Hey, you 👋 Are you looking to start the gym but have no clue what you are doing? You’ve come to the right place!

Let’s just get straight into it. The first thing to remember when signing up for a gym and heading in for the first time is that the gym is for everyone, and everyone was a beginner at some point in their fitness journey.

When you remove the stereotype that the gym is only for the “gym lads” or “gym bunnies” (however you call them), and those lifting 100kg+ on deadlifts and so on, it becomes a lot easier. Ask yourself why do I want to start going to the gym? Maybe it’s to start a weight loss journey, or maybe it’s to show your body some extra love and TLC. Whatever your story, the gym is a welcoming place for that.

Secondly, nobody is looking at you. Ok, if you drop a weight or fall over (things I’ve done many times) you might get a few looks your way – but these last no more than a split second and then they get back to their own workout. Everyone in the gym is wearing their headphones, music blasted to the max, so nobody at all is paying any attention to what you may be doing.

Start small. I encourage you on your first trip to the gym to just look around. This may be daunting, but it will help you in the long run. Find the studios, find the cardio machines, find the free weights. On your first day, you’ll want to find a treadmill, bike or cross-trainer (a cardio machine you feel comfortable using). Usually the machines are very simple to use. If you have trouble doing this, find a gym manager, a personal trainer, or ask the person next to you. You don’t have to say this is your first time in the gym – maybe it’s your first time in a new gym. Nobody knows, and that’s what I love about it!

Use the treadmill or bike as your comfort blanket to begin with. Take a look around the gym as you’re doing so (but please be careful not to fall off!!) and see what else you may feel comfortable using. But, on your first day, just use the one machine. Do a quick workout and leave content and satisfied.

Side note, wear something that you are comfortable in. You don’t have to be wearing the trending Gymshark or AYBL matching sets, although they do help if you’re lacking confidence some days in the gym, but that’s much further down the line. Wear leggings or joggers, and a big hoodie if you want to. Don’t fall into the trap of worrying about what to wear for the gym. To be honest, I can’t talk – I’ve recently created my dream gym wardrobe so I have plenty to choose from (and lots of money wasted)!

The next few times you go to the gym, try something new, whether that’s a machine or some free weights. I’m almost a qualified PT so I’ll be sharing some beginner gym workouts with you shortly! And don’t be embarrassed of asking for help! Even I ask for help sometimes, as a 5″2 girl in the gym most of the machines are super hard for me to adjust! Watch people as well on the machines: how they set up, how many reps, what weight they are doing. And don’t push yourself too hard. Start with lower weights and you’ll feel much more comfortable.

Schedule in your days to go to the gym, and again start small with 3 times a week. Congrats if you want to or do go more, but with starting out in your fitness journey, you want to do it slow. Especially if you’re not used to lifting weights or being in the gym environment, you don’t want to scare yourself off in the first week.

A good tip also is to go at off-peak times. This may be hard if you have a 9-5 job in the office everyday, but try to miss the 5pm rush. Gyms tend to be quieter during off-peak hours (early mornings or mid-afternoons), so if you’re feeling nervous, go when it’s less crowded. You’ll have more space and won’t feel watched.

Remember that people are there to help you. 99% of gym users are actually nice people, and I’ve found that the “scarier” gym bros are the ones that are most helpful! Ask for help and support, join gym classes if you are not quite ready to start the gym. Do what makes you feel comfortable. You don’t have to join in with the trends! The gym is a place for everyone, so please remember that.