If you're not already super muscular or a guy, going to the gym can be scary. As an out-of-shape female who has only taken one weight-lifting class in high school, there are a lot of anxieties that reveal themselves when going to the gym for the first time in…a long time.

For all the girls who hate or even fear, interactions with sweaty, testosterone-filled men grunting as they squat 400 pounds, the cardio machines are your safe-haven. As a girl who fears running almost as much as she fears being surrounded by brawny men, it was hard to find my place.

Before attempting the great hurdle of actually going to the gym, I did my research and planned a good workout for my skill level (beginner). I found out what machines I needed before-hand to avoid looking like a "newbie," yet the actual act of walking into the gym still felt wrong.

As I slowly made my way through the workouts on my list, I found myself constantly looking around at what everyone else was doing. Some were doing workouts I hadn't ever seen before, and most were lifting triple the weight I had on my bar. It was obvious I did not belong here.

As months passed and I regularly showed up to the gym, I began to feel less anxious and more proud of what I was accomplishing. Obviously, I wasn't super toned and wasn't lifting considerably more than when I started, but I was making progress.

I proudly began sharing my gym accomplishments with those around me. If you want to remain proud of your accomplishments, I recommend that you do not do this.

The responses I received were shocking.

"You can only run that fast?"

"You've been working out for four months, andyou can only lift that much?"

"I didn't even notice you've been working out."

"I'm sure you can lift more than that."

My inflated ego immediately deflated, and at this point, I began questioning if going to the gym was even worth it. I really just wanted to feel stronger and healthier, but it became obvious that I wasn't making as much progress as I had originally thought. Would I get more or less criticism if I just stopped trying?

The progress I was making seemed much better to me than what the people around me allowed me to believe. This is when I realized that their progress was not my progress. Just because I can't run as fast or lift as much or workout as long as the person next to me does not take away from the progress I have made in the past months.

I am better, healthier, and stronger than I was four months ago, and in four months I will be a better version of the person I am now. I am here to tell you that your progress is not related to the progress made by those around you. I ask you to continue to better yourself despite what the people around you have to say.