For many of us normal people out there who have normal lives and normal bodies getting or staying in shape can be a real burden. For many, time is of the essence, for others there is no real motivation and then there are the few that just do not care all that much to get in shape. These, for many, are the stalling points for making the steps to get your life going in the right direction. I speak of your life, your body, your insides and outside that keep you on this Earth, not your hobbies or lifestyle. My goal is to give strategies straight from a guy who had and on occasion still has trouble staying out of these ruts.
Me, Myself – the Normal Guy
Let me first tell you about me this way you believe I am just an everyday normal guy with a somewhat normal life of his own. I am 26 and live in Fort Collins, CO and work in Cheyenne, WY. I commute most days and have a wife with a bun in the oven. I work at the Laramie County Community College as an admissions representative. I played baseball in college and I now coach baseball in Cheyenne for our high school aged players.
All that said, I feel like I am like every other person with not a lot of time to spare. I love to sleep and I am good at sleeping. I used to hate my alarm going off in the morning and now I still am not greatly fond of it but don’t mind it quite as much. That took a while to overcome. I wake up at about 5:35 am most weekdays go to the gym by 6:15. I know what some of you might be thinking, no way is he doing that and no way am I doing that because I too love my sleep. I will show you how to do it.
Find a Spot
For many of us there is some sort of workout facility within a 7 minute drive of your residence. If it is not within that 7 minute drive, gym memberships are not worth it for the beginner. If you have the means, go to your nearest gym from your residence, ask them if you can test it out for a few days, most will let you for free and some may cost for a 7 – day pass. If you don’t want to pay for 7 days ask for one day test. If it still cost, say no thanks I will go JoeBlows Gym where they let you test for free. Once you get you pass test out the scene.
First Timer
Have someone show you around. Use some of the machines, see what type of dumbbells they have, how heavy do they get, and how light is the lightest. Ask about some of the machines you may not be familiar with.
Ask questions:
- What are your hours?
- What kinds of classes do you offer?
- Do you have a daycare?
- Are lockers free?
- Are your showers clean? (What are they going to say, no, of course not but be sure and put them on the spot, this will make them tell you how often the facilities are cleaned.)
- What are your busiest times?
While on Your Tour
As your taking your tour, do not compare yourself to the gym patrons that are there working out! By comparing yourself you are taking a step backwards. (This is often times for guys) Take your ego and humble yourself. Remember you are the beginner or the person that has not been working out for some time. Many of the people there probably are in better shape or are at least a step ahead of you just for being there. Ladies be sure and humble yourselves as well. That girl doing squats with abs, butt and toned arms is not the way to compare yourself even if you feel like you look better. Many will get intimidated. Now is not the time to have an ego.
I am a 6′3 330 lb man. I should be strong as an ox. Before when I would go to a gym I would play into my ego and as soon as I could not lift as much as the 170 geek I would get discouraged, quit and lose all motivation. I know I am big, I am now sure of who I am as well. I have never felt more confident once I accepted me. That took many years and ups and downs.
Don’t Over Committ
Now that you got your gym membership, ease yourself into the mix of being a gym patron. Going everyday for the first week is a great recipe for DISASTER. Every other day is perfect or every two days. That may be pretty contradicting I know but keep reading. If you start a diet, most will go strong for a week, maybe even two, but most will fail the third and be back to normal by week four. You need to want the workout. You need to yearn for that time for you. Get in get out. 30 minutes is a great amount of time as long as you are getting a good workout in. As a beginner any more than that you will feel like your wasting time. As you become more advanced an 1 1/2 becomes more than enough and most typically 45-60 mins becomes perfect.
The people that stay at the gym for more than that are either, competitive bodybuilders, lame creepos, or just dorks that have nothing else to do. Bodybuilder I have mad respect for, the others and you will immediately identify them, I laugh at them daily.
After about 2 weeks of that, mix in one extra day. 3-4 days out of 7 should be enough for about a month.
Be Humbly Confident
While at the gym, humble yourself and if you don’t know how to do an exercise ask, Don’t get hurt and risk your motivation. Some of those big muscle guys or the greatly toned girls, they may look cocky and mean but in reality most of them are more than willing to lend a hand. It will actually feed their ego if you ask them how to do something or why this way or that way. They probably will often keep an eye on you just to make sure you are doing something right. That may sound annoying but, one you just made a friend, two you don’t want to look like a jack ass doing trying to do rows on a peck deck, and most importantly you don’t want to get hurt.
On the other hand understand you are ahead of many, taking a big step for your kids, loved ones, friends and more importantly YOU. Have confidence the your fellow patron will see a big change in you in the months to come.
