Overcame my Gym anxiety today

Bess_74
Bess_74 Posts: 68
in Fitness and Exercise
SO I have a membership to a local gym and prefer to swim because I feel hidden in the water and I really enjoy it, but since it's getting colder and it's an outdoor pool I've been going into the actual gym, which has been hard for me. I hate going to gym because I feel like I don't belong there; the other two women who work out when I do are already fit and have these intense routines they do, but I've been sucking it up and going anyway even though deep down I feel like I'm too big to be in there. So anyways, today, there's this guy in there who's about 70 wearing nothing but dirty inside out socks & basketball shorts working out (apparently my gym DOES NOT have a "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy) two of the high school guys kinda looked at him and raised their eyebrows at each other and that was it. No rude comments, no jokes, not even staring. If that guy can get away with that, then there obviously is no problem with the fat (soon to be hot) chick on the elliptical and treadmill....so thanks creepy old guy for helping me get over my gym anxiety and on with my healthy life style!

Replies

  • Pspetal
    Pspetal Posts: 426 Member
    Good for you!! :flowerforyou: I took me 8 months to get over my gym anxiety. I used to feel shy and anxious in my previous gym in my ratty t-shirt and shorts when everyone looked perfect in their fancy-*kitten* branded clothes and crazy awesome gym routines. After a while I realised they weren't the problem, my thinking was. No one gives a *kitten* really. I'm glad you know that and feel ok about going to the gym :D
  • caroleannlight
    caroleannlight Posts: 173 Member
    I know where you are coming from with this but so far everyone at my gym (i.e. the one I joined 2 weeks ago) has been super nice to me. Although they do keep asking if they can help me a lot.
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    Good for you. Feel the fear and do it. 6 months ago I was so overweight and unfit I struggled to do any exercise and felt profoundly embarrassed that I was the biggest person there. Everybody has to start somewhere. I am half to goal, do the heaviest weights of the females that attend circuit class, can do 10 burpees without dying (much) and give it everything I've got. I even get there with the guys and do weights - haven't seen any other girls do weights at all in my little gym.
  • Coming4U
    Coming4U Posts: 93 Member
    haha Good for you! I know that is hard and I feel the same way. I have not gotten back there yet. Starting on my own and working my way to it. Keep up the great work!
  • FabMrFox
    FabMrFox Posts: 259 Member
    As far as you feeling like you don't belong there......the gym is for people who want to get in shape.... I say the in shape people need to leave since they are already done :) jk I guess some people use it to socialize too but I ignore those people muahaha
  • sevsmom
    sevsmom Posts: 1,172 Member
    I still feel a little awkward some times depending on what I'm doing at the gym. My coworker and I were doing Jillian Michael's Body Revolution this summer and I felt really conspicuous in the aerobic room using the DVD player. But, by the time the 3 months were up, I couldn't have cared less. Except at the end Jillian pulls out all the stops and has you doing some crazy stuff. So that felt a bit odd.

    We have some folks at the gym who are very very overweight, and I think to myself. . .Awesome! They're here trying to make a positive change! I always try to smile when eye contact is made!

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