Gym Humiliation

Rubber_Band_Girl

I'm considering joining a gym close to my flat but feel very uncomfortable about starting because of my weight. At my last gym I was one of the minority of overweight people and only felt comfortable to start as I had a gym partner. Now I won't have a gym partner for the most part and feel I need to lose weight to feel better about going to the gym (face palm inserted here!).

Does anyone else feel like this?

How did you get around it? Did you bite the bullet and just go or does anyone have any tips for feeling more comfortable when going alone?

With an office job/sitting around all day and having an under active thyroid I can't just eat healthy and get exercise in my day to day activities - I don't think there is any other option other than public humiliation!...I mean gym going/park jogging....eesh! :embarassed:

Rubber_Band_Girl

Thanks, I think I will just go ahead and do it. I just let my head take over too much sometimes and focus on what I think others are thinking!

Sherbear1109

^^^ This. If the gym is how you like to go about it, then you should go for it. :-) If you're really that nervous though, you could try working out at home. I do Zumba and that gives me a pretty good cardio workout. There are a ton of other excercise programs that can be done at home, too. You can find a lot of full length workout videos on YouTube or games for the Kinnect and Wii. Whatever floats your boat. Best of luck to you.

bbb84

To the OP.... suck it up and go. Plan your workout in advance and go in and do it. That way you aren't standing around trying to figure out what you're going to do next. You will look confident even if you aren't , I'm all about faking it until you make it. You might just surprise yourself. Bodybuilding.com has plenty of programs for all fitness levels for free. Print it out and take it with you . At home videos do work, but it does nothing for the issue at hand. Trust me, the longer you put it off, the more you can justify not going and that insecure feeling will no go away. I've been there. I've always put it off as being shy, but it's insecurity. You'll love yourself even more when you get out there and do this for you. Confidence will come!!! Good luck.

eslcity

Remember: everyone had to start somewhere.... these people at the gym were most likely.. at one time were either too thin or too fat..

No one starts out awsome.... ^^

kimothy38

Remember: everyone had to start somewhere.... these people at the gym were most likely.. at one time were either too thin or too fat..

No one starts out awsome.... ^^

Totally agree. I may feel old and flabby compared to the young slim girls but they can't lift as heavy as me so that's my claim to fame that make me feel better.

Hanowenho

go early in the morning or late at night-this way you avoid the people who go just to mess around! this way there's only the people who focus on their workout!

sarahrosheen

“You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”

No one cares! Go to the gym, get sweaty, and don't worry about anyone except yourself!

PinkPanther318

I was really embarrassed about going to a gym also because I didn't want everyone to stare at the fat person. So I started out taking classes and hid in the back- still do lol. When I use the machines I put in my Ipod and feel like the only person up there even though I am not. I guess now I go and don't care what people think because I go to get healthy and lose weight and I feel great when I leave Join a gym it really does it better! Plus I swim but I am still definitely not confident in a swim suit I just wanna hide till I get in the pool but then when I get there I realize there are other heavy people in there doing the same thing I am. Good luck

yesterdayusaid2morrow

Ah yeah, been there, but seriously, just go and I promise the feeling fades. Anyone judging is an unhappy douche canoe and most people don't even care/notice, they're doing their thing! Own that joint!!! Best wishes.

tquill

“You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”

No one cares! Go to the gym, get sweaty, and don't worry about anyone except yourself!

Ha, that's a good quote.

STORMY_SEAS8

I have been working out at the gym alone since the beginning of my journey. I just put my headphones on and a hat and tune everybody out. In the end it does not matter what other people think of you. It is all about how you think about yourself.

lessbounce

You'll probably be amazed at the different shapes and sizes you get in the gym. Like the other posts have suggested everybody is too busy doing their own thing too be noticing any one else. (Most of the vain ones will be too busy looking in the mirrors any way ) if you bite the bullet and keep going regularly it will soon get easier.

Madelinec117

Once you join you will probably make or find friends that are there, so go for it. Also, how do you think some of those people got fit. With so much more focus on fitness you are seeing more people of all ages, shapes and sizes, so don't let it hold you back. I've met many nice people at the gym and if it is run correctly, no one will be judging others based on where they start. If you have multiple gyms to choose from, ask them if they will let you have a one day pass to try it out or see if they have any 'free classes' they are offering to try to sign up new members.

eslcity

as someone that goes to the gym regularly i will tell you... i get upset when someone makes me notice them... most often I could care less about other people on the machine...

and personally i would rather see a fat person exercising then a young pretty girl texting on the bench press...

--ms

cidalia1973

Personally, if I saw a heavier person at the gym, I would think "good for them!"

