Fattest girl at the gym

You should be proud of yourself because your getting out there and doing something about your weight. Where I swim there are many very overweight ladies who swim, and I look at them and think good on you for doing something about it, people who think otherwise are not worth anything. You carry on going to the gym, be proud because you are doing brilliant.

If you can, try to find a gym where you feel more comfortable. I'm a 47 year old not all that toned, but fairly fit woman. At my regular gym, I feel totally comfortable. It's a large facility where a lot of older people and people doing rehab work out. At another gym I belong to for my kids, I can feel a little out of place watching all the very young girls in their very cute outfits. Sometimes a change in environment is all you need.

And I've been one of the larger women at a gym and it can feel discouraging, but I think most people are too focused on themselves to notice other people very much.

Meh. I'm almost always the fattest person at the gym. Doesn't bother me. Go in, do your thing, and don't worry about anyone else. Can almost guarantee that they aren't worrying about you.

I don't see women in my gym dressed like that but I hear about it all the time on MFP. I think it must be a cultural thing depending on where you live. I've seen one woman in a sports bra in CrossFit and never anyone else in a sports bra anywhere.

Having been fat (235 pounds), I generally think the fattest chick in the gym (if she's really working) is the coolest chick in the gym. I know how much harder it is to exercise when you have more weight to carry. Keep at it. I have had lots of people approach me and say, "Wow! I can't believe how much progress you've made. Great job!" That's nice when strangers are cheering you on.

P.S. The other think you may not realize is some of those fit people may have been in your shoes two years ago.

Can you buy some workout clothes that can help you feel more confident? I find myself way less self conscious working out next to super fit people when I'm wearing clothes that make me confident. In my case, that means capris sweatpants, because I'm self conscious about my thighs.

i have the most respect out of anyone for the biggest people at the gym. theyre the ones trying to start new good habits, theyre the ones carrying around 100 extra lbs on that treadmill, theyre the ones who have to work against everything they have gotten used to in their life in order to try and better themselves. its like someone looking at the base of mt. everest and saying "y'know what, *kitten* it, ima climb that f*cker. it may beat the hell out of me, people may think im a fool or my efforts are fruitless, but i will climb"

everyone is self conscious at first, but eventually you realize that most people in the gym are concentrated on their own workouts, and if they arent then they are wasting their time and money at the gym

^this

do what you gotta do, dont worry if people are looking at you, which they probably arent anyways. Good luck on your journey!

I think I was the biggest girl when I started. Now I'm somewhere in the middle, I suppose. Didn't care then, don't care now. I'm sure nobody else at the gym does either lol.

I tend to be judgy of people who are just burning time and 'pretending' to exercise, not based on their size. You'll get more respect as the fat chick who's rocking her workout than the skinny girl who might as well not even be there. That being said, if gymtimidation would keep you from getting in your exercise, you can absolutely rock a work out at home with little or no financial investment.

I absolutely feel the same way! I hate going to the gym. It's definitely motivation but, it does absolutely nothing for my self esteem and confidence. When I go to gym and I'm the only fat one there it is very depressing.
I have a treadmill in my bedroom at home and considering something else for strength training. My upper body is pathetic!
We are all going to keep on keeping on and blossom into beautiful butterflies!!!

I'm one of the thinner girls at the gym now (and I used to be in your shoes) and I personally feel incredibly motivated by EVERYONE at the gym, regardless of weight. Props to you for getting out there and changing your life

It's YOUR life and you can do whatever you want. Don't let the opinions of others stop you from getting healthy. The gym is a great place for motivation, good equipment, and general knowledge about healthy lifestyles- maybe if you made friends with some of the other ladies/men there you would feel better.

You're doing great! Keep it up!

Being the fattest girl at the gym is better than being the skinniest broad at the buffet.

For the last week when I leave work I have seen a woman who is obese jogging around my business park. She is maybe doing 3mph, and often stops and walks a ways before starting to run again (Just occurred to me that she might be doing intervals...duh!)...but I have far more respect for her then any of the folks leaving her in the dust.

Same for the guy at my gym who couldn't do push ups on his knees when he started, because his stomach wasn't off the ground when his arms where fully extended. He puts more effort into everything then the guys curling all day, and despite barely being able to walk when he leaves he is always smiling and telling his trainer "I'll be better next time".

I see you in the gym, making an effort, I know you are doing so much more than the countless folks sitting on a couch talking about "starting to diet/workout tomorrow". And you've already taken the hardest step...you started.

In the beginning the mental battles are harder than the physical workouts.

Right now I work out at home because I have lots of options here (Zumba for the Wii, weights and a treadmill), but I intend on eventually joining a gym. Whenever I think about being the biggest one at the gym, I think about THIS

http://flintland.blogspot.com/2012/05/hey-fat-girl.html

and the fact that EVERYBODY has things they don't like about their body. We just need to stay out of the middle school mentality of thinking that anyone is really paying all that much attention to us. Most people are worried more about their own workout.

Also don't forget that some of those "fit" people may have been where you are, right now. People sort of assume that the way you are now, in front of them, is how you've always been. It's just not the case. And honestly, most of the people there are doing their own stuff anyway, so I wouldn't worry so much about them focusing on you.

How true. Often we think people are judging us when in fact we are also judging them. Most visibly fit (not just thin) people had to do hard work to get that way.

Even after losing 65+ lbs, I'm still one of the fattest people at my gym.

You have to realize that everyone there is just as human as you are, and if you paid your membership fees, you have every right to be there just as they do regardless of your size.

Wear clothes that you're comfortable in, plug in your earbuds or whatever you use for music/video/etc., and just go do your thing. You may even find that some of the people people you are intimidated by aren't so very different from you after all.