How to Go to the Gym for the First Time

Step 1

Today I wanted to talk about getting started weight training. What I mean by this is when you first go to the gym, it can be very intimidating. You walk in, the music is blasting, people are doing cardio on the treadmill, on the elliptical, weights are pounding and you look around and you see everybody in tuned with what they are doing, and as your first time in there, it can be it can be a very daunting experience.

Step 2

So, what I think what you should take the approach of is you have to come from kind of show no fear. You have to set aside the right amount of focus and determination and courage to go in there and get the job done because after, all, you are in there or you.

Step 3

Now, I think that you should not be intimidated and you should have courage because at one point in time, everybody was a beginner. Nobody was born benching 500 pounds. As amazing as Jay Cutler looks today, Arnold looked years ago in his prime, that's not how bodybuilders are naturally born. Everybody has to do some work to get like that, no matter how good your genetics are.

Step 4

So, therefore, I believe you have to go in there with the attitude that "Hey, I am a beginner now, but in the future, I will not be. I am going to climb my way up the mountain I am going to make gains. I am going to leave it all in here, everyday. I am going to give it my best effort. I am not going to show anything less than that."

Step 5

You have to understand that, if you are little and skinny, it is going to be intimidating at first, but once you get into it and you learn the proper form of the exercises, and you get a feel for the gym, the atmosphere, Remember, atmosphere will play a part in how well you perform. That's part of sports as well, team's play, some teams play better on the road than they do at home and vice-versa.

Step 6

So, I really believe that you have to get a feel for the place first. Once you develop a feel for the place, your courage is going. And your determination is starting to rise, everything will fall right into place. You have to understand that you are going to be around tremendous guys lifting in the gym. You are going to see guys that look like they belong in Flex Magazine, guys who look like they belong playing on an NFL defensive line. But you cannot let that get to you. You have to look at that and you have to say, "I will get there when the time is right." Or, "I will be where I want to be."

Step 7

And you should not think that they are making fun of you or they are going to point and laugh, because they were in your situation once as well. And more often than not, I know for when I was a beginner back when I was 14-years old, now I am 20, that most of the huge guys in the gym were always very helpful. And a lot of them wanted to kind of befriend me a little bit and show me the ropes. So, maybe you will meet the right person that will take you under their wing and show you how it is done.

Step 8

Bodybuilders, a lot o them who don't use steroids, that are natural and who work their ass off for years to get there, have a lot of knowledge to pass on.

Step 9

So, I think when you go into the gym, your mentality has to be, "What do I need to do?" Whatever it takes for me. I am not going to have any fear. I am going all the courage and I am just going to go forward with my workouts. What do I need to do?

Step 10

You track down your progress from week to week. You keep a training log of how much weight you are lifting if you want. You keep a log of how much weight you are gaining. How much muscle mass you are gaining, vs. how much body fat you are gaining. And hopefully the body fat will be low and the muscle mass will be high. That's obviously the ideal situation.