I Was Scared to Start Too
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The first time I walked into a gym, it wasn’t some life-changing moment.
It wasn’t cinematic.
It was awkward. Nerve-wracking. Humbling.
I had been working out in my parents’ basement for a couple months before I finally worked up the nerve to take it public.
I remember stepping into Snap Fitness in Meadville, and everything in me wanted to turn around and leave. I felt like every eye in the place was on me — like I was being judged before I even picked up a weight.
⚡ The Fear of Being Seen
It’s not the machines or the weights that are scary.
It’s the feeling of not knowing what you’re doing.
Of thinking you look weak.
Of being seen at your most vulnerable.
I was lucky — I had a friend from work, shoutout to Christian, who pushed me to get a membership and take the jump.
Even then, it was overwhelming. I felt clueless. Like I didn’t belong.
🧠 What I Wish I Knew Then
Nobody cared.
Seriously — nobody was watching me.
Everyone in that room was focused on the same thing: becoming a better version of themselves.
I wish I had realized that sooner.
That the judgment I felt wasn’t coming from them — it was coming from me.
✅ It Gets Better — If You Keep Showing Up
As the weeks went by, I got more comfortable.
I started recognizing people.
I talked to a few regulars.
I stopped hiding in the corners of the gym and started training — like I meant it.
That’s when things started to shift.
Not just physically — but mentally.
It stopped feeling like enemy territory. It started feeling like mine.
💬 Final Word
If you’re scared to start — I get it. I was too.
But here’s the truth:
Nobody starts confident.
Nobody walks in knowing everything.
And the people you’re worried about impressing? They were once exactly where you are.
The fear never fully goes away. But it gets quieter every time you show up anyway.
Start scared. Start small. Just start.
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