1. Go with a friend
A weight room can feel intimidating, from the floor-to-ceiling mirrors to the men slamming barbells on the floor. It can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why Weinberg third-year Lily Shen recommends going with a friend.
“It’s good to have accountability,” Shen says. “I like working out with friends because they will annoy me about getting to the gym.”
Shen first became interested in lifting weights when her roommate asked her to join for workouts. She says following her friend’s routine made picking up weights feel accessible.
2. Try a class
Kelsey Fechner, a 40-year-old hairstylist in Evanston, has never liked working out. She says she didn’t know how to use the machines and felt too much like an imposter to ask the desk workers. That is, until she started attending Orange Theory classes.
“That’s the only time I felt right,” Fechner says. “Orange Theory is where I got strong.”
In addition to Orange Theory, some popular programs include Body Pump, Curves and Core Power. Most local community centers such as YMCAs also offer group classes with a membership.
3. Track non-physical progress
Lifting is great for mental clarity, too. Focus less on the scale and more on how you feel.
Weinberg third-year Talia Winiarsky favors lifting over other forms of exercise because she can think beyond the mirror.
“Strength training gives you the opportunity to look at your body as a vessel of potential,” Winiarsky says. “You know, ‘This is what my body can do.’”
Instead of tracking your body, Winiarsky says try tracking how much you can lift each week or how your mood changes before and after a gym session.
4. Don’t put too much pressure on a strict routine
Many people in the fitness industry preach about sticking to a perfect schedule, but according to SESP third-year Lily O’Shaughnessy, this mindset is a recipe for failure.
“The most important thing for me in my workout journey has been trying a bunch of different things,” O’Shaughnessy says. “One exercise doesn’t work for every person. Exercise has a lot to do with discipline, but it also should be something you find an outlet in.”
Forcing yourself to commit to a regimented routine such as a 75-hard program or 10-week shred may leave you bored and unmotivated, says Title Boxing instructor Isa Arciniegas. Instead, she recommends shifting small habits to fit your own lifestyle.
“If you’re not a morning person, you don’t need to go to the gym in the morning. And you don’t need to lift heavy right away,” Arciniegas says. “Make sure it fits into your life, rather than you trying to fit into something that doesn’t work for you.”
