So, you’re new to fitness and the gym in general. It can be a scary place if you don’t know what you’re doing. But it doesn’t have to be. The gym can be a sanctuary for many. A place to leave behind the day’s stresses and strains. For some, it can even be a social place to meet like minded people that share a common interest.
If you are thinking of starting your fitness journey or you have not long started – here’s some tips from Team Peak to get you on your way and keep you going.
1. Ask for help.
It’s so important that you feel comfortable wherever you train. Our Fit Mum, Jo Taylor, advises that if you are not sure how to use a certain bit of kit or how to perform a certain exercise correctly – ask. Your gym should have fully qualified staff working there who will be able to help you. We would rather you asked us how to do something 10 times over than leave because you didn’t feel right.
2. Results take time.
Be patient. Our Head PT, Steve Birch, is very clear with clients when it comes to results. It won’t happen overnight. Often people give up when it comes to their fitness journey all because they didn’t see results in the first month. Stick at it and be realistic. Steve also advises not comparing yourself to others. Everyone is at different stages of their fitness. Also, some people are better at cardio, whilst others are better at strength training. You should focus on your own progress and not that of others.
3. Don’t set yourself up to fail.
Our Fitness Instructor, Alice Costello, knows first hand what it’s like to do this. Her advice is to pace yourself. Don’t go in all guns blazing living on a lettuce leaf and training 7 days per week – you will not succeed long term. Start off exercising 3-4 times per week if you are new to fitness. That way you are more likely to continue this pattern when you can fit it into your everyday routine. If you miss a day or two, that’s fine. Start again the following week.
4. Learn from others.
Owner, John Phillips, is a keen advocate for watching and learning from others. Everyone was a beginner at one time or another. If you see someone that is doing something you would like to learn more about – ask them. You will find that for the most part people are friendly and willing to help. If they are in the moment and have their headphones on, then wait until they’ve finished. But don’t be afraid to watch and learn and ask for advice from those more experienced.
5. Don’t be fooled by social media
Our Sports Massage Therapist, Aaron Hill, is often fighting against the perceived “norms” on social media and working hard to call out the charlatans creating a bad name for the industry. He advises not to believe everything you see online. Often images are altered and just because an “Insta model” is demonstrating a workout or selling a plan, doesn’t mean it’s right or it will work. If you want a plan to work to, ask the experts.
So hopefully these little tips will go some way to helping you on your journey.
If you are thinking of joining our Peak Family or starting a new fitness regime and want some advice, our experienced team are on hand to get you on the right track and keep you there.
