The gym is a fascinating place where people join with extreme excitement, but the truth is that around 90% of them give up in the very early days. I don’t want you to be part of that list. That’s why I want to give you a clear idea of the actual facts before joining a gym. If you keep these points in mind, I believe you’ll do much better in your fitness journey, and it will become a lot more enjoyable.
Have a Clear Concept
Before going to the gym, you must have a goal. People go to the gym with various goals, such as fat loss, muscle building, general fitness, or powerlifting. Some go for stress relief, while others have specific objectives like rehabilitation, sports fitness, or preparing for a bodybuilding competition.
Ask yourself why you want to join a gym and, most importantly, why you are investing your money and time. If your answer is, “My friend is going,” or “I saw an influencer with an amazing physique, so I want to join the gym,” then, my friend, the gym is not for you because you will likely quit very soon.
To have a clear concept, stand in front of a mirror, observe your condition, and visualize how you want to look. Your physical condition will determine what your goal should be—whether it’s losing fat, getting muscular, becoming leaner, or something else.
Break Down Your Goal
Now that you know you need a specific goal, and I’m sure you’ve already visualized it, it’s time to break it down into smaller milestones. Remember, the gym is a long-term process where you’ll go through many stages.
Let me explain simply: first, you’ll lose water weight, then body fat, and eventually start gaining muscle and getting in shape. The muscle-building process takes months and even years. It’s natural to feel demotivated or lose track of your path during such a lengthy journey.
When you break the entire process into small steps and create a roadmap, you’re essentially guiding yourself. For example, you can say, “I will lose fat within this period,” “I will increase strength during this phase,” and “I will maximize muscle hypertrophy by this time.”
By following this process, each milestone you achieve will bring you a sense of accomplishment. This happiness will help you stay focused, motivated, and committed to your fitness journey.
Have Patience
When you join the gym, accept the reality that your desired goal won’t be achieved overnight. Progress takes time. You need to stay consistent for at least 6–12 months to see visible results. Many beginners make the mistake of becoming frustrated and impatient because they’re constantly looking for immediate results.
If you’ve never been to the gym before, remember this: your body needs at least 3 months to start showing noticeable changes. In this early stage, you’ll lose water weight, then fat, and notice your shoulders and chest becoming broader while your waist gets slimmer.
These first 90 days are what we call the “learner” phase, not the beginner phase. The beginner stage actually starts after these 90 days.
Body Type
Understanding your body type is crucial because it comes from your genetics. Without knowing your body type, you’re likely to make mistakes in your fitness journey.
There are three main body types:
- Ectomorph
- Mesomorph
- Endomorph
Each body type responds differently to diet and exercise. Factors like how your diet plan should be structured, how much protein, carbs, and fat you need, and what your workout routine should look like all depend on your body type.
Identifying your body type is easy. Here’s a brief description:
- Ectomorph – Naturally slim and struggles to gain weight.
- Mesomorph – Athletic builds and gains muscle easily.
- Endomorph – Gains fat easily and struggles significantly to lose it.
Analyze your body’s condition and see which example matches you—that’s your body type. If you’re still unsure, don’t worry! Consult your trainer, and they’ll help you determine your exact body type.
Consult with Your Trainer
Your trainer is your guide and guardian in your fitness journey. When you first step into the gym, your priority should be to talk to the trainer. No matter how much research you do on Google, it can never match the experience and expertise of a professional trainer.
Consult with your trainer first. They will analyze your body condition and assess your regular lifestyle. They understand your body type and know how it will respond to different exercises. Your trainer will help you perform every rep with precision and adjust your workout routine to suit your body’s needs, ensuring you don’t get bored.
Your trainer will also provide you with a personalized diet chart based on your nutritional requirements and fitness goals. They’ll ensure your safety during workouts and help you push past your limits to achieve the best possible results.
I hope you now understand that your trainer is an inseparable part of your fitness journey.
Don’t Watch The Senior Gym Bro
This is a common mistake, and no matter how often someone is warned, they still tend to make it. They watch how heavy others are lifting, which machines they are using, and what exercises they are doing, and then try to copy them. They attempt to lift heavier than instructed and start doing advanced or fancy exercises. The result? They end up seriously injuring themselves and, because of their ego lifting, make their physique worse.
