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Newbienoahb·
Gym anxiety is real. Things that actually helped me walk in
M23, 94kg, started 5 weeks ago. The first two weeks I drove to the gym and sat in the car and drove home. Twice. Posting what got me through the door in case it helps someone.
- Went at 6am. Nobody is there and the people who are there are focused and do not care.
- Wrote the whole workout on my phone before I left the house. Exercise, sets, reps, which machine. Decision making in the gym is what froze me, not the lifting.
- Machines for the first 3 weeks. Not because free weights are scary but because the machine has a picture on it and I did not need to ask anyone anything.
- Same 5 exercises every time. Leg press, chest press, lat pulldown, shoulder press, cable row. Got comfortable with those before adding anything.
- Headphones with nothing playing. Just so nobody talks to me.
Week 5 now. Did my first barbell squat on Tuesday with just the bar and a 10 on each side. Nobody looked. Nobody ever looks.
"Decision making in the gym is what froze me, not the lifting" - this is it exactly and it is why "just go and do something" is terrible advice for anxious beginners. A written plan is the whole fix. Well done on week 5.