Dealing with Gym Intimidation
Friday August 15, 2008
Yesterday, we talked about fitness fashion mistakes and, while some people thought it was a shallow topic to cover, I got some great responses from my readers who mentioned wishing they'd gotten a little fashion advice before going to the gym for the first time. Fashion may not matter as much as your workouts but, fitting in is something new exercisers worry about and what you wear is certainly a part of that.
This topic also brought up some discussion about gyms in general and how intimidating they can be to new exercisers. Where do you go and what do you do? How do you figure out how to use the machines? How do you deal if you feel like everyone is staring at you? It can help to learn how to navigate the gym and you can also find ways to deal with gym intimidation to make it a little easier that first day. My article about gym etiquette offers a few basics to keep the gym experience pleasant for everyone but, in the end, it's all about focusing on your workouts and doing the best you can.
If you have any thoughtful and polite tips for newbie gym-goers, leave a comment and give us the benefit of your wisdom.
Comments
The reality is that you need to find a gym that inspires you. And if you can’t find a gym that does that then you need to find another avenue to do so. Perhaps this means exercising outdoors, taking classes, hiring a trainer, or working out with a friend.
Feeling intimidated is one of the biggest obstacles preventing people from working out. The other alternative is get your hands on a well-designed fitness program that you can use at home.
Yuri
http://www.myFitterU.com
I was very intimidated when I first started at the gym! However, it didn’t take me long to realize that MOST people are there for the smae reason I am. TO WORK OUT. Now I don’t feel uneasy, I simply concentrate on my muscles and what they are suposed to be doing. (Of course knowing HOW to use the machines probably helped quite a bit with my becoming comfortable. So learning the machines during the slow time of the day might help.)
Hope this helps!
I have found that no matter how tough or hip someone looks at the gym, chances are they are actually quite nice and often eager to offer some good tips on exercising. Also, if you don’t know what to do or how to work out, look into hiring a personal trainer to at least help you get started. A good personal trainer can setup an effective program for you and show you how to do exercises with the proper form. Proper form is VERY important to get the most from the time you spend and to prevent unecessary injuries. I often see people working out with too much weight and poor form – not only do they look silly to those of us who know better, but they are putting themselves at risk of some real damage and sometimes posing a risk to others as well. There are also lots of good “how to’s” on this website as well as videos on YouTube & such, demonstrating exercises and proper form. We were all newbies at some point, so there’s no need to be shy about asking for help and no shame in not knowing. Of course, if you are shown the right form and continue to “fool around”, I have to really wonder why you’re wasting your time…
I started lifting at the gym about two years ago. I didn’t know what I was doing really, was coming off losing some friends (read- didn’t know anyone) and had a pretty thin build (read- intimidated by the bug guys who grunt).
These days I go to the gym regularly and really enjoy some challenging stuff with the free weights. I’ve put on some size and have cut the sleeves off of most of my workout shirts.
Even with my new guns and my iPod, I would always welcome meeting someone new at the gym, share what I can and be there for a spot.
In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone at the gym who wouldn’t offer a spot or indulge me as to what the heck they’re doing with that dumbell over their head like that.
If you’re new to the gym, please remember, none of us were born with naturally toned muscles. If so, we wouldn’t need to go to the gym. Rather, we’ve come to the gym to address our own issues with our bodies- just like you. Some of us are just further down the path than others. Talk to us. We’ll tell you where the potholes are!
J
I agree with what has been said so far, when I decided to join a gym I went to Gold’s and everyone said that I would feel intimidated by the people there, couldn’t have been further from the truth, everyone is friendly and working on their own thing.
Most gyms offer at least one free session with a personal trainer (which is a great time to familiarize yourself with the equipment.) But if you’re painfully shy about working out in public consider a private gym. Most private gyms will allow a clients to do aerobic workouts (bikes, treadmills, elliptical, etc.) on their own, but any weight training must be conducted with a personal fitness trainer. Private gyms cost a little more than a corportate gym, but you’ve got a well educated partner to guide you through the gym experience.
Don’t worry about what other people think, wear, or are doing. If you focus on what you are doing, none of that other stuff matters. If people talk to you, great. If not, no big deal… you’re not there to socialize. In fact, socializing can detract from your workout quite a bit, or so I’ve learned in the past. Now I keep my headphones on and stay focused.
