How to Get Over Your Fear of Going to the Gym

Gym intimidation - the fear one feels when first stepping inside a gym to exercise. It is real for some people and can be so powerful that people experience symptoms ranging from anxiety to a full-blown panic attack just by walking through the doorway. For those people, going there one time is enough and they quit, which is a shame because for many it could be their ticket to finally making the decision to get healthy.

In cases of apprehension, it is the person experiencing it and usually not the other people inside the gym. In most gyms, the people working out are so self-centered (and not in a bad way) in what they are doing, that they never pay attention to you. And if the truth be known even if they would notice you, they would admire you for coming in to try to lose a few pounds, tone up and get healthy.

People are scared of gyms for various reasons, but the two most common are:

1) Ashamed of physical appearance Let’s start with the last one first. If you are significantly overweight and out-ofshape because you have been out of the exercise game for a while, it is easy to get intimidated by seeing all of the fit bodies sweating it up in their tight-fitting workout clothes.

But in most gyms, it doesn’t matter what you look like in workout clothes because they … don’t … care. As a matter of fact, you can use their looks as motivation of what you could look like in a few months from now. So put on that tight moisture-wicking colorsplashed exercise outfit and get started! After a few times of going to the gym, your fear should subside knowing you deserve to be there as much as anyone else. 2) Not knowing how to use the machines and equipment This fear is almost as strong in people who are afraid to embarrass themselves by not knowing how to use the equipment or are afraid they will break the equipment. First, you won’t break the equipment, however not knowing how to use it properly can result in it breaking you, meaning if not used properly, gym equipment can be dangerous. But fear not – just ask a personal trainer to show you how to use each piece you are not familiar with the first time. Fear gone as you now know how to use it safely and know you won’t embarrass yourself or break something.

So with those two intimidations resolved, what is holding you back? If you find the gym not friendly toward you, try another one. In the U.S. two different gym companies advertise themselves as not being intimidating, so they cater particularly to people who are scared of the gym environment at first.

There really is no valid excuse not to join a gym and start your journey toward a healthier you. Just think a few months from now, you could be one of the role models in your gym for others to admire!

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