Too Fat to go to the gym??? WHAT!?!?

jr1985

Sadly I know so many people that have stopped going to the gym because they had been so made fun of for being overweight... but more than that, people are afraid that people will make fun of them for being out of shape at the gym.

Um... Hello! I am a fat person... where better for an overweight person to be than the gym?

I guess I've been lucky in that 90% of the people that I've run into at the gym have been nothing but supportive and encouraging to the chubby chicks (and guys) like me giving it their all to be healthier.... with the exception of a few muscle heads that did not like to share THEIR weightroom with a girl. (especially when I out-lifted them :laugh: )

Has anyone on here actually been made fun of for being out of shape at the gym personally? Or is a lot of it in their heads that they think people will make fun of them there?

JustJennie1

I think a lot of it is in the persons head. I think when someone who's over weight goes to the gym they see all these fit people working out and think they're staring at them in disgust and it might intimidate them a little bit. What they don't know is the story of the fit people that are there. They might have been just like them a few years ago. You never know.

While I'm sure some people might be rude or give nasty looks to the over weight person my thought is "Hey, at least they're here and they're trying. It's a start in the right direction."

Ketomaniac9

I'm 401 pounds and I go to the gym.. sure I get some looks but I just ignore them.

DavPul

A person thinking they are too fat to go to the gym is the same as a person says they won't try yoga because they aren't flexible. Both ideas are as backwards as saying you won't go eat because you're starving.

jgic2009

I have never seen or heard anyone making fun of someone for their size or weight at any of the gyms I've worked out at over the years.

I have seen overweight people get harrassed while walking or jogging outside though (usually by high school idiots driving by).

stfuriada

NJGmywholewrld

I have been ridiculed while doing cardio in my own neighborhood. I use to let it stop me, but I have learned how to try to ignore it. Hey, atleast I am out there doing something about it.

jojo52610

No never heard of someone being made fun of at my old Gym. There was a guy that used to come to our gym in a hover round scooter - you could tell he was struggling just to excercise.

I didn't see him after a while almost a year I stopped by on my day off in the afternoon - he looked amazing!

RLDeShazo

I am very large (starting weight 388), and have been going to the gym this time around for about 2 months. Noone has never said anything bad to me, and I have never seen anyone giving any bad looks either. The staff is extra nice and supportive. One of the instructors calls me "Sexy Mama" whenever she sees me. If I miss a few days, I will get a few people asking where I've been. I feel comfortable there.

tangal88

the thing is - if you are pretty large, or obese, or morbidly obese - people will stare at you, judge you, whatever, no matter where you are. The grocery store, the mall, post office, gas station.

Thats just a part of the package. Not nice, but reality, people should not use it as an excuse for not trying to do what they can do, to better themselves, improve their fitness etc.

Heck if you are to thin, to blond, to buff, to short, to tall, people stare also, and judge.....

We all started somewhere, and really non of us have arrived to our goal - we should all still strive to improve everyday, in many ways, not just the physical.

cmeade20

People suck(I mean those that makee fun of others at the gym and otherwise). I dont use a gym not because Im afraid but because Im cheap and hate driving there.

Fortunately hating the gym is not an excuse, its super easy to get a good workout in at home-ridicule free

jofjltncb6

I have never seen or heard anyone making fun of someone for their size or weight at any of the gyms I've worked out at over the years.

I have seen overweight people get harrassed while walking or jogging outside though (usually by high school idiots driving by).

To be clear, this doesn't only happen to overweight people. I've been yelled at, whistled at, honked at, etc. many times while running, often by "high school idiots" (but admittedly, occasionally by women who temporarily forget how to behave in public).

But completely agree with the above responses, too fat to go to the gym is crazy talk.

BarreGirl

I've never gotten bad looks at the gym - but every time I go I walk out wishing I had something better to wear. I realize that no one wants to see skin tight outfits on someone out of shape (any more than I want to wear them), but WHY WHY WHY can't there be comfortable "training" clothes for those of us that want to exercise in something other than sweats and t-shirts....

jr1985

I'm 401 pounds and I go to the gym.. sure I get some looks but I just ignore them.

