New to the site and embarrassed to even try

When I work out I look gross and sweaty and I am so afraid to have people stare at me. My tummy prevents me from yoga poses and other things I would like to do. The feel of my own body jumping around bothers me. My feet problems and Achilles tendinitis make even walking a challenge. It's discouraging.

Solutions/tough love:

1) If you look pretty when you work out, you're doing it wrong. Your face gets all red and splotchy, sweat drenches your hair and clothes making them stick to you, hell I have a pair of workout paints that get completely wet in the crotch and it looks like I peed myself. But does it stop me? Not even for one second! And it shouldn't stop you either...

2) Don't give up on yoga (or anything) if it's something you really want to do. When I first tried yoga I was at or very near my heaviest weight (260) and it hurt my knees like nobody's business and I basically had no balancing skills. So I went off and did other things and lost weight and got more fit and a year or so later I tried again and I did much better. No pain and my balance had improved. Tried it again more recently and I did even better! Same with running or plyometrics or whatever else you may want to do. It may not be the right activity for you now but that doesn't mean you give up on your dream. Just keep up with your diet and what activity you can do and as the weight drops and you improve your fitness, try it again.

3) Even after losing most of my weight, I have a flabby belly issue. When I do jumping jacks or run, it flops around and sometimes makes a bit of a clapping noise. I could get compression wear but I don't care that much. Again...a bit embarrassing but I don't let it stop me. I know eventually this will improve/go away as I get closer to goal.

4) Your feet and AT problems will hopefully get better as you lose the weight. I had major plantar fascitis issues when I was at my heaviest and even bought special sandals to make it more comfortable. Make sure you're wearing proper footwear to help cushion the impact of your movements when you're being active. If you haven't already seen a specialist (sports doc, orthopedist) do that so that you can get whatever treatments and orthotics that you may need to help. My gym buddy has been dealing with chronic PF for about a year now. She tried several different self treatments and doctors and finally got some good treatment at a local PT office who got her into a good stretching program. She still has to be careful about wearing the right shoes and not pushing through the pain or doing too much high impact work.

If you really just can't get past the embarrassment then you can just work out at home. No one else can see you if the blinds are drawn right? if you like walking, I'd recommend the Leslie Sansome Walk Away the Pounds workouts. You can find them at WalMart in the sports section and probably even online. if you're unsure, I'd bet you can probably find samples on Youtube or something. If you like dancing, Hip Hop Abs is pretty fun. There are parts that are a bit more difficult but do your best and don't be ashamed to hit pause and take a breather. That's the great thing about working out at home with a DVD - you can take as many breaks as you want!

Honestly, I think it's great to see ALL shapes and sizes in the gym. I don't judge people. I just think to myself, "good for you"! "Working out and working hard to get healthy". Don't worry about what others think. Go to the gym, try some DVD's at home, go for walks or bike rides...just get moving....You got this!

Everyone sweats a ton when they work out. My face turns red/purple. When I see overweight people out running or biking I think "good for them!"

If impact is tricky for you, what about swimming, elliptical, or biking? Those are all fairly low impact. Swimming is awesome because even though you sweat, you don't necessarily feel it the same way. Swimming is supposed to be one of the most gentle forms of exercise on your joints and you can burn a **** ton of calories that way! If you feel uncomfortable with your body, get some board shorts and wear a T shirt to swim.

Try, TRY! It will be so woth it. Do what u can. A little more each day than the last. You'll be amazed at how quickly youll get stronger.

Allowing what you imagine other people might be thinking about you is only going to hurt you in the end. Be proud of the person you are and how hard you are working. I also have a belly but I LOVE yoga. No, I can't go as deeply into the poses as non bellied people but I still get the benefits and thats all that really matters. You are who you are. Own it!

Please keep trying! You never know if someone else is in the gym for the first time EVER and they may see you and say well, if they can do it, so can I! You never know when you are someone's inspiration. It's like Weight Watchers, people keep coming back long after they reach goal, not just for them, but to show the new person that they CAN reach their goals because others before them have and keep doing it daily. So please, help me to keep coming back...help me to realize that I am not alone in this battle, that other people feel gross and sweaty and feel like I do too! Help me to know that WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Aww shoot don't worry about what you think others might be thinking, kick *kitten* in your workout , buy yourself a pretty top to workout in and I think sweat is sexy , it is the fountain of youth!!!:flowerforyou:

Sweating is a good thing. It gets toxins out of your body. Don't let that stop you. Even if you only walk up and down the hallway of your house or apartment to start with. Weight loss is mostly about the diet. You can exercise more as the weight comes off. Just make up your mind to do it. I wish you all the best in your journey to a better you. Good luck.

I keep one saying in my head, "I would rather sweat like a pig at the gym, so that I can look like a fox when I put my bathing suit on!" I am still far from my goal, but darn it, I crank the treadmill on an incline of 9 (sometimes 12), at a pace of 4mph for 60 minutes (yes I hold on with that high of an incline) and I go at it... I don't care who is staring at me or what they are thinking... Screw them this is my journey not theirs and to be honest with you everyone else in the gym really could care less what anyone else is doing.

When I first joined my gym, I use to go in a 3am when no one was there and kick *kitten* on the elliptical and try any new exercises that I didn't want to try in front of people, that's when it clicked that no one cares what I am doing and vice versa, everyone is in it to get healthy and be fit!!

Good luck and just be yourself.

Cycling is the answer. I'm big, I'm heavy, and whilst I have a good frame of muscle, (especially in my legs,) I'm the same - hate being stared at by steroid-heads in the gym, embarrassed to be on the running machine next to the incredibly hot girl in the lycra, (plus I can't run to save my life!)

However, I'm a beast on the stationary cycle, (and on a road bike,) and I'm pretty good on the stationary rower too. From a social point of view, spin class is a great workout where EVERYONE is sweaty and red by the end, so I fit right in!

I think it's about finding exercise that suits you, both in how comfortable you feel doing it and how accessible it is to you. Despite how you feel there is something out there for you that you will enjoy.