First times can be scary. Taking your first steps as a child, the first day of school, and yes, the first time you go to the gym.

Going to the gym can be scary, but probably not half as scary as how we make it out to be in our own minds. The thought of huge hulking muscle heads lurking the floor, just looking for someone, like you, who doesn’t belong, so they can pick us up and make an example of us. The fact is, going to the gym is just like any other first time experience. It seems scary, but when you actually do it, it’s not. After a few visits, you are a pro. Having said that, there are a few things that you should know that can help make your experience, and those around you, just a little more enjoyable. Proper gym etiquette shows respect and also helps to conceal the fact that you are a newbie.

First of all, most people you will encounter at the gym are there to workout, not socialize. Try to keep the chatter to a minimum. There is nothing worse than trying to launch into a set of heavy bicep curls just as you hear the person next to you ask “Did you see American Idol last night? It was AWESOME!” Not cool. Now, if you need advice or help that is acceptable. Most people will appreciate your reaching out to them as long as it is done respectfully. If you have a question, wait for an appropriate time and ask and you will usually get the answer you need.

As far as help goes, if you have no idea how to exercise, use any of the weights OR equipment, then go ahead and stay home for now. It is best if you have at least SOME training under your belt before you hit the gym. The other members have paid good money to be there and they are not looking to wait around for 10 minutes while you try to figure out how to work the chest press machine. Take some time, read a book on exercise or two. Do some searches on the internet. You don’t have to be an expert bodybuilder when you step foot on the weight room floor, but try to have at least a modicum of understanding about different exercises and how to perform them correctly.

These last two may not represent the FINAL two, but they are extremely important if you don’t want to annoy others and appear foolish. When you finish a set on a piece of equipment, GET UP. So many people just want to stay seated or attached to a piece of equipment until they are done 4 or 5 sets. This is just plain rude. There are other folks in the gym and they might want to work in a set. If you let them, you will show respect to others and in turn, they will do the same for you. Finally, when you are done with a piece of equipment, wipe it down. Germs are everywhere and they can be dangerous not to mention the fact that no one wants to sit down in your pile of sweat. Most times there will be a bottle of disinfectant near the machines so just a quick squirt and a wipe down will show others that their safety and health is important to you.

Remember, after your first visit, the newness will be gone and you will be a gym pro in no time. Just use your best judgment and be respectful of others and your gym experience will be a positive one for you AND the other members of the gym.

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• Tired of Looking at the Inside of Gym Walls? (0)

Let’s face it, gyms aren’t pretty and they aren’t really designed to be. They are filled with rows and rows of exercise equipment and any wall space that doesn’t feature a full length mirror is usually covered by a poster of a muscled up bodybuilder or an advertisement for one of the personal trainers that reside there. The floor, while functional with its thick padded surface, doesn’t exactly provide the same ambience as a finely woven Berber carpet.

Well, at least you have the music to help you feel more comfortable. That is if you like whatever type of music happens to be blaring out of the speakers at the time. There is always the TV though. If you are lucky enough to get a machine that has a TV you can control, you’ll have the ability to watch whatever you want as long as you place the bacteria infested earphones into your ears. Perhaps I sound a bit disgruntled and I apologize as that is not my point. The fact is, sometimes I just have to take my work out outside as the confining walls of the gym can drive just about anybody crazy after a while.

So, what is so great about working out outside? What is so great is that the possibilities are endless. The only thing that determines what you’ll see and what you’ll experience when working out outside is the areas in which you’re willing to go to perform your workout.

If you’re looking for a more calm and serene atmosphere, simply take a jog around the past they can be found at your local lake. Benches found along the pathway will provide you additional structures for you to use if you want to perform incline push-ups or plyometrics.

If you’re looking for a more varied and intense surrounding, simply make your way into the city to complete your fitness regimen. Running up and down stairs amidst the hustle and bustle of a downtown environment will not only provide you with a great cardiovascular workout but it will ensure that the scenery you encounter is ever-changing. Cityscapes, with their varied concrete jungle type structures provide a plethora of workout opportunities to anyone who has a good imagination and a sense of adventure.

Whether or not you have kids, going to the local playground can be one of the most satisfying work out alternatives to the local gym scene. Fair you can perform an incredible variety of exercises using the jungle gym just as the kids do including pull-ups on the monkey bars, plyometric jumps on the landing platforms, and even dips between the bars of the equipment itself.

So if you are tired of looking at the inside walls of your gym, simply step outside and take a look around. Workout opportunities are everywhere and stepping out into the fresh air can reinvigorate your excitement for working out and training our regular basis.

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