Why are overweight / obese people reluctant to exercise?

upscalelifedownscalebutt

Most people I know aren't usually reluctant to go to the gym, but they are reluctant to go BACK to the gym.

People can be down right vicious at the gym, screaming at people who don't understand the unwritten rules, or didn't see the small post it in the bottom corner of the message board under the sign up sheet for super spin insanity, making sarcastic comments about the person's body, abilities, etc. seems to be their new version of primal screaming, getting into other people's personal space.

Paying hard earned money to be humiliated and bullied isn't everyone's cup of tea, and being told to suck it up, deal with it, grow some balls, or other not so helpful advice isn't really going to help the situation. And in small centers you can't always just go to another gym, and ordering gym equipment can be prohibitively expensive.

Some people also have social anxiety, personal history, etc. that can make the gym an uncomfortable place to be no matter what size they are.

Additionally not everyone lives somewhere that they can enjoy the "free" outdoors due to temperatures, air quality, or safety factors.

As for not exercising at all...after being told they can't do it for so many years, that they are fat, lazy, worthless, maybe they begin to believe it. So when they try, and it is hard and seems near impossible, that just reinforces what they have already started to believe...that they aren't worth it.

It's infuriating the way we treat each other, and rip and tear at each other, as if we can really build ourselves up using the pieces we have torn off other people.

JoRocka

Most people I know aren't usually reluctant to go to the gym, but they are reluctant to go BACK to the gym.

People can be down right vicious at the gym, screaming at people who don't understand the unwritten rules, or didn't see the small post it in the bottom corner of the message board under the sign up sheet for super spin insanity, making sarcastic comments about the person's body, abilities, etc. seems to be their new version of primal screaming, getting into other people's personal space.

It's a big room with toys in it- certainly there will be some rub.

as for 'unwritten rules' of the gym.

There are only a few- and anyone who is over the age of 2 should know these rules- as they are the same rules as any parent would have for their child.

1.) put something back where you found it
2.) don't take something that isn't yours- or is being used already.

3.) not a child's rule- but it's pretty frigging common sense DON"T CURL IN THE SQUAT RACK.

the rest of the 'unwritten rules' would be

4.) Dont' talk loudly on your cell phone near people, or occupying equipment. (that's a pretty common courtesy rule ANYWHERE for ANYONE)
5.) don't stand in the middle of a walk way or on equipment just talking- stand off to the side if you are going to make idle chit chat.
6.) watch out for people ACTUALLY working- if I'm doing walking lunges- and you have your head buried up your phones shpinctor muscle... and you run into me with 75 lbs on my back? I'm going to throw it at you.

otherwise- I don't give a rat's butt what you do.

All this hate the gyms? I've NEVER seen it. I've seen some strong side eye.. sure- but I've met some really wonderful people who were REALLY over weight- and if they cross my path I have no problem introducing myself- talking to them whatever. I treat all people equally.

and all I REALLY care about is pay attention so you don't get in the way of a lift.. .and put your crap back.

otherwise- do whatever you want. All this hate and nastiness? I've never seen it... and I work out in a 'snobby' gym. It's a wealthy area- so the people there CAN be snobby- but 9/10 everyone has headphones on- and they just want to work out and leave- they don't care about anything else.

smantha32

I want to get back into running, I'm a little overweight, but nothing major (I'm well in "normal" clothing sizes)
However, we live at the top of a really steep hill, and I'm not ready to run up and down hills yet. There's a plateau just a few minutes walk away that's around 675m to the end of the street and back, all on the flat.
I've considered just running laps of this, but I feel embarrassed at the thought, of "what if people look out their kitchen windows and see me, just going up and down the street. how dumb will I look"

I know it's totally irrational, but I can't really explain it.

I do that. And i walk and run late at night for that reason. Plus at night there's less traffic. (Less chances of being heckled), and here in Texas if you go at night, it's just cooler.

smantha32

Yeah all I'm saying is that many people seem to be under the impression that by losing some weight the whole world will change, you're whole life will be suddenly amazing and perfect and everyone will be really nice to you, but that's a bit of a fallacy.

Sadly there are bored a-holes everywhere just looking for someone, ANYONE to harass, ridicule or pick on, and whatever size you are you can't afford to let people like that determine what you do in life.

This is true.

smantha32

Most people I know aren't usually reluctant to go to the gym, but they are reluctant to go BACK to the gym.

People can be down right vicious at the gym, screaming at people who don't understand the unwritten rules, or didn't see the small post it in the bottom corner of the message board under the sign up sheet for super spin insanity, making sarcastic comments about the person's body, abilities, etc. seems to be their new version of primal screaming, getting into other people's personal space.

Paying hard earned money to be humiliated and bullied isn't everyone's cup of tea, and being told to suck it up, deal with it, grow some balls, or other not so helpful advice isn't really going to help the situation. And in small centers you can't always just go to another gym, and ordering gym equipment can be prohibitively expensive.

I've never had any of this happen to me at the gym. But I usually join women only gyms. I don't know if that makes a difference.

smantha32

as for 'unwritten rules' of the gym.

There are only a few- and anyone who is over the age of 2 should know these rules- as they are the same rules as any parent would have for their child.

1.) put something back where you found it
2.) don't take something that isn't yours- or is being used already.

