Don’t Be Intimidated
July 19, 2008 by Kelly Turner
Filed under Fitness
I work at a private, one on one, personal training studio. It’s not a gym where you can just come in and work out whenever you want. Its just the client and the trainer in a private suite. There are two suites, so there are no more than about 4 people in there at time. Aside from the personalized attention, the intimidation factor is zero, and that’s why people like it so much.
Big, public gyms, like 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s, can be very impersonal. I work out at 24 Hour Fitness, and even the personal trainers I have encountered are detached and uninterested. These gyms do, however have their up sides. You can go in whenever you want, stay as long as you want, use a HUGE variety of equipment, they usually offer free classes with membership, and are cheaper than private training.
These gyms can be intimidating to the out of shape, the shy and the inexperienced. Rows of people with rippling muscles and horrible fake tans, clad in spandex, lifting their body weight or running for hours is enough to make anyone feel like a schlub. Don’t let intimidation keep you away from the gym, and away from the body you want.
Remember why you are there. The gym is a place to get in shape and take care of yourself. Everyone is there for the same reason, even though they may be in different places in their pursuit of health. I guarantee you no one is watching you, they are too busy focusing on themselves.* Pop in your ipod and forget about everyone else.
Use it as motivation. Is someone next to you bench pressing twice the weight you are? Instead of getting down on yourself and quitting, think about how hard they must have worked to get to that level. You can get there, too, if you keep working at it.
Ask for help. Machines and equipment can be confusing for a newbie. When you sign up, the club will usually give you a tour. If you see a foreign machine, ask how to use and adjust it. If you are already member, find someone working that looks bored, wandering aimlessly, (there seems to be a lot of them) and ask them to give you some pointers. Or ask a fellow gym mate. You might make a new friend. Just make sure its not with sweat band guy-they are hard to get rid of.
Be a copy cat. Don’t know what to do when you get there? See what everyone else is doing. I consider myself a gym veteran, and I still learn new exercises everyday from people watching.
Don’t be afraid of the free weight room. This is where you will usually find the huge guys grunting, lifting and pressing more than you weigh. If you are a lady, no worries. It may seem scary, but the guys will all start showing off immediately, no matter what: they can sense estrogen. And men: the buffies are too interested in looking at themselves and their awful tribal tattoos in the mirror to even notice the weight you are lifting. Don’t try and lift too much to keep up. You’ll only end up hurting yourself. And, trust me, those guys curling 50lb dumbbells, most of the time aren’t doing it right. Those muscles aren’t going to help them when they throw out their back trying to finish the set. Stick to good form and laugh when they inevitable break something. Just don’t try and correct them, or they may break you.
Go with a friend. Things aren’t so scary when you have someone right along there with you. And you’re less likely to cut your workout short if you are holding each other accountable. Just make sure you choose your buddy wisely: don’t bring the chatterbox or the whiner, or you’ll spend most of the time motivating them to get moving. Bring someone along that you know will challenge you, but not leave you in the dust.
Most importantly, have fun! If you knew how little people paid attention to you, you’d probably be insulted.
*Unless you are the one guy/girl that feels the need to wear a sweatband on you head and wrists. I have one at my gym that wears leg warmers. LEGWARMERS. I can’t look away. I love it.
Don’t forget to enter GroundedFitness’s Badass Giveaway, to win your own 15 pound kettlebell and DVD. Contest ends Friday, July 25th.
I have to admit, my eyes are also caught by those in lacy tanks tops or rhinestones appliqued shorts. Especially when I’m dripping sweat in my wicking gym wear and wiping myself down with a towel. My advice–wear what’s comfortable!! It’s not a fashion show
Well I work out at home thankfully (we have lots of equipment) and I do wear sweatbands…..on my wrists to help lessen the bruise/pain with the Kettlebell Snatches and Clean and Presses :)
OHH Kelly, we once again think on the same plane. A while ago I posted a blog about ’sweatband guy’ http://www.2bestrong.net/2008/05/what-are-you-looking-at.html.
I agree with you 100%. Never compare yourself to other members, it’s not fair to yourself. We are all in different stages of our health. I think it says a lot about a person who can ask for help as opposed to doing things blindly. I tell my wife all the time. The best ideas (and exercises) are stolen. Sam Walton was a expert at it.
Great post.
Err.. uuhh. I just left a comment and it dissapeared??
OK. I’ll try this again. LOL
I love how we always think on the same plane Kelly. I posted a blog about ’sweatband guy’ a while ago titled- ‘What are you looking at’.
I think it says a lot about a person who can ask for help as opposed to doing something wrong, or god forbid doing an exercise improperly! I tell my wife all the time, the best ideas (or exercises) are stolen. Sam Walton was a pro at it!
Great post.
When I went to the gym I found that I wasn’t as intimidated as I might have been if I had known the people who went there. But everyone at the gym was a stranger to me so I kind of felt like if I made a fool of myself, it didn’t really matter.
Sometimes thats the benefit of going it alone! It gives you a little extra courage to ask questions or try something new out.
JenP- I like to wear tight things just because I feel more comfortable (ie. less hot) when I wear them at the gym, but I am always sure that if Im wearing a tank top, i wear pants or capris and if I wear shorts I wear a t shirt. I dont feel so exposed that way. some people can get away with it, but im not one of them. im not comfortable.
christi- yeah, i actually would recommened wrist bands for kettlebells, especially if you havent dont them before. you can get some gnarly bruises.
strong one- the link made the comment go to spam, but i dug it out for ya. so in other words NOT MY FAULT! :)
sagan- exactly. those people dont know you, and honestly they dont care what you are doing. they are there to work out and leave, especially the super inshape ones which can be most intimidating. they couldnt care less what you are doing. as long as you dont get in their way. or try and talk to them or anything.
Hey Kelly. As a personal trainer for 15 years, I have never seen it put so succinctly before.
If someone is able to get a friend to come with them and isn’t afraid to ask for help then the gym world is their oyster. Great Post!
Jamie Atlas
Kelly, You are such an encourager! I’ve never read fitness stuff past the 1st paragraph because I would feel it was the same blah, blah blah…YOU however, have caught my ear with common sense and humor, and the “come along side” menatlity that tells me you are a trainer that has compassion and accepts everyone of us right where we are. Thank you for giving us all that gift!
At my old gym, there was a woman who worked out in legwarmers, a leotard and a thong…on the outside. It was so 1984 that it was unbelieveable. I hoped she was at the gym every time I went.
I HEART leg warmers.
Wait – all the hot women trainers aren’t gawking at my amazing body???
I’m disappointed.
jamie- if only it were that simple. i cant even get anyone to take a walk with me, let alone got to the gym. Id kill for a gym buddy.
nancy- thanks! honestly, i dont reads that crap either, because its just the same regurgitated, dry stuff over and over. thanks for reading!
sweetsandsweats- youre kidding me. I would have worn the same thing, just one day, and then walked up to her and go, “OHH MY GOSH, THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING, WE ARE WEARING THE SAME THING!”
Alice- i dont know if anyone remembers this (or if im just too young) but there was a phase that abercrombie and fitch started where little girls would wear jean skirts, leg warmers and flip flops. yeah….i dont know either.
chris- no, the girls check out the guys and the guys check out themselves. so you’re good.
Ahh, good point Kelly, gym partners are tough to find. Maybe there should be a speed-gym-partner-finding service someone could run so people can find workout buddies quickly and easily. Kind of like speed dating, but with a different kind of ‘getting sweaty’ in mind.
Jamie