Afraid of Returning to The Gym
tfenxo
Posts: 1
In May I joined the gym and signed up for a trial until November of this year. I use to wake up 3-4 times a week and go at 530am before work. I got way off track once my work schedule changed and I had to start work early, and never had the energy to go after work especially after a long commute. Months have passed and I have not gone to the gym. I really want to get back into it especially since I still have 2 months left of my memebership and they always have amazing deals if I can get back into it. Whats been holding me back lately is the anxiety of going back months later. I always seem to over think everything and im so nervous about the judgement of not going in months. And its not like I can just walk in and scan my card because they dont give you one so you have to physically sign in and there isnt always someone at the desk and most people just walk in since they are regulars. I know it sounds silly but its been giving me anxiety for weeks just thinking about stepping back in there when I was extremely nervous to join in the first place.
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Replies
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what are you thinking will happen?personally i'd go simply because i'd be pissed at myself for spending money for something i'm not using . even when i'm purposely taking a week long break from the gym i make sure to stop in at least 3 days a week to use the bathroom and dirty a towel0
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Just do it! I know how you feel, I just went back to taekwondo after an absence and I was so nervous. But guess what? NO ONE CARED!
No one judged, no one asked, no one snickered behind my back. For all they know you've been on secondment to New Caledonia and have only just returned. Walk in, sign in, do your thing.0 -
You are over thinking it. Who cares if they are judging you, it is about you not them. It has been five years, a sedentary job, and many pounds of fat for me and I am going back. I am doing this for my family, and I not them. If anything people should applaud you for going back, and I am sure they will be more than happy to take your money.0
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Gyms make money off people who don't go anymore. They sell way more memberships than they actually have facilites for, they're banking on you not going. Their business model is structured this way. If everyone with a membership went for the full 12 months, you'd be waiting for an hour to use a machine. Most people who buy a gym membership go for a month or two, and then pay for 10 months of nothing.
If you want to go, go. If you don't, don't. It matters not either way, to anyone other than you. I personally hate gyms. Exercise is only 20% of the weightloss equation anyway, and I have no desire to build a muscly body. I prefer normal **** like going for a walk, a ride on my horse, mowing the lawn, painting the house, other things that come under the heading "living".0 -
Most people at the gym aren't even going to notice you. They are there to get their crap done and get out. If you want to go to the gym, just go.0
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Just jog around your neighborhood. I am known as the nightjogger in my neighborhood.
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I know the feeling!!! I use to be a part of this gym and the guy at the front desk would always say things like:
- welcome back!!! It has been a long time
- you are here again....where have you been???
- there is my bad girl!!! where have you disappeared to now??
he would say this loudly in front of every muscular fit person and this would literally be my face -_____-
till one day my dreams came true and he was let go....hahaha0 -
Just go. They probably haven't even noticed that you're gone. If you let this hold you back, the only person you are hurting is yourself.0
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Since you haven't been there in several months, if you begin to come in on a regular basis anyone in the gym who may notice you (most won't even care as long as you aren't in their way or making a scene) will just think that you just joined. It's not a big deal, people change gyms all the time. Think of it that way if you're still concerned. Though honestly, the only reason I notice people in my gym is that I am impressed with their physique, they are making a lot of noise, or they are using the weights I need lol0
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You have to remember that you're going back to the gym for YOU, no one else. What other people think or say is none of their business and you shouldn't worry about it. If you allow anxiety of how others will perceive you to dictate your life you'll never leave your bedroom.0
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If you're just signing in, and not scanning a card, a person at the desk isn't even going to know the last time you were there. No one else in the place is even going to notice or care. At worst, they might think you're new or that you'd changed your schedule during the past few months and were going at night. No one is at the gym 24/7 and keeping track of who is there and who isn't.0
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For all they know, you've been on an African safari or studying abroad in Paris for the last few months ... just get back in there and work out! It's your membership, go whenever you want!0
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Gym tip
No one cares about you. If they do then they more likely talk to you while you are there. People go to the gym to see gains or to mess around which is a case too.0 -
really though???
I am sharing a similar experience. Gosh this is why I hate posting anything on MFP. I swear.
Listen, it's your life and it is your business. You do not have to answer to no one, the gym only cares about selling more memberships!! I am sure they are glad to see you coming back!
At the end of the day you go to work on a better YOU.0 -
He was trying to flirt with you.I know the feeling!!! I use to be a part of this gym and the guy at the front desk would always say things like:
- welcome back!!! It has been a long time
- you are here again....where have you been???
- there is my bad girl!!! where have you disappeared to now??
he would say this loudly in front of every muscular fit person and this would literally be my face -_____-
till one day my dreams came true and he was let go....hahaha0 -
No one is going to know/care if you were there yesterday or a year ago. For all they know, you could be coming back from an awesome vacation, injury, surgery, illness, or any other multitude of things.
