How You Can Help Yourself Get to the Gym

June 30th, 2010 | Posted in Fitness tips | No Comments » | Share this article

One of the most common reasons we pull out of the bag on a regular basis for avoiding the grinding gym sessions is that we don’t have enough time, which roughly translates from secret code into: ‘I don’t feel comfortable or confident around all the fit people’.

Here are a few things you can do to increase your confidence and help you to get to the gym; even on a bad hair day!

1. Get a new gym wardrobe!

Women feel comfortable and confident when we look good and we look good when we adorn a new wardobe! Only buy working out clothes that you will want to wear and avoid anything that will make you feel un-nerved when you are standing next to the gym pros to avoid feeling too self conscious during your work out.

2. Paint your nails!

It may sound ridiculous but how much better do you feel about yourself when you buy some new clothes and paint your nails? It’s a sure fire way to boost your confidence so slap on the varnish and flash your fingers with some weight sessions.

Here are three ingredients you should always avoid in your nail varnish (Yes, there are even unhealthy nail varnishes out there!):

DBP (Dibutyl phthalate)

This ingredient gives your varnish its flexibility but studies have shown that it can cause birth defects with regular use.

Formaldehyde

We have all heard of this one but did you know the dead-body-preserving chemical from the horror movies often appears in nail varnish? Sweden and Japan have already banned it but many other countries are yet to take the step so make sure you check for this one.

Toluene

Toluene is a solvent that has harmful effects on the nervous system and has also been linked to cancer; avoid it at all costs. Pretty nails are easy to get without any of these harmful chemicals.

3. Cut and colour!

You’re off to work out, so your hair will be scraped back onto your head — so what’s the point of washing or brushing it before you go to the gym right? Wrong! Mistake number three is to take to the gym with your hair all a mess. Yes, you will likely need to pull it up and out of the way but that is no excuse for not ensuring it still looks good!

4. Fake it!

Get some colour on your skin with a spray of fake tan before pulling on your skin-revealing outfits. Fake tan is great for anyone who is slightly paranoid about showing off their flesh in public — just avoid turning into a tangarine with excessive use!

With your new clothes, pretty nails, good hair and a bit of colour you will be ready to take the gym by storm!