When did you feel 'slim' enough for gym?

lemur_lady

I know a lot of people on here say that you should join a gym no matter what your size is if thats what you want to do. I cant seem to build up the confidence to take the leap and join. Every time I enter the building its full of fit healthy people and I dont feel like I fit in there quite yet. I keep hoping that once I lose X amount of weight I will look the part as it were and not stick out like a sore thumb.

I think my reluctance stems from school gym class where I was picked on for not being able to do the exercises as well as the slimmer kids. They made every P.E lesson a misery. I know I am not at school any more (thank god) but cant shake the feeling that Im going to get jeered at for being more jiggly than lean.

Anyone else felt they had to lose weight before joining the gym?

keithemp

It's not full of healthy and fit people, it's mostly full of people who want to get healthy and fit and are at different stages of their own journey.

Just join and get out there! Seriously, no one will judge you, and those that do aren't worth your time.

annie61702

I just jumped in from day one. No one will jeer at you. Most likely they won't pay any attention to you. They will be busy with their own workout. I didn't like seeing myself in all the mirrors at first, but now I love what I see. Just do it! You will be glad you did. :-)

_Josee_

I have a lot more respect for not so in shape people at the gym than for fit looking people! It means they are taking control of their life/health and actually doing something about it.

I know it's not easy, but go for it! It will be easier after a couple time you go and you start seeing familiar faces

weightliftingdiva

I was an athlete in high school and I was fat, and I still worked out, so I can't say that I've felt how you felt. (Except maybe when I started lifting.)

You have to do this for you. Are there going to be judgmental a-holes? Yes. But honestly, most people will respect you and cheer you on, especially the people here.

You are only hurting yourself by not doing the things you want to do, because of what other people think.

Good luck!

JoRocka

I've never felt that way- but I've never been really outside of one weight range - but I can tell you if you pay to be there- you belong there.

I can also tell you- I have read a lot of threads of people who have hit their goal weight and still felt uncomfortable. it's not a magic fix to change what's going on inside your brain (not a dig - just observations) You will need to work on that as your body changes- so I would suggest starting to get out there and do something that makes you feel a little uncomfortable- go in on a Friday when it's quiet- and commit to doing the treadmill for 10 minutes- just do something that starts to gets you over that mental hurdle.

You can do it!!! Not everyone in there is fit and fabulous- and to be honest a lot of those people were once not fit and fabulous- they started to make a change- they are just on a different point of the path than you.

cccmmj12

I understand where you are coming from and I felt the same way, but at the end of the day, you are there for you and nobody else. Plus once you get into your workout, everybody else eventually fades into the background.

lambchristie

I joined a gym first than realized I wasn't eating healthy or with portion control. I could barely walk let alone workout. I've lost 56 pounds and still on my journey. Every week I am stronger and can do something I didn't do the week before. If you don't start you won't win your race.

I am fortunate that I found a small privately owned gym and am able to workout in a small group setting with a personal trainer without the huge fee. Don't know where you live but Google your area to see if there are any gyms like that in your area. Also a lot of physical therapy facilities do have gyms that you can get a monthly membership to. Less intimidating than the huge gyms.

Just do it and you will be so very happy you did!!!

PS: I just saw your weight loss you are 1/2 way to your goal...don't let your negative self taught get in the way of accomplishing what you set out to do. If you can lose 70+ pounds you can face the gym...just be bold, be brave, and be confident.

train_01

I understand how you feel! But honestly, the only way to overcome that anxiety is to just do it. I agree with JoRocka, it's more in your head. I too felt anxiety to go the first time as well, but I just went for it. Maybe go very early so it's not so crowded. I also started going to zumba classes. At first I felt uncoordinated and out of place, but I talked to the instuctor and she helped so much. She herself had lost 100 lbs so she understood exactly how I felt. Also, for most classes, they say do what's comfortable, even if you can't do all the moves. I believe you can do it!

mlanders22

I'd suggest touring a couple gyms in your area and seeing if any of them feel more comfortable to you. I started my weight loss journey at the YMCA and never once felt like anyone was watching me or judging me. I later joined a small, privately owned studio and liked that even better because there were usually only one or two of us in the gym at a time.

laurie04427

Yeah I know how you feel. I say to myself okay when I'm at 160 I'll join the gym because by then I'll be 20 pounds away from my goal and probably be pretty confident with my body. But yeah how do I know that lol?

lemur_lady

Thanks everyone. I do realise a lot of it is in my head. I know most people there will just be getting on with there own thing but my confidence is so low all it would take would be a comment from one idiot and id leave and probably not come back. I need to work on not caring so much what others think of me I guess. I was told for so long that I was too fat to exercise I cant get myself to stop believing it now.

keithemp

Thanks everyone. I do realise a lot of it is in my head. I know most people there will just be getting on with there own thing but my confidence is so low all it would take would be a comment from one idiot and id leave and probably not come back. I need to work on not caring so much what others think of me I guess. I was told for so long that I was too fat to exercise I cant get myself to stop believing it now.

Be strong. I know you can do it. Like I said before, if anyone is judging you, they're terrible people.

eldamiano

So presumably you would never walk outside in fear of being around 'healthy people'?

Why do you care what other people think?

JoRocka

Thanks everyone. I do realise a lot of it is in my head. I know most people there will just be getting on with there own thing but my confidence is so low all it would take would be a comment from one idiot and id leave and probably not come back. I need to work on not caring so much what others think of me I guess. I was told for so long that I was too fat to exercise I cant get myself to stop believing it now.

put your head phones in- and just literally ignore everyone else. you don't have to talk to people if you don't want to.

carlapendergrass

Just do it. No one is looking at you - they have their own workouts to pay attention to.

eksero2k

Indeed, nobody really cares about other than themselves/their workout partners in the gym.

