For those of you who are new to the world of weight training, a mentor is a great way to learn the ropes! When I first began to get my feet wet, I was fortunate enough to be taken under the wing of a veteran gym goer who helped me make sense of it all.
The gym in and of itself can be overwhelming, especially if you don't have a clue as to where to begin in terms of piecing together a weight training regimen. A little guidance goes a long way. In that spirit, here are three tips to help you secure a mentor at the gym.
Tip #1: Ask a Friend: The most obvious mentor solution is to ask a fellow gym going friend who has some knowledge in the area of weight training if you can tag along with her in the gym. She can help you figure your way around the gym and settle into a routine. If none of your friends go to the gym, perhaps they have a friend that does and can introduce you to them. It will only take you a week or two to figure things out and then you can fly solo and set your mentor free! Unless of course you two hit it off and want to continue as gym buddies.
Tip #2: Observe, Learn, and Ask: If the friend thing isn't panning out for you, you can always be mentored from a far. You can do this in one of two ways. First, scope out the gym. You can usually tell the women who know what they are doing in the gym by the shape their bodies are in and their confidence level that they exude during the execution of their workouts. Do what they do and don't be afraid to ask questions. She may just offer to be your mentor! If this is too far out of your comfort zone, you can resort to Plan B. There are some great magazines for women that offer great weight training tips and routines for the various muscle groups. My favorite magazine happens to be Muscle & Fitness Hers. I suggest you do your homework the night before. Use the magazine to prepare your routine for the gym the next day. Muscle & Fitness Hers actually has a special feature called "Workouts To Go" that you can tear out and take with you to the gym.
Tip #3: Hire a Trainer: You can always secure a mentor with money! If you have the resources to do so, hiring a trainer is a great way to learn the ropes and develop a weight training routine with the guidance of a knowledgeable professional. It will only take a few sessions to familiarize yourself with the varying muscle groups and appropriate exercises to target them. You may then decide to give it a go on your own!
As you become more comfortable in your "toned" skin at the gym, you will spend less time worrying if everyone can tell you are a novice, and more time utilizing the various resources available to you in order to construct a beneficial weight training routine.
Health & Success,
Alison
Alison M. Fadoul is “America’s #1 Mom Motivator,” and the author of the forthcoming book The Hot Mommy Next Door: A Quick, Easy, and Effective Way to Drop Your Baby Weight and Achieve Your Personal Best After Pregnancy. Alison is a certified Spinning® instructor and founder of the Hot Mommy Next Door, a web source and consulting service for mothers of newborns and young children who want to drop their unwanted, leftover baby weight and achieve their personal best physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Sign up now for her free weekly Ezine, “Tips from the Hot Mommy Next Door,” at www.thehotmommynextdoor.com and receive these two “free” gifts: the Hot Mommy Next Door shopping list and an audio program featuring an interview with Alison. To inquire about Alison’s availability and fees, please contact her via info@thehmnd.com or call 954/304-5481.