Shy to Work out in Public?

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Replies

  • confuzzledwife
    confuzzledwife Posts: 142 Member
    Yes, I'm extremely shy and have never stepped foot in any gym. I am envious of those who are so confident they don't care what others think..lol.. I work out at home, I have my Power 90 DVDs, my stepper, my exercise bike and my weight bench.. I'm good :)
  • Chrystibel
    Chrystibel Posts: 116 Member
    I've always been uncomfortable around people, I hate going grocery shopping because there are other people in the stores, NO way i'm joining a gym...I won't even work out until my husband goes to work after 8pm (night job) and I tend to skip workouts on his weekends unless he's sleeping lol. Not that I'm shy with him or anything, I just don't want to work out in front of anyone, at all. Might change when i'm more comfortable with myself...but I think i'd probably get anxiety going to a gym even if I was thin.

    * not to mention the nearest gym is 45 minutes away in Tallahassee, I'll keep my workouts to my private living room.
  • sunnidazefl
    sunnidazefl Posts: 5 Member
    I use to feel this way until I became attached at the hip to my Ipod. I turn that sucker up so loud I worry more about the ringing in my ears then the people around me haha. I tend to go to the gym extremely early or really late. Less of a crowd.
  • 1234IWORKOUT5678
    1234IWORKOUT5678 Posts: 23
    I love seeing people running outside no matter what shape they are in. It motivates me and I never judge them. I am always thinking "You Go!"
  • msjessc
    msjessc Posts: 24 Member
    I was very self conscioous about working out in public but one day I realized I wasn't doing myself any good. And someone told me that no one was paying attention to me, and you know what that is mostly right. I have thrown myself into the gym, and am there twice a day now (30 mins at lunch, 1 hour - 1.5 hours after work) and I LOVE it. There is great support from the staff and some of the other members too.

    Don't worry about who might be looking at you, it is time you worry about you. Just do it and you may find you LOVE it, I do.
  • jeaninemckinney
    jeaninemckinney Posts: 191 Member
    Oh im horribly shy and self concious like i look like an *kitten* or something lol!! I would go jogging at night and when people drove past i stopped lol...dont know what my problem is! Heaven forbid somebody see me try and better myself! Would love to join a gym but i know ill feel so uncomfortable for a bit till i know im doing everythung right!!! I workout in my basement and even if my kids come down stairs i have to stop!mi dint know why, but i do wish i didnt give a crap!! :sad:
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    It does suck! They need gyms for shy people... and all the shy people could go and be shy together... and then they wouldn't go because they're too shy to be seen there even if they're surrounded by other shy people. Oh my head.
    weird i'm shy but i'm not at all shy working out. I actually feel more at ease in the gym than in other places.
    and btw probably no one is looking at you...unless you're hot then all the guys will be oogling you
  • melanielockard
    melanielockard Posts: 114 Member
    yes i am pretty shy, and avoid the gym for that reason. i have now joined the Y and run on the treadmill and dont care what anyone thinks, im still lapping everyone on the couch and at least i am trying. I sometimes do get a feeling like i hope no one is watching me, but feel good after.
  • MissJay75
    MissJay75 Posts: 768 Member
    I don't even like my husband around when I'm working out I'm so self conscious about it. I'm getting over myself a little bit, but it's hard.
  • AmberFaith90
    AmberFaith90 Posts: 904 Member
    I am super shy, and I have never stepped foot in a gym before. I'm SO lucky to have an in-home gym (that also doubles as a pantry and storage area). I have machines, weights, medicine/balance balls, and all my Wii fitness games. I'm still investing in more workout equipment. I'd rather spend hundreds of dollars than $15 a month at a public gym. It's THAT bad.
  • bill_os24
    bill_os24 Posts: 5 Member
    For me it is more about being embarrassed than shy. I was thinking about getting a personal trainer for the first few times. I think this would give me more confidence for when I go alone or, at the very least, force me to go and get myself over that hump of being embarrassed by having someone watch me the entire time. Has anyone tried this?
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    For me it is more about being embarrassed than shy. I was thinking about getting a personal trainer for the first few times. I think this would give me more confidence for when I go alone or, at the very least, force me to go and get myself over that hump of being embarrassed by having someone watch me the entire time. Has anyone tried this?

    I work out once a week in the weights section with a PT. I don't go in there by myself, even though I could do some of the lifting I do without my PT.
  • StrawberrySt
    StrawberrySt Posts: 235
    I have mild social anxiety so going to the gym, which is an unfamiliar setting, really freaks me out!

    Considering in Australia gym memberships cost $50-$100 per month (with a 24 month contract!) I'm not ready to commit to something I'm unsure I can utilise.

    I do my workouts at home and I feel comfortable going for a run/walk.
  • soon2bhotmom
    soon2bhotmom Posts: 108 Member
    I only use my gym for spinning in a group setting. I've never been in the co-ed gym...I'm too intimidated by all the serious, buff and toned people who seem to know how it all works. I'm sure its my own insecurities and they dont care about what I do, but I cant get past it yet.
  • retrogal76
    retrogal76 Posts: 40 Member
    Not shy so much as ashamed to be seen looking like this...my bff wants us to join a gym together and I really wish I could because I know there's equipment there that I could really benefit from but I just can't do it...instead I just do my in-home treadmill and Gilad dvds. And it sucks because it's so exhausting hiding from the world plus I feel badly that I'm letting my bff down...
  • KaleidoscopeEyes1056
    KaleidoscopeEyes1056 Posts: 2,996 Member
    It does suck! They need gyms for shy people... and all the shy people could go and be shy together... and then they wouldn't go because they're too shy to be seen there even if they're surrounded by other shy people. Oh my head.

