7 Gym Tips For Beginners

Going to the gym for the first time can be overwhelming and even off-putting. These beginner tips can help you get the most from your gym trips.

If you’ve decided it’s it time to sign up for a gym membership and try properly working out for the first time, then it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive or overwhelmed. Which machines should you use? How much should you lift?

You’re bound to have a load of questions, and to start with you might not feel like you know what you’re doing. With that in mind, here are some top tips for beginner gym-goers…

1. Do an induction

An induction is a beginner session usually run by one of the gym instructors. They will show you around the gym and explain what the various machines do and how to use them. Most gyms will insist on you completing an induction when you first join, but if they don’t then ask if one can be put on for you. It’s important you know how to use the machines properly to avoid hurting yourself or damaging them.

2. Set realistic goals

Whether you want to lose a few pounds or build your muscle mass, it’s important to be realistic with your want you want to achieve. Joining the gym is a long-term investment so don’t expect to lose loads of weight or be lifting bus-loads within a fortnight. Don’t get disheartened if it doesn’t happen overnight; stick with it and you’ll reap the benefits.

3. Don’t do too much too soon

By being realistic with your goals, that should help you to resist doing too much too soon. It can be tempting to try and push yourself a little too far, but you could end up doing more harm than good. The last thing you want is to pull a muscle or damage your joints – this could end up putting you out of action for a while and undo a lot of good work.

4. Warm up and down

Another way to guard against injury is to ensure you warm up before you get going. It might not be the most exciting part of your workout, but it’s one of the most important. Some simple stretches will warm your muscles up and loosen your joints, while some light cardio will raise your heart rate a little before you ramp it up.

It’s also essential that you warm down after your workout. If you don’t your muscles are more likely to be sore afterwards. Similar exercises to your warm up will be fine.

5. Be consistent

Little and often is a much more effective gym strategy than going once a week and pushing yourself too hard. The key to losing weight and building muscle is to work on it regularly and slowly increase your workload. Again, this will also help prevent injury.

6. Stay hydrated

Staying hydrated is absolutely essential to good gym performance and living healthily in general. By drinking enough water you’ll see better results, you’ll be less tired, sleep better, and a whole host of other benefits. You should be drinking about three litres of water a day anyway, but if you’re working out then you should be drinking even more to replace what you lose through sweat.

7. Find a time that works for you

Finding the right time to go to the gym is really important in making you feel comfortable and consequently getting more from your workout. Some people like to go straight after work, whereas others prefer it first thing in the morning. Obviously everyone’s lifestyles and commitments are different so you may have to make time for a gym session, but try and find a time you feel most comfortable with.