I want to be fit. I want to build muscle. I want to lose weight.

I want a flat stomach.

I want toned legs -- maybe even a bigger butt.

Many of us have had thoughts about bettering our bodies, whether it be through eating healthy or staying active. But many of us have also made tons of promises to ourselves about finally getting a gym membership or fitting the gym into our daily busy routines, and time and time again, we have broken them. We tell ourselves, and maybe our friends, that we will go to the gym, but they've heard it all before. So, then you might hear, "You say that all the time and it never happens." And then the rest goes like this. You make excuses - I'm busy. I don't have time. Studying and working at the library takes up most of my day; when would I even go to the gym? When would I have time to watch Netflix or have fun or complete my assignments? See, the thing is, there is always time. Time can be made for everything, even 15 minutes of working out several times a week. All it takes is some motivation, determination, and willingness to work hard and balance everything you want to have in your life. And sometimes, it's really hard to get yourself out of bed or leave your best friend's house and instead, sweat at the gym and suffer from soreness for the next few days. And I've been telling myself all these things lately, because I want to work out, get fit, and live a healthier life, but I continue to put it off. Not anymore. Next week I will be the "newbie" at the Marist gym.

I can't speak for everyone, but one reason I continue to put the gym off is because I don't want to be "the gym newbie." There are people who attend the gym regularly or on a several days a week basis, people who know each other, and more importantly know what they are doing at the gym! I'm not one of these people. So yes, I feel self-conscious about working out at the gym. Luckily, I know I'm not alone. Because at some point, the people who are now athletic trainers had no idea what they were doing. But for those of you "gym newbies," here are a few things that I have found to help myself with being the "new girl" at the gym:

1. Know your goals before starting a fitness routine

Before you start going to the gym, set goals for yourself. Do you want to tone your legs? Or maybe have a six-pack before the summer starts? Do you want to improve your stamina? Or would you like to just better your body in general? It's important to know what you want to do at the gym - what you would like to work on, what things are of an interest to you. Having a goal might better motivate you to stick to a fitness regimen and keep yourself on track -- remember, the worst thing you can do is slack!

2. After setting goals for yourself, do your research!

It's extremely important to do your research before you jump into a fitness routine. The gym can be a fun place to release energy, stress, and sweat, but it can also be dangerous. If you don't know how to use certain machines, do certain exercises, and properly work out the muscles you want to, you can pull a muscle or worse, break a bone from being misinformed. So, it's extremely important to watch videos of physical trainer workouts and research information on how to work out, in order to be visually informed on how our bodies work and how to properly train them.

3. Try new things -- different machines, workouts, and stretches!

Don't just stick to the same workout every day. "Shock the muscle," as Arnold Schwarzenegger would say. If you consistently perform the same workout, you're constantly exercising the same muscles. Working out the same muscles won't give your body a chance to recover, can leave your body open to injury, slow progression, and lead to muscle depletion. So it's important to switch it up, even if there is a specific muscle group you would like to train. That might mean you should train your upper body one day and your lower body the next. The more you switch it up, the more results you will get!

4. Remember, you are a "newbie," so don't start with the most intense workouts or the heaviest weights at the gym -- work your way up!

When trying to get fit or train a certain muscle group or even your entire body, it's important to work your way up from the bottom. Don't start with heavy weights or very intense workouts because you might strain your muscles, which can be very painful. Don't overdo it as a beginner! Get used to working out before you take your workouts to another level! Taking care of your body and keeping it away from harm is important, so take it easy in the beginning.

5. Lastly, take breaks and have fun!

DON'T go to the gym every day. Going to the gym every day does not allow your body to rest and recover from your previous workouts. It's important to take rests and breaks. Even though you are most likely going to the gym to get fit, work out certain muscles, and live a healthier lifestyle, going to the gym should still be fun. So, let go of your stress and worries! Have fun with working out!

Remember that anything you want in life can be achieved, so getting those toned legs, big butt, or flat stomach is all in your reach, even if you're a "newbie." The best athletic trainers were once "newbies" reading the instructions on machines, looking for the answers to the questions that we "newbies" have.