Today is the last day of the year! This means that tomorrow, half of the world will be starting their New Year’s resolutions, going to the gym, eating more vegetables, saving money, etc.. But what if you are one of those people that feel the gym intimidation? Are you nervous at the thought of walking into a gym? If you actually DID walk into a gym, what would you do? What if you did something WRONG? What if people laugh at you because they know you “don’t belong” there?
…Any of those sound like you? Then keep reading, my friend.
First of all, kudos for deciding to start a new and healthy habit! I know it’s not an easy decision to make, it takes courage and self-awareness to be able to look at yourself and WANT to be better, in whatever capacity. So, give yourself a hug, you deserve it! Secondly, the gym is NEVER as bad as you think it might be. Obviously, it depends on the gym you go to, but overall, gyms are very accepting of all body types, experience levels and interests.
Tip #1: It’s Not About You
You are the MOST important person in your life. Literally, you are your life. However, we sometimes get stuck in thinking that we MUST play a main role in OTHER peoples’ lives as well. I hate to break it to you, but…
… no stranger really cares (I say this lovingly). I mean it like this:
If it’s your first day walking into a gym, no one cares.
If you do deadlifts before doing squats, no one notices except you.
If you skipped your last set of your workout because you are feeling tired, no one is keeping count except for you.
If you gained 10 lbs over holiday break, no one knows the difference because they haven’t met you before.
If you aren’t wearing matching socks, someone might notice, but again, no one will care.
Why?
It’ not because they hate you, or are trying to shun you. It’s because the gym is a selfish place (again, lovingly). Selfish in the terms that people go to the gym to get their workout in. Usually people are dashing between job and home, about to go pick up the kids, about to run errands, just got off of work, about to head into work, on their lunch break…
I mean that people are SUPER focused on themselves at the gym. They simply do not have time to sit at the door and judge every person that walks through it. If they do, then those are the people who live sad lives and you don’t need to worry about anyways.
Go to the gym for YOU. Yes, eventually you may start to make friends with people that go to the gym at the same time as you, but it’s really not the focus of people that work out. Just be the most focused version of yourself until you start feeling more comfortable being in the environment.
Tip #2: Wear something empowering, yet conservative
This is simple – If you are new to a hobby, you don’t want to be the one in the red dress. As humans, our eyes are drawn to movement and brightness/light. This means if you walk into your new gym wearing bright colors and start moving around during a workout, people’s eyes are naturally going to be drawn towards you. Don’t be that person thinking, “I’m so shy and anxious I’m doing something wrong, why is everyone LOOKING at me?!” as you saddle up to another round of squats wearing fluorescent pink leggings.
I’m not saying DON’T have fun with your outfit. Heck, I’m that person that constantly wears leggings with a unicorn fighting a robot T-Rex! I LOVE having fun with my outfit. I’m just saying, if you are feeling shy and don’t want to draw attention to yourself while learning a new skill, go basic.
Tip #3: Call in the Experts
Personal trainers have a job for a reason! There is SO much involved in workout programs, exercises, form, nutrition, macros, recovery, etc that it can make the average joe non-gym goer feel overwhelmed. Great personal trainers spend their lives educating themselves on anatomy, body mechanics, program structure, proper recovery techniques, and nutrition. The BEST ones will even go a bit further to develop a niche, such as becoming an expert in functional fitness, strength and endurance or lymphatic drainage.
If I want my car fixed, I go to a mechanic. I don’t try to figure it out, thinking I’m an expert mechanic because I read an online article talking about oil changes.
If my dog’s sick, I go to the vet. I don’t try to treat him at home because I watched a Youtube video on common dog illnesses.
Why should fitness training be any different? Go to a professional and get on with your fitness goals. (Schedule a Consult Here)
Pro Tip: Bring a towel and a water
First time going to the gym? You are going to sweat and be thirsty.
Different people sweat at different levels, some looking like they jumped jumped into a pool after a light warm up, others not even developing a bead of sweat after a tough HIIT workout (High intensity interval training).
It doesn’t matter where you fall of the spectrum, just come prepared! A towel or sweatband is an easy thing to bring that will help keep sweat from distracting you during your workout.
As for the water bottle, try sipping water between sets instead of chugging. Chugging water can cause stomach cramps and give you this awful sloshing in your belly while moving around.
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, or want to join our 1:1 or semi-private personal training, you can book a consult here.
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