Embrace the weights
Over the past two years many of us will have taken to exercising at home where living rooms, attics and sheds have skilfully been furnished with the trappings of a true workout zone. The rise of the ‘home workout’ has been (and still very much is) huge, and has tapped into everyone’s need for timesaving convenience.
If you’re not a stranger to this column, then you’ll know I’m always banging the ‘strengthtraining-is-a-must’ drum for us ladies. Supporting joints, building up bone density and withstanding age-related muscle atrophy (wasting or loss of muscle tissue) are vital if we want to live a good life. Plus of course, more muscle means our metabolic rate stays elevated. And, boy, do we need that as the impending lowering of our oestrogen levels is half the reason we develop a menopausal middle.
If the all-in-it-together ambience of a gym is pulling you back to your local, it’s important to plan a routine at home before you start your session. This may include 10 squats, reverse lunges, deadlifts and shoulder presses. Then stride with pride into the gym and head straight for the metal. If there’s a free-weights section, aim for those first.
Heading back into the gym can be daunting, particularly the weights section, when your cat has been the only thing sharing your workout space for the last couple of years. But remember, no one is judging or inwardly critiquing your technique (although this could be a good chance to get some expert tips from a personal trainer). Everyone is there for the same reason – to train among like-minded people.
The fitness community has grown, flourished and come together over the past two years and there is no them and us any more. They were all beginners once. We have no problem asking for directions, so let’s apply that same confidence to the weights room. People love to help.
Another way to overcome nerves is to follow a Youtube dumbbell workout (mine, for example – just search for my name). Take your device and headphones and follow along. You’ll have something to focus on and you won’t need to look spare or anxious. Grasp that iron and get your body working for you. It’s one of the best investments you’ll ever make.