I'm so sorry people have been less than supportive for you I dont' know why people make fun of others anyways, but especially when they are trying to get healthier.

jr1985

I've never gotten bad looks at the gym - but every time I go I walk out wishing I had something better to wear. I realize that no one wants to see skin tight outfits on someone out of shape (any more than I want to wear them), but WHY WHY WHY can't there be comfortable "training" clothes for those of us that want to exercise in something other than sweats and t-shirts....

Haha true! seems like you can never find exercise clothes for those of us who need to exercise the most!

bradphil87

I love going to the gym!!! Even when I was very fat. (now I'm about 25 lbs overweight) I've never herd anyone make a comment about anyone else there. Only complements. I'm the kind of person who wouldn't stand for anyone making rude comments or jokes about anyone else. I've lost about 70 lbs, over half of them since I have been a member at my new gym. Remember that the people saying things like that are the ones who usually have the worst body image and it makes them feel slightly better when they put someone else down.

calitravelingal

I'm not skinny (yet) but I feel great at my gym. People are supportive. I was worried in the beginning, because I didn't want to be judged. But as I got to talking to many of the folks there, many had been me 6 month, 2 years or when ever ago. I actually find inspiration from seeing overweigh folks at my gym. I see them working hard and it drives me to work hard too. I see people who are larger than me and they are jogging, or doing sit-ups and I think to myself if they can do it I can do it to.

kaliso

I think if anything larger people should be commended for going to the gym and not being afraid of what other people think. When I was 180 on a 5'4 frame, I was extremely self conscious but ultimately thought I'm here to be healthy, not to be ridiculed and no one but me can stop me from going to the gym.

Jennisin1

I think people stare more at the skinny girl who thinks it is ok to workout basically naked... waiting for the free peep show any second.....

but, when I catch people staring at me, I think "Yeah, that's right, I am kicking butt here.... that sweat is my fat CRYING" or "That's right... if I can do it, you can do it... push Push PUSH" or "Man, I know... maybe you can try harder next time and put 100% in.. its ok, there is always tomorrow"

You never know what people are thinking... so why not choose to let it motivate you?

meshashesha2012

I've seen it and overheard it.. mainly from people who have too much time on their hands and arent working out like they should. it's usually in passing (like you overhear some conversation about "did you see what that one girl was wearing in class?") so i've never stopped and told them to shut up. if it were something that i had to listen to for an extended time then i'd definitely speak up.

i wouldnt let that stop me though. i pay my gym dues just like they do and if i ever heard anyone making fun of me (i dont care what they say as long as i dont hear it) then i'd quickly tell them to kiss my fat *kitten*.. besides that i've always been good at snaps and insults so if someone were to make fun of me for 1 thing, it's almost guaranteed i can quickly come back with 5 for them

FatStoatLondon

I've been to several gyms over the last 20 years but the only gym I have ever thought looked like an awesome place to train was Average Joe's in Dodgeball. Way too many Globo Gyms out there...

tearose4

I joined the gym at 310 pounds, after losing 92 via mostly diet alone. Nobody at the gym has ever been unpleasant to me. I don't subscribe to the trainer service as it's an expense I simply cannot work into my budget right not -- but one of the trainers keeps a pretty close eye on me on those (relatively rare) occasions when I wander away from the cardio equipment and start playing with the resistance / weight machines. I *think* he's just making sure I don't get hurt since I'm sure it's obvious I am not confident in what I'm doing.

Aside from that, everyone has been absolutely wonderful to me. Depending on my schedule, I go at various hours of the day and night. . . it's interesting to see the demographics change by time of day. . . but everyone there is focused on their own workout, or that of their workout buddy(ies) and generally not paying any attention to me.

bamachik98

You guys are totally awesome. That is literally what my excuse has been. My hubby is a soldier and everyone at the military gym's are pretty much in great, if not perfect, shape. I'm about 75 pounds overweight, so I'm not in any kind of shape, but round, lol. I'm going tomorrow for the first time...and I'm scared to death...but your comments have helped me some. Thank you!

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Puddles0308

Never experienced this in a gym but when conducting my workout outside, I get it.

OnionMomma

I work out at the YMCA and we see all types of body shapes there and no one cares!! When we worked out at Gold's Gym before having my son, it was the same way. The more often you do, the more comfortable you see. You get to know people who are working out around the same time frame as you and they will ask where you have ben when you have missed a day.

