It’s finally here! Today is going to be your first day at the gym, and it’s hopefully going to be the first of many, many more. It’s going to be a difficult journey, but you’re determined to stick to this new routine and make it an integral part of your life.
Of course, you’re excited and eager, but as is the case when you try anything new, you’re also a bit anxious. You’re not sure what it’s going to be like at the gym and what you’re going to do once you walk in there. You might have some questions, what if…, how do I…, all of which make you a bit hesitant about what to expect.
Well, you’re not alone. For many people, not knowing what to do and where to start are major barriers to going to the gym. They think it would be intimidating and embarrassing, so they’d rather just avoid putting themselves in those circumstances altogether. Therefore, for those of you who want to get into working out but don’t know how, I want to offer a few pieces of advice to help you navigate this process.
Don’t Feel Embarrassed
Many people want to get into working out, but are afraid of suffering embarrassment since they don’t really know what they’re doing. They fear being singled out for their lack of experience, but the truth is this isn’t something you need to be concerned about.
Everyone at the gym is busy working towards their own fitness goals, and frankly, the only person they’re staring at most of the time is themselves. In the end, people aren’t hanging around scrutinizing other people’s workouts. Even if they do notice someone who seems to be struggling with an exercise, it’s more likely because they want to offer some guidance and help that person out rather than make fun of them.
Therefore, don’t let the fear of embarrassment hold you back from accomplishing your goals. When you walk into the gym for the first time, remember that everyone you see there was in the same position as you at some point. We all took that leap of faith, and it worked out perfectly fine.
I think you’ll also find that even after going to the gym just a couple of times, you’ll quickly acclimate to the environment. The hard part really only comes down to overcoming your initial concerns of being a beginner, but once you successfully do that, any remaining apprehension you may have in this regard will quickly disappear. Still, if you don’t want to go into it all completely clueless, check out some suggestions I have for how to get started in the gym.
It’s OK to Ask for Help
You should find yourself adapting to the gym pretty easily, but if there are any particular areas in which you’re struggling, know that you don’t have to go at it alone. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help. Most people in the gym are very approachable, and even though they might have earbuds in and look like they don’t want to be disturbed, they’re usually more than happy to help out if you ask them a question.
If you see someone using a machine that you don’t know how to properly use, ask them to show you. If you see someone doing an exercise you want to learn, see if they can quickly teach you the correct technique and give you some helpful tips.
You can also ask for general advice related to health and fitness. If you see someone who has the physique you want to achieve, feel free to get some insights into what it took to get them there. Not only could you learn some valuable information, you’ll probably also make that person’s day.
Don’t Overwhelm Yourself
There are many factors that go into achieving your fitness goals. I cover a lot of these, such as training frequency, technique, and intensity, just to name a few.
However, don’t worry about all that for now. Being at the gym for the first time will already be overwhelming enough, so there’s no need to further complicate things. This will only confuse and frustrate you, and your first experience with working out won’t end up being a very pleasant one.
Right now, just focus on getting familiar with the gym. Try out any machines and exercises that seem interesting to you. Learn how different movements affect different parts of your body, and just get used to the feeling of exerting your muscles. There doesn’t need to be much reason or logic to it other than the fact that you’re there to learn, discover, and simply gain some exposure to working out.
As for the more advanced stuff, you’ll start to pick it up and refine your workouts with time and experience.
Find a Reason to Come Back
Your first day at the gym is something you should be incredibly proud of. Taking action is something that requires a lot of motivation and determination in and of itself, and is a necessary first step towards achieving your goals.
However, the hard work is only just beginning. Now that you’re in the gym, the next step is to find a reason to keep coming back. Especially for beginners, the most important element to achieving long-term success in the gym is consistently being in the gym. No matter how intensely and effectively you train, none of it will result in progress if you can’t stick to it.
This is something that most people inevitably struggle with at some point. You might think this won’t be an issue for you, but that’s probably because you’re just beginning to work out and everything is new to you, so the novelty of it all is quite thrilling. Going to the gym excites you, and your motivation is at an all-time high.
After a while, though, as working out becomes more routine, your interest might begin to decline, especially if you’re not seeing the results you were hoping for. It’s at this point that your commitment to achieving your fitness goals will be put to the test.
To mitigate this future risk, use this time in the gym now to find out how to make working out something you genuinely enjoy doing. Find exercises and activities that you actually like performing. Sign up for a few group classes and you might discover some that are actually very fun. Make working out more interesting by bringing a friend or even making a new one at the gym. Turn going to the gym into something you do not because you have to, but because you want to.
It’s Not a Race
When it comes to getting in shape and accomplishing fitness goals, we tend to place all the importance on what we’re doing when we’re working out; however, if all of this is new to you, there’s a lot more that must be addressed before we can get to that point.
The reality is that before you can progress with your training, you must first get accustomed to having training be a consistent part of your life. You must be able to conquer any fears you have of being new to the gym and develop the discipline to continue going to the gym when it gets difficult in order to then focus on optimizing what you’re actually doing when you’re there.
It’s awesome that you’ve decided to embark on this fitness journey. It’s going to be tough, but it’s also going to be filled with exciting milestones and significantly improve your quality of life. For now, though, there’s no need to think about all of that. Take it one step at a time and advance at a pace that’s comfortable for you.
