I've never really understood those gym-bums that spend their lives pumping iron, looking lean and enjoying every minute of it; for me working out is about about doing what I need to do, not about particular enjoyment or excitement at the thought of getting back in my leggings. I'm definitely one of those girls that's not naturally supposed to be super slim or super fit - even at school I was always hanging back with the asthma kids during cross country, or being shamed by my hockey coach for not particularly wanting to spend 90mins on a rainy Friday morning stood in the middle of a muddy field. (Now I realise her attitude just made it worse, rather than encouraging me, but that's another story.) However, over the years I've found things that work for me: be that dance classes, yoga, my exercise bike or a flexible gym membership that allows me to go whenever the need takes me. It's vital that we all remain active, but shaming people into running for an hour on the treadmill is not the way to do it. If you're considering joining a gym but are a little hesitant to do so, here are the things I've learned since I've joined that may help get you off your sofa once and for all.
IT'S NOT AS HARD AS IT LOOKSWhen walking through the doors of a gym for the first time you can be met with an overwhelming feeling of 'sh*t what have I done"' The lines of machines, the inevitable pumped up dudes staring themselves in the mirror and everyone in their styled-off-the-pages-of-a-magazin...