I've always found the gym floor intimidating. Littered with clunky-looking machines that I had no idea how to use and inhabited by people who very much look like they do know what they're doing, my response has always been: just avoid it. Instead, I've found myself drawn to studios that offer group classes, like F45 or hot yoga, where I can be somewhat hidden while I'm being guided through the movement.
But earlier this year, I decided that I wanted to lean into strength training. The benefits speak for themselves, with research showing that it can have a positive impact on everything from functional fitness to mood. And to do that, I knew it was time to face my fears and work out what on earth a cable machine actually does. I spent hours scrolling through fitness content online to try and formulate some workouts, and when that became too overwhelming, I turned to Chat GPT for a structured plan. But, after a couple of weeks of cluelessly doing what the internet told me, I was still terrified of the machines and continued to hide in the quietest corner of the gym with nothing but a pair of dumbbells. I was also starting to worry that, without proper guidance, my haphazard attempt could cause an injury.
