I’ll always remember my first two weeks at the gym. I finally decided to sign up for a membership, which took me a few months to work up the courage to do. It took me another week to even get to the gym. Then I spent two weeks on a treadmill for 30 minutes followed by doing crunches in the “ab” room. I was uncomfortable, I didn’t know how to use any of the machines, and there was NO WAY I was going into the weight room with a bunch of men and women who looked like they could lift me over their heads (and I certainly didn’t know the term I was looking for to describe that was overhead press).
Finally, I said to myself “This is dumb. I spent a lot of money to get on the right track. No one here is going to judge me, and even if they do, at least I’m trying”. I swallowed my ego and my pride, walked up to the front desk and whispered “I have no clue what I’m doing”. The staff there never judged me and helped me learn how to use the machines. After I got comfortable on the machines, I worked my way up to weights. Now, I’m always looking for new workouts so I don’t get bored of my routines and my muscles are always been worked in new ways.
The best places for me to go for (FREE) inspiration: www.BodyBuilding.com They offer free “Find a Plan” options. They’re also cheaper than most chain stores if you’re looking to buy protein. I also like www.FitnessBlender.com, which offers an app for your phone (and they have a ton of videos on YouTube that you can watch when you’re on a break). If you’re feeling stiff and need some great stretches, you can look up “Yoga by Adriene” on YouTube, as well. She offers short videos that you can do anywhere.
There is no shame in not knowing what you’re doing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, Google “How do I properly do a dead lift?”, ask a friend for advice, or watch YouTube videos. The only dumb questions are the ones that aren’t asked.