Just a quick tip: when you are new to working out, ask around to see if someone that works there could give you a “tutorial” of how the machines work. If your more of a free-weight user like me, just do some online research and find out how to do different excersises with bars, dumbbells, ect.
The only intimidating part, and it’s not really intimidating… is you can’t talk to anyone. They all have ipods plugging their heads.
I have recently started going to the gym and thought that I would be uncomfortable around so many poeple because I really didn’t know what to do or how to do it. I love my ipod and the eliptical, to begin with I did Cardio and watched what other people did then tried for myself, however I had a little bit of help from friends (not at my gym) that give me advice on posture and execution and that really helped too.
I would suggest to any new ‘gymee’ that feels uncomfortable, to start out by going at the slower hours so you have a chance to play around with the equipment and figure out how it works without having someone rolling their eyes at you while they wait for you to finish. I also think fitness magazines are pretty helpful in explaining proper form and to pinpoint certain exercises for the area(s) you are trying to target and finally, I took advantage of the classes cause after a few weeks the instructors get to know your face and if you ask them specific questions, they are usually more than happy to take a few minutes to help you out. They wont go as far as show you machines but other general questions are OK as long as you dont keep them too long cause they only get paid for the class. =)
My gym has group classes in glassed in rooms so everyone in the gym can see what is going on in the class. For a long time I was intimidated because I did not feel very coordinated and thought I would look stupid if I messed up on the choreography. Finally, I realized no one cared about what I was doing; they were busy doing their own workout. I no longer care how I look, just that I am doing the best I can. I like the encouragement the other class members give each other and I am pushed to go longer and harder by the instructor. If you are new and never tried a class, thinking it would be too hard or you would look dumb, please give it a try. Finding people who care how you are doing is a great motivator to come every day and just do it!
I have been lifting regularly for just over 20 years!! People tell me that they are intimidated by me (6′4″, 265lbs), but I am very happy to answer questions from someone at the gym. So, go ahead and ask for help, you just might make that person’s day!!!
I have an even easier way to avoid being intimidated at the gym… Work out at home!!
I’ve been around gyms for the better part of 20 years and if there is anything I’ve learned it’s that if you are going to the gym to take care of yourself and putting in the time, you’ll notice: One, People there will respect that you’re putting in the time and Two, you really won’t care about the ones who want to pick on you.
A friend of mine had a saying which I will paraphrase into acceptable language. “No matter who you are, somebody thinks you’re a jerk.” So once that’s accepted as a given for everyone I can move on.
The suggestion about going to the gym at slower hours is a good one if that’s feasible. I’ve also found that asking questions is a good way to meet people as long as I try to stay aware regarding are they in a hurry or do they feel like spending a minute or two. Most people are quite glad to help. I find I am usually happy to answer people’s questions also.
As for feeling like everyone else is fitter, stronger, more attractive, and so on this is where the non judgementalness comes in. To my mind this is vital for a couple of reasons. One is that it allows me to go to the gym. Another is that it keeps me from pushing myself too hard and hurting myself. But most of all it is a spiritual principal that makes my life a lot happier if I use it whereever possible, not just the gym. I’m a musician also and if you think working out with a bunch of atheletes is intimidating, try playing a few improvised choruses with odd chord changes with really good jazz musicians. Makes you want to sell your horn. But I still have my horn. I practice regularly, I go to the gym regularly, and do my very best not to feel superior to anyone and thus avoid feeling inferior to others.
Curt
I know exactly how intimidating a gym can be. I used to feel so shy and worried that other people would be looking at me and laughing (ha ha she has to lose weight), but like everyone else here has said, there’s really nothing to be intimidated about. Everyone is there for the purpose of being healthy and nobody cares why you are there, because they’re concerned with what they are doing and why they are there. I’ve also found people at the gym (both trainers and gym-goers) to be very friendly and helpful. I remember asking one guy who obviously had been working out forever for help (he was totally muscular and intimidating looking), and he was more than happy to help. I find that the obnoxious people if you will, are few and far between.
I just signed up for a “themed” gym called Pure Power Bootcamp where you are automatically part of a platoon and have a group that really supports you in reaching your goals. I love it! And everyone wears the same uniform, (which is actually quite comfortable), so you can’t obsess about your outfit. The vibe is very supportive.
I’m documenting the progress in my video blog:
http://www.firstwivesworld.com/community/house-bloggers/sarah-farthing/pure-power-bootcamp
Check it out if you think it might work for you…