Feeling confident in the gym is no easy feat, especially when you’ve only just started your getting fit journey. Looking around at everyone who seems to know exactly what they’re doing when you simply haven’t got to that stage yet can be more than a little intimidating. Here are a few tips to help you build up your confidence and keep you coming back to the gym.
Hire A Personal Trainer
First of all, you could consider hiring a personal trainer for a few sessions. Yes, it can be a little pricey if you decide to do it for longer than that, but it’s a good idea to get someone to show you how exactly to work all the machines and what the gym’s usual procedures are so that you don’t feel too uncertain about what exactly you should do. It’s also a good idea to hire a personal trainer because they can help you figure out how exactly you can get fit. After all, everyone has completely different fitness goals and parts of their body that they want to work on, and working out a fitness plan with a trainer who really knows their stuff is a great way to start.
Make Sure You Look The Part
Let’s face it, your old baggy grey sweatpants and an old holey t-shirt definitely won’t make you look good at the gym. Of course it’s much more about what you’re doing than what you look like but if you’ve only just started out at the gym and you don’t feel very confident yet, looking the part can definitely make you feel better about how you can start to fit in. Talk to someone who works in a sports shop to figure out what the best shoes would be for the exercises that you intend to do, and make sure that you buy clothes and lift apparel that have moisture wicking properties so that the sweat is drawn away from your skin and you don’t feel uncomfortably damp.
Get Fit Outside The Gym Too
If you feel disconcerted by how relatively unfit you are in comparison to everyone else there, you can make an effort to keep fit outside the gym too so that you’re not fully relying on it to get you where you want to be. If you drive everywhere, ditch your car and start walking more, and make sure that you start to take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Eating well will also help you feel good, particularly if you drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated will help your whole body start to work better.
Remember That Everyone Started Somewhere
Finally it’s important to remember that all of the other people at the gym were like you once upon a time - they didn’t come out of their mothers’ wombs completely built, after all! Even if you feel a little left out of the gym camaraderie, remember that everyone else there used to be in the same position that you are now. The best way to get through any awkwardness is to stick in there and keep working at it.