I recently started working out again after taking some time off. These are the things I have learned and things I have had to overcome.
1. Basically everyone struggles with gym anxiety.
You are not alone! Getting to the gym is a struggle in and of itself, but you aren't the only one that deals with that. Worrying about what to wear, what workouts you're going to do, and what everyone else will be thinking can really add up, but in the end, it doesn't matter! You are amazing and just go and work at your own pace.
2. You're not the only one that struggles with self confidence.
All my life I have struggled with being confident in who I am, no matter how many people told me I was beautiful or important. It took me quite some time to recognize that I am amazing and also that I am not alone in this. So many other people are going through the same person. I don't go to the gym for anyone else. I go to better myself and to gain self-confidence and show myself what I can do.
3. It's OK if you don't know what you're doing.
For the longest time, all I would do when I went to the gym was cardio. I would go and run on the treadmill, or spend an hour on the elliptical. It wasn't until recently that I learned that I don't need to be scared of weights and all the other machines. Most of the time, the machines will have instructions on them and it really pays off to spend a couple minutes reading them before doing the workout.
4. It's OK to just workout a couple days a week.
A lot of people have the notion in their head that when they start working out, they need to go every single day and do long workouts every time. Let me assure you, this is not true! When you think about it this way, you can so easily get overwhelmed and that causes you to not want to go. It's totally fine to start going two or three times a week until you feel comfortable or want to go more often.
5. It's OK if you start out taking group classes.
I've found the group classes at my gym to be very helpful. If you're just starting out, the instructors can help teach you different workout ideas and help you with your technique. Odds are that the class will be filled with people of all experience levels, so you won't be alone. Also, if you're short on time, the classes are all timed and so you can just pop in for a quick spin class and then continue on with your busy day.
6. You don't need to pay for a personal trainer.
For a good amount of time, I wouldn't go to the gym because I had no idea what to do. I didn't know how to separate leg, arm, and back days and the workouts to do for each. I thought that the only way to learn was to hire a personal trainer, but it wasn't in my budget to do that. I didn't realize how many helpful apps and websites there are out there. So if you need some inspiration, or just some motivation, those are great resources to use.
7. Nobody is there to judge you, you are your worst critic.
I know the struggle of worrying what people are thinking about you, but, odds are, they aren't. It's really all about perception. You are the center of your own focus, but that applies to everyone else as well. Most likely, nobody is even paying attention to you.
8. The perfect playlist is a necessity.
I love to listen to intense music with a strong beat, but one of my friends prefers to run to songs by Lauren Daigle or songs like Tennessee Whisky by Darius Rucker. Finding your perfect list of pump-up songs is a key ingredient in finding your best self and getting into the right mindset to go into beast mode.
9. You are capable of amazing things.
You are capable of so much more than you even know. Embrace your awesomeness and give yourself the health that you deserve.
