Are You New to Training?

When you have little or no background in structured fitness training, it can be intimidating to go to a public gym. It can feel like everyone else knows what they’re doing, is negatively judging you, and you’re always in the way. In reality, everybody was a newcomer at some point, right? I know that doesn’t make it easier, but it’s important to realize that everyone goes through some sort of initial learning process, which means that there are well-defined paths to getting yourself up to speed.

There are a ton of folks producing fitness content, and they cover the entire range from science-backed fitness professionals to “influencers” who present their beliefs as facts (without any legitimate research to support their claims). And it’s not always easy to know which category someone falls into. Even if a particular technique or practice appears to be working for someone, that does not mean it will work well for everyone. And in actuality, it may not even be working for them - sometimes a method that seems to be having good results in the short-term is causing issues behind the scenes, and you may not realize it until the damage is done.

If you are brand new to resistance training, learning good patterns and correct form is going to be a crucial foundational skill to focus on before you start grabbing the heavy weights. All of us might feel a little self-conscious when we see someone else handling much bigger weights than we do, but remember that this is an incremental process. If you rush into heavier weights before you learn and practice the correct form for that exercise at easier levels, you are much more likely to cause yourself injury. At a minimum, if your form is bad, you are not doing the exercise properly, which means you are not actually exercising the intended muscle groups. Each exercise, stretch, movement, etc, they’re all parts of a bigger picture, and they will support and complement each other if you do them right. So pace yourself, and remember the story of The Tortoise and the Hare. Don’t obsess over an instant reward, just focus on your goals, and you’ll win. Be the Tortoise.

Pretty much anyone can benefit from working with a Personal Trainer, but it can be especially helpful when you are first starting out. A trainer will introduce you to equipment (and how to use it), proper techniques, training concepts, and more. They can set up effective training plans for you, and maybe help you learn how to set up your own. A certified personal trainer has the education and experience to watch your technique and give you constructive feedback. They will help you to stay safe through the process, and probably give you some tips and ideas from their own experience that may save you time and headaches as you progress.

Can you learn this stuff on your own, or maybe by watching some Youtube videos? Possibly. And there are certainly people who do this. In the short-term, it’s the cheapest route, and you can probably make some advances without professional guidance. Long-term, you will find that the best results come from building the best foundation you can - working with a professional who can help you develop and fine-tune your form in a safe, personalized way that works best for you. They may even make it fun. 🙂

Schedule a free, no-pressure consultation with one of our personal trainers, and see if we are a good match for you!