Hi,
Are you afraid of joining the Gym?. Or, Have you signed up and bought all of your clothing, water bottle and towel, yet youre too fearful of starting your health quest, and going to the Gym? Read on as you will soon overcome this self-induced and unwarranted fear!
It is a regular choice being made to begin exercising in a Gym setting, in order to reach desirable physical (and mental) results. So, why is it that many people wanting a better lifestyle fail to introduce themselves into a Gym setting, or join for 1 week only to never return?
Gym Intimidation is one of the largest reasons behind this problem, and is a very common barrier between a person, and their quest to a healthy mind and healthy body. Infact, this was one of the main barriers and reasons I had, ensuring I personally failed to maintain a regular exercise routine through my previous attempts.
Though, speaking now from a more educated and experienced perspective; this barrier of Gym Intimidation is easily defeated, and greatly misunderstood by the beginner(s) of the Gym/Exercise world. It is a psychological battle with yourself that you must overcome to be a happy participant in the Gym, and to be-able to focus on yourself and your own goals.
So, what exactly -is- Gym Intimidation?
Often, many people who join the Gym and seek a personal trainer for motivation and guidance, will say to their trainer: How can I get fit, and get in better shape before I start training in the Gym?. People often feel intimidated by others who are better built or toned, while others feel intimidated by the exuberant amount of various exercise machines and routines that can be initially overwhelming. It is even a regular thought by many, that It must be obvious Im new, everyone must be staring at me, I must be doing something wrong, or look very out of place.
All of these are common, and almost natural concerns when you are first beginning at the Gym. Although, you must remember that in anything you are being introduced to, will always hold uncertainties. While it is a natural reaction to fear uncertainty; with friends, personal trainers, and the Gym staff at hand you will have knowledgeable and friendly people to guide you correctly.
Probably the most confusing misperception of the Gym setting in my mind, is a person claiming that they are not in shape enough or not big enough or too overweight for the Gym. Think about this for just one moment. Your local Gyms have been created, designed and purpose built to assist regular members of the community in developing a healthy body, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, if you are out of shape, too thin, very weak, or overweight then you are the people the gym was designed for.
While there are often many very well built, well toned, and athletic people in the Gym; these conditioned persons are maintaining what they have achieved, or possibly altering their body composition for a competitive purpose (sport, body building, modeling). However, the people who fit in the most are the unfit people!.
In addition, many inductees into the Gym setting, may feel that they are being watched by everyone else. They may feel that they stand out. They may feel as if the regular participants in the Gym are questioning their motives. However, the _-reality-_ is that most regular exercisers at the Gym have a lot of respect for newcomers.
We are all at the Gym for the same end result - A healthier body, a healthier mind, and goals that we wish to achieve. It is a massive achievement for you to be at the Gym, and I can assure you that everyone at the Gym respects new beginners giving it a try. Most new people (myself included when I first began) will feel a sense of hesitance, fright or confusion and will feel the center of scrutiny in others minds, but this is so far from the truth; as all health freaks admire and encourage each other to reach results.
It is a courageous first step in your focus towards your new life, and almost every person in the Gym will help you with any queries you have. If you want advice, or any help at all, the people who frequent the Gym will almost always offer you help; and short of that you are welcome to always question personal trainers, and administrative staff.
However, if you -still- feel apprehensive at this point. Here are a few tips to assist you in building your confidence at the Gym....:-
Step 1: - Set up an Orientation - (Ask Questions)
Many Fitness Centres will offer new members the opportunity to have an orientation of the building. This will provide you with full knowledge of where everything in the Gym is located, which areas are built for which purpose, and more importantly, _some_ Gyms will also use this time to show you how to use the machines youre most interested in, as a method of easing you into your new Gym experience.
Use this time to ask the trainer or membership technician any questions that you have, including any insecurities or foreseeable problems you might encounter - The more you ask, and more knowledge you gain the better and more confident you will feel in making this next step.
Step 2: - Hire a Personal Trainer , or , Find a Work-out Buddy
In this instance, you are welcome to hire a personal trainer, AND use a work-out buddy. The benefits of these two options will be massive, however, it also rather depends on your personality type, and how you cope with new experiences.
Some people are rather private, and enjoy testing new waters in their own time, on their own terms; where you will likely wish to develop your knowledge and skill in the Gym alone. However, this is very rare. It is very difficult to develop intrinsic (self) motivation, and uphold it on your own to develop achievable results.
