I’m so proud to collaborate with some of the leaders in the wellness industry who subscribe to my philosophy of following an anti-diet approach to fitness and body acceptance!
LoyoboFIT is one of them! Below is a brief description of their philosophy:
“WE ARE NOT YOUR TYPICAL GYM AND WE LIKE IT THAT WAY.
We want to do things differently. We focus on fostering a community of people who support one another to be their best selves; to be fit, happy, body positive and healthy.
We focus on small group training that allows for a high-level of individualized attention, with a wide variety of class formats and special events, as well as wellness coaching to create personal action plans, goals and create behavior change in all areas of life.
Our goal is to help you feel better both inside and out. We want you to leave every class with a sense of belonging and a smile. Take the first step of your journey and try a class today!”
I’m excited to share LoyoboFIT’s blog post below on Tips to feel confident when starting out at the gym. Keep reading for the full article. Make sure to visit LoyoboFIT’s blog for more great posts on fitness and learning to love your body!
Tips to feel confident when starting out at the gym
One of the things we hear most often at our studio is that people are reluctant to start their fitness journey because they lack the confidence to try attending a new gym or online class! There are so many fears that people associate with gyms: hurting themselves, looking foolish, getting judged…. And most of us have had bad experiences that prove our fears right!
Confidence is a tricky thing because when you are afraid, you don’t feel confident enough to get out of your comfort zone and take on something new, yet…. getting out of your comfort zone is exactly how you can start to develop that confidence and face your fears!
Take comfort in knowing that you are not the only one. We all prefer being comfortable or sticking to habits we know. We want to share some of our own experience and knowledge on how to feel confident moving your body joining a class online!
Find the right gym/online platform
The better a gym fits in with what you are looking for, the more comfortable you will feel working out there – especially when you are a beginner!
Take time to figure out which environment or style you feel comfortable with. Ask your friends, co-workers – do a little digging to see what is out there and what you see yourself wanting to try.
A few questions to guide your search are what are you looking for from your workout? What types of exercises do you enjoy? What types of people do you want to work out with? Does it align with your values when it comes to feeling safe, having fun, approachable instructors and community you like?
These questions can help you narrow down the community you are looking for, the type of space you like, and to determine whether a gym/virtual fitness community has what you need.
And don’t just focus on price! There are plenty of free online work-outs out there, but will they offer you the motivation and accountability to start and stick to a work-out routine? Or is a paid live virtual platform more suitable to your needs? Focus on VALUE and bang for your buck!
By taking the time to do this, you can start off on the right foot in a place you enjoy. This way it doesn’t feel like you are dragging yourself to a class you don’t really like.
Create a dedicated space to workout
When it comes to virtual classes, many people are concerned to get started as they don’t think they have the space for a workout. But the truth is that the majority of online workouts are planned with small space in mind. Even in studios or gyms, the space you occupy in a class with a room full of other people isn’t actually that big. We are confident that there is plenty of sweating and moving you can do in a small space! 😉
A great way to feel more comfortable working out in your home is to find a spot where you can comfortably roll out a yoga mat. Make this place in your home your dedicated workout spot. Set up a water bottle there for whenever you plan to do a workout and keep your mat rolled up there so it is always easily accessible.
Understand your why
Before you start with any gym or fitness plan, you want to be really clear on why you are doing this. What are you hoping to gain? What are your goals? How do YOU define success?
Write it down and be clear about the reasons you are pursuing fitness. Your journey is about you, so being clear that you are not doing it for someone else can help you shift your mindset when you’re starting to feel insecure at the gym.
You aren’t working out for anyone else, you are doing it because of your commitments to yourself. You’re doing it for you!
Ask questions!
When you are starting out, it’s okay not to know how to do exercises perfectly. Instructors, trainers and staff are there to support you – They want you to be safe!
Ask questions about how to move your body safely and do what is good for you. They may suggest modifications or adjustments that aid you in continuing to exercise without causing injury. You don’t want to push yourself too hard or too fast if it’s not right for your body.
This is especially important in online classes where you are not in contact with people directly. – Our live classes provide the platform to check in with instructors and ask questions before and during the workout whenever issues come up!
Speak up if something doesn’t feel right. The last thing you want when you embark on your fitness journey is to hurt yourself in the process because you were too nervous to ask for advice.
Focus on YOU and resist the urge to compare yourself to others
Whenever you start to compare yourself to others, and start to give attention to your insecurities about your body, stop and bring your attention and focus to your workout. Concentrate on your movements, and remind yourself how well you are doing.
Celebrate the small gains! You may have bigger goals you ultimately hope to reach in your fitness journey, but recognizing the milestones it takes to get there is an important part of the motivation process.
If you felt more energy after your workout, if you were able to lift a little heavier or move a little faster- each of these are gains to be proud of and appreciate!
Believe in yourself
You make your mindset. You decide whether you will let negative thoughts hold you back. You decide whether you will try to find the brightside or not.
Choose to believe in yourself. Choose to be proud and recognize your strength and all that your body can do for you. Once you recognize that half that battle is with your own mind
A strategy that we love to use when we are facing our fears is to ask “What is the best possible outcome?” and to come up with a list of all the awesome things that may happen if we allow ourselves to try. We use that list as our focus. Our brains are so skilled at coming up with a long list of negative outcomes and it is easy to forget about all the positive ones!
With all these tips in mind, remember that your journey is your own, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it all by yourself. Find the right resources and tools to motivate you, a space you feel comfortable and a supportive community to help set you on the best path.
BONUS TIP:
An extra tip to help you start making movement a part of your life is to schedule time for a workout on the days you want to do them. Instead of trying to find time for it throughout a busy day, make a dedicated time slot BEFORE your day starts where you commit to your workout.
Make it a task on your to-do list just like anything else. Take this time for your body and mind – it’s worth it. 🙂 – LoyoboFIT
