If you’ve started exercising at the gym, you’re likely feeling rather proud of yourself. You should be proud! You’ve decided to do something important for your health and you’re following through.
That said, exercising at the gym can come with some surprising side effects. These shouldn’t discourage you from going and giving it your best. However, it is a good idea to learn about them before you start to your workouts. That way, they won’t come as a surprise.
The Truth About Exercising at the Gym
If you were to believe television shows and movies, you’d think that exercising at the gym is a smooth, neat experience. Sure, you may have a light dew on your brow, but otherwise, you can just change directly from your workout gear to your normal clothes and head to work.
That’s not exactly how things are in real life. The following are some of the side effects of exercising at the gym that often take people off guard:
Bruises
Certain workouts look simple when done by the pros. However, what you don’t realize is that they had to work hard to look that great. Everything from bumping into machinery to dropping equipment and even pinches from aerial yoga hammocks can cause bruising.
Though most of it is minor, it can lead to a day or two with a tender patch of skin. When you take on a new workout – particularly one with equipment – be aware that part of the learning curve may involve bruises.
Motion Sickness
Believe it or not, it is not at all uncommon to experience motion sickness on some gym machines. Treadmills, stair climbers, ellipticals, and ski machines – among others – can trigger symptoms in some users.
The combination of the vibration of the machine with a vigorous workout and raised body temperature can result from exercising at the gym on these machines. Fortunately, hydrating and sitting down – or lying down – for a handful of minutes can ease the dizziness and nausea.
Sweat and Lots of it
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a sweaty person, a good gym session will soak you through. Exercising at the gym can make you sweatier than you’ve been in your life. This will soak through your clothes and socks, will leave your hair wet and flat and will put a coating on everything you touch.
If you use your phone to play music while you’re exercising at the gym, get ready for it to feel like a bar of soap in the shower. It’s highly recommended that you place it in a sweatproof armband to protect your technology from moisture and accidental dropping.
Skin Problems
Though it is possible to catch certain communicable skin problems while exercising at the gym – athlete’s foot from the showers, for example – sweat is your main problem. Aside from an offending smell, all that sweat won’t typically hurt you during your workout.
However, if you don’t change out of your workout gear, shower and put on clean clothes, you could have several problems on your hands. These can include anything from versions of eczema to sweat induced jock itch (ugh!). If you can’t shower after exercising at the gym, make sure to take off all your sweaty clothes (right down to your underwear and socks) and put on something fresh and dry.
Ugly Feet
When you’re exercising at the gym, your feet take quite the beating. Your pedicure will be damaged. You will grow calluses. For a while after your workout, your feet will swell up like balloons.
You’ll need to take extra care of your feet when you exercise at the gym regularly. This can involve gently filing calluses, keeping feet moisturized (especially at night) and trimming those toenails. Wear high quality socks that fit and shoes in good condition that suit your workout.