Overcoming gym anxiety
When you’re an anxious person, many things can go wrong in your eyes, because it can be the only thing you see and kinda find comfort in. Even though anxiety isn’t comfortable, always thinking about the worst outcome can bring you some sort of toxic comfort because you’ll be controlling what will happen, because you already ”know” it. Also, it’s easier to just not do things because you don’t want the worst outcome to really happen, for example, not signing up to a gym because you don’t want to be judged, or look like a mess. Let’s talk about this today.
My story
Almost one year ago today, I kicked my anxiety, got out of my comfort zone and signed up to a gym. Truth is, I spent about 3-4 months working out at home because I was too scared, I also spent years saying I would never go to a gym and I actually believed it. I just was so scared people would judge, or that I would look like a fool trying to work out or even that I wouldn’t last and I’d stop going after two weeks. When I started, I didn’t know what push or pull days were, I didn’t know that you need more than one leg day to attain different muscles, and I certainly didn’t know that I needed to eat and sleep way more to get results. I didn’t know shit, but I started, because starting might be the hardest part, but it’s also you climbing up one step, and it’s one step more towards your goal. Today, I’m reaching body goals I never thought I would ever WANT to reach, I’m eating way more to get my gains and I feel so many benefits of moving multiple times a week which I wasn’t doing before. For example, I’m happier, I have more energy, less headaches, my confidence has gotten higher, and I’m in a routine I love more than before.
- Just start
Climb that one step, it’s the one thing you need to do. Don’t think, just start going and the rest will follow.
- The gym energy
Gym energy is such a unique one, and you don’t get it until your ass is sweating in there. People just don’t care about you because sincerely, they’re probably fighting for their life right now LOL. No but seriously you can feel it, the people in the gym are silently proud of you for starting, or they don’t give a single fuck because they are focusing on themselves. If it happens that they are judging you, what do we care? This is about them not being able to focus on their workout or them just being immature. You do you.
- Mind & body connection
Create your own bubble; put on good music that drives you and stop minding the people around. The one thing I learned in the gym is if you’re focusing on people’s opinions, you’re not focusing on your body which prevents you from actually feeling good about your workouts. Going to the gym because you want to, is a favor to yourself, it’s part of your selfcare of the day because you’re trying to realise some goals. When you’re in a set, be in it 100%, don’t think about anything else just focus on the movement, the muscles working and feeling the burn in. Focus on that and make the workout worth it. Connecting your mind and your body makes it much more of a time for yourself workout (selfcare) and it makes them so much better before, throughout and after.
- Learn
You learn everyday, always did and always will. If you see that muscled up person in the gym just know that they were once in your position too. They started too and it may be years ago but they kept it consistent and that’s how today you see them here, all muscled up.
I learned so many things by just looking around between my sets or just asking for help. I mean, the people that come up to me to show me how to make a certain move, are the people I respect most. It’s genuine and they want me to achieve my goals without hurting myself, so I’m learning from it and not making the mistake again.
Also, number of times I went on the internet to understand a machine or to know how to do a certain move can’t be counted on one hand. Don’t be afraid to do it people on there explain it for a reason and it’s for YOU to be better.
Learning isn’t embarrassing, it makes you more intelligent.
- Cute gym outfits
Buy yourself some cute gym clothes, you don’t have to spend 500$ but maybe start with one or two leggings (whatever makes you comfortable really) and some sports bras. Then when you see you how much you love going to the gym and how consistent you are, you buy more.
When I started I didn’t have much ‘’gym’’ clothes, I had t-shirts, joggings, 2-3 leggings and like two sports bras. I made with what I had and through the year I bought more because I knew I’d be wearing them every week so it wasn’t a waste of my money.
There’s just something motivating about having a nice cute outfit to wear while working out, one you’re comfortable and feel pretty in.
- Accept your anxiety, but don’t let it control you
Letting your anxiety take the decisions will never get you far and it’s keeping you from your potential. Is that really what you want? I don’t think so. If you want to get body results or have any kind of health goal that includes going to the gym, don’t let your anxiety keep you from becoming the best version of yourself.
Accept that anxiety will probably always be there, thank it for trying to protect you and then (deep breath in) let it go (deep breath out). Take back the control.
I still have days when I’m more anxious in the gym than others, but I still go because I have some goals I want to reach and I don’t want this anxiety to make me stop going because it truly makes me better. Sure some workouts are mentally harder than others, but you rarely/never regret getting yourself to the gym and putting your strenght to the test.
Anxiety will always be a part of you, but it should not keep you from becoming the best version of yourself. You know, we always care what people think or say about us, but in the end you have your own purposes and the most important one is to just be alive, be human, be you.
Sometimes, life requires you to be uncomfortable in order to grow and to get to know another part of yourself. To heal and to enjoy life in another way.
To everyone starting in the gym, I am so fucking proud of you and I hope you goddam are proud of yourself too. It’s a huge accomplishment you just did, climbing up that one step. It won’t be easy but if you’re able to do the first one, you’ll do the whole fucking stair.
Keep up the good work.
Mwah.
