Getting Over the Hurdle

Gr8ChangesAhead

Ok, well I am seriosly overweight and out of shape. Have this block , I get all excited and prepare myself I am GONNA GO TO GYM AND WORKOUT, i get prepared workout pants,t-shirt,water and am psyched then i get there and i just can't go in. Considering I have pretty good self confidence I just don't get it. Have been going to water aerobics, and yoga and don't get this urge to run away so why is the gym intimidating me ?????? After yoga today was prepared got as far as standing at doorway and again bailed. My luck my son called at just that moment and needed a ride so there was my excuse... Twice i have actually driven there and never left my car. I know i need to do this!!!! I even went to local walking park twice this week and did the two mile loop. So Why ?

jody664

I think only you can answer the "why" question.......What types of thoughts are going through your head when sitting in your car? Are you afraid of what other people with think? Afraid of not knowing what you're doing? What's intimidating you? I think if you can articulate what scares you about the gym, we might be able to find a way to help you cross that threshhold and walk in!

thepetiterunner

A lot of people are intimidated by the gym. I think there's an assumption that every single person in there is super fit, super hot and just lifting awesomely heavy weights with perfect form. That just isn't the case.

As the previous poster stated above, we don't know the exact fears/issues/thoughts you have that prevent you from walking in the door. But I don't think you should let that discourage you from making forward progress. Keep going to the walking park, get some home DVDs and work with those with some weights until you get more comfortable. Or try going to the gym at less populated hours if you're shy. Or schedule a free lesson with a trainer who can help you use the machine (assuming you're shy about knowing how to use the machines/weights correctly - the gyms usually offer at least 1 free personal training session to try to hook you to hire them).

Don't let this derail you

IveLanded

I always found gyms super intimidating too.

Maybe you could start with small goals? Go in, do the treadmill for a half hour, then leave. You can do ANYTHING for a half hour. If you got through a week of that, I would think that would allow you to spend some time observing others in the gym, getting your bearings for where things are, etc etc. Then maybe in week 2, you change your goal to spending an hour on the treadmill or venturing to a new machine.

Gr8ChangesAhead

sorry had to go to work, Well as to whats goin through my head all these positive thought s I can do this, I will feel so much better once i get started etc. the on the other side kinda like the angel on one shoulder and devil on the other , I'm gonna embarass myself, I would be lucky to be able to do this for five minutes let alone make a difference. Did the hour with the coordinater at ymca, she was very supportive and walked me through all the machines. And managed to do that after a cardio class that almost killed me (needless to say I am definetly not ready for cardio class yet)

jody664

If it helps, there are plenty of overweight and out of shape people at my gym.....including me! I really don't think anyone would judge you, and there's no need to feel embarrassed. Everyone is there for the same reason....to get in shape. Some are further along in that journey than others.

It sounds like your biggest fear is what people will think, and hard as it is, you just have to get over that. Maybe if a friend went with you the first couple of times......? I like what IveLanded suggested.....committ to going and doing 30 minutes on the treadmill at an easy pace, just to get acclimated, then leave. I think once you're there and busy doing something, you'll feel much more comfortable and all the fears will evaporate.

Post again once you've gone and let us know how it went!

nattou

I joined my first gym in high school, and I was totally intimidated BEFORE entering the gym. However, once I went inside, it wasn't all that bad. Although all the people there were older than me, they treated me pretty well. And even though I had no prior knowledge about how to work out, I just picked the treadmill and started there. And then after working out there, I branched out to the other machines and tried all of them and stuck to what I liked. After a few days of going, I got used to the routine I ended up with, and I didn't feel so intimidated anymore.

A lot of the people are there for the same reason as you, so try going in for a few minutes and getting on a machine! When you look around, everyone's either working out or lifting weights... no one's eyes are focused on you, they're only focused on themselves and their goals.