Gym beginners: How to use machines without asking the coach

We have all been there. It's your first day at the gym, you are motivated, you have your gym gear, and then... you find yourself facing a maze of cables, pulleys, and adjustable seats. This is what we call "gymtimidation".

You don't dare ask a coach (if one is even available), and you certainly don't dare ask the experienced lifters around you. The result: you fall back on the treadmill or the simplest machines, limiting your results.

The classic trick (often insufficient)

The first thing to do is to look for the small diagram stickers present on most machines. They indicate the worked muscle (often colored in red) and the basic settings. Unfortunately, these labels are often worn out, or their biomechanical explanations are too complex to decipher at a glance.

The magic solution: Loaden's AI Recognition

What if all it took was snapping a photo of the machine for an expert to tell you exactly how to sit? This is now possible with Loaden's AI Coach.

Directly from the app, open the AI chat and take a picture of the scary machine (like that famous Hack Squat or the cable crossover). The AI Coach will analyze the image in seconds and give you extremely clear instructions:

Example of Loaden's response:

"This is a 45° Incline Leg Press machine.
1. Place your back flat against the pad.
2. Put your feet shoulder-width apart in the middle of the platform.
3. Unlock the handles on the sides.
4. Lower the weight until your knees form a 90° angle.
This exercise primarily targets your quads and glutes!"

No more guesswork, no more risk of injury due to poor positioning, and above all, no more embarrassment. You have the equivalent of a personal trainer right in your pocket, available 24/7.

Beat gymtimidation

Download Loaden for free. Use our AI Coach to understand all machines, build your first routines, and start training with confidence.

Discover the AI Coach