Conquering Gym-timidation

Walking into the gym for the first time, I felt an intense pressure in my head. Everyone was looking at me as I meekly stepped onto the stretching mat to warm up. I could hear their judgmental thoughts pounding against my skull, screaming at me that I didn’t belong here. After completing my measly stretches, I went to the dumbbell rack and picked up a pair of ten pound weights. I only managed to complete one set of curls before the pressure became unbearable. I left the gym with my head hung low, shameful about my mere presence by the weight rack.

Reflecting on my first gym experience as someone who eventually overcame that intimidation and has implemented working out as a staple part of my weekly routine, don’t apply that much pressure to yourself. The chief mistake that I made when I went to the gym for the first time was that I went alone. Having a friend to support you during the experience helps tremendously in reducing anxiety about how people are perceiving you.

If you don’t have anyone close who wants to accompany you to the gym, there are many ways that you can find a gym buddy on campus. You can join an intramural sport, join a group like the weightlifting club or women in fitness, or head to the pool during free hours. Asking someone to lift with you can be intimidating, but I promise the vast majority of people will be delighted at the idea. Working out together ensures that each of you remain disciplined.

Additionally, there is some mental reframing you can perform to help calm your nerves. These two conflicting perspectives seem unrelated at first, but are relevant to this topic:

1. Nobody cares 🙁

2. NOBODY CARES 😀

Most of the time, having a nihilistic outlook is damaging to your self-esteem. However, in this specific instance of walking into the gym, you need to realize that people are simply not paying that much attention to you. They probably have a plethora of other things to consider, such as what they’re eating for dinner that night, outstanding homework assignments, sending emails, et cetera. None of those thoughts involve you in any capacity. It’s not selfish of them to be thinking about their responsibilities, it simply means they don’t have much bandwidth to scrutinize you so closely.

With this understanding, going to the gym became incredibly enjoyable for me. Lifting weights and exercising fulfilled my desire to move and get active, making me feel accomplished after a solid workout. My physical and mental health have improved since beginning my gym routine. Additionally, exercising is one of the primary ways I relieve stress. Whenever I have a large stack of assignments during the semester, I schedule time for a solid workout in the evening to clear my head. Exercising helps channel my energy into something else other than classes, which ultimately benefits the quality of my studying. Had I not overcome my gym intimidation, I would not have become the person I am today.  

The fact that you are even considering the gym means that you want to improve some part of yourself. Use that energy to carry you to the front door of the gym. Don’t allow your anxiety to squander your ambitions; you can be your own worst enemy. Taking the first step is always the hardest. Once you step inside the gym, keep pushing yourself. As you internalize the fact that no one is judging your presence and start making friends inside the gym, the gym will transform from a frightening dungeon to a judgment-free place where you can pursue your physical goals.

RIT is home to some of the finest recreational facilities at the college level, today. Check out the facilities and hours