Gym Confidence: A Guide on How to Enter Your “Gym Girl Era”

Written By SPEC MAG

By Shaudeh Farjami

With 7-day shred videos, #GymTok, and the rise of athleisure wear, 2020 ignited the flame of the “gym girl era.” The rise of workout splits, oversized water bottles, focusing on protein intake, yoga sculpt, and matching two piece sets kept it blazing. If only having gym confidence was as easy as completing an hourglass ab workout video wearing a pair of scrunched biker shorts. The one thing that the gymfluencer’s continue to leave out of these engaging demonstrations is the most crucial factor of all: building gym confidence.

I don’t even have the confidence to walk into the gym, I’m screwed — these are thoughts speeding through almost everyone’s head when they start at ground zero on their workout journey. When speeding past the chaotic free weights zone and daunting machinery in the swarming gym, intimidation is a natural reflex. At the beginning of a workout journey, it is easy to feel like you are walking around with a sign that says, “Hi my name is.. newbie.” It is time to turn up the confidence level to 10.0.

Staying active is the number one factor in amplifying mental and physical health. What you manifest, you become. What you feel, you emanate. What you imagine, you transpire. Confidence is a mindset. It is completely up to you as an individual to design your own and live by it.

As with all new things, you cannot expect yourself to be good at the very start. In the iron kingdom, there is a stigma that if you are fit, your skills and stamina are innate. There is this elevated sense of anxiousness and vulnerability when it comes to working out at the gym. It is up to you to denounce the stigma and go into your first workout with an understanding that you may not know what you are doing and you have to learn.

Shoulders back, chin up, do not lean forward, squeeze your core — there is also a pressure to be a natural at the gym with a perfect form. The gym curates a fear of being judged by others, the fear of not being able to do certain exercises properly, the fear of being in someone’s way, the fear of not picking up on gym etiquette and the fear of being compared to the regular gym studs. Walk around like you know what you are doing and soon enough, you will. Confidence is something you build. After all, having the courage to try something new is how you build that confidence.

Unfortunately, there is no shortcut. There’s no secret method on how to be confident. Walk confidently, talk confidently, and you will look confident. Your dream lifestyle is attainable if you rip the bandaid, get your sweat on, and start firing. If that means sporting a new workout romper, a pair of new shoes, or a fixation on a post-workout snack to feel excited, keep it coming. Find little joys in times of uneasiness to give yourself the extra push.

Shoes:

It is never too late in the year to hit your fitness goals. Nothing feels better than holding yourself accountable and showing up for yourself. No new advice here: use a schedule. Paper planner, to-do lists, digital calendars — block out a consistent time just like you would for classes, appointments, and social events. Strive for a new feeling of satisfaction knowing you can take care of yourself and make yourself happy because you can follow through for yourself. If you’re already in your athleisure look, it is one step easier to go to the gym.

My favorite athleisure products:

Curating a healthy gym routine is a trial and error process. You will find exercises that you enjoy and ones that work for your body, and you’ll find ones that won’t. In the day and age of #GymTok, workout information and resources are easily accessible. As trivial as it sounds, a “how-to” video is your best friend when it comes to the jitters of new workout equipment. Learning things like tips to use equipment, workout splits, how to fuel your body for success, and proper form can make all the difference. Going into a workout with a plan can help relieve some stress about figuring out what you are going to do.

Best workout videos:

A common misconception is that a workout is not effective unless there’s visible progress. In reality, progress takes months of consistency and dedication. It is so easy to give up when you do not see instant results. To stay motivated during the process, lean into how energized and successful you feel after a workout. Acknowledge how much better you feel about yourself after a visit to the gym versus before working out. Track the weights you are using, log how you feel about your routine, and count the number of new workouts you attempted recently. If you fuel your body correctly, get enough sleep, and stay consistent, it is just a matter of time.

But there is a fine line between consistency and overworking your body. For some people, it is a struggle to exercise as much as they should. However, others have the opposite issue — they work out too much. While a lack of exercise can be unhealthy, too much can cause excessive problems as well. If you do not give your body enough time to recover, your body will be prone to high inflammatory mediators. From a physical health perspective, overtraining can lead to overuse injuries like muscle strains and stress fractions. From a mental health perspective, excessive athletic activity could drive a decrease in motivation and passion for the sport of activity. Listen to your body and your mind; the gym should be an energy booster and a mind clearing activity, not an added burden.

Trouble maintaining high energy and stamina halfway through the workout? Find yourself getting bored and losing steam? Problem solved. Amp up a playlist to set you mood. Whether it’s a high intensity leg day or a treadmill strut, a playlist can fulfill any motivational needs. Better yet, dive into a new playlist series.

Playlists:

Podcasts:

  • The Wellness Cafe by Trinity Tondelier

  • Morning Rae by Allana Blumberg

  • 80/20 by Lily Rakow

  • Gals on the Go by Brooke Miccio and Danielle Carolan

  • Girls Gotta Eat by Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine

SPEC MAG
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