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The gym can be a scary place
3 years ago, going to the gym made me anxious
I would think to myself, let's just run on the treadmill for 45 minutes do a quick ab workout, and be done
I did whatever would draw the least attention to me as possible
Eventually, I got bored with my cardio routine and I realized I wanted to try weightlifting
But I knew nothing about it
I was feeling nervous and had no idea where to start
Here are 5 ways I built my confidence in the gym:
1. Educating Myself
First I needed to get familiar with machines and weights
I would watch YouTube videos that showed me how to perform each exercise and the proper form
Getting familiar was key in being able to walk up to a machine and know how to use it
2. Going With a Friend
I started off by going with my boyfriend to the gym
Having the support from someone else helps when you are trying to get comfortable in a new place
It also helped that he knew what he was doing so he showed me how to perform exercises correctly
Even if you and your friend are both new to the gym, having another person around can help ease you into doing something new
3. Focusing on Me
Suffering from social anxiety, I often thought people were paying more attention than they were
We often have the 'spotlight effect' as we believe everyone is staring at us
In reality, everyone is in their own world and not paying much attention to you
No one cares, and either way, everyone started out as a beginner at some point so there is respect for starting your fitness journey
4. Going Consistently With a Schedule
The more consistently I started going, the more confident I became
When I created a plan to go consistently 3 days a week and had a plan for each day, my confidence skyrocketed
I would walk into the gym knowing exactly what I was doing and like I belonged there
5. Listening to Music
Putting on my headphones helps me focus on my workouts and get rid of distractions
Personally, I listen to artists like Kanye West, Rihanna, Drake, and Beyonce
Any music with a fast beat will help get you in the zone to have an amazing lift
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These 5 tips have helped me confidently walk into the weight section of the gym and they can help you too
Overcome your fears and get lifting
P.S. These pictures are from my first time in the weights section :)
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