Anyone else embarrassed to start going to the gym in January?

DirrtyH
DirrtyH Posts: 664 Member
edited November 9 in Fitness and Exercise
I was not embarrassed last year because I was so ready and it just felt like a coincidence that when I felt "ready" it happened to also be the beginning of the year.
I stuck it out until April, and then I let life circumstances get in my way. Now, yet again, I'm ready to jump back in and it happens to be January. But this time I feel ashamed.
I don't really feel like I'm starting over, I feel like I'm picking up where I left off now that all the interruptions have been resolved. But it's not going to look that way to everyone else, and...

I'm just being dumb. But I wondered if anyone else struggled with the same thing. I'm actually really jazzed to start working out again, I just need to push past that initial bit of embarrassment.
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Replies

  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    embarrassed about what?
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    "But it's not going to look that way to everyone else"

    I dont think anyone is paying attention. Jump back in.
  • goddessofawesome
    goddessofawesome Posts: 563 Member
    Don't be embarrassed. I know that there are all these posts damning those who go to the gym starting in January but everyone has to start somewhere. If it's January then it's January. It's not a big deal! What's your other option, wait until after the rush calms down? If that's your choice then chances are you'll lose your enthusiasm and not go. Go while you're excited about it and don't be embarrassed.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    the gym is unconditional love.

    go back into that warm embrace and - girl - do yourself a favor and dont quit this time, no matter what :flowerforyou:
  • DirrtyH
    DirrtyH Posts: 664 Member
    Being a "resolutioner" I guess. Serious gym people seem to look down on"resolutioners"... I know that's not a rule, most people are cool, but I have seen people here on MFP make fun of them. And I just never considered myself to be one of those people but then I ended up being one of those people. I'm disappointed in myself and I guess I'm projecting that on others.
  • DirrtyH
    DirrtyH Posts: 664 Member
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    "But it's not going to look that way to everyone else"

    I don't think anyone is paying attention. Jump back in.

    You're right. Most people won't notice, but then I think about my spin class that I used to love. I'm assuming it'll mostly be the same people and I wonder what they'll think...
  • chubby_checkers
    chubby_checkers Posts: 2,352 Member
    Honestly, why does it matter what other people think? You're doing this for you, right?
  • I see it like this. If people are in the gym spending time worrying about new people appearing, then they aren't that committed to what they are doing in the first place. When I there I work out. I notice the new people but I don't say anything else but I am glad you made it. It's your health and your time. Make it count
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    to be honest, I'd be embarassed that I waited until january.
  • goddessofawesome
    goddessofawesome Posts: 563 Member
    edited January 2015
    trixieloo wrote: »
    Being a "resolutioner" I guess. Serious gym people seem to look down on"resolutioners"... I know that's not a rule, most people are cool, but I have seen people here on MFP make fun of them. And I just never considered myself to be one of those people but then I ended up being one of those people. I'm disappointed in myself and I guess I'm projecting that on others.

    Ignore those people on here who put down those who decide to go to the gym in January. Yes, there are those who go for a little while then seem to fade away but they could have had a month free or something like that. They could have joined another gym, go at a different time or decided to just workout at home. I know that there are times where my husband and I get to the gym early in the morning -- a little after 6. Then there are the times where we hit the gym in the afternoon between 12 and 2. I'm sure the early birds think we quit but they don't realize that we just switched our time. And really, why is it anyone's business but your own?

    I could consider myself a "Resolutioner" because I haven't been to the gym since before Thanksgiving. I was on vacation for a month and then work and catching up on sleep happened so I just got back into it this week. Do I care if people see me as that? No because they don't know me and really, some strangers opinion doesn't matter to me in the least (we did have some of the regulars who we are friendly with ask where we've been and we told them and they really didn't care).
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    Nobody is paying attention, man. They are there worrying about themselves. Go do your workouts and concentrate on your form while they think about their own problems. :)
  • dreamer12151
    dreamer12151 Posts: 1,031 Member
    "Serious gym people" wouldn't look down on anyone wanting to improve themselves, I don't think. Besides, who are you there for, the "serious (or even un-serious) gym people" or yourself? My son & I are going on Tuesday to possibly sign up at a gym. We aren't "resolutioners", it's just the 1st time both our schedules jived.

