Exercise is fantastic for your mind and body. Many purchase a gym membership when home workouts don’t seem to do the trick anymore. At a fitness center, you’ll have access to more machines, plus a change of environment. Make your first day a great one with these beginner tips for surviving at the gym!
Create a Workout Plan
Think about what bodily areas you want to focus on and create clear workout goals around them. For example, you should focus on resistance and weight workouts if you plan to burn excess fat and gain muscle. On the other hand, strive for more cardio if you want to boost your cardiovascular health.
Begin with basic workouts to build your endurance over time. For example, start with lighter weights and fewer reps for early resistance exercises; begin with lower speeds for cardio. Pushing yourself too far leads to overexertion, which can cause injuries. You’ll naturally increase your abilities and hit fitness milestones by working out regularly.
Pack the Essential Gear
On workout days, ensure you pack your gym bag with the many things you need, including:
- A change of clothes
- Water
- Gym shoes
- Earbuds
- Hygiene essentials
- A healthy snack
If you work out immediately before or after work, pack your bag the night before to avoid scrambling in the morning. While there are many backpack sizes to choose from, most fitness enthusiasts prefer a 9-to-25-liter bag. This size range ensures your bag can easily hold everything you need for a productive workout.
Listen to Your Body
Initially, you may plan to go to the gym four days a week. However, after the first two days, you may feel sore and want to do nothing more than curl up on the couch to relax. This lack of energy is natural. Listening to your body is one of the healthiest things you can do.
When workouts feel obligatory, you risk forming an unhealthy relationship with exercise; a healthy lifestyle isn’t one your force. You should feel excited to get your heart pumping with some fun movements when you’re in the gym.
Fitness Tip
If you find your workout motivation slipping, try various ways to make workouts more interesting. Sometimes, a change in routine or type of workout makes things more fun. Strive to have at least two main types of exercise to switch between.
Be Courteous
The last tip for surviving your first trip to the gym is following spoken and unspoken rules. For starters, there is no saving or hoarding of equipment. If you’re on the treadmill, you shouldn’t have the dumbbells beside your belongings. Likewise, don’t play your music out loud for everyone to hear.
Finally, wipe down every piece of equipment once you finish using it. Most gyms have wipes to remove any sweat and grime from the workout gear. Be kind to your fellow gym goers so that everyone can work out comfortably.
Dianne Pajo is a Certified Personal Trainer based out of the Chicagoland area with a passion for music, combat sports, and animals. She enjoys competing in amateur boxing and kickboxing, but in her other leisure time, you can find her performing music around the city. She is also a dog mom of 2.
