Nervous before workouts?

BlockBuilder

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This has been something that has been going on for awhile now and I'm getting tired of it. Before a workout I seem to get some pretty heavy anticipatory anxiety. A lot of it actually revolves around the idea that when I get to the gym it will be swamped and I won't get to do what I had planned on doing. I picture walking in and all the power racks are taken and it has happened before where I'll spend 20 minutes waiting for one to open. It messes up the entire flow of my workout. At my gym the dumbbells are never correctly placed. I've often had to walk around the entire gym looking for misplaced weights. I like to get in and out but there always seems to be various roadblocks preventing me from accomplishing a PERFECT workout. Maybe I'm just taking it too seriously. I keep a log so I can track progressive overload just like I track my diet and everything else. I time my rest periods to the second. I have OCD and fitness is kind of one of those obsessions and I think my OCD starts to really fire up at the gym when things don't go perfectly the way I want to. I really wish I could just relax before the gym
 
APC80

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I'm the exact same mate I track everything on my phone and time rest periods and even between exercises to the second, I get anxious if I go over my time between sets or exercises. Glad I'm not the only weirdo that does this lol

Drives me insane if I have to look for something or wait on equipment and it makes me run over my allotted time. Thankfully my gym is never too busy, it's kept tidy and there's plenty of equipment to go round. I can totally understand why you're getting wound up before you even start, sounds like you need to find a new gym or go at a less busy period.
 

BlockBuilder

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Lol yes my gym is crazy busy. I live in south Florida and I've been to several gyms. It's very difficult to find a gym that's not busy around here. Even the lifetime fitness center which is 200 a month is packed with gym addicts lol. I go to LA Fitness. If you go at 5 pm you have to park blocks away because there's no parking.
 
APC80

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That's nuts I couldn't stand that. Lucky I live in the north of the uk where it's cold for 9 months of the year and we're lucky if we have a day you can actually take your top off without your nipples freezing off so most people don't care about their bodies lol most gyms aren't too busy even in the city. The only solution for you is to move somewhere colder, I'll swap with you if ya want it's ****in miserable here atm.
 
Smont

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I don't get anxious from it just pissed off, for every exercise in your routine have a alternate exercise that can take it's place that or skip it and come back to it later. These help me avoid Getting irritated.
 
Whisky

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Honestly I don’t have ocd to that extent, I’m with Smont in that it would just p!ss me off.

Fortunately I have access to a functional fitness studio where I train when at home, I also have a flexible job so can train during the day. When I travel with work I use commercial gyms around the country (uk) and if I can’t get on what I was intending I just see it as an opportunity to hit a muscle in a different way, I forget about progressive overload for one session and instead just enjoy the variety.

One thing I do get a little nervous about is the actual session though - where I’m following a set program with set overload it scares me slightly before I start, that said if your session doesn’t scare you just a little bit is it tough enough? ��
 
jakz

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Home gym.
 
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mase1

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Never been in lifetime fitness and had people in the way. LA on the other hand always packed unless you go really am. Problem solved, go 5am and no worries.
 

BlockBuilder

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I don't get anxious from it just pissed off, for every exercise in your routine have a alternate exercise that can take it's place that or skip it and come back to it later. These help me avoid Getting irritated.
I've actually been doing this and it's working out ok. And yea I only get anxious before the workout. Once I'm actually working out and it happens it just irritates me to all hell lol
 
Smont

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I've actually been doing this and it's working out ok. And yea I only get anxious before the workout. Once I'm actually working out and it happens it just irritates me to all hell lol
When it's super crowded sometimes I'll just lock down a rack or Smith machine and say it's back I'm working, il set pins and just do a **** ton of rack pulls and bent over rows, then look for a few finishers. Anything is better then putzing around waiting for machines
 
Aleksandar37

Aleksandar37

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This has been something that has been going on for awhile now and I'm getting tired of it. Before a workout I seem to get some pretty heavy anticipatory anxiety. A lot of it actually revolves around the idea that when I get to the gym it will be swamped and I won't get to do what I had planned on doing. I picture walking in and all the power racks are taken and it has happened before where I'll spend 20 minutes waiting for one to open. It messes up the entire flow of my workout. At my gym the dumbbells are never correctly placed. I've often had to walk around the entire gym looking for misplaced weights. I like to get in and out but there always seems to be various roadblocks preventing me from accomplishing a PERFECT workout. Maybe I'm just taking it too seriously. I keep a log so I can track progressive overload just like I track my diet and everything else. I time my rest periods to the second. I have OCD and fitness is kind of one of those obsessions and I think my OCD starts to really fire up at the gym when things don't go perfectly the way I want to. I really wish I could just relax before the gym
Do you have an actual OCD diagnosis? Have you tried channeling your frustration into your workout? I would work on techniques to not fight the feelings you get, but take that energy and use it to drive your training. Otherwise, like somebody else said, you might consider a home gym.
 

