Overweight and feel awkward at the gym?

The good thing about joining a gym is that you are joining for the right reason. People are drawn to and would rather be around sincere people and people who are there for the right reason. If you enjoy working out in the gym, and keep going - sometimes if you just say something nice to the people at the gym, the person checking you in, the towel person, the trainer, and make that your first goal, (Thank you is a scarce saying these days unfortunately) you will be amazed how the atmosphere is more conducive to encouragement to come back.

this is VERY true. I have noticed that the trainer who works M-F morning at my local Y definitely notices me and I am still 50lbs over weight. 90% of the time he says *something* even if it is "hey, how you doin?". A few times he has made comments like "you're getting a late start today, aren't you?" ( I was!), or cracked a joke. This summer the running joke was how many days til school started--about once a week I would walk in and greet him with "hey Justin--(insert number) days!"

and certain other members have come up and said something to me too. Haven't seen him in a while, and I am kinda worried, but one day I was leaving and this big buff black guy ( I'm short, fat and casper-white) made an encouraging comment. Another time, 2 grandmotherly women were on the treadmill next to me and mentioned that they had noticed that I was there VERY regularly ( like 3-4 times a week for 4-5 months)

maybe its the gym I go to but Ive only ever seen a cuople of nearly perfect bodies! I doubt anyone is worried about the other person beside them its certainly nice when someone is friendly with a smile or a nod ! I think thats so much more important than what anyone weighs!

firstly, the only people staring will be in your imagination, so ignore that! and there aren't only skinny girls at the gym. trust me on that. all sorts of people go, men, women, all shapes and sizes. it'll be so much fun! it's just nerves. go there, focus on yourself and what you want to get out of it, and it'll be over with, and you'll want to do more!

At first it may seem that way ; but If they are good people, they will root you on without making you feel separate at all. Plus, guys dig a girl trying to get in shape. Trust me

Yeah, I did feel awkward at the gym. I got over it, got in shape, and now feel completely comfortable there. The gym is a place where people go to improve their bodies. If you feel like you're the only overweight person who's ever set foot there, you're wrong If you go regularly, you won't feel awkward anymore.

I would not worry at all! It's an amazing accomplishment to take the steps to make a better you! I always felt uncomfortable to be there but knew I was bettering myself. And once I put my head phones in I was in my own little world. I love seeing people at the gym that aren't super skinny and fit. It just made me proud of them and myself for trying to doing something good for ourselves! you go!

I have this problem too. I have really bad anxiety when I go to the gym. It sucks and sometimes I can't even get out of my car. I wish there was something that I could do to stop this because I actually like to work out. )

I stepped foot into a gym yesterday for the first time in about 20 years...and loved it. I went with my son, who wants to get back into lifting since he hasn't been able to lift much since he graduated high school last May. I'll be going with my wife after work tonight.

Just like everything else, it's a mindset you have to have. Why do you want to go to the gym? To work out...hmmm...imagine that, that's why EVERYONE else there. So, right from the beginning you have something in common. Some of those people are even eager to share the knowledge they have learned, if you just ask.

I probably stared more at other people then they stared at me. I watched a guy work out and said to myself, "When I grow up into a big strong boy, I want to be able to do that!"

I realized how much I missed the gym and this morning, with my sore muscles and all, I realized I can't wait to go back and make other parts of my body sore.

It's only going to be as fun as you make it. You're in this for you, and when you get where you want to be, you're going to be the one the new "fat" kid is worried about when they walk into the gym for the first time.

I used to feel like that too. I thought all eyes were on me but I realized that how would I know if they are watching me if I wasn't watching them? And for the most part everyone has their own thing going on. My husband would always tell me that don't worry about anyone else.

A side note...I love to Salsa dance and the tables turn for my husband. He always feels that people are watching him. I explained to him that no one is watching and that people are into their own thing. If they are watching it usually means we are awesome!

Put in your headphones and work out to a motivating playlist - if I have good music, I completely forget about anything around me. It also helps the time pass! And try not to worry about what anyone else is thinking - you are there to help YOURSELF and should be proud of that!