I’m too skinny.
I’m too fat.
I’m too lazy.
I don’t have time.
I won’t ever be able to look like that.
What will others think?
I can’t do it.
I don’t know what I’m doing.
Have you ever said or thought about any of the statements above when it comes to working out? If you have, just know, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You are just human. Now if you genuinely have no interest in working out, that is fair, but for those of you who do have an interest and face certain barriers from allowing you to work out, hopefully my advice can help you overcome those barriers. I don’t think I need to further elaborate on the vast amounts of research that proves working out improves your physical and mental health in the present and for the future. But rather, let me elaborate on the barriers that people face when attempting to start their fitness journey and how you can overcome them.
NO TIME?
This is probably the most common barrier people face that keeps them from going to the gym regularly. As we are well aware, time flies by. However, working out and doing some sort of physical activity is something we all can devote time towards. You do not have to train for hours. 30-90 minutes is generally the recommended time frame. Now for some of you who are students in university or college, you may say Hussain I am swamped with work I don’t have time. I agree to a certain extent. I too was in university and went through the pressure and immense amount of work that goes into getting a piece of paper that proves you know your stuff. Students have a genuine barrier and reason as to why they cannot go to the gym. However, you can still overcome this. Here is how. There are 24 hours in a day. Let’s say for sake of argument, you get 6-8 hours of sleep. That leaves you with 16-18 hours in the day roughly. Are you that swamped that for all 16-18 hours you don’t have even 30 minutes to devote to yourself? If you truly are THAT swamped, then you have a genuine reason as to why you can’t work out. However, if you are able to find time, JUST DO IT (not sponsored by Nike, by the way..). If you TRULY want to see changes, you have to put forth the effort. I think especially for students, working out is so crucial. You have exams, assignments, lectures, extracurricular activities etc. This can place an immense amount of stress on you, which is why, finding time to devote to yourself is so important. Even if you can find 2-3 days to work out, that is more than enough. Once you have some sort of a routine going, figure out blocks of time which you can potentially put in work at the gym, or devote to a physical activity and make sure that time is fixed strictly for you. Don’t mess with your schedule, try and stick to it as best as you can.
My friend has allowed me to share his gym routine as an example of how a student balances school life and fitness. He is studying psychology and business at UofT 4th year and this is his schedule:
Monday
Lecture from 9am – 12pm.
Upper Body 1:30pm – 2:15pm.
Lecture from 3pm - 7pm.
Tuesday
Lower Body
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Lectures most of the afternoon
Wednesday
Rest
Studying and extra-curriculars
Thursday
Rest
Lectures and studying.
Friday
Lectures most of the day till 4 pm.
Full Body
5:30pm - 6:15pm
Saturday
Studying and spending time with friends
Sunday
Studying
Cardio
As you can see his gym schedule is all over the place AND subject to change, but that is a given if you are a student. However, what is important to note is that he still fits in time despite his busy schedule. It is difficult but definitely possible IF you want it bad enough.
Now for those who work a regular 9-5 job, you need to consider your schedule before 9 and after 5. What are you doing during those hours? Do you have an hour to spend at the gym? If so, then what are you waiting for? Those who work fixed hours generally have a much easier time scheduling than students. So take a look at your work week and pick days in which you can spend time at the gym before or after work.
Let me give you an example of what my schedule looks like:
Monday
Rest
Tuesday
Rest
Wednesday
Upper Body
Thursday
Lower Body
Friday
Rest
Saturday
Upper Body
Sunday
Lower Body
My schedule is a lot cleaner than my friend’s due to work life being a lot simpler. There is always time, you just have to find it.
What will others think?
It is okay to feel shy and nervous if you are going to the gym for the first time. It’s a new environment and it can be overwhelming. However, if you are planning on going to the gym and are worried about what other people will think then you are going for the wrong reasons. Remember, gym time, is YOU time. Now for individuals who over think and just can’t escape their fear of what they may look like in front of other people, here are a few tips:
Go with a friend perhaps? Do you have a friend who is serious about the gym? Perhaps ask him or her if you can join them. Going with a friend the first few times can go a long way in ensuring easiness and comfort as they can provide much needed support in the exercises you do and machines you want to try.
Research. Last week I mentioned how important research is, and I will mention it again. Research is crucial if you are new to the gym. Once you figure out your schedule, try and research different exercises and routines before going to the gym. It is better to have an understanding of what you want to do, rather than just going to the gym for the sake of going.
Have you ever considered that people just don’t care what you do as much as you think they do? People at the gym understand everyone has to start somewhere, so don’t over think things and believe people are out to judge you. They aren’t, so just do you and be confident in yourself!
It takes too long...
Yes you are right. Trying to get the body you want takes a long time. This is another barrier I have heard people run into and they do have a point. I was curious one day about gym memberships and asked the manager at my gym, if you had 50 people buy 1 year gym memberships, how many would last the year? He said, most of the people wouldn’t make it past the 5 month mark. They grow tired of it and quit. They stop seeing changes and give up. Out of 50 people, approximately only 12 people will finish the entire year strong he said. That is quite a low number and honestly I am not surprised. Many individuals don’t put in consistent effort. They may go for a few months, then quit, then return after many months if at all. That is not going to get you anywhere. I hate to say it, but it takes years to get the body you truly want. You have to consistently put in work to get results. On and off training is not going to cut it. If you are somehow gifted and can achieve results in a short amount of time, kudos to you but for the majority of people, it takes a very long time, but again, it all comes down to your will power.
Finding time in your busy lives, staying motivated, avoiding your inner fears are viable reasons as to why you can’t go to the gym. However, you are defeating yourself before you even try.
Go test it out and always remember:
No barrier can stop you. No problem can stop you. Failures can’t stop you. Most of all, other people can’t even stop you. Only you can stop you. So go and defeat, defeat.
Now, that being said, LET'S GET STARTED.
Have a lit week!
Hussain
Send me a direct message on Instagram, if you have questions: @huuusss_p
Totally agree!!! JUST DO IT!!! :)