And now that i'm in somewhat decent shape, and notice an obese person in the gym i just think to myself "they're trying to do something about their weight, good for them" i'm sure i'm not the only one.

zivasak

Totally understand where this question comes from. Got a bike and did my cardio at home for a month. I lost 5kg and felt ready to start my workouts at the gym. But people are right, it does not really matter, you just have to start.

TavistockToad

Thanks everyone. I do realise a lot of it is in my head. I know most people there will just be getting on with there own thing but my confidence is so low all it would take would be a comment from one idiot and id leave and probably not come back. I need to work on not caring so much what others think of me I guess. I was told for so long that I was too fat to exercise I cant get myself to stop believing it now.

yep, you need to work on your self confidence regardless of your weight, or you will lose 20lb (or however much you need to lose) and still not feel good enough...

singlefemalelawyer

Join a gym now! It might feel uncomfortable at first, but trust me you will be so happy you did once you start seeing results. I've been going regularly for over a year now and some of the more fit people that I see there are starting to come up to me and congratulate and comment on my progress. Just do it!

Alidecker

I weighed over 300 pounds when I joined the gym. Luckily I found a gym that I like. 4.5 years later I am still going and I weigh 120 pounds less. It was a little awkward for me at first, but that was because of me, not because of anyone in the gym. No one in the gym cared what I was doing.

RhineDHP

Thanks everyone. I do realise a lot of it is in my head. I know most people there will just be getting on with there own thing but my confidence is so low all it would take would be a comment from one idiot and id leave and probably not come back. I need to work on not caring so much what others think of me I guess. I was told for so long that I was too fat to exercise I cant get myself to stop believing it now.

put your head phones in- and just literally ignore everyone else. you don't have to talk to people if you don't want to.

This. No one bothers me when I have my ear buds in.

drosebud

Until recently I'd always been the fattest one in my fitness class. I'm just adding to what others have said, really. Just try it. I love it, and it's empowering to be active, strong and healthy, no matter what your weight is.
Even when I was at my fattest (around a UK size 22), no one said anything snidey or uncomplimentary to me: people are generally very helpful and supportive. It's only you that's holding yourself back: no one else. Go for it and hopefully ion a few weeks you'll be loving it and wondering why you ever worried about joining one.

shelbelw

I have body image issues no matter what I weigh. Don't let how you think other people might perceive you stop you from doing ANYTHING. Just do what's good for you.

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allbarrett

All I can say is: try not to worry about it, most people are there to do their own thing. I've heard stories about idiots at gyms (being rude/unkind) but I've never met any myself and there are rude/unkind people everywhere.

Oh, and if it really bothers you, I've noticed my gyms (I use two, one near the office and one near home) are typically less busy before 8 AM, and nearly empty before 7 AM...so if you don't mind early mornings, hit the gym early when there are fewer people, if that will help you get over your self-consciousness. That is a great time to ask the staff to show you around, give you a demo for anything you want to try but don't know how to do correctly, etc.

snowbune27

I have a lot more respect for not so in shape people at the gym than for fit looking people! It means they are taking control of their life/health and actually doing something about it.

I know it's not easy, but go for it! It will be easier after a couple time you go and you start seeing familiar faces

here here! i think much more highly of people who have bigger goals for themselves. seeing everyone at the gym focused on their goals motivates me more to think about what i want to accomplish that day, and in life... i couldn't care less what anyone looks like.

Mischievous_Rascal

I felt exactly the same way, and I waited a long time (years) until my friend finally said to get my head out of butt and stop thinking everyone was looking at me. Because they really were not. Go for yourself, and go now. You'll thank yourself BIG time.

davemunger

The best way to feel comfortable in the gym is to get a personal trainer for the first 4 or 5 sessions. This will get you into a routine, you will know what you are doing, and will be so focused on your own workout that you won't worry what other folks are thinking.

I started working out in a gym right after completing the Boston Marathon last year. I was in great shape but still felt self-conscious. After working out with a trainer for a few sessions I realized that most of my insecurities went away. I'm convinced that knowing what to do and having a routine are more important than what shape your body is in!

delmauriac

I joined when I was at my heaviest. I am still one of the largest people that go there, but I have learned not to care. I've never had any negative experience from anyone there. I felt out of place to start with as I could barely do 10 minutes on any of the machines without turning into a huge puddle of sweaty lard on the floor - but it has slowly and steadily improved. I spent most of the first few weeks just walking on the treadmill, music on to try and distract me and trying not to make eye contact with anyone. At the end of the day when you sign up you pay just as much as anyone else there to go and use the facilities. Most people there will be so focused on their own insecurities as to not pay you any attention. Get in, crack on, enjoy - you won't regret a minute of it!

maz504

I had TOTAL anxiety about the gym, my mom even offered to pay the membership dues and I turned it down because the absolute last thing I wanted was a bunch of people to see me in spandex sweating my fat a** off and doing 1/10th of the work of what the "fit" people were doing.

But I was SO wrong. I finally just bit the bullet and joined one of the "big box" gyms in my area, mostly because I could do the paperwork online and not have to go in and be shown around by some big strong trainer lol! With the support of my MFP friends I gave it a shot and guess what - not a single person gave me a second look! (Except for one particularly creepy dude on his cell phone watching me do the hip adductor machine... ew.)

Obviously it's not going to be the same experience everywhere, but I was SHOCKED at how much of that anxiety I was having was blown out of proportion! Everyone is there working on their own bodies, no one really seemed to care much about mine! If it helps, you could also try going with a friend and working out together - strength in numbers!! But even if you go by yourself just hold your head up high and if anyone sneers at you you can always default to the good ol "My fat is temporary but your ugliness is forever!" comeback