So I'm quitting the gym...

kbarry90

I hear you about the gym. I had a couple of men whispering those fat girls need to just quit eating because they are gross to watch exercise. this happened when I was in highschool and I have never been able to go back to a gym. Sounds like you have thought this through and this would be a but thing for you. Good luck !!

This is my biggest fear about when I go to the gym. I can't go during the summer because I'm not going to pay to go but I'm in college so once school starts again in 2 weeks I'll go to the gym there because I have no choice but to pay for it as it's part of tuition. Anyways back on the topic, I get so nervous when I see people whispering at the gym because I feel as if they are making fun of me. Yes I know I'm overweight and I'm most positive that you notice that I'm overweight but I'm here at the gym trying to get healthy so yeah you can stop with the whispering. At least the fat people at the gym are trying to make an effort to change their life instead on sitting at home on the couch eating junk.

JediMaster_intraining

I go to the gym but I have this weird feeling that everything is so dirty and I don't want to touch anything without wiping it down with the clorox wipes they provide. But even then I feel like I'm touching something gross. I feel much cleaner and work much harder at home. plus I can hop in the shower much faster and not have to ride home in sweaty clothes!

WWH_AJ

I'm sorry you've had a bad experience at the gym. I personally love the gym we have on campus. If it's in my tuition, then I'm going to use it. But we have different programs offered each night, like Zumba on Mondays, Pilates, a Strength class, etc. that have really nice instructors. Me and some friends actually went to a hip hop class once and laughed our *kitten* off while looking like fools, but the instructor just laughed with us. I also feel really comfortable in our gym because, even though we have those who try to run 15 mph on the treadmill and flaunt their muslces, there are a lot of people there like "me", the overweight ones that are trying to get in better shape. I haven't heard any nasty whispered comments or anything like that. Also it's a good alternative when it's 120 degrees outside >.<

foodforfuel

I just feel like I don't belong in that world. I was so bored walking for 30 min on the treadmill which is what they told me to do, I live in one of the most beautiful places in the country, the countryside is right out my back door literally, I don't know how to drive, most shops are about 30 min away anyway... and they told me to walk for 30 min in a overheated room with absolutely terrible music and video's playing constantly. WHY???

Then I got to push something with my legs and another thing with my arms on 2 machines, exactly the same every time I went, so boring.

I feel like a dork every time I go there. I don't fit in in a place like that anyway. I am not sporty. I am not perky or pert. I am not recovering from an injury (the other half of the people who aren't sporty that I see there). I don't hate my body. They never taught me the stuff I actually wanted to do anyway.

Sooo. I bought myself (on impulse even though I cant afford it really) a barbell and dumbell set (with about 40kg of plates but I suspect I'll be starting a lottttt lower than that :P) and decided to try and do things on my own. It would have helped if they'd shown me how to use things like that but I guess I'll have to make do with copying youtube videos... I'm going to do my walking in the actually nice hills around my house (which is what I did before the gym anyway) and I am going to start being more consistent practicing bodyweight exercises (I made a schedule and everything!!111).

And screw the gym... at least at home no-one is going to tell me off for having a mind and a will of my own

While I commend you on taking charge, let me advise you that seeing an exercise on youtube and actually doing it yourself with correct form are 2 different things. Of the many people I see in they gym on a daily basis, maybe 1 out of 4 actually do a bicep curl correctly.
You really can't see and assess yourself when you lift unless you're doing it in a 3 way mirror. I'd always do any exercises with body weight only till you master the form, then add weight once you've gotten into the groove of how the exercise is supposed to feel.

I so agree with that, ninerbuff. One thing that kills me in the "weirdest things you see in the gym" posts is how many people crack on people that watch themselves in the mirror while exercising and/or flexing. I wonder, are they really THAT GOOD that they don't have to look? Proper form is so important. And I also flex in front of the mirrors quite often to view my progress.
Just adding this to say that I believe mirrors are an important investment for a home gym also. I got a few from WalMart (full size) for about $5 each, and will definately be adding some more.