Whether you weigh 110 pounds or 400 pounds, going to a gym could be very intimidating. All you need to do is to come through the door (protocols in full effect of course). People say all the time “I don’t like gyms” or “gyms are not for me” just because they can seem uninviting. If you have gym anxiety of some sort, this will help clear those right out for you.
Face your fears and actually visit the gym. Now that you’ve made it inside of the gym, expect the following:
- Loud music
- People using machines, sweating with “beast faces” #beastmode
- People on cardio machines like ellipticals and treadmills.
- Really strong, muscular people effortlessly picking up heavyweights that you know can lift. (don’t get intimidated)
If you are self-conscious about your seemingly less-than-perfect physique, you might think that everybody else is judging you too. Please disabuse yourself of those thoughts because that’s why you’re there! To get into shape! And you will get there!
If you want to start using a gym, you need to know that:
- Everybody there is very busy and focused on themselves and their work out. They’re NOT worried about you and what you’re doing and what you look like. Chances are they’re just as self-conscious as you are no matter how fit they may look.
- You have to start somewhere; you don’t look your best so that you can go to the gym. You go to the gym so that you can look your best, feel your best, be your best self; to get stronger, get fit, live better.
- Most people will either inwardly or outwardly applaud you or approve of you being in the gym and trying. A quality human being would be happy for someone joining the gym- trying to better themselves. If that’s not their mentality, that’s not your fault.
- People will judge you, but not just you, everybody else. Like everywhere else in life you may go, there will always be that 10% of people who have nothing better to do than judge you. They will compare themselves to you to make themselves feel better because of their own insecurities. Forget about them, haters will always hate. You know what your goals are, so just focus on yourself.
There will always be someplace that will intimidate you for one reason or the other but you can’t let that prevent you from doing what you must.
Instead, this should be your gym mentality:
- Accept the fact that there will always be negative people but focus on the majority of support that you receive instead of the one bad person.
- Most people are indifferent about others in the gym and are too busy getting their own #gains
- Make yourself an awesome playlist that makes you feel like you can do anything and listen to that while doing your workout.
- Zone out everything else and do what you came to the gym to do
- Wear clothes that you feel most comfortable to keep you focused on what’s important
We understand that you may feel like a fish out of water not knowing what to do your first time in a gym or maybe worried about looking foolish doing an exercise. We’ve got you covered! We have expert trainers to walk you through the equipment and design workouts to match your needs and goals. We’ve helped people just like you to go from a “what do I do” beginner to an “I’ve got this coach” badass member. Let us help you 😊
If you’d like to learn more about us, sign up for a consultation in the form at the bottom and we’ll reach out. Share this post with your “gyms are not for me” friends.
Yours in Fitness