One thought constantly spins in their mind: “What will people say if I lift lighter weights? Won’t it look weird since everyone else is lifting heavier?” To be honest, no one cares. What actually looks weird is when you try to lift heavy weights without proper form. Remember, those senior gym-goers have already passed through your stage. Focus on your progress, not theirs.
Learn How the Equipment Works
It’s completely fine if you don’t know how the equipment works when you’re just starting. However, without understanding its functionality, you won’t get the best outcome from it. You may struggle to target specific muscles effectively, and as a result, you won’t achieve optimal results over time, whether your goal is building muscle, increasing flexibility, or improving endurance.
Moreover, there’s a high chance of injuring your joints badly. Most importantly, you’ll face difficulty building a proper mind-muscle connection, which is crucial for effective workouts.
If you’re not familiar with a machine, don’t hesitate to call a staff member for help. This will not only ensure your safety but also improve your overall gym experience.
Be Consistent
As I said before, the gym takes time. Beginners often feel impatient, and when they don’t see results quickly, they get discouraged. Keep in mind that without consistency, building an aesthetic physique is nothing more than a pipe dream.
There are only two ways to stay consistent: discipline and motivation. But remember, motivation is temporary. Your main motivation will come from your achievements—like the milestones we discussed earlier—and from your trainer, who knows how to guide you through the process. Additionally, you can read inspirational stories or join social media groups where people share their fitness journeys. These can be great sources of encouragement.
However, motivation is only useful to help you stay disciplined. Consistency, in the end, comes from discipline. Set your mind to this: even if you don’t see visible changes in your physique over the next six months, you’ll keep going to the gym. After this period, you’ll have gained enough knowledge and experience to understand how the process works, and it will naturally become a lifelong habit.
Measure Yourself
Measure yourself on the first day. Use a measuring tape to record your chest, waist, and arm measurements, and take a photo of your current condition. Be sure to track your weight as well.
At this point, many beginners make the mistake of measuring themselves every day. This should not be done, as it can demotivate you and cause frustration. You won’t see significant changes overnight. Instead, continue your routine for at least one month before remeasuring. By then, you’ll notice changes in your body.
Another way to measure progress is by logging your workouts. Track how much weight you’re lifting, the number of reps, and sets you’re doing. This is important, and the process should be consistent. You need this data to see how far you’ve come and to compare your current condition to where you started. You can use the notes app on your phone to record this information.
Start Slow with Lightweight
There are several reasons why you should start with light weights and perform exercises slowly. For one, it helps build body adaptability, reduces muscle soreness, increases endurance, improves technique, and boosts mental confidence.
In the early stages, start slow and focus on understanding how each exercise functions. Try to feel the stretch, even if you’re not yet experiencing a strong mind-muscle connection. As a beginner, your joints are too weak to handle heavy weights, and lifting too much too soon increases the risk of injury.
In your first year, you’ll gain the most muscle. Lifting lighter weights will help you effectively pump your muscles and maximize hypertrophy.
What to Keep
You don’t need a lot of things when packing for the gym, but there are a few essentials you should always bring. The first thing is comfortable clothing. It’s important that your clothes allow air to circulate easily around your body, which helps prevent overheating. If your clothes don’t breathe properly, you’ll tire out much quicker. The fabric should also be stretchy, so you don’t feel any discomfort during your workout.
In addition to clothes, you’ll need a few accessories: a gym backpack, shoes, a water bottle, a towel, your membership card, and safety gear to protect yourself from injury.
The Bottom Line
The gym is a community, and you’ll be a part of it for a long time. If you don’t know what challenges you might face in the future, your journey may not be as enjoyable. Now, let’s summarize briefly:
- First, fix your goal and decide where you want to see yourself in the next 12 months.
- Break it down into smaller milestones that will help you stay motivated and push you to achieve the next level.
- Keep in mind that this will be a long-term journey.
- Identify your body type, as it will help you design a diet and workout plan tailored to your body’s needs.
- Don’t forget to talk to your trainer—they will guide you to reach your desired goal.
- Focus on your own progress. You don’t need to follow any advanced athlete. Stick to the plan your trainer provides.
- Learn how the equipment works. If you’re unsure, ask for help.
- Most importantly, make working out a daily routine. Be disciplined and stay consistent.
- Start with light weights and control your movements.
- Finally, keep the essentials with you. Otherwise, you might find yourself saying, “Oh, I forgot this. I’ll do this workout next week.”
