I panicked and couldn't remember my code for the 'enter on your own doors'. Then there was a queue. Then I panicked again. Then I left (repeat). I even wrote the code on my hand but got so hot and sweaty it had literally dripped off from the car to the doors?!

I find swimming the only thing I can do atm out of the house as I get there for 06:00/06:30 and there are very few people about at that time. I change in the toilet - odd but it works for me as there's at least a door between me and the rest of the world. I saved up and bought an indoor bike with a screen so technically I can cycle anywhere in the world without having to leave the safety of my house.

You are so right with the towel, flip flops, drinks.....its like there's 'secret etiquette' how do they know this pointless, unwritten information?! When I joined the pool I asked for a time to bring in my docs and a quiet time (if there is such a thing). Some gym inductions have been good with a sprinkle of understanding. I asked them when I had my gym induction yrs ago and they wrote on a fitness card the ones I struggled to remember and wrote instructions down, one or two had a little stick man diagram from memory - I'm sure there's a link to the exercises discussed nowadays.

I worry what people think of me when I'm just walking to the post box and back. Not sure its something ill ever lose. What I do know is that once I've done it I do feel slightly better and less fearful of doing it again. I cant say what's best but perhaps do what you think is manageable and the most achievable for you at this time and go from there. You are definitely not alone with your worries, sounds like you have motivation and that's the hardest part for me at all times. Best of luck.