The intimidating stares. The obnoxious grunters. The weight-slammers. The selfie-kings and queens. I get it, the gym may not always feel like the most welcoming place.
The gym is also where you can develop the confidence and grit that come from overcoming difficulties to accomplish your goals. These two pour into other areas of your life in a BIG way!
Pile on the fact that you’re going to keep your body healthier for an awesome-r, possibly-longer life (I’m more concerned about the awesomeness than the length myself), and the mental peace you can find by taking out your aggression and negativity on the weights, and you can see why I think the gym is worth your time. Even if it means dealing with annoying people...
Newsflash: ANNOYING PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE! They’re at fancy restaurants and fast food joints. They’re at candy stores, grocery stores, conven…. You don’t let them stop you from going to these places and making unhealthy decisions, why let them stop you from going to the gym to be healthier so you can look, feel, and move better?
I’ll take it a step further and say, I go to the gym to get out my aforementioned negativity that intensifies from all the annoying people in all the other places! At least at the gym I get to lift out the aggression and listen to Black Label Society.
If this helped convince you to get in there, cool! That’s more what #WeightRoomWednesday is all about, as opposed to the X’s and O’s of lifting. That said, you may wanna check out these pointers (or these) for some guidance on what to do once you do get through that door. If you’re convinced, but need help making time for the gym, this may help.
And yes, I’m fully aware that my perception of people as “annoying” is often a projection of my own negative feelings that I created with my own actions (lateness and lack of planning being common culprits) and by listening to low-level thinking patterns. Or possibly even a selfish ideal of “how it should be” because I like to think the world revolves around me. But this is a fitness blog, not a therapy session! Also, I can be running an hour early and if someone doesn’t go within a one-mississippi of the light turning green, I’m gonna honk and scream expletives. It’s just what it is.
Don’t let annoying people stop you from getting where you wanna go. In life and in fitness.
Have fun and do your best,
Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach (American Council on Exercise; Precision Nutrition)