GYM Timidation Entering a gym environment can be ver y intimidating, especially if you choose to weight train. Ella Mok is a 27 year old Biochemist with a strong passion for health and fitness. She talks all things gym anxiety and how to gain confidence while working out…
Going to the gym for the first time or starting out weight training as a female can be very daunting. In fact, a survey by PureGym found that “18% of non-gym goes would rather stand at the top of a sky-scraper than go to the gym on their own!” You would never think to compare a sky scraper to the gym but it seems that a lot of people have such strong fears and anxiety around it they would rather go to the extreme than workout in public! Like anything new you try, going to the gym takes time and practice. You have to strengthen the connection for it to get stronger and easier. The more you push yourself and actually go, the easier it will be. Author Roy T. Bennett once said “You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.” But the real question if where to start and how exactly do you push past the feeling of dread? Ella started her fitness journey at the start of the year, January 2020, as she felt she was leading an unhealthy lifestyle as a graduate student. She wanted to feel good on a day-to day and have the energy to focus on her career goals.
She started her journey straight off the bat with weight training; “It makes me feel good, gives me confidence in my appearance and improves my mental wellbeing.” However, she didn’t always feel like this; at the start of her journey she “used to always feel intimidated by free weights and thought I would be judged by all men there if I tried.” This a common thought amongst many women, often feeling too scared to weight train as they feel that the males in the gym will be judging them or they feel intimidated by their presence. This may even be you? The gym can be intimidating at times due to the high testosterone floating about the atmosphere, but in reality men are simply focusing on themselves. They are often too self-obsessed to even notice what you are doing; they are too busy showing off or comparing their muscles. If they do notice you, they are often impressed by your hard work and dedication. However, if you do feel anxious in these settings and need a little boost of encouragement Ella recommends getting a personal trainer or workout buddy to help you gain confidence. “If you can afford, hire a personal
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