3.) not a child's rule- but it's pretty frigging common sense DON"T CURL IN THE SQUAT RACK.

the rest of the 'unwritten rules' would be

4.) Dont' talk loudly on your cell phone near people, or occupying equipment. (that's a pretty common courtesy rule ANYWHERE for ANYONE)
5.) don't stand in the middle of a walk way or on equipment just talking- stand off to the side if you are going to make idle chit chat.
6.) watch out for people ACTUALLY working- if I'm doing walking lunges- and you have your head buried up your phones shpinctor muscle... and you run into me with 75 lbs on my back? I'm going to throw it at you.

7. Wipe down whatever machine you've just sweated buckets all over.

smc864

as for 'unwritten rules' of the gym.

There are only a few- and anyone who is over the age of 2 should know these rules- as they are the same rules as any parent would have for their child.

1.) put something back where you found it
2.) don't take something that isn't yours- or is being used already.

3.) not a child's rule- but it's pretty frigging common sense DON"T CURL IN THE SQUAT RACK.

the rest of the 'unwritten rules' would be

4.) Dont' talk loudly on your cell phone near people, or occupying equipment. (that's a pretty common courtesy rule ANYWHERE for ANYONE)
5.) don't stand in the middle of a walk way or on equipment just talking- stand off to the side if you are going to make idle chit chat.
6.) watch out for people ACTUALLY working- if I'm doing walking lunges- and you have your head buried up your phones shpinctor muscle... and you run into me with 75 lbs on my back? I'm going to throw it at you.

7. Wipe down whatever machine you've just sweated buckets all over.

8. Don't throw/slam weights

jonnythan

as for 'unwritten rules' of the gym.

There are only a few- and anyone who is over the age of 2 should know these rules- as they are the same rules as any parent would have for their child.

1.) put something back where you found it
2.) don't take something that isn't yours- or is being used already.

3.) not a child's rule- but it's pretty frigging common sense DON"T CURL IN THE SQUAT RACK.

the rest of the 'unwritten rules' would be

4.) Dont' talk loudly on your cell phone near people, or occupying equipment. (that's a pretty common courtesy rule ANYWHERE for ANYONE)
5.) don't stand in the middle of a walk way or on equipment just talking- stand off to the side if you are going to make idle chit chat.
6.) watch out for people ACTUALLY working- if I'm doing walking lunges- and you have your head buried up your phones shpinctor muscle... and you run into me with 75 lbs on my back? I'm going to throw it at you.

7. Wipe down whatever machine you've just sweated buckets all over.

8. Don't throw/slam weights

9. Be excellent to each other.

Wait, that's something else.

upscalelifedownscalebutt

Most people I know aren't usually reluctant to go to the gym, but they are reluctant to go BACK to the gym.

People can be down right vicious at the gym, screaming at people who don't understand the unwritten rules, or didn't see the small post it in the bottom corner of the message board under the sign up sheet for super spin insanity, making sarcastic comments about the person's body, abilities, etc. seems to be their new version of primal screaming, getting into other people's personal space.

It's a big room with toys in it- certainly there will be some rub.

as for 'unwritten rules' of the gym.

There are only a few- and anyone who is over the age of 2 should know these rules- as they are the same rules as any parent would have for their child.

(sic)

The rules you stated were pretty normal.

This would be if the child had a special snowflake complex.

If the 2 year old's parent lets some kids play with the toys in the order they want, ie. "you $%@*()& fat %^&* I always use the elliptical after the treadmill, GET OFF THE MACHINE", and others have to use something else. Not on machines set up in a circuit or whatever, just random machines. Because it is easier to just "let her do her thing".

otherwise- I don't give a rat's butt what you do (sic) I have no problem introducing myself- talking to them whatever. I treat all people equally....All this hate and nastiness? I've never seen it... and I work out in a 'snobby' gym.

I've never had anyone personally treat me like that, at hotel gyms, random gyms, etc. but I find people are usually nice to me because...actually I have no idea why...but they tend to strike up conversations with me and are generally pleasant. The worst I have ever experienced was someone annoyed that I didn't know how to use a machine, and saying I should have read the manual before booking time on it. I just turned my music up, and a few minutes later I was going strong.

I've met way more people like you. Pleasant. Goal oriented.

Then when I was in group (weight loss related) and a few people were talking about their horrific experiences I thought they must be exaggerating, until I went with them and saw how one group treated them.

Thankfully from the replies here it seems to be fairly uncommon.

meerkat70

Yeah all I'm saying is that many people seem to be under the impression that by losing some weight the whole world will change, you're whole life will be suddenly amazing and perfect and everyone will be really nice to you, but that's a bit of a fallacy.

Sadly there are bored a-holes everywhere just looking for someone, ANYONE to harass, ridicule or pick on, and whatever size you are you can't afford to let people like that determine what you do in life.

Who are these naive people you're referring to? I see no evidence of these posts?

I think you might have also missed the reality of people's lived experiences of street harrassment and other discrimination.

Yes, of course other women will have experienced street harrassment. As will some men. But I'm pretty confident it is a *whole* lot worse when you're a fat woman (or man) working out.

massivediet

I don't know if this is common or not, but I disliked exercise long before I became overweight. If you're not at all into being ambitious or competitive, it's hard to get the motivation to push yourself to do it. I got the motivation because I needed to lose a lot of weight, but being heavy just made it a lot more uncomfortable to do strenuous exercise, which was always uncomfortable to me even when I was 115-130 pounds back in high school and shortly after. It doesn't feel good to me to jump around and get my heart rate up, and then especially when I had a flopping belly and boobs. Anyone can exercise at home and avoid the harrassment of strangers until they feel fit enough to go out, but it's just so unpleasant for some of us to do it, even at home.