5 Steps to Become More Confident in the Gym

Looking back on the start of my fitness journey, one of the biggest barriers that held me back from fully committing my goals was a lack of confidence in the gym. “Gym-timidation” as some may call it.

I can remember walking into the gym, looking around at all the free weights and machines and not knowing where to start. I was hesitant to try any exercise that wasn’t familiar because I was terrified of looking stupid. The thought of having people stare at me and know that I didn’t have a freaking clue what I was doing crippled me. So, like many others new to the fitness lifestyle, I stuck to cardio and the occasional crunch here or there.  

After a while, I became frustrated with not seeing the results that I wanted. I wanted a strong, athletic looking physique, but instead I was just becoming a skinnier version of myself. My solution was to educate myself on weight training. Once I had the education piece down, applying it was a different story. Here are some of the ways I was able to overcome my lack of confidence in the gym that might help you too:

Do your research. Before beginning your workout, look up your exercises on YouTube to familiarize yourself with how they should be performed. Not only will this help demonstrate how to perform the exercise, but there are many informative videos out there that explain what the exercise should feel like, what muscles you are working, as well as different variations.

Have a plan going into your workout. Knowing which exercises you are going to do before you step foot in the gym is going to majorly increase your confidence in the gym. This is going to prevent you from wandering around aimlessly, wondering what you should do next. By having a plan, you will appear to be more knowledgeable and experienced. Not to mention you will likely see better results by following some sort of training program.

Start your workout in a more secluded area of the gym. If your gym has a smaller, more private area such as a group fitness room, don’t be afraid to grab some dumbbells and start your workout there. As time goes on you can practice flexing your confidence muscles by trying one exercise on the main floor, then another, and so on until you gain some momentum and feel more comfortable.

Go to the gym when it’s less busy. When you’re first starting out, working out in a crowded environment can be super intimidating. Figure out when your gym is less busy and try to schedule your workouts around those times. An empty gym will allow you to feel less self-conscious venturing out and trying something new.

Invest in some nice gym clothes. Everyone feels more confident when they like how they look and what they're wearing. Give yourself a little boost by buying a few cute gym outfits and avoid wearing ratty old t-shirts that make you feel frumpy.

While these tips can be helpful in building up your gym confidence, it’s important to remember why you are there in the first place—to work towards becoming a better version of yourself, and know that everyone else is there to do the same.