Gymtimidation: The feeling you get when you step into the gym and feel out of place looking at all the athletic people and the machines that you may or may not know how to use.
--- When I talk to people who are even remotely interested in starting to work out, a primary factor that prevents them from going to the gym is the fear of the gym. I'm not gonna lie, I'm still working through this one myself, even after all of the work I've done over the last couple of years. Seeing all of the majorly ripped, thin, or just plain old athletic people can be incredibly intimidating, especially if you still don't have the body that you want or if you're new to working out. They're all beautiful, strong, and, frankly, kind of intimidating. They've been going at this for years, dedicate their life to training, "know how to do everything," and are hell-bent on being composed of more muscle than fat. You, on the other hand, look like a normal person. You want to get where they are, or you just want to be the healthiest version of yourself, but you aren't there yet. Or maybe you are, and you don't feel as if you're among the "elite". At the rec center I go to, there are two levels to it. The bottom floor is where all the weights and machines are, and it's primarily inhabited by those "perfectly sculpted" people that you fear will come up to you to correct your stance, or you feel out of place next to. The second floor has normally been a place where the non-heavily-ripped people and those who identify as more feminine than masculine can go to feel safe. In fact, there's even an enclosed box on the top floor with some free weights that's been a great safe space. This year, however, both floors seem like they've been taken over by the elite--even the safe box. Now, just for clarification, I'm not saying that ripped people shouldn't use the gym. They're there for a reason and they've obviously been working hard to get there. In fact, I hope that one day I will have some thick-ass thighs and look strong enough to not be messed with by someone who intends on causing me harm. However, for those who feel average, the gymtimidation factor is a real issue, and I want to help you (and me) combat it. Ways to Decrease Gymtimidation 1) Go with a friend Going to the gym with my "gym buddy" (turned partner) helped so much at the beginning of my and his process--and it still does. Instead of focusing on all the other people working out, we can focus on each other and helping each other. Also, people never came up to the two of us to correct us--this seems to only happen once we split off. 2) Go to small group classes If your gym offers small group classes such as cycling or anything else I highly encourage you to go. I've been attending a variety of small group training classes for the past couple of years and I'm always grateful that I spent the extra money for the pass. Everyone in the class is there to learn and develop, there are people of different ages and fitness levels present, the instructors are kind and are licensed to correct your stance so you don't hurt yourself, and you're able to get through the full hour of the workout because, let's be real, who wants to be the one to dip out early? 3) Invest in a couple of personal training sessions Having a couple of sessions with a personal trainer allows you to become comfortable with the various machines and gives you a chance to learn how to properly work your body--so if anyone comes up to you, you immediately know that their corrections are w-r-o-n-g wrong. Every time I see someone with a PT, my immediate thought is, "I'm so proud of that person!" so know that I'm encouraging you from afar. I'll be your pocket cheerleader. 4) Go in with a game plan Before you enter the gym, spend some time planning your routine. Look up new exercises based off of what you want to work on, create a bomb-ass playlist, dress in something you feel comfortable and confident in, and have your routine down before you begin. I have found that when I go to the rec without having mapped out my routine, I'm floundering around more than usual and feel even more out of place. Be prepared, confident, and block out the other people--your journey is for you. 5) Make sure you're comfortable What often happens when we see other people and their progress is we might feel like we have to keep up with them. Remember: everyone is on their own journey and you will make progress the more you keep at it. If you need to lift 3lb weights, then do 3lbs instead of the 10lb or 30lb that some other person is doing. Push yourself a little at a time, but always remember that there is no shame in being at the place you're in--whether you're just starting or you've been doing this for a while and feel like you should be further along. Even if I don't know you directly, remember that I'm always rooting for you! If you have any comments, more ideas on how to combat gymtimidation, or have a question, feel free to comment on this post or email me here. I hope you have a happy, healthy, and confident week!
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AuthorElena B. Archives
June 2020
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