This is why both friends to work-out with you, or personal trainers, will provide you with extrinsic (external) motivation, support, encouragement, and assistance in learning new exercises, understanding the machinery, and submersing yourself into the world of the Gym and Fitness industry. Friends are great for moral support, theyre wont cost you a cent, and it will infact increase your bonding capacity, and socially active life.
Personal Trainers are certainly recommended as well, to reach your desired results. Even if you only purchase 1 (one) session per week at approximately $50 AUD weekly; this will provide you with a framework that you will be-able to adhere to on your own, when you visit the gym between sessions. Personal Trainers are -usually- knowledgeable on exercise subjects, and usually will provide you with adequate nutrition and exercise tips. They will also be-able to perform measurements to assist you in tracking results, while giving you great motivation and desire to succeed.
However, a short warning. While all personal trainers should be required to be certified before practicing exercise prescription; this is not always the case. In most cases, all Personal Trainers will be qualified, however it is highly recommended to research your personal trainers qualifications, and seek testimonials from other members this person has trained, before hiring them as $50 for 30 minutes is a premium rate, that should only be paid to those whom are worth the money. As some people are not well qualified, there is always that possibility that theyll reduce your results, or possibly generate harm.
Step 3: - Choose quiet periods to begin with
This is a great way to prepare yourself for the Gym, without feeling heightened intimidation levels. If you are able to choose the quieter periods (between 9am - 12pm, and 1pm - 5pm, as a _rough indication_); then you will be-able to move freely between machines and weights, use most-to-all equipment available, and also be open to experimentation without the fear of prying eyes, or possible mistake or embarrassment. Most of all, youll have free use of most equipment, which during peak busy periods would not be the case, ensuring that you would need to be prepared for regular Gym etiquette.
Gym Intimidation is predominantly a mental battle with yourself; and is one that you can defeat with some ease. Be sure to recruit some of the confidence-building methods Ive suggested here; however the most important message for you to acknowledge, is that _-you are-_ able to work-out in a Gym setting; _-you are-_ accepted, respected and encouraged to be in the Gym setting; and _-you can-_ do it!
I wish you all the best of luck in your future exercise endeavors. Your health is so very important to your sustainability in elderly years, and I have every faith that you will succeed, and be the person you aspire to be!
Are you afraid of joining the Gym?. Or, Have you signed up and bought all of your clothing, water bottle and towel, yet youre too fearful of starting your health quest, and going to the Gym? Read on as you will soon overcome this self-induced and unwarranted fear!
It is a regular choice being made to begin exercising in a Gym setting, in order to reach desirable physical (and mental) results. So, why is it that many people wanting a better lifestyle fail to introduce themselves into a Gym setting, or join for 1 week only to never return?
Gym Intimidation is one of the largest reasons behind this problem, and is a very common barrier between a person, and their quest to a healthy mind and healthy body. Infact, this was one of the main barriers and reasons I had, ensuring I personally failed to maintain a regular exercise routine through my previous attempts.
Though, speaking now from a more educated and experienced perspective; this barrier of Gym Intimidation is easily defeated, and greatly misunderstood by the beginner(s) of the Gym/Exercise world. It is a psychological battle with yourself that you must overcome to be a happy participant in the Gym, and to be-able to focus on yourself and your own goals.
So, what exactly -is- Gym Intimidation?
Often, many people who join the Gym and seek a personal trainer for motivation and guidance, will say to their trainer: How can I get fit, and get in better shape before I start training in the Gym?. People often feel intimidated by others who are better built or toned, while others feel intimidated by the exuberant amount of various exercise machines and routines that can be initially overwhelming. It is even a regular thought by many, that It must be obvious Im new, everyone must be staring at me, I must be doing something wrong, or look very out of place.
All of these are common, and almost natural concerns when you are first beginning at the Gym. Although, you must remember that in anything you are being introduced to, will always hold uncertainties. While it is a natural reaction to fear uncertainty; with friends, personal trainers, and the Gym staff at hand you will have knowledgeable and friendly people to guide you correctly.
Probably the most confusing misperception of the Gym setting in my mind, is a person claiming that they are not in shape enough or not big enough or too overweight for the Gym. Think about this for just one moment. Your local Gyms have been created, designed and purpose built to assist regular members of the community in developing a healthy body, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, if you are out of shape, too thin, very weak, or overweight then you are the people the gym was designed for.
While there are often many very well built, well toned, and athletic people in the Gym; these conditioned persons are maintaining what they have achieved, or possibly altering their body composition for a competitive purpose (sport, body building, modeling). However, the people who fit in the most are the unfit people!.
