Gymtimidation
It's that time of the year again. You know you need to lift weights and you have outgrown those ten pound dumbbells at your house, but you can NOT bring yourself to get to the gym.
Maybe it's because you had a bad experiene, or don't want to look silly or are intimidated by all the equipment (or the guys staring at you!). You are not alone! MANY people feel this way. The gym can be super intimidating for a lot of reasons.
I have teamed up with Nathan Ferguson, LCSW (who also happens to be my husband) to give you some practical tools from mindset to the actual equipment-
First and foremost, not everyone there is an expert. Many personal trainers who have certifications and years of experience have habits that would make a more truly balanced “expert” cringe.
Gym goers may look like they know what they’re doing, with their confident stride from section to section - but let me let you in on a secret…
It’s just.. FAMILIARITY. That’s it.
That’s all that confident stride is. And believe it or not - that can be you, if it choose it. And pursue it.
So you can see - you're one decision away.
A key is…
To realize this.
Take a learners perspective
Consistent action
"EQUIPMENT IS OVERWHELMING!"
Yes- there is a lot of equipment at the gym- and it can be super intimidating because everyone else seems to know what they're doing.. so you could...
-Go and just figure it out. There’s pictures on the machines and you’re a smart human!
-Typically gyms offer a inital tour of the gym. During this session, you could have your phone ready and take snapshots of machines you think you might want to use and research them when you get home.
-Bring a friend that’s more knowledgeable than you.
-If they offer a free/complimentary personal training session- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS! Schedule it with the plan to just get introduced to the movements. Maybe then you take a picture of the machine or even a video of you using it (with the personal trainer as your camera person). Many gyms do this by the way, to help get you familiarized with the equipment but also gym layout.
-Watch a bunch of YouTube videos - there are tutorials on gym equipment out there.
Keep this in mind: a person may be confident and still using a piece of equipment improperly.
Most people there are really focused on themselves… they’re in their own little world and not there to scour the area for newbies to criticize. For me personally, it’s a golden time of solitude. I get to be alone, do what I want, when I want. And that may be true for many people there, being alone, together.
Remember: confidence comes from repeated action… not from perfection.. Not from rightness or correctness.
Now, go get you some confidence through repeated action. Just keep a learners perspective and you’ll be zipping around the gym in no time at all.
What intimidates you at the gym? We’d love to hear from YOU!
Email Katy at: katy@strongasamotherstl.com
Xo,
Katy & Nathan Ferguson