I switched gyms recently and I must confess that, even if the gym is like a second home for me, the first few days at the new gym had me feeling shy and uneasy. I was thrown back into grade school when I met new classmates on the first day of school, but this time, I was confronted with “classmates” with 6-pack abs or to-die-for biceps! Gaaah!  After a few days of familiarizing myself with the layout of the gym and meeting some of the trainers though, it was all good.

The experience got me thinking about how much harder it must be for first-time gym goers who are just getting started on their journey to fitness. Enrolling in a gym is a big step and the challenge for beginners is how to get comfy as quickly as possible so getting fit doesn’t become a chore but a fun experience.

Here are my top 8 tips to getting comfortable while getting fit at the gym:

1- On your first day, ask for an orientation. If you have no clue what to do or where to go, then ask the front desk to have a trainer take you around the gym to introduce the facilities and the types of exercises you can do on your own. Ask them specific questions on how to use the treadmills, spinning bikes, and other machines.  Don’t be shy!

2- Get to know at least one of the staff members or gym mates by name. The first few days can be unnerving if you don’t know anyone at all at the gym. However, just by casually introducing yourself to one trainer or fellow gym member and making friendly conversation, you’ll feel more comfortable in the future when you see them again. Just remember: the gym is not a place for chitchat. Keep conversations to a minimum so you give your new friend a chance to workout.

3- Workout with a friend. If you’re nervous about going out there on your own, then encourage a friend to sign up with you. Join classes together, hop on the treadmill at the same time, and just have fun.

4- Hire a personal trainer. If you really have no clue where to begin, then consider hiring a personal trainer who can assess your fitness, evaluate your goals, and assist you during the entire workout.

5- Join a class. One of the best ways to get your feet wet immediately is to sign up for one of the class sessions. This gives you a chance to feel like you’re truly part of the gym along with the other members. To add, it can allow you to meet some of the gym members who frequent the sessions.

6- Come prepared. Wear the appropriate gym out fit, bring your ipod and earphones if you want to keep to yourself, and bring your own hydration bottle. By arriving at the gym feeling ready, then you’re less likely to feel nervous and insecure.

7- Be confident. Don’t be intimidated by people who look and act like they workout 24/7. These people were once newbies too. The gym is for people of all shapes and sizes and everyone has their own goals. You don’t have to look super fit to fit in at the gym.

8- Go often. The more you go, the more you feel comfortable in the gym and, in time, it truly will feel like a second home to you.

Thanks to EMSoquena for the photo

I woke up at 3:00 AM with a splitting headache.  Woah boy, not a great way to start the day especially when you’ve got a race to join.  I popped a pill to address the headache and proceeded to prepare for my 10k run at Run United Philippine Marathon.

There was no way I was going to miss this race.  It was my last Sunday run before Chicago Marathon.  It was my way of supporting my partner, Unilab Active Health.  And, last but not the least, who doesn’t join one of the biggest races of the country? (more…)

Dr. Gene Tiongco (2nd from right) with friends Gene Tamesis, Rico and Karina Manuel at Berlin Marathon 

Running a marathon can take on different meanings for the wide array of people who run it. For a good friend of mine and a TBR Dream Marathon alumnus, Dr. Gene Tiongco, running Chicago Marathon on October 12, 2014 isn’t just about breaking his PR, but also bringing smiles to kids’ faces. (more…)

I love how some organizers are releasing their 2015 race calendars as early as now to allow for early race planning among us athletes.  With so many triathlon events next year (I hear there are nine, yes nine, 70.3s next year!) it’s good that we can all choose the races that we’d like to spend our blood, sweat, and tears on.  Below is BikeKing’s Multisport Race Calendar for 2015.  TriUnited 2 has always been one of my fave triathlons!

The adidas Energy Boost 2 is a lightweight neutral running shoe for long distance running. While I would’ve loved to test this shoe for longer runs, I must confess that I couldn’t test it for runs above 10k because I’m a flat-footed overpronator who uses stability shoes. I will tell you that I was very pleased with it during my runs and, to be quite honest with you, it’s the best pair of adidas running shoes I’ve ever owned. (more…)