BAMLIFE, Reviews, Sports & Sponsors

Keeping Sane with the Gym

I remember the feeling of walking into a gym for the very first time, being nervous about other’s perceptions of me, having no goals, and no real reason or motivation to get me there. Despite such emotions I had always been intrigued by the gym and one day thought, “Let’s give this a go!” I signed up and without any thought, jumped straight into it, with an induction and free MOT health check, everything seemed to be tickety-boo. There’s a certain kind of atmosphere in most commercial gyms and being a first timer, to me it was noisy, visually bewildering, busy and somewhat intimidating.

Without a budget for a personal trainer, I quickly fell into a routine of going to the gym 2-3 times a week and doing the same exercises every… single… time – mostly due to being clueless as to what a ‘smith machine’ or ‘hack squat’ is (see below), or even how to keep good form with exercises. But hey! It kick starts the endorphins and turning up is certainly better than sitting at home.

There was just one problem…. getting to the gym became more and more difficult with nerves and mental blocks of ‘what if this happens…’, ‘what if I’m doing it wrong’… ‘what if I don’t look as good as others’… ‘I don’t want people to watch me’… 

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing2
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing3

Overcoming Nerves 

This takes time, self-acceptance and the attitude of ‘I’m doing this for me and no-one else’. As cliché as it may sound, no one else is going to get you to the gym, and no one else will reap the benefits of you going to the gym. The only way to forget about your nerves is to focus on yourself, forget about everything around you, play some music and get the job done. There is no better empowering feeling than overcoming doubts lingering in your mind and realising that you are worth the effort. Take control of your thoughts and use your emotions to power your workout. This soon becomes an incredible exercise for your brain, and great for your mental health.  

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing5
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing15
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing4

Finding & Keeping Motivation

It’s cold outside 

you’ve had a long day at work

your favourite TV show is on

you’re hungry… 

The most comforting thought right now is to get changed into your favourite snuggly clothes, put the television on, and cook something warm and delicious! Or better still, order a takeaway and put your feet up for the night! This all sound great, right! And there’s no denying rest is important, but physical activity is too.  Finding a healthy balance is one of the best things you can do for your health – mentally, physically and for the long run, not just in the moment.  

My best tip for motivation? Switch your mind to positivity, create short term, realistic goals. Just 2-3 days a week, and once you have this nailed, everything else becomes a breeze and you’ll start to look forward to your workouts. Be sure to choose a class or exercise programme that you enjoy. This is an important part of being happy in your environment and this is what brings you back next time. Make use of and try out all the different classes your gym offers, speak to the staff and work out a routine that suits you. I personally found that spinning was a lot of fun, and it has now become my Saturday morning wake up – which I love!  

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing8
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing7

Acquiring a Goal 

After being a gym member at many different gyms across the South West for nearly 5 years, I have only just set myself an actual goal. I now know what physical strength I’m aiming for and how I want my body to change. I’ve even considered entering a competition in the next couple of years. Now I’m comfortable being in a gym environment (finding a great gym helps with this!), I’m able to focus more on my long-term goals and what I need to do to get there.

Without a goal it’s easy to fall into the same traps over and over – of getting into a repetitive routine, which becomes comfortable and your body becomes aware of this and progression comes to a halt. With a goal in mind (usually comes hand in hand with a countdown), it’s easy to track your progress, appreciate your journey and establish how far you have left to go.  

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing10
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing6

 

Nutrition 

Nutrition really is THE most important part of any training programme. If you work out how many calories you’re burning you can then adjust your diet based on your lifestyle and goals. It’s a daunting process, and quite a sensitive subject for most. If you’re anything like me, food is life! Putting restrictions on your diet can be a hard thought to process, but believe me, if you eat the right foods and the right nutrients, your body will reward you and you learn to enjoy cooking foods that fit within your diet.

It’s not about cutting things out completely, it’s about having a balance. If you set yourself a daily Carb/Fat/Protein split, you can pretty much eat anything you like, as long as it fits within these macros. Weighing food can also be a great eye opener – try it out for a week and see how you feel! Use this great tool: Calorie Calculator to work out your daily split, and keep track of this using the My Fitness Pal app. 

 

Comfort 

How can you possibly focus on your workout without being completely comfortable in what you’re wearing and how you look? Part of going to the gym is about gaining confidence and feeling good about yourself. Be tactical with your outfit choice. Wear something that makes you feel good, supports you in the right areas and controls your temperature. 

I have tried many different activewear brands, all carrying their own unique benefits, however the benefits of bamboo clothing always outshines the rest – I don’t have to worry about drowning in my own sweat and giving off bad odours. It helps to keep me cool and keeps the moisture away from my skin. The softness is just an absolute dream while working hard, and best of all, I know that wearing BAM is better for the environment, so it’s an all-round guilt free pleasure! 

My favourite Bamboo items to wear in the gym are the Enduro Leggings and Crop Tops.

 

Gym Bag Essentials  

Going to the gym for me is a lifestyle. It’s not for everyone, but once you begin to enjoy it and the way it makes you feel (which isn’t always an instant feeling), it becomes a part of your life and you no longer struggle to walk through the doors. To help yourself, always be prepared and organised.

