Any chubbies at your gym?

In my on again off again relationship with the gym I have been the regular that doesn't socialize, the gym rat and the fat guy going once a month. I'm on again! Which is good for me. But I've talked with a lot of people. And despite how you might see all the "beautiful" people at the gym they are all there for the same reason...to get better...to improve. That basic motivation shapes the perception of most people at the gym too. If you are improving most of the people at the gym would applaud your effort and the payoff you've given yourself.

A trick that has worked for me on more than one occasion. Go through the motions, even if you don't want to be there or don't want to go. If you get ready, show up and you can even tell yourself that "I'm only going to do part of my work out because I feel too ( insert your problem here )." It’s a mental game. I know. But it works. I feel better about going. And when I'm there I 90% of the time finish my whole workout.

There are people of all shapes and sizes at my gym. When I see people who are overweight (especially VERY heavy/ morbidly obese) the first thing that pops into my mind is respect and admiration, because it takes guts for a lot of people to take those steps toward fitness and to stand in a room next to the already-fit-ones. I admire their courage and find them inspiring. I'm heavy but not morbidly obese. I know that there are many people who are in way better shape than me. Maybe now that I'm older I just generally feel better in my own skin and it doesn't matter to me what people think. I feel quite relaxed being at the gym, especially knowing that I'm doing something about the extra weight. Who knows, maybe my self acceptance is empowering me to get and stay fit.

ADDITION: When I see someone who is very fit at my gym, who has a rocking body, my choice is to go into that comparison mode OR to be inspired by them. Comparison mode feels really bad and doesn't serve anything. Instead I'd rather see someone's accomplishment as an inspiration to what I can achieve, and being happy for them makes me happy.

I started going at off peak times to get comfortable, like late Friday or Saturday night.

Just go. If anyone looks at you, stare back, and don't blink. They'll think you're crazy and will leave you alone.

This is handy advice for so many life situations.

It really works. See ? ... :indifferent:

*looks away uncomfortably"

uMMM yEAH ME!!!

I was heavier and used to HATE going to the gym when I was in college because all of the girls were very thin and simply beautiful. It was full of sorority girls and frat guys. The girls never seemed to be really working out. When I was there, I was sweating like a fat pig about to be turned into bacon. I just felt SO out of place. I then started taking some classes and one of my friends at the time (now one of my best friends) was in the class I went to. Her and I started to go together more often. That helped me feel better about being at the gym. I started to feel like I belonged there and I was not so concerned about what others thought. I then began to feel as though, hey, I'm here trying so that's better than I could say before.

WITH THAT, my suggestion would be find a gym buddy. It definitely helps to workout with someone else when you're feeling a little insecure.

Don't be shy...there are plenty of people in there with similar goals to yours, and if anything, people will just applaud your efforts Most people at my gym are pretty supportive, and those that aren't just keep to themselves. I'm sure you'll run into the same scenario at yours

Don't worry about anybody else.. I'd bet most of them were heavy when they started.. Hold your head up boldly and just concentrate on what your goals are. You don't need anyone's approval there and once you realize that, your journey will become much easier. I used to be the same way.. The aerobic classes were always so scarey to me because the women were younger and trimmer... got to get past that. If I hide behind my fears I will never achieve my goals! Good luck to you!!

Do you really think other people will be paying that much attention to you? Doubtful. They're usually concentrating on what they're doing.

Just go and break the ice! It'll be awkward at first but after awhile it goes away. Ive just started and felt the same way, I'm 100 lbs over weight and it was like cultural shock going in and seeing how fit everyone is I felt embarrassed to be there but so far everyone has been nice and its no problem now. I think it is helping on other levels as well, not just fitness but with getting more use to getting out of my comfort zone. You'll be happy that you went

I'm shy too, but the more you go the less awkward it is. After a week you should feel comfortable. I love my gym there are people of all ages and sizes.

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they did."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

I love this.

Years ago I started going to a gym when I was about 90 lbs overweight, and I had to ddrrraaaggg myself there because I was paralyzingly self-conscious. But you really do get over it if you keep going and just focus on what you're doing. If anyone said anything smarmy about my big (and not particularly graceful) self, I never heard them.

Wow, fifty thousand replies already, lol. People of all sizes, ages and such at my gym. Even saw a guy heading for the bikes this morning who was using two walker kind of things to get around (older). I plug in headphones and have no idea what the people around me are doing - I agree, peopl eare much more interested in themselves than you. And many will have the same hangups even if YOU think they look thin

Get in there and work out like you own that place. Whenever I see someone else who is overweight (like me), taking the stairs, not using the rascal scooters in Walmart etc, I applaud the effort.

there are hella chubby's at my gym! I want to say MFP is for u but U never know who will stick with this!!