Scared of Joining the Gym

JaneSmith1

Guys

I know this might sound a bit daft, as I am a 32 year old woman, but I am scared of going to the gym! I have never been before and I want to go and get fit and for it to get me out of the house at night.

Can anyone give me any tips about not to be so silly! I went to look around a hotel gym and when the gym showed me the fitness suite there was 5 people sat on the equipment chatting and staring at me. Now I know this might be a one off and it has got a lovely pool!

All I want to do is a bit of running and a few weights followed by a float in the pool. Maybe more if someone wants to show me!

Thank you!

Daedalus

A lot of people are neverous about new environments. We all feel it when we start a new job. We all know it is irrational, we know we will laugh at how silly we were being.

I can't say I have ever looked/judged or anything someone at the gym, I go to exercise, look stupid exercising, then leave.

I also go to a hotel gym as it is right by work, it is very small but normally empty when I am using it in the morning or lunch.

Just force yourself into doing it and you won't think twice.

Dogger69

Do it - the only way to get over that fear is to go for it. That's coming from someone that took four years to get through the door!

Once you're in there no one cares what you look like or what you're doing. There is no typical shape in most gyms, and everyone is there for the same reason - to get/ keep fit.

Good luck!

Fire_Fox

JaneSmith1 wrote: »

Guys

I know this might sound a bit daft, as I am a 32 year old woman, but I am scared of going to the gym! I have never been before and I want to go and get fit and for it to get me out of the house at night.

Can anyone give me any tips about not to be so silly! I went to look around a hotel gym and when the gym showed me the fitness suite there was 5 people sat on the equipment chatting and staring at me. Now I know this might be a one off and it has got a lovely pool!

All I want to do is a bit of running and a few weights followed by a float in the pool. Maybe more if someone wants to show me!

Thank you!

How many stars is the hotel? There is 'cachet' with the better hotels even when the facilities are limited, you can get a certain type of clientele. Whilst some gyms people are snobby or starey, most have a mixed client base who too busy working out or worrying about how they look or are even friendly and welcoming!

Maybe join a gym that has a quality induction programme such as a council, charity, college or university gym, rather than a pricey private one. Also let the staff know you are a complete newbie, some staff are particularly good at putting people at ease or teaching from scratch.

Running you can do outside with a beginners programme (there are free apps and podcasts), if you've never been on a treadmill it's can be a surreal experience having the ground move but the view not change, most of my clients walk initially. You really do need some sort of instruction on weights, for safety you need great technique, for efficacy you need to lift heavy/ slow/ to failure which is obviously risky if you don't know what you are doing.

The other thing that is great for beginners is group exercise, BodyPump is weights to music using a barbell so you can learn good technique without paying for personal training. People who engage with studio classes seem more likely to work out harder and stick with their routine long term too. IMO that is down to the social aspect, the variety and having a fixed time of day to attend.

HTH.

heartbreak_star

I heard a great saying a while back.

"It takes 20 seconds of insane courage to do anything at all".

20 seconds will get you from the door of the gym onto a treadmill or picking up a barbell. 20 seconds will let you ask the receptionist to book you into a class. 20 seconds is enough time to ask the trainer about a new exercise.

Steel yourself for 20 seconds. Good luck!

HBS x

diamond_sky

Maybe try an exercise class first? then build upto a gym. There are definitely gyms that are geared towards more normal bodies than lycra clad muscle heads! So go to a few and look around.

billa_champion

"Just do it"! Honestly people are there to exercise and nothing else and no one stares and points at other people! You get all shapes and sizes in the gym and at least you're doing something about it.

heartbreak_star

The quicker you learn the posers are there to look at themselves and not you, the easier it gets

HBS x

kushy

Its very difficult when we think its easy when implement.Only think of you and proceed.

Keep

bluenoseam

I found that the majority of people in the gym were people just like me, wanting to improve their health a little, the "starers" look for a few seconds then go back to looking at themselves in the mirrors. Although it probably helps that I use a local authority centre, probably less "bro" types and more sensible people.

Just remember that you're doing it for YOU, if they want to look that's their problem and if they have a problem with you being there, well, that's their problem as well.

katejo

JaneSmith1 wrote: »

Guys

I know this might sound a bit daft, as I am a 32 year old woman, but I am scared of going to the gym! I have never been before and I want to go and get fit and for it to get me out of the house at night.

Can anyone give me any tips about not to be so silly! I went to look around a hotel gym and when the gym showed me the fitness suite there was 5 people sat on the equipment chatting and staring at me. Now I know this might be a one off and it has got a lovely pool!

All I want to do is a bit of running and a few weights followed by a float in the pool. Maybe more if someone wants to show me!

Thank you!

I am older than you and have just had a first induction at the gym. I actually quite enjoyed it. The member of staff gave me an intro to a selection of the machines so I wouldn't feel silly trying to work out what to do. I went back there for another session yesterday. I had previously been swimming on my own quite a few times but was completely new to the gym. If your gym offers a full induction (perhaps for an hour) go for that and not for the cheaper half hour one.