10 things I wish I knew when I started lifting...

With most of our society now having access to a gym facility in 2020, more and more people- young and old, male and female- are getting involved in lifting weights. I have created a list of my top 10 tips of advice I wish I could have told myself when I first started getting involved in fitness...

1) Everyone starts as a beginner. And that’s fine. You’re not gonna become a top athlete after a week, a month- a year even (I wish)- but you still can make every session count by setting small short-term goals! Aim for realistic ones for your level but are still challenging. You only get better through learning and consistency. There’s so much out there on the Internet already, or you could get a PT or coach- or friend even- who can help you start out.

2) No one is watching what you’re doing, don’t worry. Well, maybe someone might glance at you. But they’re not really concerned what you’re doing or judging you. If you’re worried about doing an exercise wrong there’s nothing wrong with asking someone who looks like they might know or Youtube a tutorial video (I do this all the time if I don’t remember how to do something specific). And if they are looking at you then you’re probably lifting something heavy and looking sick doing it or you have a cute new gym outfit (and in that case- check you out!).

3) It takes time. As frustrating as it is, no, you’re not going to gain a kilo of muscle overnight or lose weight just through exercise alone. A lot of the results from the gym actually are highly dependent on lifestyle changes, such as a good diet and lots of recovery (simple things like sleep and water help more than you think). You don’t need a miracle diet detox tea or to go to the gym like twice a day- you just need patience. Congratulate yourself for the small achievements you do make along the way (you can do it!).

4) You literally don’t need every supplement or fitness product there is available. When you’re new to the fitness scene it can be overwhelming with what is on the market and you may feel like you might need to splurge and buy everything. Some tips: even protein powder is not essential- getting your protein from actual food is so much better but if you struggle with your intake then this is an option for you. Also, some ‘protein’ or supposedly healthier substitutes to foods may not even be that much more beneficial. Do your research, kids.

5) You can still eat your favourite things (Yay!) Whatever your goal is in the gym, it doesn’t mean you need to eliminate ‘bad’ foods or food groups completely. A healthy relationship with all foods is key. If your goal is to lose weight then it’s simply just eating foods in moderation, with an overall lower calorie intake than expenditure (exercise). Plus, life is too short not to eat food that makes you happy!

6) Talk to people! Okay, the gym is ‘you’ time but if you’re feeling up to it don’t be shy and talk to people- you might just learn something! Other people in the gym are all trying to improve on themselves too and a different perspective could benefit you- they may have some tips to help improve your lifting technique or tell you if you are doing something right (like hitting depth in a squat- it’s hard sometimes). I’ve met some of the best people from the gym and, sometimes, it’s just nice to be nice.

7) Wear what you want! There are no real rules of what you wear to the gym (not saying I would recommend jeans and flip-flips, though). Whether you rock some funky-pattern shorts or baggy trackies, just do you and what you feel most comfortable in!

8) Be confident lifting heavy weights! One of the most dangerous things you can do in the gym is doubting yourself under a heavy barbell or dumbbells. If you think you’re going to fail lifting something, you probably will. Of course, still be as careful and as safe as you can by working within your capabilities. Ask people for a ‘spot’ or use safety racks if you need but if you’re hitting a new PB believing in yourself is key. And if you fail, that’s cool. Learn from it, why? But if you’re not strong enough yet, don’t be so hard on yourself, there’s always next time!

9) You don’t actually need to do anything you don’t want to… (like cardio). Okay, don’t get me wrong, to progress in whatever your goals are, you will have to do some exercises now and then that you don’t enjoy. Work on your weaknesses but, also, you're in the gym for you and it’s your time- you can do what you want essentially. If you make up your own training plan, include exercises you do enjoy and don’t be afraid to try new things to incorporate into your workout! Fitness video tutorials on social media, such as Instagram and YouTube, are great if you need some inspiration (check my page out even or give me a message- shameless self-promotion).

10) It’s okay to make mistakes. Similar to my first point but, yeah, everyone makes mistakes! You're not gonna execute everything perfectly first time round. And that’s cool because you can learn from your mistakes. A lot of the gym is a process of trial and error- what works for you and your body and what doesn’t. Learn!

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