How to Gym

The gym used to be extremely intimidating for me. I honestly don't know why because I am not the type to get embarrassed easily. But here are 10 tips and tricks, unspoken gym rules, and random thoughts that helped me to get in the gym.

1. NO ONE IS LOOKING AT YOU

Everyone is there for the same reason as you: to better themselves. They are so focused on their workout that they aren't even looking around. I mean think about it, how many people at the gym can you remember? Exactly. You remember no one, because you're focused on you. Even if they are looking at you, why does it matter? You're hot!! They are looking at you in awe homedawg. Everyone is worried that everyone else is looking at them. Even if you don't know what you're doing, you're doing way better than the people who are sitting on their butts on their couch. Everyone has to start somewhere.

2. DON'T SACRIFICE FORM

Ego lifting: the term used for doing an exercise incorrectly or with bad form because you want to lift a weight thats too heavy for you. If you are compromising your form, you need to pick up a lighter weight until you get the strength to use heavier ones. If you don't, you won't get the desired results and you risk injuring yourself. A good weightlifter makes the heavy weights feel light, and the light weights feel heavy.

3. YOU NEED PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD

All this means is that with each set, you should be making the weights heavier. Then as the weeks go on, your maximum weight should also increase. If you don't increase your weight, your muscles will have no reason to grow. Everyone debates over the correct amount of sets/reps, but whats most important is just shocking your muscle in some way shape or form. That combined with proper nutrition is the only way they will grow.

4. SAVE CARDIO TILL THE END

This is just my opinion, I always save my intense cardio for the end of my workout. I start with 5 minutes on the treadmill at 3mph and 12% incline to get my heart rate up, but I save the rest for the end. This way I don't waste all of my energy and I have more energy to lift heavier during my actual workout.

5. LIFTING HEAVY WONT MAKE YOU BULKY LADIES !!

Homegirlssss. I have heard too many of y'all say you don't want to weight lift because you don't want to look like a roblox character (understandably). But trust me you wont. Lifting heavy is what helps you build an hour glass shape. Working upper body doesn't make you look like a man, that is what gives you broad shoulders to create the illusion of a smaller waist. And if you want an absolute DUMPTRUCK, hate to tell you but yoga won't give that to you. But back squats, deadlifts, and hip thrusts will. Those girls who do appear "bulky" work hard to look that way, they do it on purpose. They probably take crazy amounts of creatine lol and work specific muscle groups to intentionally look like that. Our bodies simply don't generate enough testosterone to look like that accidentally. So go over there and lift some heavy crap. and eat your food. and don't skip upper body days :))

6. HAVE SOME GYM ETIQUETTE

- if you are using a rack, actually use it and don't be on your phone. Its okay to rest, but don't waste time because other people are probably waiting their turn.

- If someone asks if they can "work in" that means they want to share the piece of equipment that you are using. This is usually when you are going back and forth between multiple pieces of equipment during a superset or something. The answer to this question is always yes, unless you are just feeling rude that day lol.

- put weights back where they belong. No one wants to have to go searching all over the gym to find them

- DONT AGREE TO SPOT SOMEONE UNLESS YOU CAN ACTUALLY HELP THEM! You can always say "Hey i've never spotted before, can you tell me how?" but don't agree and then have no idea how to help someone. You don't want to be responsible for someone dropping a 150 lb barbell on their chest lol.

7. YOU DESERVE TO TAKE UP SPACE

Don't ever try to tell yourself that you shouldn't use a piece of equipment because someone who is more "professional" than you is waiting for it. They don't deserve it any more than you do, and if you got there first then it is rightfully yours to use. You paid for a gym membership and you paid to use this piece of equipment to get stronger.

8. BEWARE OF PRE-WORKOUTS

This is a bit hypocritical, but if you can do your workout without a preworkout I would recommend doing so. There are some really great all natural ones, but some of them have crazy amounts of caffeine that will keep you awake all night lol. If you feel like you are too tired to get through a workout, I recommend using an all natural/organic workout. I currently use "the genius pre" and I like it so far. The six star pre-workout isn't all-natural and contains caffeine, but its still a pretty light one that isn't bad as long as you don't take it at night. I wouldn't recommend psychotic, total war, C4, or any of those. You will certainly feel energized but those things can mess ya up homedawg, and you can get addicted lol.

9. YOUTUBE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

If you don't know how to do an exercise, look it up on youtube! That's how I learn everything lol. Youtube basically can answer all of your questions, and theres even a couple of great workouts on there.

10. DRESS PROPERLY

Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Don't bother doing your makeup because you will sweat it off lol. But picking out a gym outfit can be fun and you will probably end up spending all your money on gym clothes. For weightlifting I highly recommend flat shoes. Nike shoes and running shoes make it hard to balance and evenly distribute the weight. Converse are my personal favorite lifting shoes, but vans or Nike blazes work too. Always wear your hair up or tied back because it is not fun when it gets stuck in between the weights. And your hair sticking to your sweaty back isn't fun either lol.