By Marin McGrath

Before I go to the gym I shake the pre-workout that tastes as artificial as candy because TikTok told me to. I scroll endlessly on Pinterest looking for a workout that targets everything I think needs to change about myself. In my mind, I remember the influencer who told me to do pilates for lean muscles. Then I remember the one who created a more feminine workout, so I don’t get super bulky. I never know who is right and what I should do. On my way to work out, I sort through my playlist and add rap music, because that is what the fitness influencers tell me I’m supposed to be working out to.  

I anxiously look around to see which machine is open. If it isn’t the treadmill, I don’t know what to do since my plan is ruined. The weight rack is full of powerlifting men and the other options are machines I don’t know how to use – maybe it is the fear of embarrassment or maybe it is ignorance.

After I leave, I wonder if my workout did anything. I do it all again and the stress never fails. The cyclical pattern proves to be more unhealthy for me than anything.  

Going to the gym is intimidating. What used to be a place full of inspiration is now full of competition and insecurities. I’m not sure I can pinpoint where the uncomfortable atmosphere begins. Whether it is the protein powder or fluorescent lights, something about it makes working out feel like a chore rather than a healthy habit. 

According to a survey conducted by My Protein, about 90 percent of people are concerned about how others perceive them at the gym.

A big part of this anxiety comes from perception as well as the comparison we have all fallen victim to on social media. Although it has become one of the most mainstream forms of communication and entertainment, social media can be toxic. The toxicity doesn’t end when it comes to fitness trends and the culture surrounding working out- something that should be encouraging.

TikToks and Instagram posts contradict each other so often we don’t know what to believe. What one licensed doctor says is a healthy diet, another might say is not entirely nutritious. We are told to drink green powder every morning in addition to running on a treadmill. On the other hand, we are told to cut out gluten and dairy and stick to pilates. If “health is wealth,” why is it so difficult to get a clear message on what is truly good for the body?  

Gym culture has made fitness about everything except getting fit. It is more about what you eat, what you wear and how you look. You have to wear matching workout sets, in-style shoes, and look “put together” just to get your heart rate up. If I don’t have a color-coordinated trendy outfit, I feel as though my workout isn’t as effective, but that shouldn’t matter at all.

It can be intimidating if you don’t know what to do, and more often than not we don’t even try something new for fear of judgment. I constantly feel as though I need to look over my shoulder to make sure no one is looking at me and making fun of how much I am struggling. 

Nobody should be intimidated by fitness. It is personal even though various factors, such as social media and gym culture in general, have created a false sense of community. In reality, the “community” is an exclusive club that only six-packs and powerlifting can offer you entry to.  

Ever since high school, I have felt the same way about going to the gym, it’s always seemed like more of a contest of who looks the best or who is doing the most. In college I knew that it was time for me to figure out what I want out of a fitness experience. I decided to take matters into my own hands and take workout classes. It was then that I was able to gain more confidence in the workout realm. I found somewhere where I felt that the workout was more about me than somebody else. I was able to pick what I loved in a fitness routine and become more in touch with my physical health and in turn got to prioritize mental health.  

Now I bring a full water bottle because my body told me to. I let the instructor decide the workout for the day and let my mind relax without thinking of what I need to change about myself. On my way to workout, I listen to whatever I want and know that my spin class could be Taylor Swift themed or my HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout playlist could be country music because people can listen to whatever they want when they workout. 

It is all about what makes you happy because that is where the results come in. Fitness is more than just being fit, however it’s not about how you look or come off. It is about how your body feels, what gives you energy, who inspires you to keep going, why you’re doing it, how you fuel your body and making sure you don’t lose yourself in the idea of being perfect.