Terrified of working out in front of others

STLBADGIRL

have you tried going to planet fitness....their whole marketing pitch or for people who feel like you feel. Honestly, when i go in the gym and see overweight or obese people in the gym I applaud them....because they are doing something about their situation. I have mad respect for them. In Zumba it was this one lady giving 100% while others that have been coming to the class for the longest giving 50% effort....

Lastly, shame and guilt will keep you in this situation. Its going to come a time where you are going to have to say F the world and go and get yours!!!!!

STLBADGIRL

erockem wrote: »

When I'm at the gym and see a larger person, several things always cross my mind.

1) they're awesome for being there, if I see them on more that one ocassion they are super awesome
2) they're better than everyone I know who is at home sitting on their couch
3) they motivate me to keep going, if they're sweating and putting in the effort, why am I not?

You're success in going to the gym will motivate others in the same situation. It's contagious.

I wish I was confident enough to tell them how awesome they are!

This is totally how I feel...and sometimes I tell them.

stealthq

Mostly, I cope by not caring all that much.

People are looking at and judging you more during your normal outings than they are at the gym, guaranteed. And when you're not working out there's nothing to show anyone that you are interested in and working on being more fit, is there?

Personally, when I'm at the gym I do my fair share of people watching while I'm resting between sets. Mostly, I notice the exercises people are doing and if they look like something I'd like to try, or if it looks to me like they're not doing it right (though I reserve judgement because there can be legit reasons to do an exercise the 'wrong' way).

The other thing I notice are the people who lack basic gym etiquette. Like the guy today who decided to hog the power cage by leaving his weights on the bar while he headed off and did other exercises for 10-15min in between sets - only to hustle back to the cage and shoo away anyone else who wanted to use it. That behaviour annoys me, even though I was fine using the neighboring squat rack and the people he shooed off seemed OK waiting. At least, they didn't ask to work in with me.

Lesson being, your appearance doesn't matter much at the gym. Put in some effort, take turns with equipment and put it back when you're done and no one will think less of you unless they're the kind of douche that would think poorly of you no matter where you are. Or what you look like, most likely.

SCoil123

I used to be the same way OP. Then at my previous job they started Insanity classes and some of the staff, including myself, were asked to attend to make the new program appear fuller. I was so self conscious, red as a lobster, and dripping sweat.... But I noticed so was about 90% of the class so I kept going and got over it. The first day is the hardest.

valerialeek

Get YouTube, weights and so it at home

dragon_girl26

Everyone is being helpful, but it looks like OP has been escorted out of the building..not likely to see the responses anymore...

TavistockToad

WorkingToBeSkinny wrote: »

I just don't like having all my fat on display. Hell, if I could get away with wearing an abaya as a non-Muslim, I would just for its ability to hide everything from the eyes of the world.

Once I am skinny, then yes, I will happily swim and work out in front of other humans. Until then, I can't summon up the courage to have my fat on display for exercising.

The thing is though, being 'skinny' won't suddenly make life a million times better...

work on loving yourself regardless of your weight and figure out how to be happy or the problems will still be there if/when you lose weight.

singingflutelady

dragon_girl26 wrote: »

Everyone is being helpful, but it looks like OP has been escorted out of the building..not likely to see the responses anymore...

She was pro Ana so yes she was banned.

KDar1988

Don't be! We all have to start somewhere. I started 113lbs ago. I got on an elliptical with a gym full of skinny girls and buff guys. I put my headphones on, listened to my music and worked as hard as I possibly could. If anyone looked at me, I'd hope they would look with admiration to see such a fat woman trying to get healthy!

Today...the same people I saw at the gym all the time have come up to me and told me how good I look You can do this!! It does take courage at first, but once you've done it a few times you will overcome your fear!

Good luck!

middlehaitch

OP may have left the building but this is still a great thread for all those who are hesitant to exercise in public.

I, like a lot of the other posters, entered the gym with trepidation- short, dumpy, frumpy and menopausal.

Best thing I ever did

It took a couple of weeks to find my feet but if I asked people were helpful and didn't laugh at my 5lbs weights- they were heavy for me.

Now, I love being the fitter, stronger person I have become because I faced my fear of the gym head on.

Swimsuits started as the knee to neck tri-suit- now, no fear of a bikini.

I still find putting on a posh frock and going to a charity dinner much more intimidating than that first time walking into a gym.

Cheers, h.

mom22dogs

I'm disabled - my legs are deformed and I look weird not matter what. I learned not to notice or care if someone was staring at me. I get stared at a lot. I just get "tunnel vision" and do my thing and don't worry about it.

jessef593

Chances are they aren't. People are there for themselves. The only time I look at others is when they're doing an exercise I don't know or something stupid to draw attention to themselves. It gets easier in time, just keep at it.

rugbyishy

I currently got to Hiit classes. I own no mirrors because feel sick looking at the size of me, so far classes where outside. Tuesday they were in room with mirrors. Cracked on with the class but tried to be at the back and did not look in mirror, did cry during the class but not in hysterical way people would notice. The support I got from the guy running the class and others who did the class was immense, so I be going back.
Also did 5k (mostly walked) and it was pointed out to me I was doing more than those sitting on their sofa.
People will respect you for getting up and doing something even if its just long walks and work out at home it is more than sitting on sofa. Chin up you can do this, there be obstacles on way but keep at it.
X

ridiculous59

There's nothing "magical" about going to the gym. For a beginner, there's really nothing there that you can't do on your own. I get a gym pass every winter but for the other 3 months I'd much rather be outside doing something. I started out walking trails with the dog. I also have some weights and a mirror in the corner of a room and put on the music and just do my thing......some dancing, some yoga, some weights, planks, squats, whatever strikes my fancy for an hour or so.

If you want to go to a gym though, check out a few different ones if possible to see what the clientele look like. Talk to the people at the front desk and ask them about who goes at different times. For example, I just go the local city rec centre gym and it's very unpretentious. All ages, all sizes, all fitness levels. I usually stop by on my way home from work and it's fairly busy at that time. But everyone is doing their own thing and if they're looking at ANYONE, its usually themselves lol I tried going after dinner and found it was a totally different crowd at that time, alot of young guys. In the later morning it's mostly retired people. I havent been early morning to see what that group looks like but i imagine its pretty much the same sort as after work, except with bed head.

Spend the extra money if you have to and have one of the staff members show you all the equipment and how to use it. That way, when you first show up on your own you can walk confidently up to the treadmill and know exactly which buttons to press.

And quite honestly, like someone else said, get over yourself. I don't mean that in a terrible way. I mean that you have to realize that everyone is at the gym for their own reasons and it's not to look at you. They may glance at you to see if you are someone they know. But no one is LOOKING at you, if you know what I mean.

You can do this