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

I have never been athletic, so going to a gym was a huge step for me. I never felt uncomfortable around the other people working out, but when I first started going to a gym (this was a few years ago), I asked one of the trainers who was covering the floor to show me how to use some of the machines properly, and she got so huffy with me. She hopped on and off the machines so fast that I couldn't follow exactly what she was doing. She finished by telling me to book an appointment with a trainer to learn how to work out. In hindsight, I should have complained to management. Isn't that why they have staff on the floor, to answer questions and give advice? But at that point, I felt quite inadequate and I left after doing a short stint on the elliptical. It's bad when the staff isn't encouraging the clients.

What a great topic! As a thin person trapped in an obese body, I have gone through most of the same negative emotions I've read here. I didn't want to go to the gym because I was sure all the trim, fit people there would be judging me. I finally convinced myself to go anyway and do what many others here have said. I just focus on my workout and who gives a hoot what some immature, inconsiderate people might think or say. I'm working out for my own health, not for their approval. As a young person I was athletic and thin, and it's hard to accept that I can't do the things I did then. These days I just do what I am able to do and keep on til I reach the next goal. MFP has been a wonderful website and I'm so glad I found it and all the helpful people here cheering each other on. Thanks to all my MFPals and to others who have inspired me and also made me laugh with some of their comments.

i dont go to the local gym just because im a night owl and its easier to do exercises at home and since im up all night anyways and frankly id go to gym if i wanted to I've got a who gives a rats attitude towards other ppls opinions of me

I never got that at the gym. Thank goodness because that may have discouraged me from ever going back. I didn't start running outside until recently and haven't gotten any rude remarks...yet. But I run early in the mornings when the rude people are still sleeping.

Put earbuds in and just do your thing. Completely ignore everyone around you. If you don't have your earbuds and someone makes a stupid remark, just say "huh?. what'd you say?" If they repeat it, just keep saying "huh? Can't hear" and point to your ears. Look sincere in your "effort" to hear them. They'll end up looking like the fool they are.

I'm over 400 pounds and just joined and started going to a gym this past week. Everyone has been great so far. I haven't heard any comments but I don't think it would bother me anyway. I'm not going there to make them happy so I couldn't care less what they think.

I have experienced being made fun of by athletic people pretty much right away at the gym. I have a similar situation to what somebody said in an earlier post about the two girls staring at you, laughing, and bumping elbows while you work out. I get up at 5 am to go work out and rather than avoid those kind of people by going earlier... I am forced to share the gym with them. It isn't just in my head because I always work out with my mp3 player but I could still hear them gossiping about me and I can't help but notice them laughing. I don't feel the least bit intimidated because at the end of the day I go to the gym only for myself.

The way I see it though they don't understand my situation because they have never been fat. These girls are like 105 pounds. I was born an overweight baby, I was an overweight kid, and my whole family is overweight. Go ahead and laugh at me tell your jokes but I don't sit on the couch and blame genetics. I made a decision to change my eat habits and put myself on an intense work out program. I have lost 35 pounds since and am well on my way to getting in shape. If you want to make fun of me for bettering myself go ahead. Anyways they don't give a **** at my gym the worker gives me dirty looks too and they put a chocolate bar machine right at the front door lol.

Just allow the fat guy to tell you that you aren't working out properly. Now THAT is funny. I have seen them too and they always do the same machines every single day. It's always one hour on the elyptical machine where they have clearly reached their plateau and don't even really work up a sweat. They are too busy playing gossip girl to get a good work out in. I don't even pay attention anymore because if you are watching other people at the gym... you are not working out hard enough.

This guy kept staring at this morning... It was making me a little self conscious... Then he comes up to me and says "Damn Girl look at you go! I think you lost some weight just in the last few days I've seen you here!"

Awesome start to my morning! Those stares aren't all bad.

Damn straight. I had the same experience a time or two. Someone telling me I had obviously lost weight, which is awesome, and someone telling me I was doing great on the treadmill when they saw me running.

Those stares aren't all bad