Hitting the Gym: Tips and My Experience

Hitting+the+Gym%3A+Tips+and+My+Experience

By Sophie South, Co Editor-in-Chief

If you would’ve asked me in December to go and work out, I would’ve laughed and thought you were absolutely crazy. In February of this year, a close friend convinced me to go and work out with her, and I would’ve never thought that it would change me as a person inside and out.

A huge issue I have had all of my life is eating excessively, especially when I was bored at home. I felt that it was something to do while having nothing else to do and it was also pretty tasty as well.

When I was first introduced to the world of working out, specifically lifting, I learned that this habit had to be cut out! I was introduced to the MyFitnessPal app, which has really helped with tracking how many calories I intake, as well as allowing me to input the workouts that I do for the day.

It wasn’t easy trying to figure out workouts that worked specifically for me, and I’m still struggling, but I have learned a few tips for working out that have helped me tremendously:

  1. When you first start working out, especially lifting weights, it is completely normal to be sore the day after your workout and a couple of days after. Your body is getting used to the new muscles you are working out, so the first couple of times you work out specific muscles will lead to some soreness.
  2. Think and write down goals you want to reach at the gym. Do you want to lose fat? Do you want to tone your muscles? What do you want your workout to achieve?
  3. The internet was very helpful for me with finding good workouts to do at the gym. If you are a beginner, start off light with your exercises, then work up to incorporating more.
  4. Youtube will be your BEST FRIEND during the process and will help you with tips on how to do a specific exercise correctly to work out certain muscles correctly.

I hope these tips have assisted you in some way, for they have helped me in a huge way!