In our gym, we see women with confidence levels across the spectrum. Some start, raring to go: MyFitnessPal-ready, gimme the recipes, let’s transform this body. Great. Those clients can be great fun, and we see results quickly.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate our clients down the other end of the spectrum: those who are a little unsure or intimidated. We love you all and are here to help, whatever your confidence level.

We specialise in women’s fitness and deeply understand the mental and physical hurdles that might prevent you from getting back or getting in the gym. And we’re here to guide you through.

Here are our 5 top tips for women (like you) to start their fitness journey and overcome some of that initial gym intimidation.

These tips are from our excellent PTs and they know their stuff. Let’s dive in.

1. Acknowledge and accept your self-doubt

We aren’t here to fire platitudes at you:

“Our doubts are traitors…”

Granted, Shakespeare had a way with words, and he’s not wrong. But that doesn’t mean we should belittle or downplay the very real anxieties that you’re facing. We all get nervous, and many of us feel intimidated when trying something new. You’re pushing your boundaries, and feeling apprehensive is perfectly acceptable. 

At Legacy, we acknowledge that and are here to talk you through it.

Whilst initial intimidation and trepidation to walk into a new gym and change your life is a big step, it’s not insurmountable. And certainly not one that you have to do alone. We will work closely with you to personalise your programming and ensure we set you up for success.

2. Reframe Negative Self-talk

Overheard in our gym:
“Oh, I can’t do that.”
“I’ll never be able to lift that. I’m so weak.”
“Look at that other member. I will never be as fit as that.”

Negative self-talk like this will only slow you down. We might allow you a little wobble if we’re feeling generous, but everyone starts somewhere. And, right now–where you are–there’s no better time to start.

Those doubts you’re listening to are intrusive thoughts doing their best to pull you down.
What we recommend is embracing your uniqueness–your own journey. Do things your way and enjoy the adventure. Our PTs will help you build a custom journey to suit you. We won’t push you too hard, or too quickly, so your body can adjust and you can enjoy exercising again.

Acknowledge those intrusive thoughts for what they are–intrusive. Tell them to f**k off.

You got this.

3. Set Small Achievable Goals

Starting at a gym (especially if you’re new) can be overwhelming. We understand that. Our PTs will always welcome new members, walk them through the gym, and run through each exercise, offering advice and support to ensure they can take it in. Not all gyms come with a PT, so that might be a little trickier, but the overall advice remains the same: set yourself small, achievable goals.

It’s the small victories that pave the path to lasting success.

Our wall sit exercise from our lift class is a great example and one that gets our members talking. Plenty of our members have started from as little as twenty seconds, and at the moment, the PB is 9 minutes! Keeping track every week let’s each member see and acknowledge their individual progress. It keeps them motivated and excited for each week to see how they’ve done.

By breaking down your aspirations into manageable milestones, you not only boost your confidence but also cultivate a mindset of consistency and resilience. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and every small step forward is a victory worth celebrating on your journey towards a healthier, happier you.

4. Surround yourself with a positive community

“We are not put on this earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other…”

This quote is ?

None of our members are on their own. Not only are our PTs there with them on their fitness journey, but our other members are part of it too! We support and raise each other up, as that benefits us all and keeps those nay-saying intrusive thoughts down. Plus, it’s much more fun.
Find yourself a gym with supportive members. And, if you can’t join a gym, or aren’t quite there yet, surround yourself with supportive family and friends who can celebrate your milestones along the way.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

If you’ve followed our other tips, you should find yourself in a comforting gym with supportive PTs, aiming to hit small, achievable goals and ignoring self-doubt and negative self-talk.

You are nailing it, but sometimes things go wrong, and you still need some help.

This is never more prevalent for our members than when we’re running a Body Transformation program. A couple of months in often see participants hit a plateau, and this can lead to a lack of motivation if it’s not addressed. We encourage our participants (and our gym members) to ask for help.

Our PTs specialise in training women, alongside expertise in nutrition coaching and support. Ask, and we can help.

You’re not in this alone.

If you’re interested in starting your fitness journey our PTs are ready to help. We are a women-owned gym based in Ringwood, Victoria and we live to help our members feel great about their fitness journey, whatever that looks like. Get in touch to see what might work for you.

In our gym, we see women with confidence levels across the spectrum. Some start, raring to go: MyFitnessPal-ready, gimme the recipes, let’s transform this body 508. Great. Those clients can be great fun, and we see results quickly.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate our clients down the other end of the spectrum: those who are a little unsure or intimidated. We love you all and are here to help, whatever your confidence level.

We specialise in women’s fitness 508 and deeply understand the mental and physical hurdles that might prevent you from getting back or getting in the gym. And we’re here to guide you through.