Summer is the perfect time to get your butt in gear and go to the gym. But you don’t want to look like the out of place newcomer when you go. Here’s how to go and fit in just like a regular. They’ll never know you aren’t someone who’s been there every day!
What To Wear
You don’t want to start off on a bad note by walking in wearing something weird. Maybe it’s easiest to go over what not to wear and make sure that’s not laid out for the next morning.
First off, make sure you have good shoes. In addition to worn out sneakers with holes in them being unattractive, they’re a hazard at the gym. Make sure your sneakers are replaced about every 500 miles so you don’t end up hurting yourself.
Find a happy medium between too baggy and too loose clothing. You don’t want to be revealing everything with skintight clothes, and they can restrict your range of motion, too. But super baggy clothes can get caught on machines. Most importantly, make sure you have a supportive sports bra, or you’re definitely going to be hurting by the end of your session. Skip the jewelry, too. That’s another thing that can easily get caught on something.
We have a tendency to get comfortable in our workout garb when we aren’t around others at the gym. But you definitely want to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward—both to look like you know what you’re doing and to make sure you’re helping your workout with your clothing, not hindering it.
When To Go
There’s no perfect number for the amount of times you should go to the gym in a week. Don’t feel the need to have to go every day. That’s hard to do with a busy lifestyle, and probably too much for your body.
Instead, do your best to plan it around your schedule. If you can fit in 4-5 days a week, that’s great! But 2-3 days is still good too. It’s getting you the exercise you want, without taking over your life.
Make A Schedule
One of the best parts about joining a gym is that a lot of them have fitness classes that you can attend instead of just working out on the machines all the time. Check the monthly schedule and see if you can find any classes that you’re interested in. That way, you can plan your gym schedule around those days and make sure you’re participating in a workout you’ll enjoy.
It’s good to get in some variety too, so maybe plan every other visit with cardio one day and weight training the next. Don’t just do the same exact activities every day—make sure you’re getting the most out of that gym membership and make it worth it.
Dealing With The Ick Factor
One of the biggest issues people have with the gym is the thought of getting other people’s sweat all over them. The gym can be a truly disgusting place when you think about it. A study found that the average treadmill has 74 times more germs than a public bathroom sink. And those free weights? They have 362 times the amount of bacteria generally found in a public toilet.
Always bring your own antibacterial hand gel to use after touching anything in the gym. You also want to make sure you wipe everything down with antibacterial or bleach wipes to make sure things are safe to touch.
As far as towels and mats go, always do your best to bring your own. And bring flip-flops to walk around the locker room as well. Showering there should probably be avoided, but if you have to do it, wear flip-flops and bring antimicrobial soap.
Getting sick at the gym is a real possibility if you aren’t careful. Make sure you’re taking all the precautions you can to avoid it so your gym experience isn’t ruined.
The gym is an awesome place to get into shape, meet new people and make your workouts so much more enjoyable. Follow these tips to make sure you’re comfortable and you’ll be considered a gym regular in no time!