To Gym or Not to Gym?

Cautionary tale. I started to exercise after a weekend in hilly Edinburgh with all its steep steps made me realise that I was not as fit as I thought. I live in a town and no longer drive so walking is limited to pounding the uneven and boring local pavements. So, forgetting I am 75, not 45, I bought a step machine and used it with enthusiasm. I was delighted with how quickly my stamina improved. Until I felt the snap. That was at the end of September. I spent 8 miserable months housebound, waiting for my Achilles tendon to heal. Even when it started to improve I couldn't walk more than 50 yards without horrible pain. Needless to say my fitness level deteriorated further and I had to opt out of a family holiday.
Now, finally, finally my ankle is pain free, the swelling has gone and I can walk without pain. I have invested in a decent treadmill and, lesson learned, I am working my way gradually back to fitness.
So, start out gently, warm up, stretch and maybe use the online exercises others have mentioned.
Anyway, good luck.

I joined our nearest, extremely convenient David Lloyd, purely for the pool, I don’t do the sweaty heaving stuff. I aim to go twice a week, 20 lengths. The Aquacise classes (at least 3 times a week) are evidently very popular with older ladies - I don’t do it but accidentally went once when a class was imminent, one lane left for me. It was very noisy! Loud music and the instructor shouting….

I was offered a free personal trainer session when I joined, but told them entirely truthfully that I’d run a mile!

I go to Aquafit classes three times a week. Good cardio and resistance training plus great for flexibility and protecting my joints. Occasionally, younger women join us and laugh at themselves for joining us oldies but by the end of the class they are red faced and panting and don't patronise us any more.

I belong to a small gym, that caters mostly for older people (like me), but to be honest, I am coming to hate it and am considering giving it up as I am increasingly looking for excuses not to go! It is part of a much larger leisure centre. The best time to go is early in the morning or a) you can’t get a parking space and b) you find you’re queuing to get on the equipment, and early in the morning requires, from where I live, a certain amount of sitting in rush hour traffic. I might think about going back to the local swimming pool and joining an aquacise class - or just walk more.

It’s a definite no to the gym for me. I don’t enjoy it and do things instead that I do, like walking and Pilates. You’ll never keep up an exercise routine if you do mt find something that you don’t see as a chore.

I go to the gym and I have a bike. These are my two forms of exercise.

I think the key thing is to choose exercise that you enjoy doing. And I love going to the gym and going out on my bike.

Each to their own.

I don't think OP is too old to go to the gym. Many older people do it. Just be aware of your limits and listen to your body and all that jazz.

Stretching and warming up is essential.

I use machines only as less risk of any accidents and I am more likely to have better form.