Let’s be honest ladies, have you ever been terrified to go to the gym? With so many fit people in our culture, it can be hard not to think you are going to look like a big slob next to those dedicated gym goers. If you’ve been intimidated to go to a gym because you aren’t sure what workouts to do there, or how the machines work, have no fear.  Here are some basic tips to get you plugged into a gym and get rid of that pesky gym anxiety.

Ask For A Tour

Gym employees should want to give you a tour and show you around.  Tell them that you’d like to see how the equipment works. This is what they do, and they should be glad to help. Also, this is a great way for you to see that the gym is for people of all ages, sizes, and levels of being in shape.

Sign Up For A Class

Your gym most likely will have classes that you can sign up for.  This might be perfect if you are new to gym life.  You may want to sign up for an aerobics class, spinning class, or maybe even a strength training class. Ask what’s available and sign up for one.  You can always switch to a different class if the one you sign up for is too hard, too easy, or just not your cup of tea. Who knows, you might even meet some new friends!

Try The Pool

If your gym or YMCA has a pool, you are in for so many options. There are usually aerobic water classes you can sign up for, scuba lessons, or the traditional workout of swimming laps. The pool should have a sign in the room that says how many laps are to a mile, and also how many meters long the pool is.  Some basic etiquette is to stay in your lane while doing laps, or if your pool is crowded people often share lanes. Try to pick a lane with people going your pace. Then stay to the right at all times.

Warm Up and Cool Down

Whatever exercising you do, make sure to do a proper warm up and cool down. You don’t want to pull a muscle on your first trip to or back to the gym.  A warm up should start slow and get your blood pumping.  A good example of a warm up would be jogging a couple of laps before settling into your workout.  After getting blood to the muscles now is a good time to do some stretches. If you are doing an arm day, then stretch your arms, if it’s leg day then make sure to stretch out those glutes, hamstrings, calves, and quads. Once your workout is complete, it is just as essential to cool down. If you don’t cool down, you can have sore muscles, pull something, and cause your muscles and ligaments to become tighter. Try jogging after you finish your workout, taking a walk, or just bobbing as you stretch.

Keep it Simple and be Consistent

The biggest factor for you getting in better shape is going to be your consistency.  When I life guarded at a YMCA many years ago, each year we’d see a huge membership and population increase on January 2nd.  Then the big decline started happening around the beginning of February. The new year’s resolution crowd always has great aspirations but not many stick with it. Don’t be like them.  If you want to see changes, you are going to have to do something different and consistently different from what you have been doing.  Get a routine going. When your workout routine turns into a habit, you are on your way to being a fitter you.

Don’t Compare

When you first start at a gym, it can be tempting to try to keep up with the track star running beside you on the treadmill or to copy the same weights the ultra fit girl is lifting. This is only going to lead to you getting discouraged and wanting to quit the gym. Even though you feel like everyone is watching what you are doing, no one is. Go to the gym, do your workout, and don’t let yourself care about what other people think.

 

I hope that these tips help you as you are hoping to join a gym soon or get over your fear of gyms! Have any fun exercises or tips for joining the gym? Comment below!