How Did you go from Gym Avoider to Gym Regular

At first I just went and walked on the treadmill. It was the only thing I really knew how to do and it was also my escape time from my kids.

Eventually I did a few things on the machines (only after watching others do them).

Then I found a program on Bodybuilding.com that was short and simple. They had videos for everything. I took that in and actually used the dumbbells.

I enjoyed my "me time" and I liked how the exercise made me feel, so I kept going. The trick is simply to explore things and find something you love. If you really like what you are doing you'll want to keep doing it.

I just made a goal to go every single day. I felt that making it a persistent part of my day would make it easiest to continue. That was 7 years ago and I've averaged probably 355/365 days a year ever since.

I'd say hire a trainer to help you learn the ropes or carry a gym rat friend with you to work out with you for a little while.
Then what I usually do is just still ear buds in my ear and ignore the world.
Happy training

I found things I enjoy doing at the gym and accepted that there are things I don't enjoy, so I don't do them no matter what someone else tells me I "should" do. I go 5 - 6 times a week now.

What is your reason for not going? Are you anxious about going? Are you not sure what to do when you get there? Do you not like it when you go? Just don't feel like going? All of these have different resolutions. But it really depends on what is keeping you from going now.

I cannot say I was ever an avoider.
But when I first started going to the gym, I went for the hot tub and steam room and sauna.
The gym we went to, which was very typical for the day, had chrome dumbbells and weight machines and, maybe, two benches for bench pressing.
We'd spend five minutes in the weight room and then head to the back for the tanning lamps.
But, you know what? We gradually learned that it felt better in the back if you had worked up a sweat in the front first, and it grew from there, until the best part of it was the working out and the feeling that left you with, sauna or no sauna.
I might suggest you find that kind of gym, the kind where you can get an easy reward like that, one that will make you want to go in.

For me it was just a case of I'm shelling out the money so I'm going to get my money's worth. The gym I use is open 24/7 so there really is no excuse not to go. I told myself I would definitely go on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and one weekend day but I've found myself going Wednesday and the other weekend day too as I quite enjoy it.

I would just force myself to show up. At first I had no plan so I just walked on the treadmill. After a while going to the gym just became part of my daily routine.

I actually like my gym time. It's my no thinking time. I go to yoga 4 days a week, bodypump 2-3. I don't use machines in the spring/summer/fall because I'd much rather be outside walking/hiking.

I was never a gym avoider--I was too ill to exercise for several years. However, some of the things that I did might be helpful for you.

1. I started with the easiest thing and the thing that I enjoyed the most. For me, that was swimming. Bonus: it is low impact, so injury is unlikely and you don't even have to feel sweaty.
2. I rewarded myself for going to the gym, especially when it was really physically difficult to get myself there. At first, I rewarded myself with espresso drinks. Later, I rewarded myself with nail polish...the reward could be anything that you like, but obviously non-food rewards are the best. At first, I needed the caffeine!
3. I am very motivated by music, so I started buying music *specifically* to get myself going at the gym.
4. I continually set new, small, attainable goals.
5. I challenged myself to new things. Zumba, for example, was a BIG challenge when I started, even though I had been a serious Latin dancer in my youth.
6. Buy yourself gym clothes that make you feel good. These don't have to be expensive (my favorite workout shirts are from the corner Mexican store: $5 each!), but wear something that is a fun color, comfortable or motivating for you in some way.
7. Go at a time that works for you. I was always told that you HAD to go to the gym in the morning for weight loss, but that just does not work for my body rhythms. Going right after work (directly: before going home) is the right solution for me. Do whatever works for you in terms of timing--all movement is a good thing.
8. Make an appointment with yourself. I like to print out weekly schedules (odd and variable work schedule) and then I make an appointment each day for the particular exercise that I am going to do. I post this in a place where I can see it and pre-track my exercise here.
9. Think about setting larger goals of things that you can do outside of the gym that are tied to fitness. This will get you motivated to work out. For me, I wanted to be fit and healthy enough to go to a Salsa Congress--basically three days of dancing with people half my age, doing workshops all day and social dancing all night. It took me several years to reach this goal.
10. If you have choices (I did not at first) shop around and try different gyms--some are much better than others, and some will be a better fit for you than others.
11. Make friends! The gym was a huge social outlet for me for a long time, and that helped me to get there often.

Before I joined a gym I did blogilates at home. I started working out and stretching then I signed up at a gym in my office building and went during lunch. I lost weight. Then plateaued and stopped gaming but kept doing blogilates at home.

I recently started again. How? I pack my gym bag every day and go to the gym. AND I love it. It's my alone time.

I also dance at a dance school so even if life happens and I don't get to gym I still have at least a 90 minute dance class twice a week.

Mostly I just showed up. Going to the gym is easy now I like feeling my body do stuff be it running or stretching or suspension training.

I even have a punching bag now... at home.