I feel stupid.

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Replies

  • edwardkim85
    edwardkim85 Posts: 438 Member
    I feel absolutely stupid and ridiculous swinging my arms around, bending over with my butt in the air, kicking my legs and all the rest of the movements these cardio videos have you do. I just can't. I just can't get over how ridiculous I look in my mind's eye. It's actually prevented me from finishing this video I tried to do for cardio today.

    How do you get over feeling like you look foolish and just do what you need to do?

    If you think you look ridiculous being fat, then don't complain and get it done.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    Go do an exercise class then...you can look silly with a bunch of other people :smile:

    I honestly don't care how I look. I'm 28 weeks pregnant and did aerobics yesterday. I probably looked silly with my big belly, but do I care? I'd look even more silly if I turned into a huge beached whale this pregnancy!

    If you're at home on your own, then it really doesn't matter how you look.
  • Jovette42
    Jovette42 Posts: 280 Member
    To get something you've never had before you are going to have to do something you've never done before :flowerforyou:
  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    Because I like the way I look now, better than I did 162 lbs ago.

    But if you can't get past it, do something else. Swim, walk, cycle, whatever.
  • jillianbeeee
    jillianbeeee Posts: 345 Member
    Ya, but no one will be laughing when your nearing goal weight....not even you.
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    Well...yeah...I blame it on neurological conditions though. My brain sends a signal to my leg and it ends up going to my arm.

    I also have problems thinking that I am moving faster than the instructor but I am always a beat behind...can't figure that one out.

    Then there is the part where opposite sides need to move at the same time...I still struggle with that one.

    Ever heard that saying...use it or lose it? Mine just got up and left the building.

    I try some videos and just think WTF are they talking about!

    I just keep looking foolish and ridiculous...behind closed doors! What I am finding though is that after doing the video several times...it gets better. Now when I tell my body to move forward...it has stopped going sideways. Still struggle with that coordination of moving my right arm and left leg at the same time...I still look ridiculous.
  • alisonlynn1976
    alisonlynn1976 Posts: 929 Member
    Watching myself in the mirror helps me improve my form. Every time I try a new exercise, I look stupid at first. And then I improve.
  • bheathfit
    bheathfit Posts: 451 Member
    Instead of a lot of strange cardio, I just lift really heavy stuff. :huh: I also make sure to make manly grunting noises, so that others in the gym know that I am lifting really heavy stuff... Hahaha!! :laugh: :noway:
  • IdealMel
    IdealMel Posts: 4 Member
    I know how hard it is to get over these feelings. I'm working on losing 4 children's worth of weight and then it's on to college pounds! I agree with all the positive responses I've read here. I am just starting out, but here's what I've done so far...

    I cover the mirrors where I'll be exercising. I don't know why I can't stop looking even though I know it bothers me.

    I don't like the way my flab is so bouncy, so I figure why not wear a 'sports bra' for my body? I'm going to try tights or some spandex pants.

    I walk at a fast pace instead of running or jogging. I figure it's better for my knees until there's less weight coming down on them. Right now snow is getting in the way, so I try to get my exercise by shoveling and sledding with the kids.

    I am so out of shape and stiff that I'm starting out slow and working on my cardio dispersed in 1-5 minute segments throughout my day. Until I feel I can get through at least 10 minutes of video. I go down to the basement to do laundry and jump rope or use my step for a few minutes, etc. I go down to put it in the dryer, do it again. I also feel more confident in the basement because concrete doesn't squeak.

    I also find that saying positive things to myself aloud has a greater impact than just thinking them. It's as if my brain thinks someone else is saying it to me. It feels dorky, but it helps to override the negative comments I've been storing in there from myself and others throughout my life.

    You are already doing an awesome job just by being here! Glad to have you on board!:flowerforyou:
  • darkrose20
    darkrose20 Posts: 1,139 Member
    Believe me, I know how you feel! The first day I worked out, I puked afterward. I could hear my belly flapping around and I felt like if you harnessed my flab, you could power a small city for a year. I just decided that because I'm doing it at home, who cares? I'm in the basement and nobody can see me, so I'm going to just look stupid because it will get easier.

    I started imagining that when my belly jiggled, the fat cells would hit each other and explode. Total Death Star destruction! The image amused me enough to work out the next day. Soon, my pants were falling down during my workout!

    Now, I'm 68 days in and I've lost over 20 inches overall and have lost nearly a third of my goal!

    How did I get over the silly feeling? I just posted pictures around with motivational sayings and pictures of clothes I want to buy when I'm my goal. I yelled at Jillian and pushed harder to show her I could do it no matter what she throws at me. I set mini-goals during my workouts that I would do "just one more" than last time.

    It gets better. It won't get better if you don't keep trying, though! You can do this!!

    Pow go the fat cells! I like that. Made me smile.

    And to the rest of you, your input has helped a bunch. THANKS VERY MUCH!

    I talked to my b/f (online) when this happened. I figured I should switch videos, because 1.) it really was just standing around flapping my arms and legs and getting NO increase in heart rate and 2.) that's what was rediculous about it--looking silly (in my mind's eye only) and getting no percieved results.

    I switched to the 30DS which kicked my butt the first two times (couldn't do all the push ups, felt craptastic for it). I got through ALL the push ups (felt much better for it), and I did most of the first set of the jumping jacks (until my knee started hurting) and then I did modified versions of them and the other jumping moves. I felt better for it.

