Anxiety at the gym

sarahrbraun

Tedebearduff wrote: »

makemethin05 wrote: »

Hi everyone, people I actually know I don't even tell this to, so this forum is actually a great relief!
I have been going to the gym for about two months..
There are lots of machines I haven't attempted to use because I've no idea how to use them.. Two months down the line I don't want to ask and I have huge anxiety problems, I convince myself that everyone there will look at me and think 'she's doing that wrong'

Everyone starts somewhere no one walks into a gym knowing how to use everything.

*kitten* negative people

There are more *kitten* at the mall then there are at the gym

Ask someone for help? seriously I'll help anyone any day any time any age ... doesn't matter. I'm still learning myself but I'd be more than happy to show someone how to use a machine.

This!

At my gym, the staff are super awesome. Me asking a trainer for help (my first year) turned into a 3 year friendship.

You could also approach someone who is finished with a machine and ask them how to use it.

I'm actually a volunteer at my gym, and I know how it feels to be the confused noob. I try to watch for people who look confused, and approach them and ask if they have a question.

doctorwho2x

I had similar issues as you. I felt as though everyone was looking at me at the gym and I was scared that I couldn't use the equipment properly and people would judge me.

This is not the case. I've recently bit the bullet and went to the gym. Most people there want the exact same thing as each other - To either loose weight, get fit or get some muscles!

To help me with this when I joined the Gym I used the in house P.T to educate me on different equipment and how to use weights/which exercises to do and I found this has helped me alot.

Good luck!!

makemethin05

Wow. You lot are amazing aren't you! You have made me feel 10000000000x better! Thank you ALL so much.

I am going to put all of your ideas and suggestions into practice tomorrow at the gym (it's nice and quiet on Saturdays) so I will let you know how I get on☺️

I have definitely thought about watching other people use machines, but in such a small (tiny even) gym it's hard to be subtle and I always think I wouldn't want someone looking at me if I were them.. I need a switch for my brain sometimes, I am prone to overthink everything and my anxiety just affects every single aspect of my lfe unfortunately.

I couldn't be happier that I posted this, how have I not known about this great community before?!

Xxxxxxxxx

Kalici

yopeeps025 wrote: »

OP no one at the gym cares so much to stop there workout to stare at you while you workout.

People need to stop saying this. Most of us have read massive threads that prove this is a lie. Pretty much everyone knows it is a lie. You either have to work up to the point where you do not care that someone will be thinking nasty things, or you workout in your house. Human nature is to be judgmental; no matter any protestations to the contrary we all know this to be true if we're honest with ourselves. Everybody does it, only some will admit it, and only some will have the good grace to keep their judgments to themselves (which is fine).

I haven't read all the replies yet, but if it hasn't been said you can always look the exercises up on YouTube. I've looked up a lot of proper form videos there and found them very helpful.