Fighting the fear of the dreaded weights section.

Signing up to a gym or fitness establishment can be really daunting for alot of people! I know when i first joined my local gym i was freaking out. What am i doing? What do i wear? Why is everyone so serious? Are people judging me? How do they all know what they are doing? And of course, the most commonly thought question, What on earth does that machine do?! For people who are on their own, the easiest and most common thing to do is of course, power walk straight to the cardio area avoiding any eye contact to where we can plug in our headphones and walk like hampsters on a wheel for the next half hour without being bothered. Seriously, im sure this is what 90% of us all did on our very first visit!
      
Now i'm not saying that cardio doesnt have its benefits, because it does! Any activity is better than no activty at all right? Cardio is great for your cardiovascular system, and you may be suprised to learn that in Australia heart disease is at the very top of the diseases which kill women every year. So make sure you are incorporating it into your workout plan. However! I cannot stress enough the amazing results and benifits you will recieve from taking a deep breathe, doing some research, stepping off that treadmill and making your way over to the WEIGHTS SECTION. All those fit and sexy fitness models havent achieved their bodies through hours of cardio, they've been over in those squat racks and using those cables. The benefits of weight training are practically never ending, Higher metabolism, Increased energy levels, better posture, makes day to day tasks easier, better mood, stronger heart, decreased risk of diabetes and the list goes on.

      

 'I dont want to lift weights, I dont want to get to big'

I can almost 100% PROMISE you that you do not have the capactiy to get 'Big'. Majorty of females simply do not have the testosterone in their body that it takes to build large amounts of muscle. Sure for a few months when you first start training weights you will see changes provided that you are nourishing your body and eating a good amount of lean protien, but these changes do not continue to come at that rate forever, believe me. Progress will slow and soon you'll be aiming at maintaining the gains you have made. And all gains can be lost, we need to work to keep our muscle, therefor if you stop training you will go back to how you were before you started very quickly. But to achieve a tight and toned healthy looking body, you need to create some shape by lifting heavy weights at least a few times a week. For someone who is just beginning id suggest that your break up your workouts into body parts, we need roughly 24-48 hours of recovery before we should train muscle groups again as they need time to repair. Hop onto youtube and search 'leg workouts', 'back workouts' 'chest workouts' etc. This is a great place to start and youll learn more by observing the people around you. Bodybuilding.com also has alot of great information on training and nutrition for all bodies and all levels of experience (not just bodybuilders girls).

Every single person in the gym was nervous on their first visit and even for weeks/months later! None of us have built in knowledge about how to train, we must seek the knowledge through others and the internet! Knowledge is power, and it will help you to achieve all of your fitness goals! Don't fly blind, ask for help when you need it. 99% of people from my experience are happy to help and are even flattered by people asking for their advice. Lets help eachother to become the best we can be! Do your body a favour and LIFT!