Exercise is arguably the best antidepressant and anti-anxiety “medication” on the market. It can be instrumental in managing depression, irritability and anxiety. Exercise can also help you deal with daily stress, improve your feelings of well-being, and address a multitude of physical issues. Improved fitness results in more energy, an increased sense of personal agency and self-esteem gains.
When suggesting exercise, I often tell my patients, “It doesn’t matter what you do, it matters that you do.” So, whether you begin with jogging, yoga, Pilates, or lifting weights, matters very little. Whether you work out alone or go to a gym, however, can make a surprising difference in the benefit you get from the experience and in the likelihood that you will continue working out.
Many people plan to exercise, yet a large percentage fail to make it off the couch. They often claim “laziness” but the truth goes much deeper than that. Fears of failure or humiliation can feel overwhelming when one is not used to physical exertion or focusing on making their body work for them. The anxiety of stepping outside of your comfort zone, from putting on exercise clothes to the imagined attention you will receive when you lose those extra ten pounds, can be off-putting. Exercise at a gym can feel particularly daunting as feelings of inadequacy and the tendency for constant comparisons with peers often plague those new to exercise and those (nearly everyone) with insecurity about their appearance.
A Nod to the Unconscious: Many people feel an unspoken, internal mandate to not become a better, stronger version of themselves. Some are unconsciously complying with a role that they were given in their family growing up. Perhaps, you were supposed to be the chubby, nonsexual care-taker who didn’t consider her own needs or desires. Making yourself a priority and focusing on your fitness and self-esteem needs may feel like pushing an emotional boulder uphill, but it can be life-changing.
Here are five compelling reasons to become a gym rat.
- Less initiative required: Taking a class at a gym requires you to walk in and then follow along to the degree that you can and want. It requires less initiative than disciplining yourself to stay on the treadmill for 30 minutes or do 50 more sit-ups when you are by yourself. For me, my daily class as the gym is the only time that I can tolerate being told what to do, never mind how to do it.
2. Support and instruction: Whether you are taking a class or working out in the cardio or weight area, there are trainers available to show you how to do different exercises and to offer support and encouragement along the way. Class instructors are able to offer accommodations for each exercise to suit your fitness level and avoid injury.
3. Variety available: The opportunity to work out in different ways is appealing to many people. Cardio exercise for your heart, weight training for strength, yoga for flexibility-the variability allows you to keep your workouts fresh and interesting while increasing your overall fitness. Exercise classes can reduce the boredom and increase the challenge and enjoyment of the working out experience
4. Less likelihood of negative self-talk: One of the greatest threats to our ability to pursues goals and overall feeling of well-being is chronic negative self-talk. Those just starting to work out, especially those who are insecure about their appearance (99% of the world) often sabotage their efforts by besieging themselves with negativity through every minute of their solitary workout. The distraction offered at the gym can vastly reduce this, whether it’s the instructor modeling the exercise while shouting directions and encouragement, the music that’s blasting or the sheer number of people surrounding you.
5. Socialization, gym culture and a feeling of belonging: The gym can be a wonderful social environment. In addition to the classes, time spent in the locker room can also become a supportive social experience. Several of my closest friendships began with encouragement about clothing choices, complaining about our kids or spouses, discussing work stressors or sharing recipes while getting dressed for work in the locker room. Celebrating new babies, new grandchildren and new puppies, and supporting each other through loss can all happen seamlessly with people you spend time with several times a week.
Working out is wonderful for you-anytime and anywhere! Becoming a gym rat can offer some surprising advantages in terms of guidance, encouragement and enjoyment. Perhaps most importantly, being around others much like yourself can help you stay motivated and truly enhance and energize your life.
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