Some people are intimidated by the gym.Personal trainer Jim White told INSIDER his tips for overcoming commongym fears and general gym intimidation.When all else fails, remember that you're there to workout and get healthy just like everyoneelse.Motivating yourself to get to the gym is one thing, but feeling comfortable and confident there is another.Body shaming in gym marketing and on social media is, unfortunately, widespread and a reason why some people avoid the gym entirely. But you shouldn't let your fear of the gym, intimidation of the machines, or negative self-talk keep you from reaching your fitness goals.ACSM exercise physiologist and personal trainerJim Whitetold INSIDERthat it is possible toget over gym-intimidation and start crushing your workouts with confidence. Here are some of his tips for getting over the fear ASAP.Take a tour.There are only so many pieces of equipment in one gym and taking the time to get a tour from a professional will give you the chance to ask questions without feeling awkward, according to White."Ask about differentequipment and how to use it," he said. "Also ask about the dress code and what they recommend to bring with you for your workout. Being familiar with the gym will bring comfort."Don't go duringpeak hours. A post shared by Michelle (@theadventuresofmichelle)on May 2, 2017 at 12:14am PDT A post shared by Gilda (@betoandfriendly)on Aug 7, 2017 at 6:04pm PDT A crowded gym is not anideal time for newbies to try out equipment and get acclimated. Heck, a packed gymisn't fun even for people who know what they're doing. So it's worth going to the gym during weird hours."Ask [or] call the front desk to see when their least busy times are so the first few times you go, so you can get used to everything in the gym and not feel like you're in everyone else's way," White said.Bringa buddy with you.Exercise is always more fun with friends. White said having a shoulder to lean on, both physically and emotionally, can give you an extra boost of confidence in the gym."Having someone to talk to [or] be with can help take away from uncomfortable feelings," hesaid. "This can be someone who is already familiar with the gym or someone who will also be starting their fitness journey who will be in the same situation as you."Additionally,somestudies have shown that working out witha partner that is equally or more motivated than you can even lead you to workout more.Plus, if yougo with someone who also just started working out, you won't feel like the only clueless person.Plan your workoutbeforehand.You know where the equipment is, when you're going, and who's going with you to the gym. Now you have to figure out what you're going to do."You will feel less uncomfortable if you have a plan and you aren't just [sic] wandering around trying to figure out what to do," he said. "Do your research ahead of time, save the pictures or videos onto your phone, and know what you're going to do going into the gym."White recommended using YouTube to findworkout ideas. There are also workout planresources online from trusted sources like the National Academy of Sports Medicine(NASM)and the American Council on Exercise(ACE).Test out a trainer.Not everyone has the ability to afford a trainer, but White recommends it if it's in your budget ."They can get you into a normal routine and make you feel comfortable because they show you how to do everything," he said. "And you will always have someone there with you."Having this trusted professional with you will also allow you to worry less about injuries and will allow you to get some feedback on your programming. Some gyms might even offer you a free consultation when you join, so take advantage of it if you can.Bring your own playlist. There is almost nothing more motivating than a good playlist. Research shows that music can distract your brain and make you workout harder, especially when listening to faster music, HuffPost reports.Picking out your own songs is especially important. According to a study done by professors atBrunel University, songs that you personally find motivating havethe power to improve your physical performance because they are linked with certain positive memories.Andif social interaction is an issue, White noted that keeping your earbuds in will also make people less likely to talk to you.In the end, White said that the most important thing to remember is that everyone is at the gym for the same reasons."Every person in the gym once had their first day, and many of them probably had mixed feelings of starting their fitness journey there as well," he said. "However, since they went through it themselves, they know how it is. Everyone is working towards their goals, and knows everyone else is too. Do not feel discouraged ' just go for it."Join the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: This arcade gym will make you forget you're working out
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