5 Things to Do Before Your First Workout (At Any Gym)
It doesn't matter if it's our gym, someone else's, or your garage. Here's how to not have a bad time on day one.
Eat something. Not a Thanksgiving plate, but not nothing either. A banana and some peanut butter about an hour before works. Showing up on an empty stomach is how people end up lying on the floor seeing stars.
Drink water the day before, not the minute before. Chugging 32 ounces in the parking lot isn't hydration. It's a sloshy warm-up.
Wear shoes with a flat sole. Big cushy running shoes feel great on a run and wobbly under a barbell. Flat and stable wins.
Tell the coach everything. Bad knee, old shoulder surgery, didn't sleep, you're nervous. A good coach wants to know. If they don't ask, that tells you something.
Go slower than you think you need to. Ego is the #1 cause of first-day soreness so bad you can't sit on the toilet. Scale it. Nobody's watching your numbers. Everyone is watching to see if you come back.
Bonus: show up 10 minutes early. Meet somebody. It's a lot easier to come back when you know a name.
