Starting your gym Journey🏋🏽‍♀️: It Starts With you 💪🏼.

 Hey everyone! Happy Sunday 😊. We made it to the end of another week yay! This month is going so fast, nearly time for sp🎃🎃ky season. 

Today, we're going to be talking all things gym, from starting the gym, maintaining a good routine and really taking good care of ourselves and our bodies. I know a lot of people may find it scary starting the gym, I've been there! But, it doesn't have to be this scary, all consuming thing that everyone thinks it is. So, say goodbye to the gym scaries because after reading this, I believe you will be more than prepared to make that first step in bettering yourself and taking care of your body🙌🏼.

This time a year ago, I didn't have a clue what to do in the gym. All I knew were sit ups and star jumps🙂. Now, I have a good routine, I know what all them scary machines are for (well most of them anyway👍🏼), and I am more confident than ever when going to the gym. To be honest, I couldn't of done any of this without my boyfriend. He knew what every machine was for, what workouts to do for different parts of your body, the importance of starting small and building everything up and so much more. He has been going to the gym religiously for years, more of a gym rat than I've ever been😂. Finding a good gym buddy can be the first step to helping you start your gym journey. Whether it's someone to go to the gym with or someone to simply share what they do and different workouts that you can try, anything can help make this first step. 

Crafting a workout plan is another important thing to consider before starting the gym. It isn't absolutely necessary, but it is a good guide to know what you're going to be doing in the gym that day or week, and it helps make sure you're not walking around like a headless chicken🙈. Keeping track of your weights in this plan is also key in making sure you are making regular process (and so you don't forget, something I always do🫠). Changing your workout plan up now and again can help make sure you don't get bored of doing the same thing over and over again. Recently, I started the couch to 5k to start running more regularly, something different to add to my routine. 

As well as this, if we look good we feel good. Investing in good gym clothes for working out can make you feel a lot better and more comfortable when going to the gym. I don't know if it's just me, but when the workout fit is good, so is the workout🤷🏽‍♀️. This may seem so unimportant, but believe me, there's a lot of power in a good gym fit. 

Overcoming the fear of actually getting up and going to the gym can be the hardest thing to overcome. The fear that 'everyone will be looking at you', thinking that everyone knows you don't know what you're doing, people wondering why you are there. Sound familiar? The moment you stop worrying about what other people think is the moment you allow yourself to work on yourself, for yourself and nobody else! When you think about it, nobody is going to be thinking about why you are there because everyone goes to the gym for the same reason. Everybody has to start somewhere. Nobody is going to sit and judge you for not knowing what you're doing, if anything they will help you if you're stuck. And believe me, nobody is staring at you or making fun of you, and if they are, give them something to look at💁🏽‍♀️. 

Lastly, enjoy it! As the saying goes, no pain no gain💪🏼. Enjoy every sweat, every accomplishment, every challenge, and every workout because it is all progress📈. The last thing you want to happen is to not enjoy the gym, when it feels more like a task than anything. This will happen, be prepared to hit a few walls along the way. Sometimes, the absolute last place I want to be is the gym, but I always try to go anyway. Always think about the feeling after completing a good workout. But sometimes, I don't go. This is okay too! Taking breaks is important too 🙃. 

I am the sweatiest person in the world😎

So, to finish off, do not be afraid to start this new journey. I believe in you🌟. Set yourselves goals and stick to these, commitment and consistency are key to achieving long-term success. Don't be afraid to reach out to people to help, whether it's a friend, family member or even a professional Personal Trainer to give your some guidance. Your big sis is here for you as well👯‍♀️! This journey is not only about physical transformation, but also about personal growth, self-discipline and becoming the best, most confident version of yourself. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post today💞. I really hope that I have helped at least one person keen to start working towards a healthier lifestyle and a more confident version of themselves. I would love to hear about your journeys! All the ups and downs, sharing your own fitness journeys and feel free to ask me anything about mine! We're all in this together and it's so important we support each other in becoming the best versions of ourselves✨. 

I am looking forward to continuing with this blog with many exciting topics coming up, so don't go anywhere! Stay tuned every Monday, Friday and Sunday for new blog posts and don't forget about the Ask Big Sis Q&A every Wednesday, where I want to hear from you! 👭

-E 👑