In a country with a growing obesity problem, people have become more eager to workout and fitness centers across the nation are filling up with those trying to get in shape. Teens and adults alike are attempting to fulfill their New Year’s Resolutions by getting healthier and being more active. Many people however, are uncomfortable with the gym due to the pressures that it contains.

               Many people have been going to gyms for years and seem almost like professionals to the rookie gym members. These “gym-rats” know exactly where to go, what to do, and how to do it. This is a very intimidating fact to many newcomers, including myself, who feel lost when they first walk in to work out.  Thoughts race through peoples’ minds such as, how do I use this machine? Should I stretch first? How long should I run for? What muscles should I work on?  Even if a piece of equipment has directions, those of us who are new to the workout world feel like it is written in another language because it’s so confusing.         

Gyms today recognize the intimidation that is present amongst many members and try to address this issue, but it doesn’t always work. Planet Fitness uses its commercials to portray a comfortable environment while making fun of other places whose members’ only concern is to “pick things up and put them down.” Facilities have begun to offer women’s only areas where females can work out on their own, however it is not just the males that create the discomfort for new members. Females make up a large percentage of the veteran gym members and they are often the most intense at cardiovascular workouts. It even makes me self-conscious sometimes, seeing the person next to me running twice the distance, at a faster pace, or steeper incline than I am. Working out has become a game with the newcomer destined to lose.  

I especially am intimidated by the weight lifting area of the gym. It feels embarrassing when you watch someone lifting huge weights without breaking a sweat while I struggle with a 10 or 15 pound dumbbell. It feels like this is their territory and they are judging you the whole time you are lifting. As the gym rats stare into the mirror and flex their muscles, I walk away to something less threatening.

               What is the solution to this problem? How will newcomers ever become comfortable, like those who have been attending fitness centers for years? It may seem like an endless cycle, but it can be avoided. Going to the gym with a friend gives you someone to work out with that may be just as new or uncomfortable as you are. When you have a gym buddy, you may be more likely to try new things like the cool Zumba class or intense yoga class. Also, speaking to an employee can be helpful. Often they are more approachable and friendly than those who are simply concerned with getting through their workout without interruption. You are not alone in the discomfort so you shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help.

               The gym is a great place to get in shape. Despite its intimidation factor, joining a gym motivates you to keep at it since you are paying quite a bit to belong there. It is important not to let others keep you from being healthier and fit. Many new members to the world of fitness face “Gym phobia” so you are not alone! It is very common for people to give up on their New Year’s Resolutions shortly after making them, but with a more comfortable gym atmosphere, many of those people would be more likely to stick to what they started.