Getting past the embarrassment barrier of exercise?

I put headphones in at the gym, or go really early. Once those headphones are in though, I don't notice anyone. Especially if it's deadlift day.

I agree that most people do not care and if they think anything it is respect. I am self conscious as heck. I used headphones, plug them in and you can tune out everyone else. Also, go early in the morning. There are less people and the people there are all about working out...not the social scene, etc. Do some stuff you like...keep doing it ... then try new stuff. Walking is a great start as is swimming. Do it...you will feel pride in yourself for doing it!

Saw this on Pintrest the other day:


You, whose feet barely lift off the ground as you trudge around the track.
You, who keeps to the outside lane, footslogging in the wrong direction.
You, who stops for a water break every lap, and who would probably stop twice a lap if there were bleachers on both sides.
You, whose gaze drops to your feet every time we pass.
You, whose sweat drenches your body after you leave, completing only a single 20-minute mile

There's something you should know: You rock!

Every shallow step you take, you carry the weight of more than two of me, clinging to your bones, begging to be shaken off. Each lap you run, you're paying off the debt of another midnight snack, another dessert, another beer. It's 20 degrees outside, but you haven't let that stop your regimen. This isn't your first day out here and it certainly won't be your last. You've started a journey that lasts a lifetime, and you've started at least 12 days before your new years resolution has kicked in.

You run without music, and I can only imagine the mantras running through your mind as your heave you ever-shrinking mass around the next lap. Let's go feet! Shut up legs! F*** off fat! If you'd only look up from your feet next time we pass, you'd see my gaze has no condensation in it.

I've nothing but respect for you. YOU"VE GOT THIS!

I deal with it by not exercising where other people can see me. The platitudes like: "just ignore that people are judging you" or "people aren't judging you" or "find a gym that isn't like that" or whatever never worked. I know other people get over it and can exercise in public. I'm not one of them. I am very introverted and was ridiculed mercilessly as a kid for being uncoordinated. At this point in my life, I see no need to "get over it". I'm lucky to be able to work out at home. Not everyone can.

What I did was I got a used Nintendo Wii and balance board. I started with the original Wii Fit game that I got with the balance board and when I found that I could stick to that, I got some tougher fitness games. I used Game Fly to have a chance to try out different titles. Now I do Zumba on the Wii every day and that gets me a good cardio workout in the privacy of my own home, using minimal space.

I still struggle to find a way to get myself to work on my flexibility and do strength training but for where I am right now (considering my age, health and weight), I think the most essential thing is the cardio workout.

(I do miss swimming, the one "public" exercise I would be willing to do, despite having to change in the locker room, but I just don't want to spend the time it would take.)

As an FYI, most runners were that kid in school too. Just saying.

There are some really good body weight training programs out there - I use Convict Conditioning.

Pilates might be a good fit for you as well.

Nobody cares.

Honestly, everyone that's driving by or walking past you has 90 million other things going through their mind. And in that one instance when somebody does make you feel embarrassed, well, you have a decision to make--

Be embarrassed about your weight, or be embarrassed about how you look while trying to lose weight.

"Being fat is hard. Losing weight is hard. Choose your hard."

Don't go to the places where you don't want to be. Skip the gym. Skip the pool.

Go for a walk around the block. Later, you can walk around it twice. You can walk around it faster. You can walk around 2 blocks. You can walk up and down some stairs. Walking is a wonderful way to get started. Walk in the park. Walk up and down a hill. Eventually, you can go for a hike if there are any steeper hills or mountains nearby.

People at the gym are actually very supportive and from my experience not judgmental at all. I've heard rare stories of *kitten* hats at gyms, but the stories are rare.

Get in there and go YOU.

I have a very thin and fit spouse. I was super embarrassed to do anything in front of him. I started out asking him to sit in the living room with me and watch TV while I did some circuit training. I wouldn't let him look at me and I stared at him the whole time so I knew he wasn't moving his eyes haha. Slowly but surely I could feel the progress in my strength and I wanted him to see too. Now I am to the point where I want him to watch and join in!

ive started doing barre classes... every time i go the instructor asks me if im new.

ive gotten better though! at first i had a really hard time getting through the classes, and now i think im ready to graduate to the next level. my mentality is okay im not great, but ill get better -- and i have! just know that everyone has had to take their first steps.... unless you've been continuously athletic your whole life ( re: my roommate) it'll be hard at first.

I still don't go to a gym so I'm not going to be the most helpful person around. It looks like you have been given some excellent advice and thoughts already. For me, it was a matter of outfitting myself with the right "gear", I don't mean anything expensive, but when I first started REALLY trying to get more exercise I was at my all-time heaviest (over 300 lb) and I went out and bought a couple athletic-type outfits, hoodies & pants to go with t-shirts I already had, and some New Balance sneakers. That made me feel more prepared. Then I started with nightly walks at dusk or dark in my quiet neighborhood wearing my iPod. After just a couple of weeks, I felt like I belonged out there and was far less concerned about people possibly seeing me and thinking "wow look at that fat lady trying to get her walking in"...I felt like I belonged. Within a couple years of that, although I didn't lose a ton of weight and had not found MFP yet, I made it to the point of walking many MILES all through my town including busy streets, and wearing t-shirt and shorts and feeling pretty good and confident about myself. I had friends who were smaller that couldn't keep up with me and admitted they felt embarrassed to walk in their own neighborhoods. It felt good to have that hurdle behind me. I wish you the best!!!

I deal with it by not exercising where other people can see me. The platitudes like: "just ignore that people are judging you" or "people aren't judging you" or "find a gym that isn't like that" or whatever never worked. I know other people get over it and can exercise in public. I'm not one of them. I am very introverted and was ridiculed mercilessly as a kid for being uncoordinated. At this point in my life, I see no need to "get over it". I'm lucky to be able to work out at home. Not everyone can.

What I did was I got a used Nintendo Wii and balance board. I started with the original Wii Fit game that I got with the balance board and when I found that I could stick to that, I got some tougher fitness games. I used Game Fly to have a chance to try out different titles. Now I do Zumba on the Wii every day and that gets me a good cardio workout in the privacy of my own home, using minimal space.

I still struggle to find a way to get myself to work on my flexibility and do strength training but for where I am right now (considering my age, health and weight), I think the most essential thing is the cardio workout.

(I do miss swimming, the one "public" exercise I would be willing to do, despite having to change in the locker room, but I just don't want to spend the time it would take.)

As an FYI, most runners were that kid in school too. Just saying.

There are some really good body weight training programs out there - I use Convict Conditioning.

Pilates might be a good fit for you as well.

No, I don't think most runners were "that kid" in school, if "that kid" was me. The way I ran was one of the things I was teased about. Basically, I learned that if I moved in the presence of other people, I would be ridiculed.

I replied to give the person who originally posted the question the perspective that it is perfectly okay to never feel comfortable exercising around other people and that there are ways to get fit anyway.

I know there are programs for weight training, and flexibility. I just haven't found anything that I can stick with and that I can actually do without a lot of pain and or injuries. At some point, I may try to find something again but I'm not really looking at the moment.