Gyms can be intimidating for anyone who hasn't been in one before or suffers from any kind of social anxiety. They hold a lot of stigma for not being a great environment to be in, this could be because of the people or the fear of judgment if you are just starting out at a certain level.
Gear up for the gym
The thing to remember is that everyone started out like that, scared of jumping on a treadmill in case they fall off or the fear of using any of the weights because the big muscle bodies are in there working out. No one is looking at what you are doing in the gym - unless you are working with a personal trainer. It is a place where people go to work on themselves not judge other people.
Confidence is what a gym is there to build, for those of you who find it difficult to go to places with lots of people, this is a good push. You can get used to busy places but the socialising is minimum so you don't have to talk to anyone if you do not want to.
The first step is getting there, most people who take out a gym membership do not use it. This hinders both your motivation and your bank balance. Feeling bad because you are skipping the gym again is a feeling you can avoid, if you can't make it to the gym try an at home workout.
Go in gym clothes that fit you and you feel comfortable in, one of the worst things is wearing a pair of leggings that start to ride down so you are constantly hitching them up whilst you are exercising. When buying fitness gear, try it on and do some lunges and squats in the fitting room to feel how they move on your body.
Don't be afraid of the weight section! Most women feel intimidated and put off incorporating weights into their workout and missing out on the amazing benefits of lifting. Those guys in that section are improving themselves not judging you. If you don't know where to start, try asking they are actually friendly and are more than willing to seem clever with their weights knowledge.
If you still don't feel comfortable heading to the gym, try working out at home first and build your fitness level so that when you get to the gym you can make it look easy.
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