How to not look like fattest person in gym?
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Everyone is too busy worrying about themselves and if people are looking at them.0
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The only person judging you is you. Lighten up on yourself and go have some fun at the gym. Before you know it you'll be admiring yourself in the mirror.0
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:flowerforyou: OP please please pluck up the courage and go. I know its scary, I know its intimidating and I know how embarassing it feels. I was the biggest woman and am still one of the larger ones. I started swimming and walking on a treadmill. Swimming, whilst I was big I could kind of hide as I'm a decent swimmer. That and I'd swim twice as many laps as most people - to the extent that one day when I got out and walked past the spa pool one lady commented that I made her feel guilty and to keep doing it.
I started lifting weights (still on the machines not free weights yet though) and kept getting positive comments off some of the guys lifting about how good it was to see a woman lifting as much as she could. Slowly walking on the treadmill turned into me puffing and panting, gasping and wheezing through C25K. One of the ladies commented on how much my running was improving. Then someone else made a similar comment, then someone asked if I didn't mind them asking how much weight had I lost. They then told someone else and suddenly I was getting positive comments about my fitness and my weight loss from a few people. Now I get asked if I beat a PB or did a longer distance in my weekend runs. The encouragement from complete strangers has been unbelieveable and fantastic! In all this time (10 months now) I have had only 1 bad experience from one rude and ignorant lady who I think thought she was back in school and could bully the fat kid - she soon learned she couldn't when I told her to wind her neck in. She's since dropped out of the gym, I still go 4-5 times a week (and now run outside twice a week).
Its easy to hide behind being fat to stop you doing stuff, I did it for years and in the process got fatter and more unhealthy. The first few weeks feel weird and scary, like starting a new job or new school. But then you realise you have a routine, that there are newer faces than yours in the gym, you're losing weight and not blowing just walking up a flight of stairs. its worth the initial discomfort. As for clothes I wear a compression top & shorts to reduce the wobbles with a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that fits over the top.
Good luck0 -
Have confidence.
Just mad dog anyone who looks at you, easy way to win friends - promise.
On a serious note: anyone who would bemoan an unhealthy person trying to better themselves is a cretin and worthy only of our collective pity. The truth is some people at the gym will make comments about you to their friends etc, but most people who are in good shape know the work they put in to achieve it and will respect you for turning up and doing your thing.
Arseholes are everywhere, you won't avoid them by not going to the gym.0 -
I would buy some nice gym kit. You might end up sweating a lot and functional gym t-shirts are so much more comfortable than cotton. I would also shop around. Some gyms are much more friendly than others. The gym I go to sometimes is full of retired people. They obviously get on with their workouts but also stop for chats. It can be much more motivating to be at a gym where you can be sociable as well as focus on your workout.0
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You need to keep going to the gym in order to not be the fattest person at the gym. Use it for motivation instead of letting it discourage you.
Losing weight isn't easy, it takes discipline and commitment. You also need to let go of any sort of negative self image you have of yourself and just focus on what actually matters.
When I look at the heaviest person at the gym I see myself many years ago. If I look or stare it's not because I'm judging or think they shouldn't be there. It's because I think it's awesome that they're even there in the first place because I remember how difficult it was for me.0 -
I'm ALWAYS the fattest person at the gym weighing over 400 pounds. Who cares. I'm not there to worry about what everyone else is thinking about me. I'm there to get fit and healthy. And hey it's kind of amusing when you're out working much thinner people. Just cause they're skinny doesn't mean they are in shape!0
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I to the gym in school hours and most of the people there at that time are mothers trying to loose their baby weight and older people. Sometimes there are also carers bringing in the special needs people they look after. This would probably be the best time of day to go if you're feeling self conscious.
You should also remember though that most of the people in the gym are there to work out, not judge everyone who walks through the door. Unless you start annoying people by grunting loudly they're not really going to pay you that much attention. Personally, whenever I see an overweight person in the gym I just see a work in progress and its amazing to see people change over a period of time. Remember that its better for people to see how you are when you started the gym as you'll gain a lot of respect from them as they see you improve and share your journey with you. Good luck x0 -
Hey! Do NOT worry about this at all haha =-) I understand why you would....I was the same. I used to get nervous that people were watching me or that I would be doing something wrong etc. My PT told me that actually people have a lot of respect for anyone who is going to the gym, whether that was someone in great shape or not! Go for a while and you will see that everyone is just focussed on them. x ps. when I have a fat day I wear black shorts and a white top ;-)0
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so random- but my music theory class last night teacher/friend is talking about what we are learning and how it's knowledge. not just stuff- i thought it was so poignant - I have been saying that for so long- but this just really nails it I think.
Knowledge crushes fear.
if you know- you won't be afraid.-
you may not be GOOD at it- but you will be confident you know where you are going.0 -
it is what it is man. it sucks, but stick with it. keep going and soon enough you won't be the fattest person at the gym.
if you wear really baggy clothes you'll just end up looking even bigger.
invest in some compression underwear to help with the chaffing (and to prevent wedgies). buy sweat shirts and pants. soon enough you'll be swimming in them.
keep up the good work.0 -
Put some music on your headphone
Grab your weights
and do your thing
No one is really looking at you anyway.. unless you have the weigh they want..