BlockBuilder

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Do you have an actual OCD diagnosis? Have you tried channeling your frustration into your workout? I would work on techniques to not fight the feelings you get, but take that energy and use it to drive your training. Otherwise, like somebody else said, you might consider a home gym.
Yes I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 11 years old. I will try and channel that energy. The last thing I will do is give up though. I'll keep fighting through it. Whatever it takes
 
Whisky

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Yes I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 11 years old. I will try and channel that energy. The last thing I will do is give up though. I'll keep fighting through it. Whatever it takes
If you really really want a certain piece of equipment then your other option is to strip off all your clothes and ask to work in. Waving your Johnson in someone’s face often makes them cut a set short (or so I’ve heard lol).......just an idea
 
APC80

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If you really really want a certain piece of equipment then your other option is to strip off all your clothes and ask to work in. Waving your Johnson in someone’s face often makes them cut a set short (or so I’ve heard lol).......just an idea
Aye the fear of getting raped by some mad man in the gym should be enough to make them cut a set short lol but then again some of those American gyms I've seen you might get more than you bargained for.
 
Whisky

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Aye the fear of getting raped by some mad man in the gym should be enough to make them cut a set short lol but then again some of those American gyms I've seen you might get more than you bargained for.
Haha, yeah to be fair it’s a high risk strategy.....you’ll want alkyl nitrites on hand just in case lol
 
Aleksandar37

Aleksandar37

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Yes I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 11 years old. I will try and channel that energy. The last thing I will do is give up though. I'll keep fighting through it. Whatever it takes
I asked because people like to throw that term around. In that case, I would also look into non-medication therapy and medication options if necessary, especially if this is affecting other parts of your life. Definitely never give up!
 

BlockBuilder

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I asked because people like to throw that term around. In that case, I would also look into non-medication therapy and medication options if necessary, especially if this is affecting other parts of your life. Definitely never give up!
Yes believe me I’ve heard people throw that term around a lot. Yes it’s affected every part of my life. My OCD is different while it has a physical compulsion component many of the compulsions I have are done psychologically which makes it less noticeable and easier to hide yet debilitating and chronic especially when alone. My obsessions seem to center around health issues.
 

ericos_bob

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+1 for a home gym if you have the space. I have a small 9x12 home gym comprised of a power rack, bench and rack of dumbells. Covers all basic compounds exercises.
Workout at commercial gym = 90 minutes+ (inc.20 minute return commute)
Home workout = 30 minutes
Cost of annual gym membership in my neck of woods =$500
Cost of home gym lifetime membership = $1000 in equipment
Time freed up for other activities = 5+ hours EW
Only thing to get nervous about lifting at home is training performance but I'd say that's a good thing.
 

BlockBuilder

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+1 for a home gym if you have the space. I have a small 9x12 home gym comprised of a power rack, bench and rack of dumbells. Covers all basic compounds exercises.
Workout at commercial gym = 90 minutes+ (inc.20 minute return commute)
Home workout = 30 minutes
Cost of annual gym membership in my neck of woods =$500
Cost of home gym lifetime membership = $1000 in equipment
Time freed up for other activities = 5+ hours EW
Only thing to get nervous about lifting at home is training performance but I'd say that's a good thing.
I plan on doing this for sure someday but I live in an apartment complex renting at the moment
 
John Smeton

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This has been something that has been going on for awhile now and I'm getting tired of it. Before a workout I seem to get some pretty heavy anticipatory anxiety. A lot of it actually revolves around the idea that when I get to the gym it will be swamped and I won't get to do what I had planned on doing. I picture walking in and all the power racks are taken and it has happened before where I'll spend 20 minutes waiting for one to open. It messes up the entire flow of my workout. At my gym the dumbbells are never correctly placed. I've often had to walk around the entire gym looking for misplaced weights. I like to get in and out but there always seems to be various roadblocks preventing me from accomplishing a PERFECT workout. Maybe I'm just taking it too seriously. I keep a log so I can track progressive overload just like I track my diet and everything else. I time my rest periods to the second. I have OCD and fitness is kind of one of those obsessions and I think my OCD starts to really fire up at the gym when things don't go perfectly the way I want to. I really wish I could just relax before the gym
Sounds like your imaging the negative. Sure some stations may be taken, find another exercise or ask do you mind if I work in with you?

Its a habit worth getting down
 
Wobmarvel

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A bodyweight rack and weight belt is a very affordable way of getting in a decent workout at home. Can't do **** all for legs but weighted chins, pull ups and dips, push ups give you a kick as upper body workout. Then with a decent set of dumbells you can work arms, shoulders and legs with walking lunges and split squats etc. I realise that is no where near as effective as a proper squat rack but you can still make decent gains.
 
Rad83

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9-11pm is the sweet spot for just enough serious lifters but not jam-packed. I could never do that 4-8pm thing...
 
maggie.stine

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There are times when I feel like quitting as if I won't be able to finish the routine but then I find my motivation again. I have a goal and I always keep that in mind. I also think of those people who once bully me for being fat.
 
Whisky

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There are times when I feel like quitting as if I won't be able to finish the routine but then I find my motivation again. I have a goal and I always keep that in mind. I also think of those people who once bully me for being fat.
Yeah with you on this....
 

BlockBuilder

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I never feel like quitting just feel like punching a hole through the wall lol. I never understood how someone could sit on a piece of equipment for 30 minutes but at my gym it happens all the time.
 

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