Gym Anxiety- Advice? Your experience

I think it's natural and fine to be anxious about joining the gym. I also felt that way when I first started going. You feel like everyone is watching you (they aren't) and that they somehow know you've never been there and don't know what you're doing (they don't).

My advice is to go there and just get down to business. I'm pretty sure most gyms have a tour to break in new members and show you how all the machines work and run etc.

I know that myself once I'm at the gym I'm there to do my thing and get out and don't pay much attention to anyone else there.

My only other piece of advice is to be serious about being there; don't sit on a machine feeling hopeless and not doing anything...that is a pet peeve of mine. If the gym is crowded and machines are hard to come by there is nothing more frustrating than someone just sitting there and taking up the machine not doing anything. I've seen it quite often.

People are there to work out and get fit. If you simply go in, be polite, and do your thing you will find that for the most part no one will even pay attention to you. Of course, if you need help and ask for it politely, you will also find that many people will readily give you a hand.

I think these days most gyms in the U.S. (at least the for-profit ones -- as opposed to a county-funded facility) will have someone (from sales) give you a tour when you first express an interest. Unless you're absolutely sure (because of location, price, or whatever) that this is the only gym you want to consider, you may want to ask them if they have a free trial period. Most do, although it might only be a few days. The last one I joined I used a Living Social deal for a half-price one-month membership to see what it was like before signing a contract. Then if you're not sure at the end of the trial, you could try another one the same way, until you find one where you feel comfortable and where they offer things (cardio machines, weight machines, free weights, cardio classes, Pilates or yoga classes, kick boxing, a pool -- whatever floats your boat).

After you sign up, most gyms offer one or two free sessions with a personal trainer, and usually what they do is set you up with a workout schedule, and obviously they should show you how to use any machines or how to do any exercises you're unfamiliar with that are part of that schedule, but remember that you're paying for it as part of your membership -- it's only "free" in the sense that there's no extra charge -- so you should feel like you can ask the trainer for any specific advice on your form for exercises you want to do, how to use machines you're interested in.

When you first meet with the sales person, ask them what kind of free PT sessions come with a new membership.

I've used gyms for over 30 years, starting in my late teens, from probably the high end of my healthy BMI range through overweight to obese. I've used gyms at two different universities, at least five different county-run gym facilities, and five different for-profit gyms. In all those years, I never got the feeling people were looking at me, except a few guys when I was in my 20s who ended up asking me out, and people who wanted to use equipment I was using but didn't want to ask to work in (that means using the equipment while someone else is resting between sets) for whatever reason. And while I admit there were times when I felt uncomfortable using free weights when that area seemed to be crowded with the heavy-lifting dudes in their weight belts (who, oddly, seemed to spend a lot more time talking than actually lifting heavy, but I guess the gym is their social hangout), that's really on me. None of them was ever actually rude to me. Sometimes they even offered advice, and sometimes it was good advice, or at least I had no reason to think it was bad advice.

Good luck. I'd say the most important thing is to find a gym you'll actually use. Gyms sell a lot of memberships that don't get used much after the first month or two.

One thing you should remember before you go is that you are not going to Globo-gym. There is nobody standing with a velvet rope to deem you good looking enough to enter. Those types of gyms are only in the movies. The real gyms out there are like Joe's Gym. Just regular people of all fitness levels congregating to try to get healthier.

Yes, there are fit people. There are also lots of unfit people trying to become fit people. If you join a YMCA, you will probably see families. Lots and lots of families. If you're afraid of what commercial gyms might be like, then find a Y because they're almost universally welcoming.

But no matter where you join, the people who are inside the gym are almost always going to be regular Joes just trying to get healthy. You won't find many fitness models.

Just go and don't worry what anyone might think of you. Do it for you and you alone.

The first time I went I was overwhelmed and I didn't know what I was doing. I just kept telling myself, that everyone starts out feeling like this and just keep doing what I am doing and I will gain confidence. Well it works, and now i look out for other new people and try to guide them along

Unfortunately I do not have any great words of wisdom for you. I have gone to gyms with friends a handful of times but always for a one-time event and specific reason like walking a track, swimming, etc.

The thing that always kept me from joining a gym (along with anxiety) was that a lot of gyms, even the Y, required a weigh-in, doctor's note, and/or initial meeting with a trainer and I did not want to do ANY of that stuff! Actually now that I'm feeling "semi normal" at 194 lb (as I am 37 and that's the lowest I've weighed since age 15) I think the anxiety might be even worse because I know there are soooo many women much heavier than I am who are actually in better shape when it comes to working out. Every time I read about someone else who is at 250 lb and running and doing chin ups and push ups it makes me think OMG and wanna hide underneath my comforter LOL

What it all boils down to is that I am a competitive perfectionist and I don't like being the newbie or the worst at things. The idea of going to a gym and working out makes me 100X more nervous than giving a speech to hundreds of people or going to a big job interview. Those things are no big deal to me.

Anyway yep. Gym anxiety. hehe

My only bad experience from a gym was when I got my hair cut into my fauxhawk and now I look like the "obvious" lesbian (not that I think that is what I look like but that is the stereotype these days) and I get glares from the typical older generation and stares from people in general I mean, If I saw a kick *kitten* chick with a fauxhawk lifting heavy weights I'd stare too (just kidding I'm not that conceited) but the best advice I can give you is have confidence, hold your head up high, and show them your strength with a smile on your face. That typical saying, "Keep your head up high, people would kill to see you fall" well, there you go. Prove everyone (everyone meaning the awkward people in the gym) and yourself that you can do it!

Hello! I find the classes are the best place to start. Then maybe you can meet a workout buddy! Good luck!

Hey, at least you didn't accidentally drop the squat bar on yourself the first day lol. True story, but I made a gym buddy after that.

I also didn't know the gym showers water temp could be adjusted, so I was taking cold showers for like 2 months lol