We all know gyms can be really terrifying. All the super-strong looking people using all the heavyweights, running at seemingly lightning speed, and they are all sweating all over one another. For somebody who doesn't feel comfortable around, this scene can be super scary. This is not even taking the whole locker room situation into consideration after your workout is done. Ouch. All this makes it hard and not unexpected that "gymtimidation" is a real thing that hinders people to workout with confidence.

What makes you feel "gymtimidation?" There are mainly three reasons, you feel unfit, you feeling stressed over what other individuals think about your workout, and the fear of not knowing what you are doing (and everybody acknowledging how "bad" you are). I personally was a victim of "gymtimidation" when I began working out. I used to hate when people were looking at me work out, and when I felt the gym was "to crowded" I just left. I used to avoid trying any new exercises when there was a risk I felt there was a risk of making a fool of myself because I did knew hot to do the perfect, this made my workouts super short with few exercises. To be honest, my feelings of intimidation used to really interfered with my ability to get in shape.

Because I love how working out makes me feel so good afterwards (and make me look) I had to overcome my fears of "gymtimidation" with a few tricks that make me feel more confident and lead to the best workout.

1. Pick A Gym That’s Right For You

The first thing you should reconsider is to decide what gym you can identify with. What kind of gym are you looking for? What form of exercise do you enjoy the most? What kind of people do you want to be around? If you aren’t interested in Cross Fit, maybe don’tpick a gym that hosts weekly Cross Fit competition and mandatory morning Body Building posing classes. For people who feel uncomfortable working out around members of the opposite sex, there are gyms that only allow single-sex, and many gyms have "women's only" workout spaces that are meant to remove these anxieties. The more a gym fits in with what you are looking for, the more comfortable you will feel working out there..

2. The Dress Part

It's not different dressing for the gym then it's for everyday life. The better you look, the better you’ll feel. For some reason, working out just seems more fun when you know you look cute. Pick an outfit that makes you comfortable and confident, and don’t forget to check yourself out frequently in all of those conveniently placed mirrors.

3. Plan ahead!

Often times, I find myself going to the gym and wandering around for a half an hour trying to figure out what I want to do because I feel so overwhelmed by all of the machines I don’t know how to use and all of the monstrously built people who are using them. To avoid this, go into the gym knowing exactly what you want to do. Map your workout for the day, or even for the week, so that you can go in and just get started. Knowing that you’re going to get a great workout, so long as you follow your plan, will make you feel more confident and keep you from letting your negative thought distract you from the task at hand.

4. Drown Your Anxiety Out With The Perfect Playlist

If your anxious thoughts are getting in the way of your workout, simply drown them out with one of these great workout playlists. What says “confidence” like doing squats to a Beyoncé song?

5. Drown Your Anxiety Out With The Perfect Playlist

A packed gym can be incredibly intimidating. Having to wait 45 minutes for a treadmill while a marathoner finishes their training? It’s enough to make you want to just give up and go get a burrito. If you can, try to avoid the gym peak hours (which tend to be from 8-11am and 4-7pm). If that’s not possible (because, ya know, jobs), try to look at the busyness as a positive. Watch the other gym goers’ routines and see if there are any moves you can steal, or see if there are any hotties you can flirt with while waiting in line for the elliptical. You are, after all, wearing an ultra-chic gym outfit.

6. Remember Why You're There

A packed gym can be incredibly intimidating. Having to wait 45 minutes for a treadmill while a marathoner finishes their training? It’s enough to make you want to just give up and go get a burrito. If you can, try to avoid the gym peak hours (which tend to be from 8-11am and 4-7pm). If that’s not possible (because, ya know, jobs), try to look at the busyness as a positive. Watch the other gym goers’ routines and see if there are any moves you can steal, or see if there are any hotties you can flirt with while waiting in line for the elliptical. You are, after all, wearing an ultra-chic gym outfit.