How do you get over gym anxiety?

Lisseth03

Long story short, I've developed this intimidation by gyms when they're packed, it's to the point where I started work at 6:30AM today so I woke up at 3:30 to work out just to avoid having to go in the pm when it's crazy busy. Anyone else go through this or am I just weird?
It wasn't always like that, yeaaars back I had lost about 20 lbs and I was regularly going to the gym. After some time I gained half of it back and that was when the feeling intimidated happened. Back in Canada I joined a womens only gym and got a personal trainer and it really did help. I'm living in New Zealand now and have been going to the gym for about 4 months now but I can't seem to get that intimidation process out of my head. &frankly i'm starting to get tired of waking up so early, I eat more cuz i'm awake longer, and i'm constantly tired. I know I should just suck it up and go in the pm, and I have sometimes but the intimidation is still there. Anyone been through this and got over it?

CTcutie

Yup. I also tried those super early hours, but eventually realized I had to just deal, go to a different gym, or exercise outside/at home... if the problem is thinking other people are looking at you- they aren't!! They have head phones on (you should do the same to take the edge off!) & are there to take care of themselves- most people don't even talk!! If the problem is anxiety over larger numbers of people at the gym, I have that problem myself sometimes... I just focus on the tv/music & that helps :-)

brxtt

what is about it that intimidates you? being judged/watched, etc? i throw my headphones in as soon as i hit the door, and i just head over to whatever area i'm working in and do my thing. gym talk makes me super uncomfortable, too, so i generally just avoid people. having your headphones in and staying focused on what you're doing helps a lot. just remind yourself that 99% of people at the gym are there with limited time, trying to get in whatever workout they need to, and get on with their day/night... which means they have very little, if any, concern for anyone else. my best advice? just get in their and do it. don't think too much. tell yourself, i'm here to do "x, y, z workout" and do it!

coreyreichle

Nope, not weird.

You have two options: Go at times to avoid crowds (Like you're doing), or, dive in and just adapt to it (Eventually, you will).

While I don't have the intimidation issue, I cannot deal with crowds. So, I go at 5AM.

Lisseth03

I like my gym because its a 3 minute walk from my place. I think you guys are right. I just have to dive in and do my thing. I think i'm mostly petrified cuz it's mostly a bunch of jacked dudes lifting weights and I do fear being judged.

Deadlifting_Away_Doritos

Lisseth03 wrote: »

I like my gym because its a 3 minute walk from my place. I think you guys are right. I just have to dive in and do my thing. I think i'm mostly petrified cuz it's mostly a bunch of jacked dudes lifting weights and I do fear being judged.

Don't worry about. Those dudes are probably skipping leg days looking like Johnny Bravo.

MissyK222

So not weird...I'm the same way most of the time. I just try to go in with tunnel vision. I put my ear buds in and just focus on what I'm doing. If I start to look around me scoping the place out that's when I freak. I just try to ignore everyone. lol

elisa123gal

I always find it just takes getting used to being there. Get dressed...walk around and do a few easy machines.. then leave..and build up to staying longer. After a week or so.. you'll be used to it again. No one is focused on you and if they are ..that's there problem right?

KellyRedmond1

When we are lacking confidence in ourselves, it's too easy to become intimidated. I become self conscious also, thinking that people will be saying to themselves, "Yeah, she DEFINITELY needs to be here", or that I'm not "dressed the part". All kidding aside, I simply remind myself that, "Hey, we all need to start SOMEWHERE, right?" Also, those same people who you think are so 'in shape' (& you fear are looking at & judging you) may have been in the same spot as you when THEY started out. Like others have said, you are there for yourself, NOT anybody else. Good luck to you, & keep us posted as to your progress..."You GOT this, girl!!!"

katie2400

There were many times in the past i'd walk into the gym pumped for a lifting session only to see the weight room full of men, and i'd end up on a cardio machine.
-not sure what happened.. my comment only posted half? so if this post is all wonky.. -i blame MFP .. Try going at different times, or with a friend? Can you bring some weights into a quieter area to workout? Most ppl in the gym don't care about anything other then their own workout. Just remember how amazing working out makes you feel. You don't want to miss out on that..

LKArgh

Lisseth03 wrote: »

I like my gym because its a 3 minute walk from my place. I think you guys are right. I just have to dive in and do my thing. I think i'm mostly petrified cuz it's mostly a bunch of jacked dudes lifting weights and I do fear being judged.

The bunch of guys in the gym are most probably too busy lifting to care what other people are doing. No one goes to the gym to judge others. If one of them notices a young woman working out, it will not be to judge her. No different than meeting a guy in the bus, at work or any other place.

jweber002

Honestly Everybody fears in being "judged". It took alot for me to jump into the gym with everybodys eyes wondering around lol seriously just dive in and take your place, you'll soon find out its not that bad after all. It will take a few times to get use to the environment but you can do it!! Stay positive, and keep at it.

