The gym can be a scary place. A lot of people who are thinking about getting fitter and joining a gym would describe it as intimidating and full of super fit people who all know what they are doing. Especially when stepping into the gym for the first time and feeling like you have no idea what you are doing. However, if you just make a start in the gym and remain consistent for long enough you will soon come to realise that:
it is not as scary as you first thought
nobody cares what you are doing, it is not all eyes on you (they are there the same as you, to get the work done and get home)
99% of gym goers will be happy to help if you were to ask
Think of any environment you went into for the first time such as school, work or a party. They were probably intimidating too. You don’t know anyone and you are out of your comfort zone. But, after a while, you no longer feel uncomfortable. You make friends and you find your place there. Then, you forget you were ever intimidated to start with.
With that in mind, one of my key tips to any beginner going into the gym and feeling intimidated initially would be to just turn up a minimum of 3 times per week and do whatever it is you feel comfortable doing. Don’t worry at this stage what it is you are going to do once in the gym, just turn up consistently for those three sessions.
Sure you may have read on Google that whatever you choose may not be the most effective or may not be that good for your goal HOWEVER you have to remember it is better than nothing and it is only your start point. Type “the best exercises to do” into a Google search and you will be bombarded with lots of new and seemingly confusing exercises that claim to be the best training you can do. True or false, it is no good if it just leaves you feeling more confused, lowering your confidence and causing you to stop going to the gym all together.
For example, walking on the treadmill. Do I think this is the best use of an hour in the gym for someone looking to improve their fitness, their body composition or just lose weight? Possibly not but it certainly has its benefits for the beginner. Firstly, it is easy to perform as you have been walking all your life and therefore won’t feel silly doing this. Secondly, the treadmill is easy to use which leaves less chance of you feeling nervous when setting it up. You simply hop on and press START. If you normally spend that hour watching soaps, drinking a brew and eating some biscuits then it is much more productive. Then, in a few weeks time when your confidence has improved at the gym, you can start to branch out to other machines and exercises.
So, if you have been thinking about joining a gym or you are a lapsed member of a gym, here are some tips to get you on track.
Tip 1: Book a full induction
Ensure you make the most of the induction and ask as many questions as you can. You won’t remember everything you are taught or shown on this induction but don’t worry. Take in what you can, come in the next day and give it a go. Consistent repetition will help you learn and build competence. Anything you are unsure of just find a member of staff and they will be happy to help you.
Tip 2: Ask for help
If you get stuck, don’t worry, just find the nearest gym instructor and ask for help. It is what they are there for. Ensure you keep asking until you are fully comfortable on your own. Fitness instructors can’t take you through your entire workout but will help you with setting up machines, with technique and advice.
Tip 3: Hire a Personal Trainer
If knowing what to do and how to perform exercises is important to you consider hiring a Personal Trainer to teach you and give you the 1-2-1 attention that will ensure you learn and become more competent faster.
Remember, your first big step is to get in the gym. Don’t worry about what is next until getting to the gym is a habit. I have trained hundreds of clients over the years and they all achieve things that they never thought they would be able to do, such as bench pressing, deadlifting, chin-ups and press-ups. If we had attempted these exercises at the beginning of their journey, I would have scared them off and they would have never come back. Training is a process not a race and with every new habit and every new achievement comes more competence, confidence and opportunities to progress further.
If you have any questions on any of the above feel free to reach out to me at:
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