.Are you still Afraid of the Gym?
5 Ways out of your fear!
Whether we like it or not, there is no templated cheat sheet for overcoming any type of anxiety, and the fear of the gym is no exception.
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For those who enter the glorious house of gains, as Robert Frank likes to call it, their first encounter with a mirror-laden room filled with iron-addicts can be intimidating, to put it mildly.
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Those among you who are introverts on top of being beginners, this can be a double-trouble.
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Still, fear alone is not worth throwing in the towel, and there are ways to make it to the avid gym-goer ranks, if you make it your mission and follow several key steps.
1. Brush up on your gym savvy
The workout won’t be any easier, but knowing your way around the equipment and weights is taking a huge step forward in sticking to your guns when it’s tempting to quit.
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Too many gave up only because they didn’t have a well-built routine, a progress-tracking plan, and the knowledge to back up their training.
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In order for your game-plan to work, it needs to be a long-term strategy.
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Have you ever passed an exam without taking the class before it? Youtube is brimming with instructional videos, reputable blogs, and every gym has its in-house trainers. It’s only a matter of how you’d prefer to obtain that information.
2. Seek support
In the famous words of the bodybuilding legend, Arnold Schwarzenegger, you can’t do it alone.
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Whether you’d prefer to ask a friend to join you or need a professional trainer by your side, just remember that there’s no need to go it alone.
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If the greatest names in the gym world have recognized the value of asking for help and support, then learn from the best and follow in their footsteps.
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Your gym buddy can help you not only feel more comfortable in this new environment, but also achieve your goals in the long-run.
3. Work your way up towards the goal
Even if you do spend months educating yourself and get support, there’s little chance you’ll walk in confident of your skills and execute a perfect routine without a single mistake.
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Another way to pluck up the courage is to perform some of those exercises at home for the first few times.
Then you can move a segment of your routine, such as jogging, jump-rope or HIIT bodyweight exercises outdoors, and slowly adapt to the presence of others.
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While you slowly become more comfortable and learn everything you need to know to start chasing your fitness dream, the transition to the actual gym will be much more manageable.
4. Ditch the comparison game
It’s almost a subconscious thinking pattern that consumes you as soon as you walk in – you become self-conscious, wondering about your appearance. Then as you notice others, you start comparing your looks to theirs. This is a dangerous mindset, and an unhealthy one in every aspect of your life, training included.
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It will be tricky at first, but monitor your thoughts, and as soon as you start comparing yourself to others, substitute those with positive, empowering ideas of yourself.
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If music can help, pick an awesome playlist and put on your headphones for the duration of your workout, as long as you can focus on yourself.
5. Shape your mindset
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So find the time for an honest conversation with yourself or someone close, as the sooner you know what you’re up against, the easier it becomes to defeat it.
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Working out shouldn’t be a breeze, but it should be enjoyable, fun, something you look forward to. It should be a lifestyle, and not a chore, let alone a fear.
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Building your mindset one step at a time is a lengthy, but priceless journey to reach and breach your potential.
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Finally, find a way to be grateful for your fear, because it has the power to make you stronger and build you into a person you’ve always dreamed of becoming.
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Post by Samantha Olivier
Samantha has a B.Sc. in nutrition, and has spent two years working as a personal trainer. You can find her at Ripped.me, or in a tea shop..
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Share with us below your challenges with gym workouts. Do you have tips on how to overcome this?
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