The Gym can be a loud, busy, sweaty, medieval-looking space. Machines of all types, raw metal twisting in different directions, some with cables interweaving – suddenly, you’re wondering if you walked into a BDSM dungeon (grunting and groaning making this far more possible).
Alternatively, they can be exactly like the movies, where it’s either lycra-covered individuals (men the size of small sheds with baseballs popping out their arms & women trying to outstretch one another or dominating the fitness machines). Or, the more elderly side of the equation-relatively slow, slightly depressing, and outdated.
Not all gyms are that stereotypical, but gyms can appear intimidating, particularly when just starting. College is particularly daunting, lots of grunting people (some you know) and a decent amount of insecurity – a perfect storm of excellent reasons not to do it.
Now that we’ve talked about the reasons why this is seemingly a terrible idea, these are a few tips and insights for what to do and not to do:
Do’s:
– Ask questions or help. Machines and exercises can be confusing, and you should ask someone to show you how to do them correctly. Otherwise, you won’t work out the muscle correctly and lose out on some of the work you are putting into it.
– Stretch. This is for more than just your school days. It is critical, particularly when you start to work out and your developing muscles seize as they grow.
– Find your rhythm. Different to not going ‘too hard’. Take breaks, and figure out a pace that works for you. A routine for each day & differing exercises, not trying to ‘rush’ through a program which could cause injury.
– Put away your equipment. No one likes to wander looking for missing weight, a specific band, weight lock, etc. Yes, it’s a bore. Think of this as a moment to add a few seconds into your breather.
– Take Rest Days! No matter how hard you are training, stretching, and doing everything you need to, your body can only take so much. Let it rest and recover.
– Set a number of sets and reps to hit. But do take breaks if you cannot hit them right away. Be sensible; if you strain beyond, most likely, the correct muscle isn’t being worked, and you can injure yourself. That means you still need to finish. Break the reps up, take a few seconds, pause, then engage and complete.
Don’ts:
– Try to go too hard. It’s the quickest way to hurt yourself and not get any development done. It’s very easy when training with someone to try and match them – don’t — work to what your body can do. You’re in there for yourself.
– Interrupt. Wait until the person has finished or in their ‘break/rest’ if you need to ask a question. No one wants to talk or be thrown off rhythm in the middle of a set.
– Stare. You do not want to be ‘that person’ who is caught continuously checking people out and making them feel awkward. Most people are at the gym for personal reasons, such as health (mental or physical), aesthetics, job, physio, etc. The point is it’s not fair to anyone to feel uncomfortable when they invest their time in self-development.
– Get unmotivated. Ironically, the hardest part of the gym is in the first few weeks of starting. You’d think as you begin to get into it, you’ll get fitter, stronger, etc. But, muscle weighs more than fat, so while you are getting stronger, you will feel things are getting harder initially as your muscles develop and they are fatigued; keeping going can seem like a mission. That is why, finding a routine, taking breaks, and going at the right level or pace for YOU is vital.
– Hog equipment. It is great to have your rhythm; nothing is more frustrating than being broken by waiting your turn. On the flip side, don’t be that person doing a single set on three machines all at once. Be conscious that others are in their rhythm, too, allowing people to jump in and out. Alternating with you is a compromise you should be willing to make.
