Getting over gym fear!!

Heya,

Iv just joined gym (made financial sense as way paying out to way to many dif places for classes!) and I'm a bit apprehensive about using the gym bit. I don't mind classes cos ur in there to work hard and then u leave! But the gym area bit scares me a bit! I dont know why and I know it's stupid but I can't shake it! I think its cos im big! and sweat lots! N e one else like that? N e tips to help me switch off from this feeling of being watched!!

I go to the gym all the time. Here is the way I look at peeps form my perspective. Big, small, tall or short, mad props for showing up. You are there to get healthy just like the rest of us. But that means get healthy. Seeing a girl walk for 2 hours on the treadmill and look EXACTLY the same day in and day out, to me, she is there for another reason. The girl who is hunched over looking like someone hit her face with a water balloon? Much respect. Guy throwing up massive weight with crappy form...back to school. Guys using smaller weights and perfect form...respect again. When I am on the treadmill doing sprints, the people on the TV look like they are having an earthquake. Doing intervals on the elliptical....I probably look like i am going to keel over.
BUT...I showed up and I busted my *kitten* working out.

Hope that makes sense.

i sweat SO MUCH. SO SO MUCH. i was a bit apprehensive about it, but I posted on this forum and everyone was like. whatever just wipe the machines & bring a towel. Honestly, its not a workout unless you sweated
I think the key is, that I never see the gym as a social place. For me, it is ME time, it is my zen. so dont talk to me. so, get into a zone, headphones in, and just go in with a plan. I find that if i prethink a work out, its great. You stay on track, you know what you need to accomplish. I often follow the workouts in Oxygen Magazine. this gives you something to follow, so that you do not seem lost, and therefore get intimidated.

good luck.
Honestly it gets better each time you go. personally, I adore my weight training time

I was the same way. And then, to top it off, I got the "shakedown" by one of the trainers there... he taught me a few exercises but it was all a sales pitch for absurdly expensive personal training schedules. I wish I could afford him, but I can't and I told him that... 15 times. And now, everytime I go in the gym (which is already sort of hard for me to do... I don't want to be noticed, really... just want to do my thing), he spots me and says things like, "You need to put some more work in, girl!"

I used to love it, but I honestly kinda cringe when I walk in the door. But I won't stop going. I just wish I was more comfortable there.

He is a used car salesman and should not be deterring you one bit. I'd tell him to STFU, but that's just me.

I think when we go to the gym we're a bit narcissistic, but in a good way. The focus should be on yourself and your own workout. I know when I'm teaching dance, I tell the girls to watch themselves, look at their technique, diva it out in the mirror. Some people were apprehensive about other people seeing them dance, but really, everyone is just kinda focused on themselves and their own workout, and in that environment, it's a good thing

I used to get self conscious too. But, that's what ipods are for. Plug them in and zone out!

Take a buddy? If you have a willing one. But then you probably won't work as hard.

Just get there, work hard, get out again. You shouldnt even have have time to think about what anyone else is doing/thinking

Go for it :flowerforyou: