Top 3 Gym Tips

1. Train with a friend if it’s your first time.

Getting comfortable in an environment can be daunting. Going for a walk around, familiarising yourself, and going into a gym with a familiar face can help relieve new gym anxiety. As well as relieving the initial worry, it can often be easier to keep a promise/date in the diary scheduled with someone else, than talk yourself out of it in the moment should you only be holding yourself accountable. Use this to your advantage until a new, comfortable behaviour is formed. The first couple of times will be tough, it will get easier. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you can’t :)

2. Get confident substituting exercises.

Go in with a plan, (if you need some extra support with this, you can get in touch here:

https://www.charlypfit.co.uk/ ) but don’t be too strict with it if the gym is super busy. There may be machines you cannot get on, dumbbells that may be taken. Switching to a different variation of the same movement pattern is FINE. This actually really good practice in building your training knowledge.

Can’t get a barbell to barbell row? Jump onto dumbbells. Can’t get the correct dumbbells for a dumbbell shoulder press? Machine press. If you’re unsure, REACH OUT and ask a coach or PT for some substitutes. Don’t have a coach? Starting a journey with a plan and support can be a HUGE benefit to reaching your goals.

3. Focus on what you can do, don’t stress about what you can’t.

Whether you’re short on time and need to pick your 4 key exercise and sacrifice accessory movement, temporarily switch up your exercise order when waiting around for kit.. Your best is enough - consistency is the most important thing. Show up, work hard on the things you CAN do, and continue to focus on everything else around your training programme.

If you’re new to the gym remember, you have equal a right to be there as everyone else around you.

Keen gym goers remember - you do not own the gym, and you also were also very nervous and unsure once upon a time. Create a safe space for people to thrive.

Charly x

@charlypfit