In addition, many inductees into the Gym setting, may feel that they are being watched by everyone else. They may feel that they stand out. They may feel as if the regular participants in the Gym are questioning their motives. However, the _-reality-_ is that most regular exercisers at the Gym have a lot of respect for newcomers.
We are all at the Gym for the same end result - A healthier body, a healthier mind, and goals that we wish to achieve. It is a massive achievement for you to be at the Gym, and I can assure you that everyone at the Gym respects new beginners giving it a try. Most new people (myself included when I first began) will feel a sense of hesitance, fright or confusion and will feel the center of scrutiny in others minds, but this is so far from the truth; as all health freaks admire and encourage each other to reach results.
It is a courageous first step in your focus towards your new life, and almost every person in the Gym will help you with any queries you have. If you want advice, or any help at all, the people who frequent the Gym will almost always offer you help; and short of that you are welcome to always question personal trainers, and administrative staff.
However, if you -still- feel apprehensive at this point. Here are a few tips to assist you in building your confidence at the Gym....:-
Step 1: - Set up an Orientation - (Ask Questions)
Many Fitness Centres will offer new members the opportunity to have an orientation of the building. This will provide you with full knowledge of where everything in the Gym is located, which areas are built for which purpose, and more importantly, _some_ Gyms will also use this time to show you how to use the machines youre most interested in, as a method of easing you into your new Gym experience.
Use this time to ask the trainer or membership technician any questions that you have, including any insecurities or foreseeable problems you might encounter - The more you ask, and more knowledge you gain the better and more confident you will feel in making this next step.
Step 2: - Hire a Personal Trainer , or , Find a Work-out Buddy
In this instance, you are welcome to hire a personal trainer, AND use a work-out buddy. The benefits of these two options will be massive, however, it also rather depends on your personality type, and how you cope with new experiences.
Some people are rather private, and enjoy testing new waters in their own time, on their own terms; where you will likely wish to develop your knowledge and skill in the Gym alone. However, this is very rare. It is very difficult to develop intrinsic (self) motivation, and uphold it on your own to develop achievable results.
This is why both friends to work-out with you, or personal trainers, will provide you with extrinsic (external) motivation, support, encouragement, and assistance in learning new exercises, understanding the machinery, and submersing yourself into the world of the Gym and Fitness industry. Friends are great for moral support, theyre wont cost you a cent, and it will infact increase your bonding capacity, and socially active life.
Personal Trainers are certainly recommended as well, to reach your desired results. Even if you only purchase 1 (one) session per week at approximately $50 AUD weekly; this will provide you with a framework that you will be-able to adhere to on your own, when you visit the gym between sessions. Personal Trainers are -usually- knowledgeable on exercise subjects, and usually will provide you with adequate nutrition and exercise tips. They will also be-able to perform measurements to assist you in tracking results, while giving you great motivation and desire to succeed.
However, a short warning. While all personal trainers should be required to be certified before practicing exercise prescription; this is not always the case. In most cases, all Personal Trainers will be qualified, however it is highly recommended to research your personal trainers qualifications, and seek testimonials from other members this person has trained, before hiring them as $50 for 30 minutes is a premium rate, that should only be paid to those whom are worth the money. As some people are not well qualified, there is always that possibility that theyll reduce your results, or possibly generate harm.
Step 3: - Choose quiet periods to begin with
This is a great way to prepare yourself for the Gym, without feeling heightened intimidation levels. If you are able to choose the quieter periods (between 9am - 12pm, and 1pm - 5pm, as a _rough indication_); then you will be-able to move freely between machines and weights, use most-to-all equipment available, and also be open to experimentation without the fear of prying eyes, or possible mistake or embarrassment. Most of all, youll have free use of most equipment, which during peak busy periods would not be the case, ensuring that you would need to be prepared for regular Gym etiquette.
Gym Intimidation is predominantly a mental battle with yourself; and is one that you can defeat with some ease. Be sure to recruit some of the confidence-building methods Ive suggested here; however the most important message for you to acknowledge, is that _-you are-_ able to work-out in a Gym setting; _-you are-_ accepted, respected and encouraged to be in the Gym setting; and _-you can-_ do it!
I wish you all the best of luck in your future exercise endeavors. Your health is so very important to your sustainability in elderly years, and I have every faith that you will succeed, and be the person you aspire to be!
, head back blonk 2 x 5kg weights, and continue to sit for another couple of minutes before finishing the 4th set 
