My general strategy is just to find the toughest, most muscular looking guy in the gym and ask for help. So far every single time they’ve turned out to be extremely friendly people who love explaining their hobby.

The first time I joined a gym, they gave me a free orientation where one of the staff asked me what I was planning to do and showed me how to use the gym’s equipment to do that stuff. Results come from consistency, and consistency comes from goals, and even a short conversation can help set good goals that are achievable and that can support consistent behavior.