KassLea22

I know it's easy for me to say "no one is paying that much attention to you," but I know that's probably not helpful. All I can say to you is stick with it, because the more you go the more comfortable you will be with your exercises and the more confident you will be. Progress happens when we get out of our comfort zone's and I know it's hard but you can do it! Maybe you could start by just easing yourself into it, even go for just 10 minutes when there are other people there and build yourself up to going for your full work out. I'm not going to tell you that you're magically one day just feel comfortable with all the people, it's something you'll have to work out on your end. Keep it up!

Shanel0916

I completely understand and in order to avoid those feelings I go at 4am plus if I leave it till the afternoon I know deep down the workout won't happen for me. I agree with what has been stated headphones and focus on yourself, something else you could add is a hat to hide your eyes, I've done this and it helps.

Lisseth03

thanks everyone. and Shanel how do you find going so early? I find i eat more cuz I am awake for longer.
I'm going to go tomorrow after work and just do it, intimidation and all.
I'm going to try and go today too but just for Cardio, that I have no problem with doing in the pm haha.

CeeBeeSlim

Go for it! I understand fully and just had to bite the bullet. I went in to the mostly male populated weights areas with my huge (Strong Curves) book, pen, and spreadsheets. Put on my headphones and music and just started to lift, writing down as i went. Got another woman interested and now we're lifting buddies! Looked like everyone was in their own world, and if i was looking at someone, it was interest in their form or a particular exercise I liked.

SaraSteeves1993

I was the same way. I was even nervous to workout in front of my boyfriend lol. Just more or less the thought of people seeing you and judging you etc. Espically when you're a beginner, I've just sucked it up go in and do my thing. Now that I've gotten over it the anxiety of it it's really not so bad. Most are in there to do their thing and aren't really worried about anyone else.

hazzaram

I've been paying for a gym membership for two years and haven't used it once. Every time I try to go, I get the worst anxiety to the point my heart races and I feel sick. So I never go, even though I want to. I just can't.

mghaffar89

hazzaram wrote: »

I've been paying for a gym membership for two years and haven't used it once. Every time I try to go, I get the worst anxiety to the point my heart races and I feel sick. So I never go, even though I want to. I just can't.

What about it is giving you anxiety? All the people or just the fact you're not sure what to do once you're there?

mghaffar89

Lisseth03 wrote: »

Long story short, I've developed this intimidation by gyms when they're packed, it's to the point where I started work at 6:30AM today so I woke up at 3:30 to work out just to avoid having to go in the pm when it's crazy busy. Anyone else go through this or am I just weird?
It wasn't always like that, yeaaars back I had lost about 20 lbs and I was regularly going to the gym. After some time I gained half of it back and that was when the feeling intimidated happened. Back in Canada I joined a womens only gym and got a personal trainer and it really did help. I'm living in New Zealand now and have been going to the gym for about 4 months now but I can't seem to get that intimidation process out of my head. &frankly i'm starting to get tired of waking up so early, I eat more cuz i'm awake longer, and i'm constantly tired. I know I should just suck it up and go in the pm, and I have sometimes but the intimidation is still there. Anyone been through this and got over it?

I am right there with you I can't wake up early to go to the gym and I hate going in the evening because of the people. Yes people might be in their own world and what not but to be honest people are judging you there. I've seen it, heard it and have had it happened to me. Maybe it's because all the jacked up guys are jerks where I live lol but I really get paranoid and anxiety working out in front of others!

samobi17

I know exactly what you mean, especially now that we're in the snapchat era and so many people like to take pictures during their workout. I've switched to home workouts until I gain a little mor confidence.

CaffeineAngel

I tend to just work out early in the morning. I suffer pretty badly from anxiety and a crowded gym means a lot of noise, no personal space and a lot of body heat for me. Nothing personal, but heat and sudden loud noises (aka someone dropping weights) tends to scare the heck out of me.

I'm also the only girl heading down to the free weights and prefer to get things like squats and bench presses done before a lot of the big and burly guys get down that end of the gym . Not saying the men at my gym aren't unpleasant, just my weirdness kicking in. On the upside, I actually prefer working out first thing to wake me up (as I tend to work early in the mornings I'm up at 3-4am anyway, even on days off), and my gym is like five minutes walk away from where I live.

ninerbuff

Lisseth03 wrote: »

Long story short, I've developed this intimidation by gyms when they're packed, it's to the point where I started work at 6:30AM today so I woke up at 3:30 to work out just to avoid having to go in the pm when it's crazy busy. Anyone else go through this or am I just weird?
It wasn't always like that, yeaaars back I had lost about 20 lbs and I was regularly going to the gym. After some time I gained half of it back and that was when the feeling intimidated happened. Back in Canada I joined a womens only gym and got a personal trainer and it really did help. I'm living in New Zealand now and have been going to the gym for about 4 months now but I can't seem to get that intimidation process out of my head. &frankly i'm starting to get tired of waking up so early, I eat more cuz i'm awake longer, and i'm constantly tired. I know I should just suck it up and go in the pm, and I have sometimes but the intimidation is still there. Anyone been through this and got over it?

