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Autism and the Gym

Expecto_Patronum

Looking for some advice, experiences etc on joining the gym. This is something I've put off for years partly for financial reasons but largely due to anxiety. 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.

I want to try going to the gym. I'm hoping that if I've made the effort to go then I will make sure I do the full amount of exercise. I won't have the excuse of the weather or dark to stop me going. But I also know I can't aim too high as I will give up.

I am wondering about just starting with swimming or whether I should alternate swimming and a light gym workout. I'm ruling out classes at this stage, I'd be far too anxious in a group of people. I think swimming would be a good start exercise wise, particularly with having had trouble with my back and because I know how to do it.

My big concerns are:

1. Making sure I actually go and not just wasting my money. I struggle with motivation and transitions so it would be easy to talk myself out of going.

2. The changing rooms. Particularly with swimming. I do not like changing Infront of people and so many changing rooms are open plan. This is a big mental block at the moment.

3. I have never used a gym. I don't know how different machines work. I know they will likely do a gym induction but I will not retain all that information and will struggle to ask for help.

4. The small, often unwritten, rules like can I take my towel to the side of the pool. There are so many things other people seem to just know and I've no idea how they know.

5. The initial going in and asking to join etc. I get so anxious about needing to approach someone and talk to them. This is another big block right now. I can join online but I assume I then still would need to go in and show proof that I had joined. I don't know whether I can start using the gym straight away if I do it online or whether I have to wait for a card or whatever.

6. Feeling judged. This is a silly anxiety of mine but I always feel like I'm being watched so somewhere like gym where there are other people, I'd worry what other people were thinking.

How many people here go to the gym? What have been your experiences? 

Parents
  • Expecto_Patronum said:
    3. I have never used a gym. I don't know how different machines work. I know they will likely do a gym induction but I will not retain all that information and will struggle to ask for help.

    What are you interested in achieving? Building strength? Building cardio fitness? A specific sport? Losing weight? Helping with injuries?

    Try to figure out what you want to do and ask whoever does the induction for suggestions on how to go about it. Any half decent fitness instructor will at the very least point you in the right direction and tell you how to do things safely. 

    There are plenty of books on such topics; Strength Training by Anita Bean is good if you are wanting advice on strength training. There are plenty of YouTube videos showing how to do specific exercises of use certain machines.

    Expecto_Patronum said:
    I don't know whether I can start using the gym straight away if I do it online or whether I have to wait for a card or whatever.

    They will tell you this on their website and/or when you go in. Some will give you (or post you) a card. Others, like the one I go to, give you a PIN number which you type into a keypad to make the door open (mine is a budget 24 hour gym so doesn't have a reception desk, and is not staffed 24 hours).

    Expecto_Patronum said:
    6. Feeling judged.

    You won't be. 

    If you are still concerned, just remember that there will always be someone there who is fatter/thinner/weaker/sillier than you. Example: I'd say about 80% of people who go to gyms don't have a clue how to use a rowing machine properly and always make themselves look silly in doing so.

    EDIT: Just realised someone was necroposting a 6 month old thread. How did you get on with your gym endeavours?

Reply
  • Expecto_Patronum said:
    3. I have never used a gym. I don't know how different machines work. I know they will likely do a gym induction but I will not retain all that information and will struggle to ask for help.

    What are you interested in achieving? Building strength? Building cardio fitness? A specific sport? Losing weight? Helping with injuries?

    Try to figure out what you want to do and ask whoever does the induction for suggestions on how to go about it. Any half decent fitness instructor will at the very least point you in the right direction and tell you how to do things safely. 

    There are plenty of books on such topics; Strength Training by Anita Bean is good if you are wanting advice on strength training. There are plenty of YouTube videos showing how to do specific exercises of use certain machines.

    Expecto_Patronum said:
    I don't know whether I can start using the gym straight away if I do it online or whether I have to wait for a card or whatever.

    They will tell you this on their website and/or when you go in. Some will give you (or post you) a card. Others, like the one I go to, give you a PIN number which you type into a keypad to make the door open (mine is a budget 24 hour gym so doesn't have a reception desk, and is not staffed 24 hours).

    Expecto_Patronum said:
    6. Feeling judged.

    You won't be. 

    If you are still concerned, just remember that there will always be someone there who is fatter/thinner/weaker/sillier than you. Example: I'd say about 80% of people who go to gyms don't have a clue how to use a rowing machine properly and always make themselves look silly in doing so.

    EDIT: Just realised someone was necroposting a 6 month old thread. How did you get on with your gym endeavours?

Children
  • in reply to mp500

    Currently my bank account is dictating the decision so I have decided not to join for now. I just can't have more money going out. For the summer months I've managed to do some running - pretty slow but some exercise is better than none. I am trying to do some strength training too. Nothing major - just some you tube videos with dumbbells. This is mainly for health. I don't need to lose weight but I wouldn't mind if I dropped a few lbs. It's mostly because my cholesterol is slightly high. Doctors aren't concerned because I'm otherwise healthy and fairly slim. But I'm kind of young to have high cholesterol and struggle with diet so I'm hoping regular exercise will help with this and just health in general. My issue is we are now approaching the winter months and this is where exercising falls apart for me. I can still do the dumbbells but running is difficult in the dark. Ive previously tried doing hiit workouts and such from YouTube but I just give up too easily and find it hard to copy the exercises which could do more harm than good.