Ladies, Let's Talk About Overcoming Gym Intimidation

Walking into a gym can be really intimidating. Big pieces of equipment you have no idea how to use. People that obviously have a very consistent gym habit. You may feel a little out of place. Like everyone is lookin at you like "who's this chick?" I totally get it. Like for real.

Confession: when I first started working in a gym, I didn't really know what I was doing and for the longest time I avoided the free weight area except to clean it.

For years I'd had an interest in becoming a personal trainer and jumped at the opportunity to become a wellness coach at my local YMCA where I had been shadowing one of their trainers. I had just been shown how to use all of the machines and was told to go back through on my own to familiarize myself with them some more. When I got to the leg curl machine I could not for the life of me figure out how to get the doohickey to move the thing to get the whatchamacallit to do the stuff!

A member ended up showing me how to use it and in my head, I thought...

Yep.

I made a good choice here.

I'll totally be able to teach members how to use these machines.

Every single one.

No problem.

So that whole feeling intimidated and out of place thing? I totally get it!

The hunks of metal and machinery look like they might just squish you and you don't want to look like an idiot trying to figure out how to use them...

So, you play it safe and hop on a treadmill because at least all you have to know for that is to hit the "start" button. But then after a little bit the treadmill gets boring, doesn't it?

Ladies, let's talk about overcoming gym intimidation...

because your body NEEDS to move and get strong!

The key thing here is to ASK FOR HELP. Funnily enough if you're here reading this blog, I bet asking for help is really hard for you because you tell yourself you can handle it on your own or because you don't want to be a bother to anyone. STOP IT. There are trainers and fitness coaches there specifically to help you! A lot of gyms will do a FREE fitness consultation to talk about your goals and/or show you the basics of how to use the equipment in the gym. Take advantage of that!

Here's another tidbit.

Those people in the gym that look like they know exactly what they are doing were once beginners-just like you.

It's likely that they were also intimidated and felt out of place and unsure of themselves. They didn't come busting out of the womb knowing the perfect form for a deadlift or how to do a proper push up. They had to figure it all out, and it's likely that they asked for help. And probably still do.

I've been a trainer for over 10 years and have an exercise science degree and I still look to other trainers and coaches so that I can learn more. No one knows all there is to know.

Everyone, at some point, was a beginner. Let yourself be one too.

There is something I feel I need to mention even though I highly recommend the gym.

If you don't like working out in the gym (and you've actually given it a real try) that's absolutely okay! The cool thing about creating a healthier lifestyle is that you get to choose what you want to do to be fit. So if you like dancing try out a Zumba class. If you like sports find a local recreational league. If you don't like working out alone you can get a workout buddy or take a class.

As long as you're getting in some cardio (stronger heart and lungs and improved sleep) and strength training (building muscle and strong bones and improved mental health) and some kind of mobility training (better balance and coordination and maintaining range of motion in your joints) you are golden.

Sidenote: all of those benefits listed are just the tip of the iceberg! 

Starting your health and fitness journey can seem super overwhelming, especially when it comes to exercise. The key is to not let feeling intimidated or out of place keep you from doing something for your well-being. No one knows exactly how to do something when they've never done it before. Sure, you can watch people doing it, watch videos of people doing it, you can even have someone tell you exactly how to do something and demonstrate, but until you do it yourself you're not going to KNOW like you need to know. So start out where you're at. It's okay to be a beginner!

If you struggle with feeling intimidated by the gym or you just don't know what you're doing, then please reach out! I'm here to help make the gym feel less scary and like you fit in with everyone else (because you belong there, too). It's time for you to get stronger, reduce aches and pains, and feel better and more confident in your body. Send an email to me at janna@jl-wellness.com and let's talk about how I can help you in person (Fort Wayne, IN area) or online!

Further recommended reading:

Reduce Anxiety & Stress with Movement: 5 Simple Ways

How to Make Your Workout Routine Actually Stick

10 No BS Lessons from a Decade as a Personal Trainer

What I Did Instead of Trying to Force Productivity