One of the comments I hear from my clients is that I've definitely helped them to overcome intimidation in the gym. Especially when I walk them up into the dumbbell racks and seat them right there. Likely has to do because there's conversation with us only and that the client is focused on the training and not what's going on around them. Maybe get another trainer and train at the time you want to.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Lisseth03

CaffeineAngel wrote: »

I tend to just work out early in the morning. I suffer pretty badly from anxiety and a crowded gym means a lot of noise, no personal space and a lot of body heat for me. Nothing personal, but heat and sudden loud noises (aka someone dropping weights) tends to scare the heck out of me.

I'm also the only girl heading down to the free weights and prefer to get things like squats and bench presses done before a lot of the big and burly guys get down that end of the gym . Not saying the men at my gym aren't unpleasant, just my weirdness kicking in. On the upside, I actually prefer working out first thing to wake me up (as I tend to work early in the mornings I'm up at 3-4am anyway, even on days off), and my gym is like five minutes walk away from where I live.

wow, what time do you go to bed if you're there that early?
and i feel you 100%!
that's how I feel regarding wanting to get the machines out of the way before the guys get them.

Lisseth03

Ninerbuff. I do have an online coach that provides me workouts, and whenever I get a chance my bf and I train together in the evenings and even though it's packed I find it helps when I have someone there guiding me.
Update though. I went at 5:30 this morning and it was only slightly busy, not so much, but busier then it is at 4:30 (because it's dead) So I figure if I can get used to the quantity of people at 5:30 I can work my way up to later.
Though I do like getting it out of the way in the morning, just not waking up at 4:15. But knowing that I'm not the only one who has these thoughts makes me feel so much better, thanks everyone for your kind responses

Meganthedogmom

Not weird to me. I used to get up about that early every day so I could have a nice gym with available equipment and not have to fight anyone for the showers. Plus I liked getting it in early and setting the mood for my day.
Now I have a home gym, so the only crowd I have to avoid is my crazy dogs who want to lick me while I stretch and poke me in the butt while I squat.

Lisseth03

UPDATE:
I went in the pm after work a while ago, I marched right in there, but I wasn't feeling it. I wasn't even anxious at how many people were there, I noticed everyone was doing their own thing but it WAS SO EFFIN BUSY OMG, I wasn't scared though, I was just annoyed at how busy it was and the lack of space. So back to morning workouts it is.

Madwife2009

Lisseth03 wrote: »

I was just annoyed at how busy it was and the lack of space. So back to morning workouts it is.

This is why I get up at 5am and go to the gym. I hate being around loads of other people and there are very few in my gym at 5.30am. It also means I can use whatever equipment I like without having to wait. It tends to be a bit friendlier as there are certain people who go at that time of day, most of whom I recognise on sight and occasionally speak to.

I've never felt judged, or that people are looking at me (a relative newbie) - they all appear to be too busy doing their own thing, as I am. If I catch someone's eye, or they catch mine, I smile. It breaks the ice a little

I also like an empty changing room and showers! I may sound like a prude here but I really do not like walking into the changing room to face someone's naked butt/other jiggly bits. The showers are big enough to shower and change in, I don't see the need for people to walk around totally starkers. If they don't want to use the huge shower cubicles to change in, why can't they walk about with a towel around them? It does make me uncomfortable, but getting in early stops this as there aren't many women in the gym that early.

Lizzy622

Lisseth03 wrote: »

UPDATE:
I went in the pm after work a while ago, I marched right in there, but I wasn't feeling it. I wasn't even anxious at how many people were there, I noticed everyone was doing their own thing but it WAS SO EFFIN BUSY OMG, I wasn't scared though, I was just annoyed at how busy it was and the lack of space. So back to morning workouts it is.

That's main reason I like mornings. I found between 6:45 and 8:00 is a good time at my gym. There seems to be a big rush at 6AM when they open but most of those people are in the locker room getting ready for work by 6:45. I've gone earlier and had trouble getting on the good treadmills. The gym I go to is less the 5 minutes from work.

WanderingRivers

I don't do gyms due to the intimidation factor and the fact I would have to have someone drive me or walk there which would take me about 45 minutes so there isn't much point.

JJordon

This is why I workout at home.