How to Overcome Gym Anxiety

Researchers say that about 39% of people gained weight during the pandemic. That's a couple of pounds unevenly spread across the world's population. Hitting the gym and getting fit is ideal for most people, but gym anxiety puts a spanner in the works for others.

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Gym anxiety is the crippling feeling of being inadequate or out of place in a gym. It can cause you to underperform at simple exercises, fail to concentrate on exercise routines, or completely zone out on why you were at the gym in the first place. If you get the feeling of your muscles tightening or your heart rate increasing sporadically— that's gym anxiety.

What causes Gym Anxiety?

The causes of gym anxiety vary and change from person to person. Here's two reasons why:

1. Gym anxiety can arise from an unhealthy perception of a person's body. If you feel less confident in your body, then there is a possibility that you might struggle with gym anxiety.
2. Post-Covid assimilation is also a possible cause of gym anxiety. Lots of people are more conscious of the extra weight they have put on, and how much different they looked before the pandemic enforced lockdown.

Who has Gym Anxiety?

Absolutely anybody can have gym anxiety, but a survey by Fitrated reveals that more women, about 65%, are plagued with the fear of being judged in gyms. There's just a 39% equivalent in men.

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But let's take a deeper look.

1. Overweight people struggle with anxiety due to the societal negative perception about their body size and shape. 
2. Women in male-dominated gyms struggle with gym anxiety. This is mostly a result of the absence of support from fellow women and a possible feeling of inadequacy in the face of overwhelming masculine presence.
3. People with significant OCD or notable scars from accidents or surgeries also seriously suffer gym anxiety.

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How to Overcome Gym Anxiety.

Overcoming gym anxiety is the biggest step to attaining physical fitness— here's how to push past it.

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1. Identifying the causes and triggers: Finding out what makes you anxious about being in a gym gives you a clear vision of what to work on. It could be your body type or the gym environment. Whatever it is, identifying it gives you a headstart.
2. Getting positive affirmations: this is more likely to help you get rid of gym anxiety faster. Remind yourself of how awesome you are and how you aren't what your environment thinks of you. Do this as consistently as you can and you're winning!
3. Finding what works best for you: Use the best possible scenarios for yourself;, this may be a longshot but will be worth it. If you feel anxious in a crowded gym, ask for the least active hours and try to get some gym work done within those hours. 
4. Hiring a personal trainer. A personal trainer does more than just tell you which exercises to do. The presence of a personal trainer helps you focus on yourself and makes it harder to be distracted by happenings around you. Plus, you’ll be assured you’re performing the exercises correctly, which can be a large source of gym anxiety for many people.
5. Using the right gym. There are situations where external happenings might be overwhelming. This should be a cue for you to find the right gym. Take your time to look around, ask questions about it, and see if you like the gym before signing up to be a member. 

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Whether it’s your first time in a gym, or you’ve been struggling to overcome gym anxiety since coming back from the pandemic, just remind yourself it’s okay to feel this way. Take it slow, and use these tips to help yourself get more comfortable, and before you know it, you’ll be crushing your gym workouts! 

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