Gym Anxiety

degausser234
degausser234 Posts: 157 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hellooo,
I'm about 3 months into my weight loss and thus far I've been lucky enough to have been able to work out at home, but ultimately the summer ended and I had to move back to the dorms for college. I go to a pretty small art school, so the fitness center consists of 1 treadmill, 2 stationary bikes, an elliptical, and some weight lifting machines. This is my second year attending the school and I have yet to step foot in the center. Over the past 3 years I've been suffering from pretty bad anxiety as well as small episodes of depression. I really, really want to go and use the fitness center, but I guess I'm just so worried about what people will think of me. So I guess I'm just wondering, how did some of you overcome your anxiety about going to the gym?

- Jenny

Replies

  • joshuamhort
    joshuamhort Posts: 81
    The first thing is to tell yourself that you are there for yourself, nobody else. It shouldn't matter what others think about you when you are working out. I know that doesn't help much, because I am in the same boat more or less. When I am trying to do some jogging/walking and a car passes by I worry what they think of me running, all the sweat dripping into my eyes and soaked through my shirt. I shouldn't, but I do. Then I remind myself that who cares what they think. When they see me running a month from now, they are going to think "wow, look what he did in this time. he looks great" and that's if they remember at all.

    Now, that said, if you are still worried about what people think, you can walk around the neighborhood where it isn't quite so close quarters, or get some dumbbells to work out with in your dorm room and build confidence.
  • MissShyloh
    MissShyloh Posts: 39
    Remember that everyone is at the gym for the same reasons you! To be healthy, lose weight, be in shape. Most people stay focused on their own workouts and don't really pay much mind to others is my experience.
  • degausser234
    degausser234 Posts: 157 Member
    Thanks for the advice! I know exactly what you mean, I would run at home (but I lived on a country road) and whenever someone drove by I would just stop and make it look like I was just on a walk. My boyfriend suggested that we do P90X together at his apartment and although I really like the idea of working out together, it would be somewhat of a nuisance to have to drive to his place everyday just to workout. I guess just not caring about what others think about me is what I have to work on the most right now.
  • purpleblaze
    purpleblaze Posts: 90
    its just your egoself telling you your not good enough, "everyone will laugh at me" etc etc and whatever other thoughts that pop up....your good enough, we are all good enough.... :)
  • nicpap617
    nicpap617 Posts: 38 Member
    Personally... When I feel that people are staring at me at the gym, it motivates me to work out that much harder. Ya know the saying "Dance like no ones watching..." well same concept. Just throw on your ipod and do your thing :)
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
    What you are feeling is normal. I'm a 40 year old man. Last year I was fatter and had no muscles. I went to enroll at my gym on a Wednesday at about 8pm. The gym was full of people in great shape. Since my gym is 24 hrs, I made up my mind to go super early in the morning so not as many people would be in the gym, so I wouldn't feel so ashmed / embarrased. I get to the gym at 3:45 AM. The place wasn't packed, everything has worked out fine for months.
    I still have a lot of weight to lose, and a lot more muscle to gain, but at some point, I said to hell with walking up at 3:25AM to get to the gym at 3:45AM...Sometimes I go after work. My desire to sleep was greater than my embarrasement.
    I still go to lift weights in the morning...I really enjoy lifting weights, and I like the solitude of at 4AM, and how quiet the place is, but now, If I have to do cardio, I don't mind going after work.

    After a year I see people in worse shape than me, and better shape than me, and all of us are probably conscious of our appearance to some degree, but we should not let that get in the way of our goals.
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    I joined the gym at 233 pounds and was the largest person there. I felt ashamed and embarrassed but perservered and have lost 35 pounds so far. My self confidence, stamina and fitness has improved immeasurably. Everybody has to start somewhere so you gotta feel the fear and do it anyway. I'm still the slowest at circuit and am crap at running but I do heavier weights than the other females. My point is we tend to compare ourselves to others and use it to beat ourselves up about it but we're all unique and you can't let your paranoia get the better of you.
  • tavelavl
    tavelavl Posts: 6 Member
    I love the idea mentioned above about going at off-peak times! That way you can go, check out the layout of the place and get comfortable. Start with a goal of just going to walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes (or ride the bike, etc)., so you can see what other people are doing and how the gym "works". After doing that a few times, the newness of the place will wear off and you'll be more inclined to try other machines and go at a time that works best for you.

Categories