6 Tips to Overcome Gym Intimidation
This picture from 2013 was the first time I ever actually tried to “work out” (aka I got on the elliptical for 20 min then did some abs and left). It was at LA Fitness and I didn’t stick with it. Ended up not going for like 2 months after this and eventually started working out at the gym I worked at.
I remember this picture like it was yesterday! Even though it was 6 years ago! This is when I had just started becoming consistent and was also undereating due to stress. I wasn’t intentionally undereating, but I didn’t know how to properly fuel my body and had just gotten out of a really toxic long term relationship.
I remember the first time I stepped into a gym to actually workout. I was terrified. I’ve shared this story before but to keep things short, I had actually worked in a gym for a long time (like 7 years!). I worked in kids club and the front desk and I NEVER “worked out”. I would occasionally jump on cardio machines but even that was super rare.
I spent so much time working that the last thing I wanted to do was workout there + I had absolutely ZERO idea what I was doing. Lifting weights was SO intimidating. The gym I worked at was also a very much a “bro” gym where most of the people who worked out there were into bodybuilding and made me feel even more insecure.
Bottom line is that everyone deals with this in one way or another. Trust me! It’s going to be intimidating at first. There’s really no way around it. Accept this feeling and know that you have GOALS to reach and it will get better. You have to be willing to be uncomfortable in order to succeed.
If you continue to let fear hold you back and keep you from stepping foot in the weight room, you aren’t going to get where you want to get. If you’re okay with that, then fine. If you’re not and you’re craving something more- then you have to suck it up. You aren’t alone. I promise that EVERYBODY feels this way at first. The only difference is that they pushed through anyways. Just like anything new, it gets better with consistency! Teachers, think about the first time you ever taught a lesson in front of your college supervisor or directing teacher…terrifying right?! But then it got easier. This is the exact same thing! Except you aren’t getting evaluated on it LOL.
6 TIPS TO OVERCOME GYM INTIMIDATION:
This picture was taken after I had already been working out for about a year. Way more confident!
1) ACCEPT IT : Know that you are going to feel intimidated at first. It’s OKAY! :)
2) HEADPHONES/HAT: Wear headphones and listen to good music that gets you pumped up for your workout! Some people also like to wear a hat as well! I don’t know about you but I am able to focus on my workout much more when I have some good tunes and limited distractions :) People are much less likely to talk to you if you have headphones in / are wearing a hat. You aren’t as approachable!
3) HAVE A PLAN: Have a plan BEFORE you go to the gym. If you are brand new to the gym and have no idea what to do, you’re going to feel like a lost puppy. There are TONS of free workouts available online. Use bodybuilding.com and pick a workout. You can change what you’re doing and learn how to create your own workouts later on. First step is just getting in the gym. Also, don’t be afraid to look up exercises before your workout and again during your workout if you need to. Almost every single exercise will come up with a video if you search it in google.
4) START AT HOME: Buy some dumbbells and a yoga mat and start learning basic exercises at home. You will feel much more comfortable when you get into the gym if you’ve had some experience with the exercises below. Again utilize youtube/bodybuilding.com for basic exercise videos! I can also create home based workouts for you if you’re interested in that :) email me! teachersgonestrong@gmail.com
5) MAKE/BRING A FRIEND: It’s WAY less intimidating to workout if you have someone there with you. I also feel like you’re much more likely to push yourself if you have someone right next to you! Have fun with it :) I actually prefer to workout alone now (because I like to zone out and listen to music) BUT when I first started I would workout with a friend and it made it SO much better!
6) HIRE A TRAINER: (even if it’s just for one week!). This is basically what I did when I first started out! I didn’t hire an actual certified trainer but I had someone I worked with at the gym who I knew was knowledgeable, show me a lot of basic exercises. For one week I had him walk me through how to workout arms, legs, back, chest and etc. I repeated those workouts FOREVER and that’s okay! As I got more comfortable I learned how to add in different accessory movements and switch my workouts up. If you don’t want to hire a trainer you can also just schedule a walk through at your gym and have them show you around the weight room/machines. This will help you feel more comfortable too!
I hope those 6 tips helped! I know how scary it is at first but I promise it does get better! Once you get used to it you won’t care at all about what other people think or what you THINK they may be thinking. YOU’VE GOT THIS! Go lift those weights ladies!! :)
With love,
Brooklyn
Built some leg muscles! I was a string bean prior to working out.
After years of lifting. SO much more confident!! This was taken right before I found out I was pregnant last winter.