Starting Again // Gym Confidence

Hello again! 

Here we are people, stage two of lockdown lifting! We made it! Stage two means pubs, salons and gyms back in our lives; three things everyone will have missed significantly. But with the latter being something many feel anxious and uncomfortable, but over time I have managed to slightly conquer this daunting gym fear and I thought I would share some of the little tips and tricks I’ve found help me when my gym motivation is at its lowest. 

Find What Works for You

First day back at the gym and you’re thinking Oh my Gosh I have so much to catch up on and start doing a 45 minute HIIT with 50 exercises nd 5 second rests because that’s “guaranteed results” but the harsh reality is that we are starting from the bottom before we reach the top. Understand that you might not be at the same level you were when you left the gym and take this into consideration when planning a new routine! 

Source - The Fitness Factory

It took me three lockdowns to find a home workout routine that suited me best.I tried Joe Wicks workouts, Chloe Ting Ab workouts but they just weren’t for me. Eventually I gave into the flash sale that SHREDDY was holding, and it changed the game for me! It set out a weekly schedule which you could tailor to what suited you best based on the equipment, room and time you had. I chose to do shreddy10 which I combined with 10-15 minutes on a mobile stepper I had, and this added up to 30-45 minute workouts up to five times a week., and I loved it. So find something that works for you, with you and around you. Your future self with thank you later.

Be There for the Right Reason

It is too easy to hear the word gym and instantly relate it to weight loss, body image and feelings of self depreciation. But when you go to the gym looking for these results, it’s often less enjoyable and can become an unhealthy obsession for the wrong reasons. I recently started following a content creator called EmmasRectangle and she began her gym journey two years ago, whilst she wanted to lose a couple of pounds she set her main goals to strength training and becoming a stronger person inside and out and by doing this, she found a healthy balance between cardio and strength training meaning that any results other than muscle growth were an added bonus for her. 

Source - Music and Sunshine

This is something that has massively changed my mindset for the better. In the past, I would use the gym to burn as many calories as I could and if I hadn’t burned as many as the previous day I’d feel deflated and like I hadn’t worked hard enough - which is ridiculous. Since watching Emma’s videos, I workout with the knowledge that I am working towards bigger health benefits rather than superficial benefits, and if these benefits do come then it is a bonus. I should care more for my lung capacity, stamina and strength than my dress size or how I compare to those around me in the gym.

Workout Like No One’s Watching

The gym can be scary when you’ve been away for a while and you might develop a wave of different anxieties you didn’t have before. When you go to the gym, do you sit on the bike and silently judge everyone else on what they’re wearing, how their form is or what exercise they’re doing? No? Well, then I can assure you that no one is thinking that about you. Truth is they are thinking the exact same things as you! 

Oh my god, I’ve only done 7 MINUTES?! 

I don’t remember this being so hard!

Whoa, that weights too heavy, I hope no one see’s me swap for a smaller one (spoiler alert, they won't)

Am I sweating too much?

How does Joe Wicks make this look so easy?!

So next time you walk into the gym, put your favourite playlist onto max volume, fill up your water, and own it. In all honesty, no one’s probably even noticed that you’ve entered so do your thing, for you and for the right reasons. Remember your warm ups/cool downs and always have fun with it, no pressure, no unrealistic goals, just some time to look after yourself.

I really hope this post has benefitted some of you! Going back to the intense environment of the gym can be a lot for some, especially after doing home workouts alone for the past how mant months! Good luck to those who are returning and even if you're not an avid gym go-er or exercise enthusiast, I hope you got a big of motivation and encouragment from this post to take a little time you care for yourself.

Until next time,

Shannon xx