Want to start running but I'm embarrassed

JoRocka

I had a similar problem with starting to do squats in the squat rack at the gym. I felt like I was constantly being stared at by every single guy there (and I actually was - thanks to the surrounding mirrors, I validated that). But after a couple times, and seeing myself accomplish small victories, I began not to care anymore. Now I just put my headphones in and do my own thing. People can stare if they want to, but I'm working on bettering myself.

I didn't have that problem at my last gym. I just switched gyms and now there is a cute guy that works out when I do...Talk about getting distracted during squats which I NEVER have before...Tomorrow I put my headphones on and hope that helps.

I have a problem with being constantly stared at in my gym. It's kind of annoying but kind of cute. The thing is I train at home and it's my dog that's always staring.

That's why I can't work out at home...2 dogs and a cat staring at me and then they want to be as close as possible...Can't deadlift 180# with a dog at your feet.

I can't even foam roll at home... my stupid cats want to sit on me- or worse- on my face!!!

marvybells

I do it in the morning, so there isn't as many people to see! People usually only look at me worried because I turn bright red!! Their faces actually make me laugh a little because they are sooo concerned. What I finally told my self was, who cares I'm working out to look better and to maintain good health. I'm not in a beauty pageant, I'm working out and if you look amazing while doing it you either have really good genes (majority don't) or your not working hard enough.

i also get very red when i do any kind of aerobic exercise. i have always been this way, not sure why. i'm sure i am even more red when running because last summer i had several people stop me, concerned that i am suffering from heat stroke. it is nice that strangers are concerned but i started to feel self conscious about it & i do not like being interrupted. it's too hot during the day and i like to run in the park near me where there seem to be a lot of yellow jackets out during the daytime (I got stung by one last year and had a bad reaction so i am a bit scared of them now). I'm not a morning person so i took to running at night. problem solved.

(only you have to be more careful at night because visibility is bad, so reflective clothing is a must. even with a reflective streak on my pants and shoes AND the light from my ipod or cellphone shining i have still had close calls with cars.)

vs_shine

get you an awesome sports bra and get out there! That's totally awesome!!

Easiest thing to do. Run 1 min, walk 1 min. until that's boring lol



Get out there today!

pandabear_

I was embarrassed to start running also. I'm a self-conscious person and I got anxious that people would stare at me or laugh. So I know where you're coming from.

But what I did was go running when less people were around, for example, in the morning or afternoon when people were at work or at school (I'm a student so my timetable was good for this).

I also thought about what scared me most about running in public and wrote a list of it. I wrote what I thought the worst thing could happen and then wrote a realistic outcome. Like I worried maybe people will laugh, then I thought they may be laughing but I am the one who is making a change in my life and not sitting around laughing, in other words, they can get lost.

And anyway, the people you run past you will never have to see again. For a second they are in your mind, when you run past them they are gone forever.

darcymoncada

Congratulations on your weight loss! It seems that you are doing great. Run/walking is a great way to get in shape and can be really fun as well. You can start with short periods of running and longer periods of walking. And believe me, people will not judge you but they will support your effort! I say go for it! You can do it! Runners really do support other runners.

runningagainstmyself

I recommend beginning with a run-walk program, and if you are really concerned about what people see, run early in the morning or as it's getting dark out. Run-walk programs help you build the endurance needed for running with the aim of preventing injury, and as you increase your running time you decrease your walk time. Pretty damn awesome, if you ask me.

I have a Women's Pace run-walk manual that will get you to 10km in 13 weeks if you are interested. I've used it several times (in fact, I'm using it again currently) and it's a very comfortable transition into becoming "a runner" (however you define it). Pretty cool.

quiksylver296

Yes- if you want to run- run! When I see some "bigger" people running or cycling- my first thought is always - good for them! Who cares what anyone thinks. It is your body , your life and you get decide what to do with both! Run!

Yep! I'm always mentally cheering on people that I can tell are pushing themselves.

kyanmel873

blondie3_04 wrote: »

I started the C25K a few months ago. I still have over 60 lbs I would like to loose. I work at a Universtiy and staff can use the workout facilities. We have an indoor track that overlooks basketball courts students use. At first I was a bit self conscious because of having to run/walk in front of college students (I have actually only been out of college 5 years but still was nervous). There are several avid runners who go and sometimes I notice some track team students practicing. I finally told myself that I could care less if they even thought of me (which I doubt any even notice because when I run I do not pay attention to anyone else). I was there for me. I started struggling with only jogging a minute, huffing and puffing my way through but have since improved. I know how hard it is to not worry if others are thinking about what you look like but once you start it is easy to forget. Good luck on your new pursuit.

