Dazed has but ONE question.

[Dazed]

How do I keep from feeling like an idiot at the gym tomorrow?

Seriously! I'm walking in there tomorrow with near a zero comfort level and very little experience. Okay, so I lifted weights a little a few years ago. I'm not completely unfamiliar with the process. And I'm a pretty smart cookie too, so I think I can figure it all out (eventually) but I just have some sort of "Gym Intimidation" thing going on right now.

I have my plan, I'm ready to go and I am aware that I will get familiar with it as time passes. I still can't help to feel some jitters about the whole mess. Ahhh, the life of a newbie!

Any words of comfort or wisdom? Perhaps some acting tips or survival lessons?

Eh, anyone?!

[SystemCrash]

I understand where you are coming from. For years, and to this day, I have the same issues with the gym. It was not until just recently a light bulb went off. It is the light bulb that will allow me to restart the journey I never finished.

We might look foolish in a gym, but one must ask themselves this as I was forced to ask myself.

Do we look like a fool for going to a gym and maybe struggling a little in the beginning, or do we look like fools for not going to the gym and letting our body continue to go in the gutter.

For me it was all about my size and feeling like I had tons of eyes on me, you know "look at the fat man try to work out". I realized those eyes are better then the eyes of life that say look at the fat man who wont do anything about it.

We all have to start someplace, for me I struggle with only being able to do 10 minutes of cardio on a bike. It is not our inability today we should look at, but our desire for tomorrow that should drive us.

Best of luck on your journey,

Mike

[Chris]

You'll be fine... we ALL have had gym intimidation. It's normal and natural. But like you said, you have your plan, you've researched your exercises, you know what to do... the only thing left is to do it...

And if you feel like people are watching, it's because they are trying to learn too. They're not thinking anything negative.. they're thinking... "whoa, that looks tough! Maybe I should try that".

Good luck!

[Hamoth]

An hour with a personal trainer can be a big help in making sure you are doing your exercises safely and correctly. They will help you gauge your correct weights and effort levels. Ask them if they know this program, and if so...go for it!

[Dazed]

Thanks for the replies. I believe all of your lucks and well wishes were with me this morning. Had to have been since I made it.

Lordy knows it was awkward. Extremely awkward. But guess what? I survived it! (Awkward sure is a funny looking word, isn't it?) I didn't do a perfect job, but I didn't kill myself either.

I am considering a trainer but my fitness budget is a little blown this month already. It will have to wait till next month. I kept thinking this morning "I should wait until I can afford a trainer!" but I also wanted to go ahead and get started. I'm glad I went ahead and tried it solo but boy did feel really weird.

Thanks new friends:-)

[Maljonic]

Glad you survived, it ain't so bad. The thing with gyms is that people sign up and drop out all the time, so pretty much every day there's going to be people who just started that same day and people come and go at different times so no one will really know how long you've been going.

A lot of gyms give you a free induction where one of the trainers takes you round all the equipment and shows you how to use it right, you could ask about that.

[Hamoth]

Great work!

I've been on the plan for two weeks and only today decided on a personal trainer to help me set up my program more efficiently. I found one who knows BOTH the BFL system (and always encourages me when he sees me in the gym with my BFL journal open) and he ALSO knows about CECS (Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome). Then, like magic, I got paid by one of my clients and so I can afford it!

Just keep working at it, and don't let anything you don't have stop you...just keep your eyes sharp and be ready to take advantage of opportunities when they come along.

I keep ideas for improvement that I'm currently limited from pursuing in an "incubation" part of my mind - and sometimes I write those down in my journal as "incubating" goals. Then when the circumstances change, I try to check them off.

So today, I finally checked off "Find a personal trainer who knows BFL and CECS".

Next I have to schedule it (he escaped the gym without giving me his card....)

[Dazed]

Update.

I've got an appointment lined up with a trainer. It won't be until week after next (conflicting work shedules and all).

I'll just keep plugging away at it until I'm a pro

Dazed

[TheHappyFamily]

Originally Posted by Dazed

Update.
I've got an appointment lined up with a trainer. It won't be until week after next (conflicting work shedules and all).

I'll just keep plugging away at it until I'm a pro

Dazed

Congrats! Glad you made it through the gym heebee geebees! Lining up the trainer is a great decision.

[Kmo]

lol after a while im still intimidated by the gym when i go in, especailly mondays where you sometimes have to wait and be waited on by monsters looking to work next. I just keep both earbuds in my ear and concentrate on what im doing oh and smile stupidly when i have eye contact lol

[GregCP]

Dazed...im happy to hear that you're getting more comfortable with the environment...you feelings of anxiety are understandable..and very normal. Just know that everyone in that gym shares a common bond...its the desire to be fit and healthy. Once you step into that gym you are welcomed as "part of the club". Even if nothing is said, everyone respects the fact that you're taking the initiative.