Nine ways to avoid looking like a gym amateur

Photo credit: Rex Features
Photo credit: Rex Features

From Harpers Bazaar UK

January is that time of year when everyone is more fitness-aware than usual. You've, rightly, over-indulged during the festive period and have resolved to join a gym to shape up. Walking into a gym for the first time can be pretty intimidating, so we've outlined nine easy ways of avoiding the gym new girl scenario.

1. Ditch the pristine white trainers

Their trainers are so boxfresh white it's very obvious that these adidas sneakers have never seen the outside world before. Then there's the obvious giveaway of limping – wear your trainers in before you hit the gym, or else face blisters.

2. Avoid taking selfies

We get it – it's not easy to motivate yourself to exercise in the cold winter months, so some might want to prove that they made it to the gym with a selfie. Not only is that irritating, it's also a very clear sign that you've never been to the gym before.

3. Remember to warm-up

We've all fallen for this one. So galvanised by the idea of toning up are you that you energetically plough head first into a rigorous workout with a devil-may-care disregard for the aches and pains that come when you forget to warm up beforehand.

4. Don't talk constantly

There's a widely circulated notion that the gym can be a place for socialising and making friends. Without sounding cantankerous, most gym-goers would prefer to focus on the workout in hand rather than chatting. It's easy enough to be distracted from a grueling workout, without someone asking you if you saw the new Netflix show last night when you're breathless and mid-spin.

5. Ask someone how to use the equipment

You stand next to the running machine in a state of confused wonder. How on earth do you turn this thing on? How does the timer work? Just ask an instructor for advice.

6. Remember a towel/water bottle

You're half way through your session and have started to build up a sweat only to realize you forgot your towel, or maybe a water bottle. Hardened gym-goers will also be armed with a reusable bottle rather than a can of St Pellegrino grabbed on route.

7. Forget about make-up

Rare are those who look good at the gym – Gigi Hadid and the Victoria's Secret brigade might look radiant and dewy while pumping iron, but most of us have a red-faced, damp visage to look forward to. Everyone will be in the same boat, so scrap the make-up. The idea is that you sweat and wearing a full face will only clog up your pores and leave your skin in bad condition.

8. Eat beforehand

You heard somewhere that you burn more calories if you haven't eaten in advance of a gym session, but now face the dizzying reality – you feel faint, perhaps you're slightly wheezy and are on the verge of giving up and going home to demolish a gratifying bowel of pasta. Don't forget to fuel your body in advance of your workout.

9. Don't hog the equipment

There are, inevitably, some machines or equipment that are more popular than others, but have some self-awareness and check if there are people hovering around you.

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