If you visualize women at the gym or working out what do you see in your mind’s eye? Chances are you see a slim, fit, and toned woman who already looks in peak physical condition. Magazines are filled with pictures of celebrities working out with their personal trainers, just to lose a few pounds on their already size 0 frames for an award ceremony. No wonder so many women feel intimidated by this idea, often subconsciously, that to workout you need to already be fit. Forget these misconceptions as fitness is for real women who may not already be at the top of their fitness game.

Battling body-consciousness!

Many women would love to be more active and join a fitness community, but don’t. And one of the biggest barriers is to do with self-consciousness and feeling out of place. Women feel exposed when they exercise and don’t want to be judged on their shape and size. Curvaceous women may feel shy about the way their body moves when they jump around, while many women hate the idea of sweating, seeing it as un-ladylike in some way.

You don’t need to be fit or skilled to work out!

Another major block to female fitness is women feeling that they don’t have the skills and are not fit enough to tackle a workout. The worry here is not being able to keep up or looking like a fool in some way. Nobody likes to feel out of their depth and it is easy to feel vulnerable and lacking in self-confidence if you are uncomfortable and finding an exercise program a real challenge.

Women need to be proud to get their sweat-on!

The fact is that real women get fit and working out is not reserved for the super-fit who are merely topping up an already taut tum. So, if you are shying away from exercise because you feel you don’t measure up then it is time to be proud to get your sweat on. Here’s how:

Make sure you feel comfortable with what you wear – You don’t need to splash out on a whole new fitness wardrobe but you want to feel at ease, supported and able to cool off when you work up a cardio burn! Moisture-wicking fabrics can really help.

Accept yourself – Many women are down on themselves about the way they look and also how fit and active they are. If you start off your fitness journey feeling bad and letting negativity surround you then you are going to see your motivation levels fizzle out and your confidence zapped. You are who you are: deal with it and accept it! If you want to make some positive changes, then great, but let transformations come from a good place!

Find a fitness environment you feel happy with – Go with your gut and trust your instincts on whether a certain training program or exercise facility suits you. However, at the same time, make sure you give yourself some time to settle in somewhere new and find your fitness success feet.

Work out a fitness strategy – If you are floundering around with no real direction then you are more likely to come unstuck and lose your way. Without a plan of action you may feel that your quest is hopeless or that you are just not getting anywhere fast. The truth is that if you don’t listen to your body and fitness experts it could be that you aren’t working out at your best.

Think about strength and power and embrace your workout glow – Look around you at some of the inspirational women you either know or have heard about. They fearlessly strive ahead, often into the unknown. Be brave and have courage to jump into taking control of your fitness. When you sweat, feel empowered and welcome the healthy look of a good workout where you feel great!