by Devin Almonte You want to workout at a gym and get healthy, but you are extremely intimidated. You don’t consider yourself a gym rat and you’re not looking to be one. Look, I get it. It's intimidating. The whole environment can feel intimating. It doesn’t matter what age you are. That's because you are the outsider looking in. ![]() Have you ever visited a gym and it feels like everyone there knows each other; they all seem to know what they are doing rotating from machine to machine? People are grunting harmoniously while they watch their arm muscles glisten in the mirror with periodic phone pauses woven into their workout because, after all, being on your phone 24/7 means you're important! Instead of Starbucks, an array of different colored smoothies and weird looking gel packets purse the lips of all the super fit ladies that walk by. On top of that, you’ve never seen so many butts so perfectly placed in all of your life. And now you are feeling like maybe you should have only had a couple slices of bacon with your eggs this morning instead of four. Here are a couple of things to note. Is the gym intimidating? Yes, very much so! My advice? Recognize that it is intimidating and go anyway. Let this be your first fitness challenge. Before conquering the fat, conquer the intimidation. Once you do, you will soon realize that your fears are based on the superficial aura of the gym subculture. Please, don’t take me as being a hater of all gym rats and the gym lifestyle. I am one of the those gym rats that is always at the gym. That’s because I love it. Just realize that you deserve to be there just like everyone else. Remember, I guarantee that most of the people you see probably have no idea what they are doing (including myself much of the time) and are using the machines improperly. Clothes are just clothes and they won’t get anyone in better shape because they are in style. And the smoothies? Most don’t even know what they are drinking, but are doing so because someone said it was healthy. And it probably is somewhat healthy, but don’t make people out to be in a better position than you. Don’t fall into the comparison trap. You deserve a healthy life. Get started where you are, not where they are. Gym intimidation reminds me a lot of Church intimidation. Saying that you’re not in shape enough to go to the gym is like saying that you’re too much a sinner to go to church. A lot of people of faith or questioning faith have trouble stepping into a church for similar reasons. They don’t feel good enough to be there. They see these bright shining faces and families who seemingly, have it all together. They look at their own life and feel that they can’t compete. They want to wait until they get their life in order first. "My drinking is out of control, I can’t possibly go to church. I smoke, what will people think of me?" Therefore, they don’t go! And their life never gets "in order". See the similarities? You may have heard that the church is a hospital for the sick, not a shrine for the well. Same idea applies to the gym. But the result of a commitment right where you are, to both your faith and your health is a changed life. Treat the gym in the same manner as the church or your faith. It’s a place to gain strength and wellness. It’s a place to become the better you. And I’m not talking about appearances. That is just a pleasant side effect of both the church and the gym. The more you go to church and delve into your faith, the better person you will become because it will infect your heart and body with soul. The more you go to the gym, the better health you will be in because it affects your heart and body. When you do such things, you physically look better, you feel better, you ARE better. So where can you start to help you defeat your gymphobia? |
1. Drink plenty of water. Think of your skin like a plant. It needs hydration, it needs water, daily care and love. Once your water that plant, think of how it just comes to life. This is your skin on water. Feed your thirsty skin! Aim for at least 12-14 glasses of water a day. If you workout on a daily basis, up that total! |
2. Use a toner. A toner works to keep your skin cool and glowing, and also aids in keeping those pores closed! Burt’s Bees makes an excellent rose water toner, leaving your skin feeling naturally refreshed. |
3. Use a daily moisturizer that’s water-based. Do not skip your moisturizing routine! That’s rule #1. Rule #2. The best beauty tips for glowing skin must include a water-based moisturizer. One of my favorites is Josie Maran’s Whipped Argan Face Butter. With or without the summer sun, I have the driest skin on the planet. This moisturizer has saved my skin! It’s all natural. The argan oil does wonders to hold in the moisture all day and gives me that wonderful sun-kissed glow. Can’t say enough about this moisturizer. |
4. Limit your soft drinks. If you are like me, I still love an cold soft drink full of ice on a hot summer day. While is may temporarily quench your thirst, remember that in the process it can create great stress for your skin between the sugar and caffeine. Stick to some fresh water with lemon or lime, fresh fruit juices, or coconut water to stay hydrated. |
5. Use sunscreen. This may seem like a no brainer, but it’s easy to forget this simple step or apply it at the wrong time. Before heading outside, apply your sunscreen 25 minutes before exposure. And it you are spending a good portion of the day outside, don’t forget to reapply. Your skin will thank you. Clinique makes a great sheer, high-level, broad-spectrum UVA/UVB daily sun protection that's perfect alone, or as an invisible makeup primer. It’s a lightweight formula with SPF 25 helps wick away perspiration and absorb excess oil so makeup looks fresher, longer. It contains no chemical sunscreens. |
6. Exfoliate and Cleanse. The best summer skin care tips must include exfoliation. More than the rest of the year, it is important to exfoliate the skin in the summer to improve the blood circulation to the face. Choose from any of the cosmetic scrubs available in the market or make one at home. Want some help? Dr. Denese makes a great exfoliate and cleanse duo. It hydrates as it cleans and exfoliates the skin. Daily and weekly treatments help to give skin the appearance of a youthful-looking, glowing, radiant complexion. |
Have a wonderful, sun-kissed summer!
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