Don't Be Afraid Of The Gym!

 

Whether you have never been, or it’s been awhile. If you’ve lifted heavy iron or only done a few fitness classes. It doesn’t matter if you are overweight, obese, skinny-fat or underweight. If the most exercise you’ve gotten this year has been getting up off the couch to raid the fridge during commercial breaks; now is the time. If you look in the mirror only after getting fully dressed; go now. If you are exhausted, or burnt out, or depressed, or just feel that there must be more to life, there is: GO TO THE GYM!

There is nothing to be afraid of. If you want to be afraid, be afraid of where your sedentary life will lead you. Weakened, brittle bones and loss of muscle tissue as you age. A slowed metabolism, which can easily translate into 5-10lbs of fat gain for every decade past age 30. Poor posture. Decreased range of motion through joints. Higher incidence of diabetes, heart disease, stress related illness- have you heard enough, or shall I continue? A sedentary life is no way to live. It just isn’t. It is a sure ticket to an early grave and a lower quality of life on your way there.

Compare that to looking like an idiot. Or feeling out of place. Or being unsure of what you are doing. Who cares what anyone else may or may not think of you? Chances are most people are too busy thinking of themselves to pay much attention to what you are doing anyway. Besides, we were all beginners once. And we all have reasons for having taken time off from the gym too. Bottom line, it doesn’t matter a bit where you are starting from. Only that you start, that you continue, and that you find a way to fit it into your life and to enjoy it.  

As a Personal Trainer, I see people who only use certain pieces of equipment in the gym. They have no idea how or why to use most of it. They are doing imbalanced workouts, and frankly, “waste of time” exercises. Because of this and for several other reasons, I highly recommend hiring a fitness professional, who will  take you through developing a training program using proper form and range of motion for exercises. This will ensure that you make progress and are able to efficiently use your time in the gym. Also, it should help take the fear out of the daunting task of getting to the gym in the first place.

Amy Shaw,
BCRPA certified Personal Trainer