    Thanks for listening to my downs and subsequent up. :-)

    I really do need to look at my finances and find a dance class. The Tribal Fusion Belly Dance class I took was quite fun and made me get up and move for 30 - 45 mins a day. I need a change up, though.
  • darkrose20
    darkrose20 Posts: 1,139 Member
    Instead of a lot of strange cardio, I just lift really heavy stuff. :huh: I also make sure to make manly grunting noises, so that others in the gym know that I am lifting really heavy stuff... Hahaha!! :laugh: :noway:

    Yes, I have to remember to do the manly grunt when I use the weights. :-)
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    I like to channel my inner Napolean Dynamite. Of course it wasn't always like that. I felt embarrassed. But I had to get over myself. Nobody cares what I look like or what I'm doing. Get as flamboyant and exaggerated as you have to be. Learn to let go and have fun, no matter how ridiculous you think it is.

    lhlgK.gif
  • wrenegade64
    wrenegade64 Posts: 410 Member
    3 schools of thought on this young lady....

    * Focus on "WHY" you are doing it instead of "WHAT" you think you look like
    * Don't pass judgement from just one or two videos or DVDs...ask around and find out what others use
    * If you REALLY have to think about what you look like, look ahead in your mind at what you will look like after you have done it for a month.

    ITS ALL GOOD :-D
  • zapinkleopard
    zapinkleopard Posts: 49
    Try Leslie Sansone's walk aerobics. Very basic . You can do a 1 mile indoor walk, or 2, or 3, or 4 or 5.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    I feel absolutely stupid and ridiculous swinging my arms around, bending over with my butt in the air, kicking my legs and all the rest of the movements these cardio videos have you do. I just can't. I just can't get over how ridiculous I look in my mind's eye. It's actually prevented me from finishing this video I tried to do for cardio today.

    How do you get over feeling like you look foolish and just do what you need to do?

    Hell, you look better than all those laying on the couch stuffing their face with potato chips!

    Keep going! :)
  • elprincipito
    elprincipito Posts: 1,200 Member
    well i figured i dont look really appealing making sex faces when lifting heavy weights but thats the only way im gonna make progress. lol
  • KristinaB83
    KristinaB83 Posts: 440 Member
    I think I look pretty stupid doing most motions... I look like I'm about to poop when I'm doing squats. I giggle sometimes. But, I don't care how silly it looks as long as it's working toward my goal.
  • EplusThree
    EplusThree Posts: 47 Member
    Do you have a friend you can be goofy with? That may help with anxiety,
    I'm not a great singer, but I'm not tone deaf. My friend, however, tone deaf. You know who cares when we are singing bohemian rhapsody at the top of our lungs? Nobody!!! We are doing something that we enjoy, something that releases endorphins and makes us feel better.
    I hated the way I *thought* I looked when I ran. Then an amazing song came on my playlist, I started to focus on my breathing, and outran everyone in the gym (and I had gotten there first!) and two ppl came up to me and gave me a high five and thumbs up, saying I was awesome for outrunning them. I probably looked like a three-legged elephant, but that's not what ppl noticed!
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    How do you get over feeling like you look foolish and just do what you need to do?

    Just go for a run :) HTH
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I feel absolutely stupid and ridiculous swinging my arms around, bending over with my butt in the air, kicking my legs and all the rest of the movements these cardio videos have you do. I just can't. I just can't get over how ridiculous I look in my mind's eye. It's actually prevented me from finishing this video I tried to do for cardio today.

    How do you get over feeling like you look foolish and just do what you need to do?

    I fixed that by not doing those things, and doing stuff that was utilitarian. Swim, run, bike.

    Yoga though, just do it with a bunch of similarly minded social scofflaws, and feel good. :)
  • perseverance14
    perseverance14 Posts: 1,364 Member
    I feel absolutely stupid and ridiculous swinging my arms around, bending over with my butt in the air, kicking my legs and all the rest of the movements these cardio videos have you do. I just can't. I just can't get over how ridiculous I look in my mind's eye. It's actually prevented me from finishing this video I tried to do for cardio today.

    How do you get over feeling like you look foolish and just do what you need to do?
    Just do it, if it bothers you that much, get a piece of exercise equipment like a stationery bike or treadmill, or even an aerobic step that is adjustable (much less expensive), figure out what you can do and "get into it" because getting into it helps a lot!
  • darkrose20
    darkrose20 Posts: 1,139 Member
    Try Leslie Sansone's walk aerobics. Very basic . You can do a 1 mile indoor walk, or 2, or 3, or 4 or 5.

    Thanks. I'll have to find that one.
  • GiGiBeans
    GiGiBeans Posts: 1,062 Member
    Heh, I'm almost 50 and in the gym doing Strong Curves, which is hip thrusting, single leg bridges, reverse hypers, back extenstions, goblet squats, lying side clams etc etc. I look like some kind of gym pervert. But come summertime I plan to rock a bikini so if I have to do that stuff wearing a clown nose and rainbow I'll do it.
  • draveling
    draveling Posts: 1 Member
    I agree Leslie Sansone is great. I have used her videos a lot over the years. After doing it a few times to learn the sequense of moves I turn the volume down on the video and play my own music. As for feeling stupid. When I first started working out to videos my husband would come in to see what I was doing. I felt stupid, but then he looked more stupid with his goofy grin. I would tell him to go away. Now he is so used to me working out to videos it doesn't even phase him. Sometimes I even wish he would come in and see how much of a sweat I have worked up.

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