How do you make yourself not care?

kindrabbit

How do you make yourself not care?
[/quote]

It's a shift in attitude. For me it came when I realised what a great job I was doing in changing my life and taking control. I gave myself permission to be proud of what I was doing. When I see larger people working out I think how great it is for them to be up and moving and I choose to believe others are thinking the same of me. the people that may laugh behind my back are of no significance to me.

MeanderingMammal

kyanmel873 wrote: »

How do you make yourself not care?

There are a few things for me, and in some ways a realisation came when I was doing some work on 10K.

Anyone who sees you doesn't know where you are in your training , and in general they'll see you for a couple of minutes at most Other runners will recognise that you're out there, and the opinion of non runners doesn't matter.

If you see me breathless and red faced you don't know whether I'm in week one of C25K, part way through a sprint intervals session that'll cover 10K, or towards the end of a 15 mile long run. As a runner, if I pass you I don't know how your session compares to mine. You might be warming up, taking an easy interval, or going as hard as you can go. I'll have used you as a marker, but recognise that you're running your run, and I'm running mine.

I was racing a half marathon yesterday, and walking the last uphill section. Couldn't feel my quads at this point, and a woman who I'd used as a marker a few times ran past me, just. She made the observation that my walking pace was nearly as fast as her running pace. Her getting in front of me was the incentive to pick up my pace a little, but we'd both run our own races.

allison_moushey

Whenever I see someone running and pushing themselves I always think, "Good for them, that's not easy to do"
Unfortunately, there will always be shallow, judgemental people. Fortunately, the only judgement that matters is your own.
But not everyone is shallow!

I think it's awesome that you're making this difference and continue to push yourself.

dutchandkiwi

My husband is a runner (he runs half marathons for fun) and when either we are out training (I cycle) or when I am there to cheer him on at a run, there will always be some people who, like you, are working toward a lower weight and have taken up running to help. A fair number of people running have had the issue of being overweight and started running to help their weight loss journey. Some my husband and I have seen during our trainings (you alwasy see the same people ) and have seen getting thinner, faster and healthier and it is such a cool thing to see happening over time.

jennifer_417

I vividly remember when I 1st started running. I went out to the park, fired up my c25k app, and dreaded starting the 1st running inverval, because people were out there and could see me and everything! But, when it said, "Begin running," I did. And you know what? Not one person noticed.
Evenentually I realized, even if they did, that was their problem, not mine.

WhatMeRunning

Ask yourself if you would deny yourself the fitness you deserve and the desire you have about running based solely on whether or not some other runner out there thinks critically of you.

Your answer is probably "no" and with that you render others negative thoughts about you completely harmless.

If your answer is yes then you could run indoors, but I would give the suggestion of therapy to help enable taking control of your own life.

cblue315

I started running at age 54 when I weighed 200 pounds.
Buy good shoes.
C25K
"You don't have to be great to start but you have to start to be great"

yangt41

Try wearing sweat belts! I prefer the McDavid brand. It definitely helps hold me in and keeps me from jiggling everywhere when running. I like to wear them over my pants so it helps to hold them up so I won't have to keep on pulling my pants up! And it'll help you lose water weight!

recarp510

blondie3_04 wrote: »

I started the C25K a few months ago. I still have over 60 lbs I would like to loose. I work at a Universtiy and staff can use the workout facilities. We have an indoor track that overlooks basketball courts students use. At first I was a bit self conscious because of having to run/walk in front of college students (I have actually only been out of college 5 years but still was nervous). There are several avid runners who go and sometimes I notice some track team students practicing. I finally told myself that I could care less if they even thought of me (which I doubt any even notice because when I run I do not pay attention to anyone else). I was there for me. I started struggling with only jogging a minute, huffing and puffing my way through but have since improved. I know how hard it is to not worry if others are thinking about what you look like but once you start it is easy to forget. Good luck on your new pursuit.

recarp510

recarp510 wrote: »

blondie3_04 wrote: »

I started the C25K a few months ago. I still have over 60 lbs I would like to loose. I work at a Universtiy and staff can use the workout facilities. We have an indoor track that overlooks basketball courts students use. At first I was a bit self conscious because of having to run/walk in front of college students (I have actually only been out of college 5 years but still was nervous). There are several avid runners who go and sometimes I notice some track team students practicing. I finally told myself that I could care less if they even thought of me (which I doubt any even notice because when I run I do not pay attention to anyone else). I was there for me. I started struggling with only jogging a minute, huffing and puffing my way through but have since improved. I know how hard it is to not worry if others are thinking about what you look like but once you start it is easy to forget. Good luck on your new pursuit.

