Starting to go to the gym can be a very overwhelming and intimidating task. What if people judge me? What if someone sees me there? What do I wear? These are all thoughts that used to race through my head when I was starting to lift at the gym. Many people worry about being judged, and are apprehensive about going to the gym for the fear of doing it “wrong.” However, starting to go to the gym can be a liberating experience; it can help you build your confidence and reduce a lot of stress! Here are some of my best tips and tricks that could help you get started in the gym.
Familiarize Yourself
It is definitely helpful to familiarize yourself with different types of workouts that will suit you best. Try to research different types of workouts and schedules that you feel will be most enjoyable and beneficial for you. There are many great resources online that can help you create a schedule to achieve your fitness goals. Personally, my schedule varies based on my busy college schedule but I aim to strength train 5 days a week with one day of cardio, because that’s what works best for me! It can also help to research “how to” videos on youtube or have a friend come with you to teach you how a certain workout is done to avoid injury.
Make a Schedule
Oftentimes, especially as a college student, life gets busy. I find it helpful for me to create a workout schedule for the week so I can make sure I set aside time to go to the gym. However, this does mean your schedule has to be rigid. I always allow for leniency, and if something comes up and I have to move around my day or skip a workout, it is totally fine! As an example, my schedule usually looks like this:
Monday- Push
Tuesday- Legs
Wednesday- Pull
Thursday- Push
Friday- Pull
Saturday- Rest
Sunday- Cardio and abs
If there comes a day where a certain type of lift sounds too tiring or I am just not in the mood for it, I will totally move around my days and switch up my schedule. Nonetheless, creating a schedule keeps me motivated and ensures that I will make time to move my body- any way I choose!
Practice
As cliche as it sounds, practice truly does make a difference when going to the gym. When you are just starting out, it is sometimes hard to maintain motivation and feel comfortable lifting and working out. When I started to lift, I made many mistakes and I often had to research or ask someone for help. Although this was very humbling in the moment, the help I received from my peers (and google) helped me gain so much confidence in the gym. As I stuck with it, I eventually knew how my body worked and learned which workouts felt best for me. This is so important to understand because everybody is different and what works for someone else will not always work for you. If you keep practicing, you will not only learn what you like best, but you will also get better at doing certain exercises.
Treat Your Body With Kindness
Starting to workout at the gym can induce a lot of stress on your body. It is absolutely necessary to get enough rest, hydration, and food. The gym can be a really fun place when you are treating your body kindly. This means ensuring you get enough rest at night, and also give yourself rest days from the gym to allow your body to recover. It is also important to stay hydrated because as you start to incorporate exercise into your routine, your body will naturally require more water than usual to compensate for the sweat. Drinking enough water will keep your body hydrated and also aid in recovery/energy at the gym. Finally, diet is extremely important when going to the gym. Just like water intake, your body will likely require more food when you start working out. You will feel the best at the gym when your body is fueled properly, so always remember to eat enough food to give your body energy, aid in recovery, and to build strength.
Be Confident
Finally, be confident! As I discussed before, starting out in the gym can be very daunting and humbling. It is definitely intimidating to start working out in fear of judgment or making mistakes. However, if you keep practicing and make a commitment, you will eventually be a pro! I have learned that no one is perfect in the gym, people make mistakes, and no one is actually concerned about what you are doing. At the gym, everyone is usually focused on what they are personally doing, so no one will judge you for being there. The gym has helped me gain so much confidence in myself and it is my favorite way to relieve stress. Remember to be patient with yourself and allow yourself time to learn. Remember to allow for rest and leniency in your commitment to the gym, and always try to maintain a balanced lifestyle so that you feel the best you possibly can!