Get Rid Of Gym Anxiety And Be Productive On Your First Day By Following These Tips

Hitting the gym seems like a simple decision, but studies show that over 60% of Americans never get the required amount of exercise in their lives, while one in four people is completely sedentary. An article in Harvard Health said the primary cause of why many people don’t get their required exercise is simply because they choose not to. But you have taken the first step in being the exception to this crowd and congratulations on your determination to do so.

Feeling anxious? It's totally understandable

Since you have never been to the gym in a long time (or at all), you may feel anxious about what to expect. You must have looked at videos of people with perfect bodies telling you about how they made the transformation from being thin to getting buffed, and this could intimidate you. However, what you must remember is that every person in those videos was in the same position you are currently in when they started out. They made a choice to hit the gym just like you, and they stuck to it.

You are your biggest competitor. All you need to focus on is if you have made a little progress towards your workout goals regularly, whether it is losing weight, adding muscle or building stamina. Never compare yourself to others and do whatever you find works best for you. You need to get into the right mindset for exercising and commit to a few days of hard work in terms of your diet. You also need to set some realistic goals for the outcome of your exercises. But with time and patience, you can achieve the healthy body you have always dreamed of.

However, if you feel too overwhelmed by your anxiety, consider taking a friend along with you to the gym. Your buddy can help assist you with tough workout and you can keep each other on track with your goals. When anxiety kicks in, you can share it with your friend and push through it together.

Here are a few things you must remember before your first day in the gym.

Your transformation will take time

One of the most common misconceptions of people hitting the gym is if they exercise more, they will get their desired results faster. Whether you wish to lose weight, improve your strength or build muscles, the quality of your exercise is better than the quantity all the time. Doing more than what your body can take leads to overtraining, which causes more harm than good.

Torturing your body with more than what it can take can make you prone to injuries and can put a stop to all your exercise plans for a long time after. Muscles need time to adapt to your new exercise lifestyle. They also need enough rest to develop.

The best way to start your journey is with three or four exercises a day, for two to three days a week. This will give your body time to recover and will also help you adapt to the alternative lifestyle before you move on to more intense workouts.

Have all your gym essentials with you on your first day

If you don’t have proper gym attire, check out Strong Liftwear’s collection of clothes for men and women that will help you get the maximum benefit from your workouts. You will also need the right bottle to carry your protein supplements and a good duffle bag to put them all in. Do not forget to get yourself a pair of training shoes that will help you with both cardio and weight training workouts.

Having the right gym attire will go a long way in making sure you have a lower risk of injury since they are designed in such a way that they fit the body and do not get caught in gym equipment. Good quality gym clothes are made with stretchable material, offering you a better range of motion for your muscles. They also have a breathable fabric, so that your body gets enough air to cool down, especially when you are performing endurance exercises.

Besides your attire and workout accessories, you will also need a lock to store your things in the gym’s cupboards safely. Bring a towel to wipe off sweat from your gym equipment after you finish exercising. This will make sure the next person has clean equipment to work with and they will appreciate you for that. You can also carry a bigger towel if you are planning to take a shower at the gym.

One of the most important accessories you need to carry is your water bottle, which will help you replenish any fluids you lose from your body while working out. If you prefer your own music to the one being played at the gym, carry your iPod and headphones with you.

Ask for help whenever you need it

Working out with other people has many benefits, and one of them is that people can assist you when you are not sure about how to use some equipment or perform an exercise. Your gym will have trainers who can help you out, and there will be many other people, both beginners and experienced, who can guide you through exercises and help motivate you too.

If other people in the gym intimidate you and you are afraid to ask for help, get over it. There really is no need to worry because everyone in the gym knows your pain. They needed help when they started out, so they will not hesitate to help you, if you ask them for it.