Okay, does anyone else hate going to the gym?! I know I’m supposed to be the fitness girl, with all the confidence who motivates all of you on a weekly basis. But for the sake of transparency….the gym is not my favorite.
Ask anyone in the PK office, and they will fill you in on my mile long list of excuses and reasons for not going to the gym.
The sad thing is…I actually want to go to the gym! I just let my intimidation get the best of me, and my fear, laziness, etc. hold me back from going at all. And that’s sad because guess what? My health is so much more important than a temporary fear! And so is yours.
Now is the time to break gym intimidation once and for all, because we are worth it! So check out a few of my tips below, and let’s break gym intimidation together.
7 Ways to Break Gym Intimidation
Remember: No One is Watching You
Stop worrying about other people! We worry about how we look, how fast we’re going, how much we’re lifting- in reality, few people really care about what you’re doing. They’re focused more on their own workout and their own fitness journey.
You Don’t Need to Be in Shape to go to the Gym
Have you ever found yourself thinking you want to go to the gym but you want to get in better shape first? Well, news flash, you don’t go to the gym because you’re in shape, you go to the gym to get in better shape!
While you may imagine the gym to be crawling with people who are in amazing shape that will just make you feel bad about yourself, everyone at the gym is on their own personal journey, and come from all walks of life. Most importantly, they are there to improve themselves just like you!
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask the Gym Staff For Help
If you have a question don’t be embarrassed to ask! Any personal trainer in the gym should be happy to show you how to use a machine, give you tips on your form, or even give you a spot. It’s much better to know how to do something properly to maximize the benefit of the exercise and to prevent injury!
Find a Friend
Having a friend at the gym can help give you more confidence, can give great moral support, as well as the accountability you need to get your workout done! Plus if you find the right buddy it can really make a workout way more fun, and make you want to continue your program.
Know When to Go
Many people are intimidated by a busy gym floor. If you hate weeding through crowds, and waiting for machines, and just feeling like a sardine in general…wait to go to the gym until off-hours! During weekdays the gym is generally less busy in the early morning, mid-afternoon, and late night. During weekends, the gym is typically busiest in the morning through lunchtime.
Tap Into the Resources
Are you having a hard time keeping yourself accountable, or making progress towards your goals? There are so many resources at gyms to help get you there!
Many gyms have free classes open to their members. Check out a few classes and see what you enjoy! Pick a class to stick with for a few weeks! Even if you don’t decide to keep it up, you might learn something you can use in your own routines out on the gym floor.
Finally, if you’re looking for help towards more specific goals, hire a personal trainer! They should be able to help you come up with a plan that suits your needs. Even just try it out for a month- you’ll be surprised by how much you learn about proper form, and what you should be doing to reach your goals.
Last but not least…..JUST GO!!!
It’s funny but it’s true. It can take just one trip to the gym, to get you excited about going back. I think you’ll find once you’re there it’s not as bad as you think it is…and you may actually enjoy putting in some work and making progress towards your goals!
Guys- I really hope these ideas help you out! If you still need a little nudge to get to the gym, tap into your community on PK Fitness. Just looking at others workouts often gets me thinking “If he can do it, so can I.” PK Fitness will always be there to encourage you along on this fitness journey of yours!