New Year, New Me… no, Seriously! 20 useful tips to Gym newbies.
We all know that in the New Year, many people’s resolution is to get fitter, healthier and possibly to join a gym. I know there are a lot of comments on Social Media that get you discouraged before you even start, and I also know that the gym can be a scary place for beginners. Even people who are regular gym goers, can get intimidated when going to a new gym… I do. Everything that is new can be a bit uncomfortable, but once you learn your way around the gym, meet a few people, and MAINLY start seeing results…the gym will not be that scary anymore.
So, to help you get started I have gathered a few tips of my own and from my Social Media followers to make your experience at the gym less scary and much more enjoyable.
So, here they are:
- BE PATIENT! I know you are probably tired of hearing this, but it is very important that you understand that bikini body you have been dreaming of will not happen overnight. So, don’t get discouraged.
- Consistency! Take a look at your schedule and see how many days you can commit to training, once this is established, stick to it. Even if you can only make it to the gym twice a week, you might think that it isn’t enough; however, 2 times a week is better than NO times a week.
- Be careful with information overload! It seems like that everyone and their moms is an expert these days…and, this can get very confusing…Heck! I get confused sometimes. LOL… So, remember that everyone is different and what works for one person, might not work for you. Seek advice from a Personal Trainer or look at reliable sources for information. (Check out my 4 Weeks to Fit Training and 4 Weeks to Fit Nutrition Guide)
- The best routine, type of training and class is the one you enjoy and will stick to! If you enjoy the activity you are doing, chances are you will not be looking for excuses to why you should give up on it.
- Re-rack your weights. This might sound a bit obvious for us tidy ladies, but it’s crazy how the gym can look like a war zone sometimes. So, if you load a machine, unload it when you are done, used a dumbbell then put it back where you found it. I think that by doing that you might even score a few extra tips from the gym staff, because they will love you. 😉
- ’Jumping in’’ – In a busy gym it is very common to let someone ‘’jump in’’ when you are using a machine. This means that while you rest, the other person uses the machine and vice-versa. This is very common and a common courtesy to your fellow gym goers
- ‘’Sweat…wipe it’’ If you are anything like me, then this tip is for you! If you sweat buckets when you are training, it is an unwritten rule that you must wipe the machine/bench when you are done. Again, common courtesy to your fellow gym goers. You can even bring a little face towel with you… this helps a lot.
- Don’t be afraid to ask!! If you don’t know how to use a machine or how to do an exercise, it is absolutely OK to ask for help to a staff member. Don’t feel embarrassed, because it is better to ask than to do it wrongly and risk hurting yourself.
- A lot of gym regulars can look very serious when training, but a lot of times we are just focused, so don’t take it personally.
- While the gym is a cool place to make friends with like minded people, interrupting a person’s training just to chat is almost a felony in our gym unwritten rules. So, if you want to chat, wait until they are done or just ask if they can talk.
Well… while there are many other tips that could be added to this list, I think that these are the main things. I hope you enjoyed it, and I can’t wait to see all of you sticking to this New Year’s resolution and showing off your bikini bods in the Summer! Wohoooo! Until next time. =)
