Feeling comfortable at the gym

No one cares. Seriously. No one cares. No one goes to the gym to people watch and judge people. Everyone is there to workout.

This. Don't worry about it and just concentrate on your workout. You are doing it for yourself, and no one else.

Also, OP, I'll bet not everyone at your gym isn't a size 4. At my gym there are people of all sizes...and guess what? No one cares.

I was the same way. I have a lot to lose, I'm not athletic etc. My gym is in my subdivision so it's small, but there are still people in there doing some serious workouts. I started with a personal trainer and one day found myself doing bear crawls across the gym in front of a 15 year old boy there with his Mother, checking out the place. They're bad enough to do with just the trainer. But after the first few feet, I stopped caring. I'm there for me. I don't think he even looked my way. Today he started showing me weights on the squat rack, a few other people were there. One thin, ex military lady asked me if I liked it, smiling. I've also started the C25K running program. I'm obese, I don't run, too many parts move. I've been doing little bursts of slow jogs outside around the lake where no one can see me. Today was my third run on the treadmill, in front of the trainer and the other people there. No one looked or laughed.

So, the more you do it, the more you'll realize that no one but you cares. Everyone's doing his/her own thing. So should you. Good luck.

I have felt like this at times as well. A couple of things to keep in mind. First, like the others have said, no one cares. Second, you are there to improve yourself, anyone who can't see and respect that doesn't deserve your time or attention.

I wish you the best and hope you keep working to reach your goals.

**** PEOPLE! NO NO NO! You clearly do not understand, **** PEOPLE.

**** you.

I felt the same way too, I start off as a (NZ) 16+, 6 weeks ago, I am now (NZ) 14. and not the biggest in the gym any more, I have now started doing some of my weight over in the "weight area where all the strong guys workout"

when I see big girls at the gym I think good them

keep doing what you are doing, this is your JOURNEY and think you are doing really well. good on you for taking the steps to a healthy lifestyle. keep it up


anyone can add me

I agree with everyone else - the people in the gym are focused on themselves and do not care how you look...just remember that you deserve to be fit and keep telling youself that through your loud earphones.

the thin people might have not always been thin, and even if they were who cares. you go there for yourself. most people focus on themselves there.

No one goes to the gym to people watch.

Confession: I people watch at the gym. All. The. Time. But mostly, I'm doing it to try to see new and/or different things I'm not currently doing.

First of all, the above posters are right. No one cares, as long as you follow good etiquette. And if you have any questions about good gym etiquette, there are many, many people on MFP who will tell you their opinions.

I work out at an apartment gym, which is a big awkward, because you bump into the same people over and over again in the halls and stuff. People actually notice when you've been working out regularly or not. There's a few guys who have been working out for years, and are clearly really serious about it. At first I totally felt self conscious. I was lifting like 75 pounds, and he was lifting 280. At the end of my workout, I smiled and said "have a good workout," and he, very genuinely commented on how hard I worked. The other guys has offered me some really good pointers on getting the most out of the machines. It's a good reminder that it's all relative, you're only comparing yourself to yourself, and everyone remembers they started somewhere too.

And to echo what others have said... when I see someone overweight working out, I think way to go! And depending on how much, it's not easy to carry around extra weight, never mind move with it. In my opinion, it's better to be bigger, but strong, fit and healthy, than skinny fat and a size 4.

Like a previous poster said, "Seriously, nobody cares." See if your gym gives free trainer sessions. Mine gave 3 1/2 hour sessions for joining. The trainer really helped me realized what I needed to do. That helped me feel more comfortable. The reason I was so heavy was I didn't exercise. I didn't know how to exercise. I didn't know what I really should do at the gym. I didn't know how hard to push myself. I didn't know how little to push myself. Everything I did made me feel like I'd have a heart attack and die. Honestly, I seldom even sweat in the beginning. I just thought I wasn't a sweater. Well you know what I mean. I just couldn't move enough to bring on a sweat. Now I'm a sweaty, strong, healthy mess when I leave the gym. If there are no training sessions and you can't afford to buy one see if there are classes. A boot camp like class is similar to personal training. Plus you'll have an instructor who will show you how to modify until you get stronger and in better shape. I've been doing this for 1 1/2 years and I'm only in the middle of the pack at class. BUT I'm no longer in the back of the room and the most unhealthy person there.

Hi,

I know how you feel. I work out at my former college because the facilities are free for alumni members. So, I am surrounded by thin and young people. Occasionally a professor or another alumni member comes in. I have noticed that most people don't pay attention to me though. So, I just tune out everyone and focus on my routine and goals. You can't let self-consciousnesses get in your way. You are doing this for you and how you feel inside. What is going on around you on the outside does not matter.