After you make up your mind to start a health lifestyle, with a new gym membership, you are eager to start exercising. But, before you work out for the first time, you do some reading. The more you read, the more you get confused with complicated terms and jargon. While learning everything is good, but if you find them intimidated, don’t worry. We all have to start from somewhere. Instead letting them holding you back, start exercising instead!
1) You Don’t Need to Know What Target Heart Rate Is
No doubt, knowing target heart rate can be helpful. However, you need to do some calculations and you may want to understand why you have to do so. Instead of spending too much time in learning this, I want you to start putting your feet on the treadmill, start to run and enjoy your exercise. A simple rule of thumb, as long as you can still talk while you are performing cardiovascular exercise, you are within the target heart rate zone for optimum fat burning. In fact, for obese people, forget about the heart rate, just run, cycle, row or swim.
2) You Don’t Have to Know Exact Caloric Measurement of Everything You Eat
I want you to remember your wife, husband, boyfriend or girlfriend’s birth date, but not the nutrient measurement of everything you eat. As long as you do not eat junk food, soft drink, oily food and alcohol, you will be doing good.
3) You Don’t Have To Know How To Use Every Machine in A Gym
Don’t try to learn every features on a treadmill, elliptical bike, stationary bike or the rowing machine. Chances are, you probably don’t need all of them. Learn basic exercises. The rest will come in time.
4) You Don’t Need to Know Anatomy
You don’t need to know what physiology, anatomy or biomechanics are or why you might even need to know them. You may not know what pectoralis major, rotator curf, brachialis or pronator teres, but that is OK. You can exercise and see the benefits and results without ever knowing them first. As you progress, you should, however, strive to increase your knowledge of training and how it works. It will help you improve your progress.
5) You Don’t Have To Buy Branded Exercise Attire
If you are unsure what to wear to gym or class, check with people who have been there. Wear something you are comfortable, not jeans with sandal though. Get a good pair of shoes. Bring a towel to wipe your sweat. Get a water bottle too. You don’t have to buy branded stuff. Gym is not a place to show off the latest fashion. If others are doing that, that is their choice. If you are into yoga, check out my the other article of What To Wear for Yoga Classes.
So, in short, you do not really need to know many things in order to start getting into better shape right now. Just do it.
Category: Gym Going 
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JL // Apr 27, 2009 at 10:03 AM
3 words summed this up, and you did it: Just do it.
Jessen // Apr 27, 2009 at 12:13 PM
You don’t have to know everything before exercising but you have to read this blog before you start doing anything :)
sugitha // Apr 29, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Don’t do any exercise with pain in joins and muscles.
anabolicdave // Apr 30, 2009 at 1:09 PM
you certainly don’t have to have a lot of knowledge to get started. Experience taught me a lot. You simply get to know your body after a while. Once I could start to feel my individual muscles and how they operated…it makes all the difference in the world. it doesn’t take long to start to experience this either. muscles respond rather quickly when worked consistanlty. Arnold’s encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding taught me a lot though as well. Even if your not into bodybuilding it’s still very helpful simply because it’s so thourough on the subject of fitness. Peace.
Tyler // May 1, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Good article.
Most people just use excuses for not going to a gym. As you say- you don’t need to know much, just get in there and get to it.
Kristina Hughes // May 2, 2009 at 4:59 AM
Good information. I agree with you that you dont have to be an expert. Just go and try it out. Most gyms have trainers there to help you if you have questions on machines, anatomy etc. All you have to do is get to the gym and start!
Fitness Fabulous // May 4, 2009 at 12:28 PM
A good piece, for starting fitnesses!
Though I’d think you’ll need some knowledge after you get past novice stage – but still, great article
Kristina Hughe // Jun 1, 2009 at 7:12 AM
Good piece of information to get started. You dont have to know everything on working out at the gym… just get started. Once you go to the gym you can just ask for help from one of the trainers. I agree just go and start and see what happens!