I love working out at Gyms.

joaniegray

I feel intimidated in a gym but i do go. As I lift my 10 pound weights, I cannot help but feel a bit silly when the thin girl beside me is lifting 2-40 pound weights! Or the men who are lifting 25 pound weights. However, I know it is all in my head. They probably think it is awesome that at least ( try, at my age!

Allie_71

Unfortunately a few months ago, I was teaching a Zumba class where there was a young girl who was quite overweight and struggling with keeping up with the moves. She was doing wonderfully, and trying as hard as she could. Off to the side, two other girls, in fairly good shape, started laughing and giggling at her, snickering, elbowing each other and obviously talking to each other about the way she looked and moved.

I kicked their sorry a$$es out for being sorry human beings, but told them it was because they were being disruptive and loud. I also told them they weren't welcome back.

Jessica, the young girl, has since lost 50 lbs and pretty much comes to all of my classes. She was sad, embarassed and she said it was hard to come back after that one day, but she did.

sho3girl

Unfortunately a few months ago, I was teaching a Zumba class where there was a young girl who was quite overweight and struggling with keeping up with the moves. She was doing wonderfully, and trying as hard as she could. Off to the side, two other girls, in fairly good shape, started laughing and giggling at her, snickering, elbowing each other and obviously talking to each other about the way she looked and moved.

I kicked their sorry a$$es out for being sorry human beings, but told them it was because they were being disruptive and loud. I also told them they weren't welcome back.

Jessica, the young girl, has since lost 50 lbs and pretty much comes to all of my classes. She was sad, embarassed and she said it was hard to come back after that one day, but she did.

you are AN awesome trainer :flowerforyou: for this ... i had a bad experience with a boxercise class put me off going to the gym all together ... but stuck with it at home now 15kgs lighter ...

CyberEd312

This is why we are all individual's and will respond to situations differently... I was once 560 lbs. and was paralyzed with the fear of social phobia... The final 2 years (from 07-09) I hardly ever left my house, I would drive my wife to the store and sit in the parking lot while she shopped because I could not face people seeing me... It is so easy to not understand the mindset of people that deal with this crippling fear. Some people are heavy, obese, and just don't care if others are judging them but then there is people like me that would literally hyperventilate and damn near blackout from the fear... I have been in therapy for over 3 years to overcome those fears and it wasn't easy... I had not stepped foot inside a Large retail department store in over 7-8 years even before I had gotten so bad.. Even back then I did not want to deal with it... I could not walk more than 25 ft. before my AHA moment and I finally starting seeking help.. My doctor wrote me a script for Aquatic therapy because I needed to get in the pool to support my own weight and to do this I had to go to our local YMCA that is affiliated with our local hospital. I drilled the secretary with 20 questions when I was setting up the appt. Like how far is it to walk in from the parking lot to the pool, Is there private changing rooms, How many people are in the therapy pool and when is there the least amount in there, etc, etc... When I finally showed up that same lady said that after she got off the phone with me, she thought to herself there is no way this guy will show up.. So for me I can see how this can be a fear some can not move past... I do well now because I have learned to channel it out and just go do my thing and get out.. Do I still have those fears, of course but now it is do to massive amounts of lose skin from losing 310 lbs. and the fact I still see the fat man in the mirror at times. The only difference is I am stronger minded now and have been through so much I am able to process things and work through them.... but I can see how this can be and is a problem for some...

1953Judith

When I first started doing classes at the lunch hour, this one totally fit, perfect looking, young woman kept periodically looked at me. At the start I was totally concentrating on correct form and could not keep up with everyone and stayed in the back. She was the only person that made me feel sensitive about my lack of abilities. Never said anything about it to my younger coworkers who joined me. One Monday, my co-worker, lunch hour classmate told me she had seen that same woman at a class at a different gym location on Saturday. The perfect looking woman described me and told her that I was her inspiration to keep working out, that she had heard me mention when I first started that I was recovering from chemo treatments and she saw how hard I worked to improve and she saw how good I looked after doing it for a year.

Ms. Perfect and I are now locker room acquaintances, exchanging pleasantries and support. It was a reminder to me not to be so self-absorbed. Even if her vibes had been negative, it would have been irrelevant. I do go to the gym and it has done wonders for me with no harm to anyone else.