There are things that you should know when it comes to health and fitness. These include the fact that it is a real commitment, and one that requires dedication and moreover effort – being fit and healthy aren’t easy.

But there are also things that many people do not realize, things that you normally have to learn the hard way. Imagine then if we gave you an insight into what these were – at the very least you’d be spared the efforts and misfortune of those that have gone before you. Here we look at what you should know before you make your decision to join your local gym.

Away From The Gym

You might get to the gym three times a week for an hour or so. Therefore you’re not in the gym for 165 hours! How you are in this time will impact your health and fitness much more than the occasional slog of the treadmill etc. You’ll have to start thinking about diet and other exercise/activities. If you immerse yourself in the lifestyle you’ll enjoy it more when you’re at my local gym.

People

You’ll meet new people, many of whom will remain “nameless”. You’ll also see the different sets of characters from the selfie-taking social media friendly, to the old school share all of their tips/worldly advice. Be certain to always listen to, but perhaps not always follow any advice you receive.

Yourself

Everybody starts somewhere, and so the first time you walk through the door will be the toughest. The environment will seem alien, the equipment confusing and the people “strange”. But after a while, you’ll become more used to it, and eventually, it will seem perfectly normal – only then will you recognize the look of fear on the face of the newbie as something you once had.

Habits

Habits are very hard to break – good or bad. Starting a new fitness regime will be tough at first and you’ll want to revert to your old (and maybe bad) habits. But the longer you stick with it, the sooner those bad habits will disappear and be replaced by new and healthier ones. At this point, they will be tough to break and you’ll be immersed in a new improved lifestyle.

Overdoing It

Just as we tend to do during Christmas Dinner, when we first join the gym, we tend to overindulge. Think, you do not have to do every class, and in fact trying to do too much too soon will inevitably result in burnout or worse still injury, and nothing stops training faster than injury.

Hygiene

As a final tip, different people have different rules and levels when it comes to personal hygiene, but by way of gym etiquette, don’t leave your area in a worse state than you found it and always wear a clean t-shirt!

So there you have it, some things that you should know before you join the gym, and better yet without the misfortune or life-lessons of learning them in real-time. The only questions now is “when do I join?”