Mikey Moon's health and fitness column: Don't be frightened of gyms

In this week’s health and fitness column, Mikey Moon of Fortitude Fitness asks: Is fear stopping you making progress?
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
Read More
Mikey Moon on kids' health and fitness:

I listened to a really interesting podcast about fear and overcoming it, and I found it quite relatable to the gym.

‘Gymtimidation’ is such a huge thing and there is a common misconception that you have to be fit to go to the gym in the first place.

Mikey Moon offers health and fitness advice to Gazette readers every TuesdayMikey Moon offers health and fitness advice to Gazette readers every Tuesday
Mikey Moon offers health and fitness advice to Gazette readers every Tuesday
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Of course that is counter-intuitive because the gym is where you get fit.

To think you need to get fit first is similar to thinking you need to be able to drive before you can take lessons.

What causes such thinking is largely the fear of looking silly in front of what is a peer group, though it isn’t really.

When you walk into a gym for the first time, it can feel like a spotlight is pointing at you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

People can feel like they are in one of those old movies, in which someone walks into a bar and all the locals immediately turn around and stare.

This is where things can start to get into your head: What if I don’t know what to do? What if I struggle on a machine? What if I don’t know where the class is? I’d better just stay at home. I’ll go when I’m more confident.

Sometimes we need to take the leap of faith and just do something before our confidence comes.

As one of my very close friends says: jump and the net will appear.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

You don’t need to be confident straight away. That uneasy feeling of going somewhere new is natural but it won’t go away unless you force yourself to go.

Only then will you see it isn’t as bad as you have been building it up to be in your head

Fortitude Fitness is on the Poulton Industrial Estate, Beacon Road. Visit www.fortitudefit.co.uk for more details.

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here

Related topics: