GYMTIMIDATION

Gymtimidated-

When someone is intimidated to go to the gym (or use gym equipment) because the muscle heads are constantly using the weight machines/free weights..or any other reason not listed above.

Example sentence: Caitlin was going to go lift weights today but was  gymtimidated.

Think you're the only one with this issue? Think again.. this problem is huge..all over the world and if you think that Arnold and Dana B never had this problem well I bet you're wrong. From women to men..to thin or big..this issue has poisoned the minds of pretty much most people I know. It's not hard to become gymtimidated... with all the meat heads in the free weights area..to the girls casually pedaling the elliptical with a full face of makeup on and a gallon of perfume..it's no wonder we are affected by this. If you have body image issues..low self esteem..poor confidence in yourself it makes it even harder.

Or maybe its not the people that intimidate you..its the machines..the shiny chrome that gleams practically blinds your eyes and when you get enough nerve to walk over to said contraption well..you have no freaking clue how to use it!!! You look all around you for a staff member at (insert your gym here) and gasp with annoyance as of course you cannot locate a single person wearing a uniform. You get mad at yourself and don't even want to try to figure out the machine.. for fear of looking stupid.. or you do attempt to figure it out and jam your finger on the darn thing out of anger because the stupid knob is stuck and the seat won't move and where do my arms go..and my legs need to go in that thing??? Yes these are all thoughts I too have dealt with.

I suffered from the worst kind of gymtimidation there is..THE FEAR OF EVERYTHING..The fear of seeing people I know..the fear of those darn machines.. the elliptical looked like a torture chamber and how the hell do my feet stay put...the barbie dolls on treadmills walking at a pace of 1.2 and waiting for a mea thead to hit on them..and the meat heads themselves.. not concerned with me at all or the endless sweat dripping off my arms and the breath I could never seem to catch..they were more interested in their own reflection in the mirror. Can you feel the frustration of me typing this??

Gymtimidation is beyond frustrating.. its a never ending cycle!! You feel bad about yourself and want to change so you think of the gym.. then you get to the gym and feel worse so instead you leave. How many of you have done this? Show of sweaty hands please..

I can't remember just why I changed my mind and bit the bullet one day.. well maybe it was the 10 month plateau I was in..I mean hell something had to change or I was about to throw in the towel completely. Thank god I got up enough courage to enter the double doors.. thank god I studied up on each machine I used.. never asking for help for fear of "bothering staff" ..because frankly at my most gyms I've attended.. the staff makes you feel like crap for asking. They are there to punch the clock and really don't ever seem to care about anything else..NOTE THIS IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ONLY. Not naming any gyms in particular but its very rare to find someone that will help you with a smile.

After learning what each machine did and for what muscle group I worked them all to death for months.. until bam PLATEAU again.... but free weights??? Hell no!!! I will never go over there.. again here's a rant.. any gym I've ever been in has the worst free weight area.. not enough space..not enough weights..and don't get me started about squat racks and smith machines for there are NEVER ENOUGH. I still can't believe I know what the heck a squat rack even is..

But once again I knew I had to change so I started studying free weights..ROM... different moves for each muscle group and I watched countless videos on form and just prayed I was doing it right. I had my headphones on and sweat running down my face that day I finally conquered that fear of the free weight area which to this very day is still there.. I still have butterflies in my stomach when I enter it..no matter the time of day or day of week. Even when by now I pretty much see the same faces each morning when I go.. we wave to eachother...im comfortable there but I still know I'm just a visitor and that I will always be anxious about it.

Nobody is perfect..everyone has insecurities.. EVERYONE. That muscle bound pre workout jacked up guy lifting in the squat rack (NOTE MOST ANNOYING THING EVER) .. hates how his biceps bulge in weird places and never thinks his job is done.

That chick with fake eyelashes on and a boatload of Jadore by Dior doused in her workout clothes is afraid you can see the cellulite on her ass as she pedals slowly on the elliptical. She even looks down as she leaves the gym for fear of making eye contact with someone that will see how weak she is.

What's my point with all this? Screw being gymtimidated.. put in your ear buds and bust it out.. does making a better body for yourself hang out with routine? Nope.. Does growing stronger and healthier live with routine and know her well? Nope.. But getting healthier..building your confidence level.. getting stronger and feeling good all around..that lives and breathes with change.