    Ooo, so then you would have each machine in little booths so nobody can see what you're doing and you don't see anybody else? And then, those of us like me who are not shy to workout around people would use the booths to just work out naked! It benefits everybody! :drinker:
  • 19howie78
    19howie78 Posts: 29
    i used to be like that but then joined a "bootcamp" company called the outdoor fitness company,,, clues kinda in the name ha ha,, and that was the end of the nerves,, if i wanted to get fit i would have to just suck up my gut,, and i had a big one,, and get on with it..
  • clockworkkarly
    clockworkkarly Posts: 45
    *raises hand*

    to me, going to the gym would be like shopping in the juniors section. "WTF ARE YOU DOIN?!"
    yeah, i've been wanting to join planet fitness but i can't help but think people are going to judge me and stare. i'm a pretty big girl so obviously i'll stand out. it doesn't help that most people at the gym are pretty fit! (nothing wrong with that, btw) it's just very intimidating for someone brand new.
  • Reeny1_8
    Reeny1_8 Posts: 277
    Not silly at all! I'm 4"7 and 211 lbs and I love my husband and kids and I can not bring myself to work out with them in the room. When I go to the gym it's at 6am so I know I'm the only one there! I can't stand to feel like someone is watching me (even if it's just me being silly).
  • KaleidoscopeEyes1056
    KaleidoscopeEyes1056 Posts: 2,996 Member
    *raises hand*

    to me, going to the gym would be like shopping in the juniors section. "WTF ARE YOU DOIN?!"
    yeah, i've been wanting to join planet fitness but i can't help but think people are going to judge me and stare. i'm a pretty big girl so obviously i'll stand out. it doesn't help that most people at the gym are pretty fit! (nothing wrong with that, btw) it's just very intimidating for someone brand new.

    I've actually noticed that the more fit people pay no attention to me, and it's the fellow fatties that try to put me down. Jerks, go eat a cheeseburger.
  • CrazyLazyStylist
    CrazyLazyStylist Posts: 65 Member
    It took me forever to feel ok when I go to my runs outside. I asked the question on here about it too, now I dont care. Im so focused on getting through the the workout that I dont even think about them...However, if I went to the gym and tried to go to the weights and there were a bunch of fit people there I would feel judged... Someone told me once though "They walked through the same door you did."
  • celesteflenory
    celesteflenory Posts: 22 Member
    I am also weird about working out in public. It's funny, I used to walk 3 miles around the Shakesphere Fevistal Park by myself, every morning... And you pass people but not too many people, ya know. And now, I can't even make it once around the block without worrying about what people think when they see me. I have taken to 5am runs or after the sun goes down... weird. :blushing:
  • clockworkkarly
    clockworkkarly Posts: 45
    *raises hand*

    to me, going to the gym would be like shopping in the juniors section. "WTF ARE YOU DOIN?!"
    yeah, i've been wanting to join planet fitness but i can't help but think people are going to judge me and stare. i'm a pretty big girl so obviously i'll stand out. it doesn't help that most people at the gym are pretty fit! (nothing wrong with that, btw) it's just very intimidating for someone brand new.

    I've actually noticed that the more fit people pay no attention to me, and it's the fellow fatties that try to put me down. Jerks, go eat a cheeseburger.



    wtf is up with that! i'd hiss at them.
  • Cheeta_HH
    Cheeta_HH Posts: 489 Member
    Meeeee tooooo! I'm not so much shy about it as I am uncomfortable. I've never been very athletic and I was always THAT girl who was always the last one picked for the team! That has caused me to really be a loner when it comes to working out. I still have the mindset that I am not doing something right and feel very self-conscious in a gym!

    I have recently had an NSV, though. I started running in October and ran outside throughout the winter. Of course I was the only one who was ever out on the path. Now that the weather has warmed up and lots of people are around, I have noticed that I don't feel as uncomfortable anymore. I've also started going to a yoga class with friends.

    So, I guess I'm making progress, but I'm still one of the shy ones!
  • brndygrl98
    brndygrl98 Posts: 196 Member
    I won't work out when my hubby is at home. I can't stand to be watched when I'm working out!!
  • Traquette
    Traquette Posts: 109 Member
    Reviving this very old thread !
    I was looking for a discussion like this... I feel less weird now that I've read all the people above !

    I did overcome the shyness for jogging outside, it took me a few weeks... but now I don't care, as long as I'm in the park where all the joggers already are. If I run in the streets I don't feel as confident... like out of place... so I rarely do it !

    But I still can't work out at home, when my bf is there. We actually started to work out together in my living room at the start of our relationship. I didn't like it a lot but I tried hard to act normal haha
    After we moved, the configuration of the apartment doesn't allow us both to workout at the same time. And I can't overcome the shyness of doing it while he's there.

    I should use the time he's gone to work out alone, but I have other activities I prefer doing on my alone time (singing)

    I'm not ready for the gym either. I convinced him to join one, and he's been trying to go twice a week with his nephew and son. He's trying to get me on board at least to run next winter... I know he's right but... I don't feel ready :( I hate feeling "seen", by strangers or family.

    Hopefully I'll overcome that too one day...


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