So, You Wanna Start Lifting? Here’s How to Not Look Lost on Day One

Yo, Welcome to the Gym Life.

Alright, so you finally decided to hit the gym. Maybe you’ve been thinking about it for months, or maybe you just got tired of your friends flexing on you. Either way—good choice. You’ll thank me later.

I’m Emanuele, a student from Sicily, and sports have always been my thing. I used to be a competitive swimmer (not Olympic level—that’s why I’m here), but eventually, I found my way into the gym. I started with calisthenics, then switched to lifting two years ago (yeah, calisthenics got boring).

Now, let’s be clear—I’m not a personal trainer, just a guy who’s been through every beginner mistake you’re about to make. So if you’re new to the gym, consider me your beginner-to-beginner guide.

Let’s make sure your first gym session isn’t a disaster.

Why Even Go to the Gym? (Like, Seriously, Is It Worth It?)

I get it. Time is money, and last time I checked, the gym doesn’t hand out paychecks for pushing through failure. So why even bother?

Because it’s not just about looking good.

The gym is a stress reset button. A place where, for an hour or two, you don’t have to think about deadlines, exams, or how your bank account looks after paying rent. And don’t forget all the health benefits—I’ll break those down in my next blogs.

And yeah, getting stronger is great, but here’s the real deal—lifting changes your mindset.

You know how Switzerland has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world? Sounds nice, right? Yeah, but that also means insane competition. The same mindset you build in the gym—pushing through reps when you’re tired, showing up even when you don’t feel like it—applies everywhere in life.

The discipline, patience, and resilience you build in the gym? That’s what helps you survive uni, job applications, and just life in general.

And yeah, some days, you’ll feel like quitting. That’s part of the game. Fail, reset, come back stronger.

Your First Day at the Gym: Don’t Be That Guy

No one wants to be the newbie who has no clue what they’re doing. So let’s make sure you don’t:

✅ DO’s:
✔ Warm up properly (Don’t skip this… next blog covers how).
✔ Breathe right—inhale on the way down, exhale on the way up. (Yes, breathing matters.)
✔ Prioritize form, not ego lifting. (Your joints will thank you later.)
✔ Rest properly between sets (90-180 sec for muscle growth, 3-5 min for strength).
✔ Blast your playlist (I recommend BEAST MODE on Spotify 🎧).

❌ DO NOT:
🚫 Load up the weights like you’re starring in a gym fail compilation.
🚫 Compare yourself to others. (That shredded dude lifting four plates? He’s been doing this for years.)
🚫 Train to failure every set. (There’s a time and place for that—it’s not Day 1.)

Final Thoughts: Just Show Up

The hardest part of getting fit? Starting. After that, it’s just about showing up and staying consistent. No one walks into the gym a pro. Everyone sucks at the beginning. That’s normal.

So don’t overthink it. Just get started. I got you.

💬 What’s your biggest fear about starting the gym? Drop a comment—I’ll help you out.

📌 Next Blog: “The Perfect Beginner Workout Plan (3 Days a Week)” – Stay tuned!