I found that going to the gym gave me a new vision on my organisation and I now find it easier to manage my time and organise my evenings, it just becomes more apparent. Here is a little sneak peek into my typical gym bag – If you can have this prepared and on hand, you’ll never need to miss a gym session again! You’re welcome!  

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing12

Without a budget for a personal trainer, I quickly fell into a routine of going to the gym 2-3 times a week and doing the same exercises every… single… time – mostly due to being clueless as to what a ‘smith machine’ or ‘hack squat’ is (see below), or even how to keep good form with exercises. But hey! It kick starts the endorphins and turning up is certainly better than sitting at home.

There was just one problem…. getting to the gym became more and more difficult with nerves and mental blocks of ‘what if this happens…’, ‘what if I’m doing it wrong’… ‘what if I don’t look as good as others’… ‘I don’t want people to watch me’… 

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing2
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing3

Overcoming Nerves 

This takes time, self-acceptance and the attitude of ‘I’m doing this for me and no-one else’. As cliché as it may sound, no one else is going to get you to the gym, and no one else will reap the benefits of you going to the gym. The only way to forget about your nerves is to focus on yourself, forget about everything around you, play some music and get the job done. There is no better empowering feeling than overcoming doubts lingering in your mind and realising that you are worth the effort. Take control of your thoughts and use your emotions to power your workout. This soon becomes an incredible exercise for your brain, and great for your mental health.  

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing5
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing15
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing4

Finding & Keeping Motivation 

It’s cold outside 

you’ve had a long day at work

your favourite TV show is on

you’re hungry… 

The most comforting thought right now is to get changed into your favourite snuggly clothes, put the television on, and cook something warm and delicious! Or better still, order a takeaway and put your feet up for the night! This all sound great, right! And there’s no denying rest is important, but physical activity is too.  Finding a healthy balance is one of the best things you can do for your health – mentally, physically and for the long run, not just in the moment.  

My best tip for motivation? Switch your mind to positivity, create short term, realistic goals. Just 2-3 days a week, and once you have this nailed, everything else becomes a breeze and you’ll start to look forward to your workouts. Be sure to choose a class or exercise programme that you enjoy. This is an important part of being happy in your environment and this is what brings you back next time. Make use of and try out all the different classes your gym offers, speak to the staff and work out a routine that suits you. I personally found that spinning was a lot of fun, and it has now become my Saturday morning wake up – which I love!  

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing8
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing7

Acquiring a Goal 

After being a gym member at many different gyms across the South West for nearly 5 years, I have only just set myself an actual goal. I now know what physical strength I’m aiming for and how I want my body to change. I’ve even considered entering a competition in the next couple of years. Now I’m comfortable being in a gym environment (finding a great gym helps with this!), I’m able to focus more on my long-term goals and what I need to do to get there.

Without a goal it’s easy to fall into the same traps over and over – of getting into a repetitive routine, which becomes comfortable and your body becomes aware of this and progression comes to a holt. With a goal in mind (usually comes hand in hand with a countdown), it’s easy to track your progress, appreciate your journey and establish how far you have left to go.  

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing10
BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing6

Nutrition 

Nutrition really is THE most important part of any training programme. If you work out how many calories you’re burning you can then adjust your diet based on your lifestyle and goals. It’s a daunting process, and quite a sensitive subject for most. If you’re anything like me, food is life! Putting restrictions on your diet can be a hard thought to process, but believe me, if you eat the right foods and the right nutrients, your body will reward you and you learn to enjoy cooking foods that fit within your diet.

It’s not about cutting things out completely, it’s about having a balance. If you set yourself a daily Carb/Fat/Protein split, you can pretty much eat anything you like, as long as it fits within these macros. Weighing food can also be a great eye opener – try it out for a week and see how you feel! Use this great tool: Calorie Calculator to work out your daily split, and keep track of this using the My Fitness Pal app. 

Comfort 

How can you possibly focus on your workout without being completely comfortable in what you’re wearing and how you look? Part of going to the gym is about gaining confidence and feeling good about yourself. Be tactical with your outfit choice. Where something that makes you feel good, supports you in the right areas and controls your temperature. 

I have tried many different activewear brands, all carrying their own unique benefits, however the benefits of bamboo clothing always outshines the rest – I don’t have to worry about drowning in my own sweat and giving off bad odours. It helps to keep me cool and keeps the moisture away from my skin. The softness is just an absolute dream while working hard, and best of all, I know that wearing BAM is better for the environment, so it’s an all-round guilt free pleasure! 

My favourite Bamboo items to wear in the gym are the Enduro Leggings and Crop Tops.

Gym Bag Essentials  

Going to the gym for me is a lifestyle. It’s not for everyone, but once you begin to enjoy it and the way it makes you feel (which isn’t always an instant feeling), it becomes a part of your life and you no longer struggle to walk through the doors. To help yourself, always be prepared and organised.

I found that going to the gym gave me a new vision on my organisation and I now find it easier to manage my time and organise my evenings, it just becomes more apparent. Here is a little sneak peek into my typical gym bag – If you can have this prepared and on hand, you’ll never need to miss a gym session again! You’re welcome! ?  

BAM-blog-hayley-keeping-sane-with-the-gym-bamboo-clothing12