Then they are really just watching the weight so they can grab it when you're done.
You really aren't eh biggest person at your gym, that's your insecurity shining through.
You are miles ahead of the person still sitting on the couch, and only steps behind the perceived fittest person at the gym.0 -
Be the most committed person in the gym because that's what really matters!
Good luck!0 -
Good stuff in this thread!
As for me, once I put the headphones on I'm the only one who matters.
The easiest way to look like the fattest person in the gym is make yourself FEEL like the fattest person in the gym. And chances are, if you were at the gym yesterday, or the day before, and you're back again today, you're smaller than you were previously, so you CAN'T be the fattest person in the gym.0 -
Work hard enough so you are not the fattest person in the gym. When I started going I was a person of great size but I went anyway. I was one of the weaker men there too but I refused to let that deter me. What I found out though is that people were watching me and after a few months done of them asked if I had lost a bunch of weight. These people I thought were judging me turned out to be my greatest encouragers. When I see a person of size in the gym I see myself two years ago. You cannot get where you want to be without starting where you are today. Just do it. In the end folks will notice you but it will be for good reasons.0
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I'm morbidly obese and went to the gym with no quarms. It was actually good, as i imagine many people lookin at me thinking 'good on her doing something', rather than walking past me eating thinking the exact opposite.
no one even did look at me though, which i was a bit gutted about. i wanted attention, as i wanted to be 'that fat girl' that people remembered before, who got slim and healthy.
ive moved to a new area now, and am thinking of joining again when i find a good local one.
i was so nervous before i started, but no one even cared. it was perfectly fine.
in fact, i loved it and just went crazy - running and wobbling everywhere on the treadmill in front of fit guys. i didnt care. and i loved more than anything when i felt sweat running down my brow or back. i chose to wear grey a lot as it goes really dark when it gets wet and shows the workout even more to people.
"people have no right to judge you if you are on a treadmill, but every right to judge you if they walk past you and you are eating a mcdonalds", i tell myself. i binge(d) and ate too many carbs and calories and sugar on a regular basis. it has taken the past 10+ years of my life and i am back on the wagon and creating a new relationship with food and my body. 2014 is my year. make it yours too.
good luck.
tina
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I started at close to 300lbs, was obese at greater than 40% BF. I felt out of place, without any confidence. But you should know that once you start reading on here and becoming more knowledgeable along with more gym time. You're going to realize that more than half the people in there don't have a clue what they're doing. They don't use proper form, they wander from station to station without any plan.
Equip your mind, strengthen your heart, and fuel your body.
You. Can. Do. This.0 -
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The simple reality is... no one really cares.
This. When I go to the gym, I am focused on my workout. Probably the only time I focus on the other patrons is to avoid walking in to them or because they are using something I want to use and I am checking to see if it is free.0 -
I'm usually the fattest guy at my gym. And no cares are given. Once you get used to going, you get over the social anxiety of people "looking at you".0
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That's amazing and wonderful!0 -
I want a friend like this guy!!
I'm still one of the larger girls at my gym, and I'm not overweight anymore. I still get nervous about it, but really, it doesn't matter what strangers at the gym think of me. I'm there to workout.
Focus on your workout. Wear clothes that are comfortable and suitable for your workout purposes, and just ignore everyone else.0 -
What they said!The simple reality is... no one really cares.
They are focused on themselves, and if they are single or have a roving eye, on attractive members of the opposite sex.
They really could care less about everything else.
And if they ever did start to care, as has been said, 90% of the time they are thinking... "good for him/her for doing something about it."0 -
After a few times you'll realize that this was all in your head... It's like any new place you go for the first time.0
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Id love to join to the gym,but it is holding me back- what would people think?
So- Im glad someone posted this question.. Ill keep on eye on it
I'll tell you exactly what I think when I see someone who is very heavy/out of shape at the gym:
"Good on ya', keep at it! Hope to see you tomorrow too!"0 -
Id love to join to the gym,but it is holding me back- what would people think?
So- Im glad someone posted this question.. Ill keep on eye on it
I'll tell you exactly what I think when I see someone who is very heavy/out of shape at the gym:
"Good on ya', keep at it! Hope to see you tomorrow too!"
^I agree with this.
I've been helped countless times in the gym (and with running), and I also try to do my best to pay it forward.
Was thinking this was a zombie thread but maybe just a repeat . . .0 -
I've noticed there are two kinds of people at the gyms I've been too:
1. People focused on their work outs.
2. People focused on strutting around like male peacocks showing off their feathers.
1. doesn't care what anyone else looks like
2. only bothers with other peacocks
Get in the gym and don't worry about being judged, do your thing, and it'll pay off.0 -
Who cares what people think?0
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Dont let it bother you. you have already beat the hard part just by going into the gym0
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