I have been a member of my current gym for over 2 years. A little over a year ago, I stopped going when some tragedy struck my family. When I went back 2 or so months later, no one was the wiser that I had been gone for a while. Even the people (like my trainer) who knew I had been out for a while said nothing to me, except for "hey, how are you? How are the workouts going?"0 -
I went to my gym 4/5 times a week for about 6 weeks.. then didnt go for two months, now I'm back and noone has said anything, not the people I used to smile/nod at during a workout or the trainers who I usually chat to. They really dont care.
Go because YOU want to, and dont worry about what others will think
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He was trying to flirt with you.I know the feeling!!! I use to be a part of this gym and the guy at the front desk would always say things like:
- welcome back!!! It has been a long time
- you are here again....where have you been???
- there is my bad girl!!! where have you disappeared to now??
he would say this loudly in front of every muscular fit person and this would literally be my face -_____-
till one day my dreams came true and he was let go....hahaha
That's what I thought. This should have been obvious.0 -
No one noticed you weren't there. They were busy getting their workouts in.
If you want to go back, go back. If not, cancel your membership and save your money.0 -
In May I joined the gym and signed up for a trial until November of this year. I use to wake up 3-4 times a week and go at 530am before work. I got way off track once my work schedule changed and I had to start work early, and never had the energy to go after work especially after a long commute. Months have passed and I have not gone to the gym. I really want to get back into it especially since I still have 2 months left of my memebership and they always have amazing deals if I can get back into it. Whats been holding me back lately is the anxiety of going back months later. I always seem to over think everything and im so nervous about the judgement of not going in months. And its not like I can just walk in and scan my card because they dont give you one so you have to physically sign in and there isnt always someone at the desk and most people just walk in since they are regulars. I know it sounds silly but its been giving me anxiety for weeks just thinking about stepping back in there when I was extremely nervous to join in the first place.
I'm not overly concerned about what the chewing-gum popping teenager at the front desk of my gym thinks about me as I pass her while she is folding gym towels...0 -
I have basically a lifetime membership at my gym, there have been times I didn't go for years. Like now, my apartment has a gym in the clubhouse and I'm into doing DVDs at home so I haven't been in ages. Nobody's ever said a word. They are there to serve you in exchange for your money, not to judge and discourage you!0
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I know how you feel... I bit the bullet and returned last night. Today my arms are sore from weightlifting but I feel much better about going! If I can do it - anyone can. Hang in there!0
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bump0
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It may help you to know that the person behind the desk doesn't mind that you have not been at the gym since whenever. They are there to greet you and offer you a towel. I know at my gym the people at the desk are busy scheduling instructors for classes, answering questions, asking if that was my water bottle that was left behind, etc. The gym is there for your use. Just go, you will be glad you did.0
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This is where you test yourself to see if your in it to win it and if its worth it to pay for another years worth of membership if you cant stick with it for the last 2months remaining I don't think you should pay for another year...With that said make a goal to go a few times a week if you can promise yourself and put in the work than consider the membership a GIFT to yourself. If you don't keep the promise than hit the pavement.....trust me the only people even thinking about you at the gym are the ones that want you to renew that membership the other members have their eyes focused on their own goals.0
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You go to the gym for YOU, so yours is the only opinion that really matters.0
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I had the same fears and anxieties....I have issues with anxiety in general but that's a whole different story....anyway I had to take a 7 month hiatus from the gym because of a knee injury and ultimately surgery...I was terrified to set foot back in there, because they track on a computer and your picture pops up...argh..but anyway I ended up having a very positive experience...I walked in to sign in and the woman behind the desk goes wow it's great to see you! Then she continued with, you look so different you are doing amazing! That just made my day, no judgement about where I had been, just positive reinforcement and boy did it feel good. In the end remember you are doing this for you, and who cares what others think, out on those headphones and rock it!0
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I don't think anyone will be judging you because I don't think anyone actually cares. I will never understand this irrational fear that people have that everyone is watching them and what they do and judging them...people are wrapped up in their own ****...nobody cares what you're doing...unless you have actual friends that go there, nobody knows that it's been however long since you've gone. You're just making excuses.0
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I think that like anything in life that makes us nervous you just have to do it. Once you have done it a few times and get used to it your anxiety will be a thing of the past. You really do not have anything to lose other than weight :bigsmile:0
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As a fellow over-thinker, I say JUST DO IT!! It took me years to start going to the gym regularly. I had one gym membership where they used to call clients who didn't come in for a month...just to say hi and see if everything was ok. I remember saying to the guy on the phone "stop judging me!" He said "we're not judging you, but we miss you." I had no idea who that guy even was (heck, I hadn't been there it at least 4 weeks), but you know what? The next day, I was there on the treadmill. It still took a couple of years before it became completely routine. Now I roll out of bed and I'm in a spin class 15 minutes later.. it gets me going, better than any cup of coffee (but I drink coffee too...).
It takes a while to build routine - at the very least, you're paying for it anyway, so why not make use of it? Otherwise, you're just throwing away money. (That's how I look at it on days where I just don't want to go...it's not like i have money to waste.) Whatever motivates you. And if others are judging you (which they are NOT), the who cares. Do it for yourself.0
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