I walked into a gyms free weight area for the very first time about six years ago.
The room was buzzing with dudes grunting over the clatter of metal on metal.
There were no womendeadliftingor spotting each others bench presses like I regularly see in my gym now.
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Saunders herself still deals with gym anxiety despite working in the industry for years.
Try thisbeginner lifting workoutand browseSELF’s Workout Finderfor many more ideas.
Try not to overthink itjust pick one youll stick with.
(Often followed by my other smash hit single, No, and Everyone Is Judging You.)
This can be assuaged by the confidence in knowing that you are in fact doing it right.
Educating yourself before you go in will go a long way in increasing your confidence, she says.
Most gyms offer a trial week or will just give you a quick tour if youre interested.
Either can be a chance to get a sense of the atmosphere.
Is there a diverse array of bodies and skill levels, or is it just swarming with peacocking bros?
Do people re-rack their own plates, or do they leave them for the next person to deal with?
Every gym is a little different, and learning the ropes of what goes where can feel awkward.
(Reader, my toes could barely reach the plate.)
Getting the lay of the land from a staffer can help you feel a tiny bit more in control.
Knowledge is power; getting lost between the lat pulldown and the leg press is decidedly not.
But I put on my big-girl pants and I just asked someone.
In my experience many of them love to give advice,especiallythe unsolicited kind.
And especially in the gym.
Saunders has several clients who train with her in addition to doing their own solo sessions in commercial gyms.
And if someone is persistent or otherwise making you uncomfortable, dont hesitate to loop in the staff.
Training helps me feel strong and gives me confidence, says Saunders.
I take a stab at remember how good Ill feel afterward, and usually that pushes me through.
Easier said than done, I know.
My new mantra comes courtesy of Henry: Those other people are not paying your gym membership.
And they’re not going to get the work done for you.
