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What to Do Your First Day at the Gym http://ift.tt/2gaaYER After you’ve mustered up the willpower to finally check out the gym for the first time, plenty of questions remain: What should you wear? What workout should you do? How does this machine even work? Here’s a primer on how to make your first gym experience awesome. Most first-time exercisers tell me they’re intimidated by the gym because they have no idea what to do and don’t want to look or act like a fool. It’s normal to feel insecure or embarrassed about being clueless, but remember two hard truths: everyone starts somewhere, and no one is actually paying attention to you that closely. Before the GymTo ease first-time jitters, it helps to look like you fit in and make the unknown known. That means a couple of things. Dress for SuccessYou typically need to bring a couple of things with you: a towel (to wipe your sweat and lay on top of seats and benches), a water bottle, a combination lock if you use the lockers, and workout clothes to change into. Advertisement A loose-fitting, dry fit shirt or tank top, tights or shorts, and comfortable shoes should do. You don’t have to care about what to wear to the gym, as long as it’s comfortable for you, but one study in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology suggests that what you wear can influence your confidence levels and how you act. I’ve definitely found myself more focused and motivated to crush my workout if I seem like a badass in my head. Have a PlanAmanda Thebes, a personal trainer and owner of Fit n’ Chips, said that one of the biggest mistakes she sees is people aimlessly wandering around, testing one piece of equipment after another, without a plan. “Every time you go to the gym, you should have a plan,” said Thebes. (We’ll give you an idea of what workout to do later in this story.) Advertisement Think of the reason that’s driving you toward the gym. Perhaps it’s the desire to get more muscle. If so, you probably want to focus on the weights and machines. (Never mind the how yet.) This way you can avoid being distracted and overwhelmed by all the options when you finally get to the gym. Once You’re At the GymYour main goal isn’t to become workout champ of the world. It’s to create a positive first experience so that you keep up this healthy habit. Learn the Lay of the LandEvery gym is set up differently, but there are certain mainstays. I’ve been to dozens of gyms around the world, and without fail, every one has a space for cardio machines—the treadmills, ellipticals, and whatnot. Then there’s generally a room with mirror along the wall for group exercise classes; the weightlifting area, where it’s further separated according to free weights versus machines; and an area for warm-ups or cool-downs with yoga mats, medicine balls, and foam rollers. Don’t be afraid to talk to the gym staff and let them know you’re new. “The gym staff are there to help you and give you advice. They want you to be safe so take advantage of that,” said Thebes. The gym staff should’ve given you a tour before you signed up for a membership or trial, but if not it doesn’t hurt to ask. Know Your Gym EtiquetteGym culture has unspoken rules about good form and proper etiquette. We’ve written about gym etiquette, but I’d like to emphasize a couple of points:
When the gym gets busy, these simple etiquette rules keeps things civil and running smoothly. Don’t Expect AwesomenessYou probably want to sweat and feel the “burn”, but Lee Boyce, a strength coach based in Toronto, recommends that you take things easy. Don’t try to be a hero and make yourself so sore that you aren’t able to work out for days or a whole week after. Being too sore can hurt your motivation and might even turn you off of exercising, says Boyce. A Sample WorkoutEveryone will have different suggestions on what sort of workout you should do. But today? Keep it simple. Boyce recommended this workout to get you started:
Do each exercise for the prescribed number of repetitions, or the full cycle of an exercise, until you complete all three exercises. That’s one round. Repeat for five rounds and rest for 90 seconds between each round. Advertisement These exercises are some of the most basic movements to build foundational strength and prime you for other exercises in the gym. Your body isn’t used to working out or moving efficiently yet. You’ll seem like a lumbering giant and feel awkward, and that’s OK. If you’d like to learn proper form, personal trainers may sometimes offer free initial consultations to help you map out your goals. But beware the tactics many gyms might use to rope you into a personal training package. Whether you should hire a personal trainer or not is based on your budget. A personal trainer is a great way to ease you into the basics and keep your accountable, but not all are awesome. After the GymCongratulations, you did it! You might feel sore after a day or two, which is normal. It’s possible to still work out when you’re sore, even if it is uncomfortable. But the most important thing is that you keep going. No one gets more comfortable with exercising overnight or by going to the gym only occasionally. Gadget News via Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com August 24, 2017 at 03:41PM
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6/26/2018 02:56:43 am
Thanks for sharing your information please keep me update your next article
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