Embarassed myself at the gym today... but its OKAY

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  • abbezen
    abbezen Posts: 405 Member
    YOU are a ROCK STAR! And I mean that!....
  • oh_em_gee
    oh_em_gee Posts: 887 Member
    My first time on the elliptical it took me 10 minutes to turn it on, lol. I took longer looking for the one button than I did exercising.
  • NHoughton13
    NHoughton13 Posts: 303
    I feel the same way, intimidated by gyms, people and machines. Good for you for trying and going back! Nice job.
  • apriltrainer
    apriltrainer Posts: 732 Member
    I've embarrassed myself plenty. I had a goal to do pullups and I still remember for weeks getting on the pullup bar and hanging there. And then falling off...

    One day..(ok..many weeks later!) I finally did not one pullup but I went from 0 to 3!!

    It took alot of falling down though and just hanging from the bar. I am sure people wondered what the heck I was doing. It paid off in the end!

    What really matters at the end are the results. I've learned the most from my missteps. If I stayed embarrassed or just refused to try to do pullups I definately wouldn't have the body I have today. I had to just get up on the bar...and fall! Makes the successes that much sweeter!
  • tolae2006
    tolae2006 Posts: 54 Member
    This is the beginning of something new please enjoy it.
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    Oh my gosh, that's nothing at all to be embarrassed about!! I did the same thing the first time I used an elliptical.

    The most important thing is that you faced your fear, you went, and and you got a great workout! You should honestly be really proud of yourself because a lot of people would say it's too hard or scary to go to the gym alone and never end up going.

    As for embarrassing gym moments, I'll share mine! Why not right?
    1. Farted in yoga class. yup. Laughed (along with everyone else), said excuse me, and continued. Funny that people were more friendly toward me after that, haha.
    2. Fell off the treadmill
    3. Dropped all of my belongings on the treadmill so they end up flying back at the wall or at the person who has the misfortune of being on a machine behind me.
    4. Forgot the combo on my locker lock and had to have them cut my lock off.

    Oh well! It happens. All you can do is laugh at yourself and move on.
  • efirkey
    efirkey Posts: 298 Member
    No one was born with this special knowledge of how to run all the different pieces of gym equipment.

    Hopefully the employees are there to help you and you should ask. Though this may not be easy for you.

    I had been going to the gym for many years and I still run into equipment I have no idea how to use and the elliptical was one of them.

    Same goes for classes. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Most people will be very happy to help you out.

    Oh, and if some one is a jerk to you, try not to take it personally. They are just a jerk and are most likely jerks to everyone.
  • jennifer907
    jennifer907 Posts: 84 Member
    You did a great job! Your story made me laugh, but I'm sure we have all done something similar. If you've never used one, how would you know? Lol. I am going to try out some weight machines next week and I have been avoiding them because I have no idea how to use any of them, but your story showed me that even if I look silly, who cares? I'm still going to get a great workout even if it's a slow start. :)
  • Riemersma4
    Riemersma4 Posts: 400 Member
    Anxiety aside (I know that is an easy thing to type but not to do...); you didn't embarrass yourself at all! Let's review:
    * You MADE IT TO THE gym. Something most people can't say.
    * You TRIED SOMETHING NEW. Something most people can't say AND
    * You WORKED OUT! Something most people can't say.

    it is easy for people to criticize from the sideline. But it is the galdiator, shedding his own blood in the arena, who gains the actual victory. NOT the spectator, cheering or jeering from the stands!

    Congrats. You were the galdiator and you stepped in to the arena when you went to the gym, took a risk and worked out!

    Congrats!
  • binkybabe
    binkybabe Posts: 16
    You did great hanging in there! The exact same thing happened to me the first time I got on an Elliptical....lol! I have recently gone back to the gym after an almost 2 year absence....and a 67 lb weight gain! I used to do an hour on the elliptical, but now 10 min is my limit. I am hoping to increase my time to 15 min next week.

    I have developed a little routine for while I am at the gym. I do 30 min on the treadmill, then 10 min on the circuit training, 10 min on elliptical, move to ab crunch machines or other random toning machines, and then finish w/20-30 min on recumbent bike. I alternate days to work out specific areas, i.e. one day I'll do abs...next day concentrate on arms....next day legs....etc. That way I don't overdo it and get too sore the next day.

    I totally understand the "people watching me" thing....I'm like that too! I have decided that if I need to be their entertainment for the day, then so be it!! Lol! "A life form's gotta do what a lifeform's gotta do!"
  • agoofynut
    agoofynut Posts: 101 Member
    I know what you mean. I hate being in new situations where I don't know what to do! BTW, 5 minutes on the elliptical for your first time is GREAT! That thing is a killer.
  • justicer68
    justicer68 Posts: 1,223
    YAY!!! You should be very proud of yourself that you did it! Don't be embarrassed about anything. I personally have a love/hate relationship with the elliptical so knowing you made it five minutes for a first timer is awesome!! :flowerforyou:
  • Kashmir09
    Kashmir09 Posts: 45
    Great Victory! you can be proud of yourself! You dun it and ... Hey, it was OKAY :flowerforyou:
  • ysienkiewicz
    ysienkiewicz Posts: 86 Member
    Kudos to you for going!!!!!! Give yourself a pat on the back!

    I joined my local YMCA and found out several things: 1) they have programs (free!) to teach you how to use the equipment AND set up an exercise plan to maximize your time and minimize injury, 2) everyone else is doing their own thing. You would be surprised that no one else is watching you like you think! 3) I liked going. As you go more often, you may find that you meet very nice people there! I even joined a couple of group exercise classes, like Zumba!

    You can do it! Thanks for sharing!

    :smile:
  • djshari
    djshari Posts: 513 Member
    Oh my gosh... I LOVE your post. I DID THE EXACT SAME THING!! I actually went up and asked how to work it and he told me but I must have picked too hard of a setting because after about 5 minutes my legs fell like jelly. I got off and almost fell over. I carefully walked out the the gym and my thighs TICKLED... thats how they felt. Like tickly jelly. Then they hurt really bad for the next 3 days.

    I still won't use the elliptical because I simply can't operate the stupid controls WHILE moving because I am short with short arms and legs and uncoordinated :( If I stop moving it turns off. I have been using the bikes and treadmills instead. I figure one day when the gym is close to empty I will give it another try.
  • abberbabber
    abberbabber Posts: 972 Member
    Awww you did great!! You went, and that's the important thing! I know how hard it can be to do stuff like that the first time, especially alone (it terrifies me), so here's to you for getting out and doing it!! :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker:
  • iloveadam2013
    iloveadam2013 Posts: 3
    Please try the elliptical again, once you get the hang of it, you might just love it! I too had to learn how to work it but once you get the hang of it, if you can watch videos while you work out (on your phone, ipad, etc) the time will fly before you know it. At our gym they have small tv's on each piece of equipment. I would go at the same time three times a week and put on Law and Order SVU and just work without watching the time. I stayed motivated also watching how much calories I was burning and how many steps I was actually taking. You can do this and I'm excited for you! I havent' used it in a while as I switched to Hip Hop Abs in my office but whatever works..the key is to make sure you "move"...I just joined this site but I'm anxious to see the results and get the added support I need to keep going with my weight loss. I wish you well!
  • newdaydawning79
    newdaydawning79 Posts: 1,503 Member
    Congrats to you! That is amazing and wonderful that you did that!! (And I go backwards on the elliptical sometimes too, it's more than fine!)

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