Peering in from the outside, the weight room at the ARC always seemed to look like a man cave where sweaty men in bro-tanks would gather for their daily ritual of lifting weights in the pursuit of, as the kids say these days, getting “swole”. Initially, I lacked the confidence to workout in this environment since I was a bit of an amateur when it came to utilizing all the resources the gym had to offer. Of course, I was fully entitled to use the space of the weight room just as much as everyone else, and I admired the people I did see in there workin’ their stuff without feeling intimidated by the gym regulars. It took time, but with the following tips, I learned how to work that gym like everyone else in there, and gained confidence in my workout routine!
1. Let go and have fun with it!
It’s easy to think that all eyes are on you when you’re just trying to get your workout in. You start questioning yourself, “Can the person next to me hear me breathing really heavy? Am I bothering them? Am I stomping on this treadmill? Do people think I’m an elephant?” In reality, everyone is working on themselves and no one actually gives a damn what other gym-goers are doing in the gym; most people are zoned out listening to their own music, focused on what they are at the gym for.
2. Start out slow
If you are new to using machines in the gym, maybe read up on some how-to’s online of ones you know you’ve been wanting to try. There’s no pressure to know how to use every machine the gym has to offer, and going back to #1, no one is analyzing whether or not you know how to properly use The Abductor P90X Limbus 2000 (I made up that name. Don’t try to Google that one). It’s best to move slow with your repetitions on the machines. Take it slow and relaxed so you don’t strain yourself.
3. Wear makeup if you want!
If you wear makeup on the regular and don’t want to forgo it when you’re at the gym, that is totally okay. There is no rulebook that says you must be bare-faced when working out; there are lots of mirrors in the gym, so the likelihood is that you will be glancing at yourself a lot. If you want to look a bit more put together while workin’ your stuff, go for it! Just make sure that your foundation is powder to prevent breakouts from liquid foundation, your eye makeup is a bit more minimal to prevent running makeup from irritating your eyes, and that you always wash your face after a workout to stay hygienic.
4. Bring a friend!
A workout buddy can keep you motivated and feeling more comfortable in a setting you aren’t used to. If they know how to navigate around the weight room, then they can show you a few tips n’ tricks. If they are also newbies to the gym, then it’s a learning experience for both of you! It’s a win-win for you, your bud, and your health!
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