You will recognize this as a beginner in the gym

Exercising is not my favorite activity of the day and the gym is therefore not my place. My motivation also comes in waves, which means that sometimes I can be found there every day for a month and the next month I wouldn't want to be found dead there. When I finally muster up the courage to go back to the gym after a long time, I always run into the same struggles that other beginners in the gym will surely recognize.

1. Feeling stared at
When I return to the gym after a long time, I feel like people notice that and think: oh, that one is back again. Of course, that's just nonsense, because everyone inside is only busy with themselves, but still, you always feel like a stranger who has no idea what they are doing.

2. No workout plan
I think this is the biggest mistake beginners make, and I have been guilty of this too: you walk into the overcrowded gym and have no idea where to start. That's why it's important to write down in advance what you want to train and which exercises are best for that. On TikTok and Insta, there are really millions of videos about this with all kinds of workout routines where they explain everything in detail. It couldn't be easier.

3. Poor form
Oh, how insecure this can make me. I exercise regularly myself, but I'm still afraid that I'm doing some exercises wrong. There are those types who come over to give their unsolicited advice in a certain ‘I know better’ tone. They probably mean well, but am I the only one who can't handle that very well?

4. Overestimating yourself
At first, it's quite difficult to estimate what weight you can handle; you randomly pick up a couple of dumbbells and see if it works. Nine times out of ten, you have overestimated yourself just a bit, which means you have to walk back three times for lighter weights. It feels a bit like the walk of shame, but then the gym version of it.

5. The strength room
I avoided this place at all costs because of all the groaning men in dirty tank tops who were deadlifting three times your weight. This always gives me the creeps. Only when there was no one around did I dare to do a few exercises there.

6. Forgetting stuff
Of course, you have a locker where you can put important things, but you have to carry a water bottle, towel, phone, earbuds, and the key to your lock everywhere. I would sometimes forget this, which meant that at the end of my workout, I could search the entire gym for that tiny key. The number of water bottles they must have from me is also not countable on one hand.

7. Muscle soreness
Everyone experiences muscle soreness at some point, and unfortunately, that's part of every sport. But if you're just getting into the gym, it only has downsides. That's why I advise against training your legs heavily the first time since you'll still be feeling it a week later. There's a good chance that by that time, you'll have lost your motivation again.

Image credits: Wallpaper