Jlennhikes

There's no reason not to go to the gym. You'll probably start seeing results pretty fast, but I wasn't a gym person, and I started out with walking, which is nice and solitary, if that's your thing :happy:

futurejedi

join the gym kick butt in your workouts and who gives a rat *kitten* what people think about you

littleburgy

I echo the sentiments that most people don't actually care. I don't mean that in a cold and impersonal way, but most people really don't concern themselves with other people and are just there to work out like you are. I've always seen all kinds of people of different shapes and sizes at the gym. Good luck!

KimberlyinMN

Remember: everyone had to start somewhere.... these people at the gym were most likely.. at one time were either too thin or too fat..

No one starts out awsome.... ^^

Well.............. I may not be skinny, but I already AM freaking awesome!!

Edited to keep this on topic - I was going to actually post a response to the OP but I forgot all about it when I was posting the awesome comment.

Definitely just "do it". I absolutely totally understand what you are saying though. It's hard to do something new that seems to kind of "put you out there". Most gyms let you try the place out a couple of times before you sign a contract, which is a good way to get a feel for the place.

tuckerrj

Really, no one cares. Nearly everyone has their own workout, their own agenda. The few that are judgmental can pound salt. So go get 'em, and focus on your workout. My gym has folks from ultra-buff to hundreds of pounds overweight. We're there for the same reason. Get a decent workout in.

karlygj

I used to live in the Bronx, and I had a gym membership in those days because it was not easy to exercise outdoors. Where I live now, it is easy and safe to. It is the time of the year that most people find to be perfect for going outside to take a walk (or a hike, or a bike ride, etc)
If your neighborhood is not easy to walk, the track at a local school is a great place to take a fitness walk. There is other people there most of the time, which makes me feel safe.
For strength training, it is good to own a ten pound dumbell. You only need one. A yoga mat, maybe a few other (small) pieces of exercise equipment.
I don't have the money for a gym membership. Even if I did, I prefer being outdoors. Nothing clears my head like taking a walk in the fresh air with my dog.

rukaspooka

I would not worry about it the more you go the more you will get used to it. If you stick with it you will one day realize you are in fact a gym rat and you do belong. You will smile when you notice a new person and hope they also stick with it. I felt the same as you , I went super early at first to avoid the crowds. I also have my workout preplanned so I don't dilly dally , I get in- and get it done before I have time to panic.

That being said there is a lady at my gym who treadmills walks with one leg, there are many overweight people and many skinny teens I wish I could look like, but the one who inspires me and makes me want to try harder is the lady who was 9 MONTHS pregnant and still jogging on the treadmill every morning.... If that don't make me have no excuses to skip... I don't know what else would!!! My point is we are all different, no matter if we are fat, tall, short, one legged, preggers , or body beautiful. We are all there to be HEALTHY!! Go join - do it for yourself because you love your body.

rukaspooka

100 % agree texting on the strength machines is my biggest pet peeve - grrr go HOME!!!

KimberlyinMN

“You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”

No one cares! Go to the gym, get sweaty, and don't worry about anyone except yourself!

I sure wish we had "Like" buttons for posts like this.

annie61702

Yes, just go. I promise after a couple weeks it will feel totally normal for you to be there.

k0lie

I ALWAYS used to feel like this. I've never been greatly overweight, but I've also never been active in my entire life so my stamina and strength are very low. I used to think I could never work out in public, and tried to find programs I could complete at home alone. I wouldn't even work out in front of my (ex) boyfriend or our other room mates.

I'm not sure exactly when the shift happened for me but one day I just thought *kitten* this! No one gets fit without starting somewhere. The people in the gym around you don't really care about you, they're more focused on themselves (much like how you're not judging them, but instead worrying that they're judging you.)

I'd say just go for it! Huff and puff and groan and pant and die and even throw up all you want lol if someone judges you for wanting to better yourself, they're the ones who are in the wrong, not you!

Froody2

This is what I do when I go to the gym. Throw your head back, flick your hair and strut. Works every time.

woofer00

Only for a split second before I remind myself that they're in the gym for the same exact reason I am, and that they suck at being subtle.

lisalsd1

Today, I saw a very large woman at my gym. I really only noticed: a. b/c I had never seen her before and b. she was wearing a bright purple shirt and bright pink pants.

She was running and sweating on the treadmill...then she went right to the machines used those...went into the weight room and grabbed some dumbbells. I don't know if she felt self-conscious or not, but she was rocking at the gym.

I thought she was pretty awesome.

mccindy72

With an office job/sitting around all day and having an under active thyroid I can't just eat healthy

This part doesn't have anything to do with joining a gym, and you need to fix it separately from your need for physical activity. You need to learn to set a calorie goal and eat at/under it every day. Working in an office and having an under active thyroid have nothing to do with eating at a calorie goal.