Fear of going to the gym – another excuse or a real problem?

Before going to the gym for the first time, many people doubted whether they should go there at all and thought of all sorts of horrors. “What if they laugh at me?”, “What if I lift only 2 kg, when everyone else is lifting 60?”, “What if I look the worst?”. – do you know those thoughts?

It probably sounds ridiculous, but many people do have such fears, and they need to work with them.

psychologist

It is not a shame to be a beginner, it is not a shame not to know something, not to be able to do something. With a great desire everything can be learned and everything can be figured out.

Reasons for fear

In order to overcome your fear, you must first understand where and why it arose. Reasons can be very diverse.

Moreover, starting something new is always difficult. Sport is about changing your whole life – appearance, daily routine, diet, so you can be afraid and once again never make this important step. Richard Branson is the author of the book “To hell with everything! Take and do!” very accurately describes how important it is not to be afraid to do something for the first time: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. And if you wonder where it ends, and if you imagine all the long, exhausting miles between the beginning and the end of the journey, imagining all the dangers that await you, you may never take that first step. And no matter what you want to accomplish in life – without putting in the effort, you’ll never reach your goal. Take that first step. There will be many trials. You may be thrown back at times – but eventually you will get there.”

Fear of being a “white sheep.”

A person may be afraid of being the “white crow” among muscular men and girls with a perfect figure. This fear is also just a fantasy, which originated in your head, most likely after watching a movie in which the main character is engaged in the gym surrounded by jocks. Coming to the gym, you will not meet a crowd of people from the covers of glossy magazines, there will be the same ordinary visitors who want to get their body in shape.

Fear of being badly dressed

Being dressed “differently” is another fear. You don’t need to buy the most expensive uniform to go to the gym, unless of course it is necessary for your personal motivation. Visitors to the gym are dressed simply and comfortably. It is important to choose clothes so that nothing distracts from the exercise, not to think about how your white T-shirt combines with blue pants and white sneakers.

How do you overcome fear?

There can be many ways, but there is one effective and universal – take control of yourself and finally give it a try.

Nadezhda: I recommend people to try to come to the gym, to see how others work out, and feel that often there is a friendly atmosphere. Everyone is trying to help each other, not to evaluate, shame or compete with someone. Yes, there are those in the gym who criticize and comment on the actions of others, but they are much rarer. If you do encounter such a person, it helps to build boundaries – “I don’t need help”. Moreover, in the gym trainers and in general people who have been practicing for a long time are always ready to help, they are very responsive and attentive. It is important to determine for yourself whether the world is so hostile and whether you should be wary of others.

Always remember – there is no need to be shy. Often, as cliché as it may sound, all the fears in our heads. We ourselves “paint” pictures of someone laughing at us, looking askew or simply not wanting to work out with us on the neighboring machines. If you have an opportunity to try something new, including training in the gym, you should not refuse, perhaps this is your chance to change your life for the better and, if not to become a famous athlete, then to give yourself a healthy body, which is also important.