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Original poster

How to get over my fear of the gym?

21 replies

losenotloose · 06/09/2019 16:10

I joined nearly a year ago and have done loads of classes and had a couple of inductions in the gym but can't bring myself to go. I want to get properly into weight lifting and have a routine I've been following at home but just can't bring myself to go. I can't afford a pt and just need to get over it but I feel paralysed from doing it! Has anyone got any tips for me or managed to overcome the gym fear? Thanks

OP posts:

Horatioroses · 06/09/2019 16:11

Tell us more about what scares you

Original poster

losenotloose · 06/09/2019 16:14

Umm, looking stupid, not knowing what I'm doing. I actually don't know why I'm so nervous but every time I plan to go I bottle out!

OP posts:

Aquamarine1029 · 06/09/2019 16:17

You will not look stupid, and in fact NO ONE will be looking at you at all. It's honestly the truth. Nobody cares what you're doing or what you look like. Just take the plunge and get in there and you'll see that I'm right.

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muddledmidget · 06/09/2019 16:23

Ask at the gym when the quiet times are for weights. I know in my gym Monday evenings are when the 'muscle men' as I call them go. Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 11am there are only 3 people in the whole gym and none at the weights end.

Also, if you're worried about looking stupid, do you know what you're doing? As long as you're happy, ignore anybody else. If the equipment at the gym is different to what you've got at home, ask the instructor for a review of your programme and let them show you how to use it

Other than that, just go! Even if you plan a 10 minute workout just to get yourself through the door, it will be easier evet time you go.

JeSuisPrest · 06/09/2019 16:25

Prepare in advance. Think of maybe 6 machines you'd like to use (decide if you are concentrating on upper/lower body or a mixture of both). Pick a lowish weight to start with, you can always move up when you find it too easy 🤷‍♀️, get your headphones on and prepare a gym playlist if it makes you feel more 'in the zone'. The Rocky IV soundtrack always gets me going.

In the nicest way, no one else is bothered about what your doing - they're all counting reps, trying to remember what they were lifting yesterday, eyeing up the next machine they want and watching instagram fitness videos on how to do squats without busting your knees. Fake it until you make it - who there knows it's your first time?? 💪💪be warned it gets a bit addictive 🙈😂

Original poster

losenotloose · 06/09/2019 16:26

Thank you! I know I just need to start going regardless of how I feel and it will get easier.

OP posts:

JeSuisPrest · 06/09/2019 16:26

You're not your...

InkedGreen · 06/09/2019 16:27

Hun don't worry, no one cares. If you're doing something that wrong someone will probably helpfully help you out

Original poster

losenotloose · 06/09/2019 16:27

JeSuis I'm thinking of doing free weights. Do you think the machines are effective??

OP posts:

jellybean85 · 06/09/2019 16:28

To be fair I wouldn't worry about looking stupid but if you don't know what you're doing why not book some PT? You'll be safer, get the most from your exercise and feel more confident too.

Aquamarine1029 · 06/09/2019 16:32

Watch some weight lifting videos on YouTube. There are loads and loads of them.

sleepwhenidie · 06/09/2019 16:34

Free weights are better than machines but make sure your technique is good - could you get a PT for a couple of sessions for a bit of coaching and company? Would improve your confidence?

squirrelnutkins1 · 06/09/2019 16:36

I felt the same but honestly no one cares. Everyone is just doing their own thing! Go get 'em! X

LonelyPiggy · 06/09/2019 16:37

I lift weights with my PT but am too scared to when I'm on my own - I can't face venturing into what we now call 'the scary boys corner'. My PT assures me that as soon as a confident girl goes over the scary boys scatter, but I just can't face it, so I sympathise!

JeSuisPrest · 06/09/2019 16:37

Tbh I only use free weights in some if the classes I do. I prefer machines as I don't really have to think about which areas I am targeting and remember which way I have to use free weights to say target glutes and quads - I just pick the machine that has a picture of the muscle group that I want to target. Others prefer free weights and like getting in front of the mirrors with the big boys, and will be able to advise accordingly, but I don't have enough time to learn a good technique and form for free weights and that's essential to avoid injury. Also it's best to have a partner if you're doing free weights from what I've seen at my gym

Horatioroses · 06/09/2019 16:56

Go tonight/tomorrow morning. Get onto a cross trainer or a bike - they are most likely to point outwards into the room. Use that for 10 minutes while having a good look around at the layout. Choose something you could try next time. Go home.

no12tyler · 07/09/2019 08:56

I was so scared and anxious about going to the gym. I made sure I had someone to go with. It helped a lot and now I can go on my own. If I didn't have my mate I don't know if I would of gone

Pippapotomus · 07/09/2019 09:25

Buy a new gym outfit, get a good play list on your phone. Even if you park yourself on a bike and just watch what other people do in their routines. If you write down the routine you've been doing at home, add how many reps/weight you've done to keep busy between sets.

Honestly no one takes much notice of anyone else, everyone is concentraing on their own thing.

Pippapotomus · 07/09/2019 09:27

Can you add in one machine or free weight machine after a class? Then build up from there.

SimonJT · 07/09/2019 13:35

People will help out if you’re finding something difficult.

Lots of gyms have really good staff to help as well, go up to staff and ask “am I doing this right?” and they will help you.

I was doing single leg dead lifts yesterday which I haven’t done in a while, my posture was a bit out so someone paired me as he noticed I had a bit of a stoop going on.

chasingseagulls · 07/09/2019 13:51

I know you say you can't afford a PT, but can you afford to ask one to write you a beginners plan that you can do on your own, and one session for them to go round with you and show you all the exercises in it. So two sessions max (they may do it in one session, writing a beginners programme isn't rocket science). Ask for a mixture of free weights and machines. Write your own notes so you don't forget certain details, or film the PT demonstrating and save them to an album. Most good PTs will do this in the hope of repeat business and you recommending them on, or you coming back to them in a couple of months for a new programme.

For gods sake DON'T copy other people in the gym, at least half of them won't be doing it properly!

If money is really tight, there are plenty of free apps, but research them properly to make sure they are written by PTs and have professional qualifications. DON'T be swayed by any of the "big" insta names just because they look good in a crop top. Then you can stick your headphones and just follow the app round the gym. Tons of people do this.

There really is no substitute for personal tuition though for the big barbell lifts like deadlifts and squats, you must be able to do correct technique or you'll injure yourself in the long run.

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