Any chubbies at your gym?

Yep- me.. As for the other members I don't really look at their shapes... I put on my headphones and worry about me and what I need to do.

Just go. Who cares that you're not in the best shape. Everyone has to start somewhere. I remember the first time I went to the gym at 303 pounds, yep, I was intimidated, but I worked my way up, and I noticed after a while, nobody is paying attention to me anyway. I look around at others to set goals for myself. But now I go at 200 and I don't give a flying flip about what others think of me. I live in one of the "fittest" cities in the country, where most girls are 25 year old stick figures, and I'm the biggest girl in my Zumba class, but I put in just as much effort as them and could probably run circles around many of them. In the weight room, yep, biggest girl in there too, but I bench press more than most of the men.

And honestly, most of the time I'm too focused on what I'm doing and trying to keep my sweat from forming a puddle on the floor to care about what anyone else is doing. The people who are regulars and go all the time won't care, and the people who might are the ones who pull a muscle showing off and never show up again.

I work out at home, I don't go to the gym.

OK -- I have about 40 pounds to lose. I used to work out, and have just signed up for a gym membership. I cannot get myself to go in, however, in spite of being fairly used to using equipment, because I feel too porky to be there. Also, I am 48. Everyone there seems to be about 30 and very trim......................any suggestions on how to get my nerve up and get in there??? I feel like I have to lose about 20 pounds first, and meanwhile my membership isn't being used. Dorky I know, but I am kind of shy and don't have a great body image at this time.

They are trim because they go to the gym.

Get in there, the pounds will drop off!

Ha, isn't it a grand irony feeling like you have to lose weight just to be able to go to the gym? Honestly, this was one of my weird issues when I first started as well, and I began by going to the gym later in the evening or early in the morning when it wasn't at all busy. That quickly brought up my comfort level to where I grew to be fine with going to the gym during the peak hours when it was jam packed. (In fairness, I also had no real experience at a gym before--so I wasn't at all comfortable using the machines... so you've got a leg up).

I think you'll also find that virtually no one is paying attention to you because they're so lost 'in the zone.' Your own comfort level will definitely increase rapidly. These days, I don't mind at all showing up mid-afternoon, when the place is packed with young students, and working my *kitten* off for an hour until I come out looking like a hot, sweaty mess. No one pays any attention to chubby ol' me, and I feel great.

Good luck!

Michael

Everyone is there because they have a goal, and everyone started somewhere (generally a lot further back from where they are, now!) No one should be devoting too much time to how they feel about how you look, etc. With the exception of a few, most of us are in a gym to do US. Go in. Do your thing. You won't regret it. And soon you won't feel "too chubby" to be there.

I mean, the point of a gym is to get into shape. Even the guys with ginormous muscles probably didn't have those the first day they walked through the doors.

yes. and noone gives a damn like another poster said, you are there!! thats the main thing!!! All shapes, ages and sizes are at my gym I was a chubbie once too. If you go it shows your determination and thats a huge step, and once you start going it does give you motivation to keep working at your goal ...and from my personal view, I don't care whos at the gym , I'm there in my workout zone and don't really care about whats going on around me

Wow - glad the title of this post wasn't insulting in the least :grumble:

And to answer your question - yes, there's plenty of us chubbies and fatties bouncing around at the gym. There's always going to be trim, fit people that live there, and the rest of us who are trying to get in shape, huffing and puffing and staring perplexed at the equipment because we have no clue how to use it but trying to look like a boss that's adjusting the resistance while secretly reading the instructions. Get over it and just go.

I was 305 and 47 when I went in- I dreaded to shower. Barely did 5 minutes on the elliptical before dieing and I thought everyone was pointing and laughing at me.

Fast forward 2 years- I am a gym rat. Lift 5 times per week and I know everyone. When new people come in- especially overweight ones- I have to say I now know the regulars dont even notice you. If you stick it out for a couple of months people will notice and then the encouragement will start.

So basically- no one notices you. Even in the locker room I never hear anyone ever talk about new people re: of weight.

Yes me! Lol I have been going the past 4 weeks at first it was akward, but really no one is paying attention to you, we are all there to get fit or stay in fit, just go it gets better with time

haha Me! I'm one of the porkers at the gym... Honestly I've never had anyone be anything but supportive to myself or any of us other porkers at the gym... I mean... where better for a fat person to be than the gym right? If you are really worried about it... just go early in the morning... definitely an older crowd generally and people are only there to get their work out in and go home... they are too tired to care to criticize anyone else at that time of the day.

Shoot yeah there are chubbies at my gym.....I'm one of them. And I dont worry about what the gym bunnies think about me or what i'm doing. I put the ear buds in and rock out while I'm working out.

It's possible this just isn't the right gym for you. I've belonged to several, and definitely felt more at home at some than others. If it's your only option, just think of this quote: "In a year you'll be glad you started today".

Yeah, me. That being said, I've also seen a few people who make me look great...in some ways. I remember one guy in particular, probably weighed the better part of 350 pounds, who then proceeded to make me look like a total puss in the squat rack, and on the elliptical. Those of us who have been at the gym long enough have learned that it's never a good idea to judge people by appearance, and it doesn't do anyone any good anyway.

Worry about yourself, and your workout. The only people you have to worry about 'judging' you based on appearance, are likely people who haven't been in the game long enough to be worth worrying about anyway.

Last year when I started going to the gym I weighed 241 lbs, my BMI was 37.7 which is super duper chubby.

I could barely manage 15 minutes on the elliptical at about 3mph.

A year later I weigh 148lbs my BMI is 23.2 (I really need to get a BF% done). I've taken a foot of my waist. I'm running, lifting and when I do get on the ellipticals I can comfortable do 9-10mph for up to an hour (they dont like you on a machine longer than that and really an hour is PLENTY long enough)

People never bothered me at my heaviest, and there are some rather heavy people I see every day in the gym. I really feel for them because I was there...