Overcoming Your Fear of The Gym
The gym can be intimidating if you are just beginning your fitness journey. We all started somewhere, and I can honestly tell you I used to judge myself against anyone else and always felt that I was not where I wanted to be in my journey based on how other people looked. As time went on, I learned that other people’s opinions and goals are none of my business and that I needed to stay focused on number 1… ME! Here are a few ways to stay on track when you are at the gym and if you are someone who finds themselves getting distracted by others.
Remember you why
Your why is yours and that is the end of it, you do not have to justify why you are doing what you are doing in your workouts or when you are doing them. If you stay focused on why you want to make health changes then you will be less likely to think about why other people may be doing it.
To help you determine your why read my blog about how to do so; https://www.befit406.com/post/3-questions-you-should-ask-yourself-before-starting-a-health-journey
Focus on the task at hand, not what everyone else is doing
Your workouts should always have your full attention, this is how you avoid injury and make sure you get the full benefit of the workout. Really pay close attention to your technique, muscle groups working and how you are feeling during your sets and reps rather than watching other people do theirs or wonder what they think of you because more than likely they are not paying attention, its just your mind thinking they are.
Never compare yourself or journey to someone else’s, stranger or family/friend
The coolest thing about being human in my opinion is that we are all unique and different! Our bodies will never do something the same as another person. You could eat the same and workout the exact same as someone and you both would get different results! Things like genetics, environment, gut biome, allergies, muscle activation, water intake, sleep difference etc. They all play a role in the success of a health journey!
Just be proud for that person of their successes and use it as fuel to continue yours! We all achieve goals at different rates and that is what makes us so unique.
Remember where you came from
I think this is the most important factor, if you can remember back to where you started you will be more thankful for where you are at now! Anytime I get in a headspace that I feel I am not making progress or that I have lost my motivation for it I look back at before photos, this has helped me realize where I was and that I am not yet where I want to be. I also try on clothes that I couldn’t fit in before, this is something I love to do, putting on my favorite jeans or dress and looking in the mirror to say “you never would have felt confident in this before”. Whatever works for you, this is just what I do, and I helps keep me focused on what I need to do to continue my success.
We will always be our own worst critics; however, we can also be our number one cheerleader if we play our cards right. You know yourself better then anyone else and you know what motivates you and what will create discipline and confidence. Focus on you and what you need to do to succeed, you will see faster results when you zero in on what you have to do to get the job done, you will also feel more confident in yourself.
As always keep it simple and Be Fit. Be Well.