How to get over being embarrassed working out in public?

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Replies

  • deputy_randolph
    deputy_randolph Posts: 940 Member
    cupcakesandproteinshakes wrote: »
    deputy_randolph wrote: »
    Today, I fell at the gym while doing pull thrus...so not only was I doing a weird butt exercise...I tipped over, hit the floor, and made a huge banging sound when the plates fell on the machine.

    I mean you are welcome to think of this when you start to feel embarrased. It was pretty comical.

    I regularly fart loudly deadlifting. Also wee a bit.

    I also peed all over the floor when deadlifting during a powerlifting comp. A cute 25 year old guy cleaned the pee with a spray bottle and paper towels.

    This was only mildly embarrassing...it was more embarrassing when he would smile at me at the gym after that b/c I think he had a little crush.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    It's like the dance floor. Everyone is wrapped up in their own thing, no one is paying attention to the other people.
  • rainbow198
    rainbow198 Posts: 2,245 Member
    edited March 2020
    I understand what you mean. When I first started working out I would be embarrassed by how much I sweated and how quickly I got out of breath. For me it wasn't so much about other people, but I was disappointed with how badly I let myself go.

    Most of the time I just kept pushing, but one day I decided to do my workouts either really early or later in the day.

    Also I also discovered Youtube workouts, followed by purchasing fitness dvd's. Both were great for helping me build up my strength, stamina and endurance in the privacy of my own home and I didn't have to worry about the weather.

    Then I discovered that I enjoyed working out from home so I slowly build up a home gym. I'm able to workout outdoors and at home which was and still is a great fit for me.

    Good luck!
  • oceangirl99
    oceangirl99 Posts: 161 Member
    I used to be afraid of wearing shorts when I was running because of my jiggly thighs. I've run in capris when it was ridiculous to do so..... and then I realized.....a lot of those shorts wearing runners have jiggly thighs and I've never noticed or cared about what they look like. This summer I will wear whatever keeps my legs at the best temp!
  • sjonathans
    sjonathans Posts: 12 Member
    SO....I havent gotten over the fear...I ordered some DVD's and do it all at home in my living room...
  • littlegreenparrot1
    littlegreenparrot1 Posts: 702 Member
    I encourage everyone who feels like this, or who just wants a bit of a boost, to look up the Sport England This Girl Can campaign.

    It is women of every size and shape having a great time doing their sport, specifically to encourage women to get involved.

    It's been going a couple of years now and I think it's wonderful, really well done.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    oceangirl99 wrote: »
    I used to be afraid of wearing shorts when I was running because of my jiggly thighs. I've run in capris when it was ridiculous to do so..... and then I realized.....a lot of those shorts wearing runners have jiggly thighs and I've never noticed or cared about what they look like. This summer I will wear whatever keeps my legs at the best temp!

    Loose skin on your thighs after weight loss can be a bit uncomfortable when running though! I usually either wear mid length bike type shorts, or 2 in 1 shorts with a long liner that keeps my thighs in place.
  • BruceHedtke
    BruceHedtke Posts: 358 Member
    I used to be intimidated to go to the gym because I'd always see the people that obviously spend way more time in a gym than me there. They were in great shape, worked out hard and just seemed to know what they were doing. Here I was, inexperienced, out of shape and laboring on every exercise. It definitely made me feel like I was being judged all the time.

    I got over my intimidation when I realized that those people who go to the gym all the time, besides just focusing on their own workouts, most had the same understanding: To go to the gym (or doing any exercise anywhere) takes commitment and dedication. If someone new begins coming to the gym, they respect that that person has made an effort to get healthier. Do something often enough and it becomes a habit/routine. But, before you can have a habit of exercising, you almost always have to force yourself to go when you'd rather sleep in another hour, or binge watch a television show or surf the internet, etc.

    When you walk thru those doors at the gym, those regulars know you made the choice to exercise and they all know the willpower it takes to do that sometimes. Just practice good gym etiquette and you almost certainly won't get hassled (or judged) by anyone there.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    deputy_randolph wrote: »
    cupcakesandproteinshakes wrote: »
    deputy_randolph wrote: »
    Today, I fell at the gym while doing pull thrus...so not only was I doing a weird butt exercise...I tipped over, hit the floor, and made a huge banging sound when the plates fell on the machine.

    I mean you are welcome to think of this when you start to feel embarrased. It was pretty comical.

    I regularly fart loudly deadlifting. Also wee a bit.

    I also peed all over the floor when deadlifting during a powerlifting comp. A cute 25 year old guy cleaned the pee with a spray bottle and paper towels.

    This was only mildly embarrassing...it was more embarrassing when he would smile at me at the gym after that b/c I think he had a little crush.

    Me, three. If you haven't peed on the platform, you are either under 30 with no pregnancies, or not pulling enough weight! :laugh:

    This is awesome.

    I've both puked and blacked out from training ( although not at the same time.) in the gym.

    I reckon that I need to put ' whiz my shorts' on my to-do list.

    In terms of being embarrassed, Ive just adopted a go *kitten* yourself attitude in the gym.
  • tnh2o
    tnh2o Posts: 161 Member
    I've been short and chunky all my life. Now I'm old short and chunky. I'm also a swimmer so I've spent a lot of hours in an unforgiving Speedo and I got over be conscious about my body decades ago. What do I care what strangers think? And when I see a large/fat/obese person working out I'm thinking "Way to go!"

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