You're A Mess In The Gym

You walk in with your head held high.

You know exactly what you’re doing in this gym.

You fist bump the second biggest guy (you’re the first).

You own the place.

Sound like you?

No?

It’s ok. I know that didn’t used to be my reality, either.

I’d walk in with my head down.

I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.

I didn’t know anybody.

I probably wouldn’t be back for another month.

These feelings of anxiety are the reason you skip the gym.

Nobody would choose to feel that way, would they?

But that anxiety won’t ever go away if you stay away from the gym.

Here’s how I tackled the gym anxiety 10 years ago and got to where I am now:

1. Take it one step at a time

You’re not going to go from no gym membership to going for 10 hours a week. Build on what you do every week and month.

If week one involves walking on a treadmill for 20 minutes, that's ok.

There's no right or wrong way of starting out in the gym.

2. Two’s better than one

If you can, go with a friend or family member. I spent the first couple of years as a teen going to the gym with my dad.

I wouldn’t have been able to go without him.

3. Make a plan

If you go into the gym with no plan, you’ll be wandering around like a headless chicken. Even if it’s a free PDF you’ve found online. It’s better than nothing.

I even have some free stuff you can copy for yourself here.

It's called The In Shape Trans Guy Guide and there's some chapters in there on chest, arm and ab training (alongside some other stuff on fat loss and gym confidence!).

Download it for free.

4. Get a coach

Let’s be honest, this is a guaranteed way of gaining the kangaroo on caffeine style confidence in the gym you can only dream of right now.

You’ll know exactly what you’re doing.

Because currently you're sat on the leg press not knowing what part of the machine to move.

Your brains working overdrive as you try to work out where to put your feet.

You end up feeling like an idiot.

The big bodybuilder staring over at you as you feel yourself getting hotter and redder.

You want to run out the gym, dive back into your car and have a little cry to yourself.

Most of the time you jump off the equipment and find something nice and safe in the corner.

A little stroll on the treadmill.

A few light reps of a dumbbell curl.

But not this time.

This time you reach into your pocket and 20 seconds later you know exactly what bits to move on that leg press.

You’ve clicked on an exercise form video that’s linked directly on your bespoke training plan.

You know exactly where your feet should go now.

But just to play it safe you send me a video on WhatsApp of one of your sets.

I can tweak your form so you’re able to build as much muscle as possible.

I can assess your intensity and encourage you to get another plate on the machine and really start to increase your strength.

You jump off the machine after your 3 sets knowing confidently what to do next time you come to the gym.

All because of my coaching in your pocket.

You’ll start getting results and become a respected member of your gym.

You’ll take your gym confidence out into the real world. Feel sexy? Yeah, that brings confidence, trust me.

But... If you’re anxious about the gym, you’re probably anxious about talking to little old me.

So, let’s have a chat about what type of coffee you like (I’m a cappuccino guy), your favourite TV shows and whether you think chocolate should be kept in the fridge or not (it obviously shouldn’t, you psychopath).

Drop me a DM with your answers.

Seriously… Go on. Even if you’re reading this in the future, 3 years after I've posted it (maybe you’re on Mars).

Drop me a DM and say hello.