Here are five tips for new gym-goers:
Make a Schedule
If you create a schedule every week, you'll be more likely to stick with your plans. Make sure to write it down and put it somewhere you can always view it. Writing a schedule forces you to plan out your day and be as time efficient as possible.
Find a Workout Partner
I get it, going to the gym is incredibly intimidating. Go out of your way to find a friend who will be willing to go workout with you. Creating workouts and pushing yourself is much easier when you have someone pushing you. Design a workout ahead of time and build off of each others energy. A training partner can make workouts more efficient and more enjoyable
Find What Works For You
Research, Research, Research!!!! There is more to working out than just lifting weights. Find a workout that fits your style, the options are endless. Lift weights, start running, mountain bike, swim, join a crossfit box, powerlift, get into bodybuilding, join a HIIT class, or even do some yoga. The list goes on and on. Find your fit.
Make a Goal
Don't just go to the gym because you want to be skinnier or gain more muscle. Make a unique goal and strive for it. That goal can be anything. Maybe you want to run a sub seven minute mile or you want to be able to squat three hundred pounds. You could strive to complete a race such as a Tough Mudder or aim to be flexible enough to reach certain yoga posses. Set your goal high, so that you'll have to work hard for it. Don't be discouraged when the goal doesn't come as easily as expected. It's all about the journey.
Stop Making Excuses
You want to go to the gym. You want to lose weight. You want to look good. So why aren't you doing something about it? It's not that you don't have the time or the equipment. It's not that you can't workout and don't know how to. Working out is an art that needs to be learned and can be learned by anyone. Find a way to get a workout in, even if it's just for thirty minutes in your basement doing body weight movements. No one makes progress by making excuses.