recarp510

You all are an inspirations I have the same issue. I wanted to start running but have always been a less than graceful runner. I always talk myself out of trying but not anymore. I never care what people think in every aspect of my life except my weight. Not anymore I am going to change that aspect along with everything else. Thanks everyone. I will keep you posted on progress.

ccam99

Don't be embarrassed. I just started running to train for a 5k and I looked terrible but didn't care. I ran my first 5K and I'm sure that I looked funny there also but I was so busy worrying about finishing that I didn't notice if anybody was looking and I'm 52. Just do it for yourself and tune them out. If it helps, alot of people I know listen to music while they run. I did not do that but probably would now so that I'm not thinking about other people looking at me. Just run and have fun!

Nuke807

I think most people who feel they are overweight are self conscious about that very fear, I am no different. That being said, once I got past the initial fear of having people laugh at me, I realized that most people are VERY supportive of anybody that is looking to loose weight. I run at the gym with the C25k app, and even though I get lapped by many people, nobody has stared, or laughed at my exertions. You are trying to get healthy and nobody should look down on you for that. Best of luck, don't worry about what others think, if they have a problem with it, they have their own problems that they need to address!

tesha_chandler

You're still laping everyone on the couch! Be confident. You're the only one that has to live in your body.

CSARdiver

Whatever your obsessing over, the person running by you is obsessing over something completely different than you. Personally I think it's fantastic whenever anyone makes a positive life change and do my best to make them feel comfortable at the gym - even if its just smiling and saying hello. If I see them again - "Good to see you back".

People simply have lost the art of conversation and we have few shared experiences anymore. Just know you're not alone and shouldn't be so concerned about what others think.

dubird

If it bothers you, trying finding a trail nearby and running on a day where it's not busy. I do my walks in the afternoon after I get off work; since I get of earlier than most people, I see maybe a handful of people on the trail by my house. Just keep in mind that how you look is only temporary. Most people won't even notice; I know I don't look at someone I pass or passes me on the trail except to nod hi. I don't notice what they looked like and if you asked me later, I wouldn't even be able to tell you how many. I'm focusing on my walk and my ZR app, not on other people. Most people on a trail like that are the same way.

mwyvr

+1 @dubird !

Trails are also good for making the impact softer on your body. When I was 255 last September and just started running, I found running on side walks and pavement caused me grief in my lower legs, but running on softer trails was just fine. That problem would disappear in a few months - due to weight loss or strength/fitness or both.

I grew to hate this park pictured below (it does not look so welcoming in dark winter when its raining) but stuck with it all fall, all winter.

I only ran about 200km from Sept14-Dec14 but that was quite a feat for me given how out of shape I was. 67 pounds lighter today, I'm now running more than 200km each month. Somewhere else.


No one cares what you look like. Get out there for yourself!

anetap2000

Haters will always hate. Remember. For them it's bad when someone is too fat or too skinny. Never bother what other people think. DO WHAT U WANNA DO.
But if you are heavy be careful with your knees.

DrLauraDVM16

stemmingthetide wrote: »

Yes- if you want to run- run! When I see some "bigger" people running or cycling- my first thought is always - good for them! Who cares what anyone thinks. It is your body , your life and you get decide what to do with both! Run!

I agree 100%. I've never seen an overweight person exercising and wanted to make fun of them. I'm impressed by their motivation, nothing else. Anyone who DOES is most likely to lazy/out of shape to do it themselves, and their opinions just flat don't matter. Also, the people who see you out there every day will see your progress too!

NoxDineen

stemmingthetide wrote: »

Yes- if you want to run- run! When I see some "bigger" people running or cycling- my first thought is always - good for them! Who cares what anyone thinks. It is your body , your life and you get decide what to do with both! Run!

This is the exact reaction I have. I'm genuinely more impressed when I see somebody who is heavier, or obviously just getting started, than if they're zooming along in fantastic shape. It takes real willpower to get out there and get started, you will 100% inspire some of the people who see you.

pronetocrash91

cardinalsfootball wrote: »

I really believe that when people see "big folks" exercising, lifting weights, etc. they are truly thinking one of either two things:

1) Good for them for doing something about it. (or)

2) I wish X (another big folk they know) would do the same.

They aren't judging.

Seeing as how I've had people shout things at me about my weight while I've been out and about, I have to disagree lol.