    Jump on it, get back into the gym and cycle away!
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    There are a zillion new people in the gym right now. For better or worse, you'll blend right in -- nobody is going to be looking at just you or noticing that you've been gone for awhile. If you're feeling a little insecure about going back, now is the perfect time because you won't stand out at all :)
  • spickard34
    spickard34 Posts: 303 Member
    edited January 2015
    No one serious about working out will notice. I know when I went to the gym I never paid any attentions to others around me. I would smile or say Hey to the usual goers but other then that I got down to business just me and my Ipod. Now I workout at home and show up in my living room every night at 5:00 to give it my all. Either way hold your head high you are walking through the doors to make a change be proud it is better then the couch with ice cream =)
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    trixieloo wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    "But it's not going to look that way to everyone else"

    I don't think anyone is paying attention. Jump back in.

    You're right. Most people won't notice, but then I think about my spin class that I used to love. I'm assuming it'll mostly be the same people and I wonder what they'll think...

    maybe less thinking and more doing would fix you right up
  • JeffseekingV
    JeffseekingV Posts: 3,165 Member
    Your problem is that you think everyone cares or even remembers you. They don't. So just go and do what you need to do and don't worry about anyone else.
  • DirrtyH
    DirrtyH Posts: 664 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    to be honest, I'd be embarassed that I waited until january.

    Yeah, this is what I'm talking about.

    But to everyone else, thanks. I was just being silly and needed a few seasoned gym goers to reassure me I was being silly.

    ... Also, I wish people actually thought *more* than they do. There are some idiots out there so I think I'll keep using my brain. But thanks.
  • ovinas1
    ovinas1 Posts: 413 Member
    Your problem is that you think everyone cares or even remembers you. They don't. So just go and do what you need to do and don't worry about anyone else.


    Ditto...



  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    trixieloo wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    "But it's not going to look that way to everyone else"

    I don't think anyone is paying attention. Jump back in.

    You're right. Most people won't notice, but then I think about my spin class that I used to love. I'm assuming it'll mostly be the same people and I wonder what they'll think...

    I am quite sure they will be excited to see you. They might ask where have you been out of concern but I am sure they will be happy to see you back.

  • Wronkletoad
    Wronkletoad Posts: 368 Member
    if you need "reassurance" from a bunch of internet strangers...
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    trixieloo wrote: »
    dbmata wrote: »
    to be honest, I'd be embarassed that I waited until january.

    Yeah, this is what I'm talking about.

    But to everyone else, thanks. I was just being silly and needed a few seasoned gym goers to reassure me I was being silly.

    ... Also, I wish people actually thought *more* than they do. There are some idiots out there so I think I'll keep using my brain. But thanks.

    you'll keep using your brain to prevent yourself from doing things that would improve your situation? seems counterproductive
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    LOL just go. I am sorry to laugh. This thread was made into so much more than it needed to be. I actually just read through a post about "gym noobs" So I understand why you would feel the way you do. WHO CARES what people think? Those people don't experience your health or fit into your clothes.
  • DirrtyH
    DirrtyH Posts: 664 Member
    I didn't say I was letting it prevent me from doing anything. I just re-read my post and I never said anything about being too scared to go or not going or anything remotely like that. I just felt a little embarrassed and wondered if anyone else felt the same way. People are judgey. That's all.
  • DirrtyH
    DirrtyH Posts: 664 Member
    LOL just go. I am sorry to laugh. This thread was made into so much more than it needed to be. I actually just read through a post about "gym noobs" So I understand why you would feel the way you do. WHO CARES what people think? Those people don't experience your health or fit into your clothes.

    Thank you. It's worth laughing about, I was feeling a little dumb and then I asked a bunch of internet strangers about it which was even dumber...
    It's all good now. :)
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    I think it’s all in your mind because those who attend the gym are there for the same reasons, either to lose weight or some other form of fitness. I never felt embarrassed because I feel those people have better things to do than waste their time on me. Seriously, there are only so many directions a person could look while working out so even though it appears people are looking at me, chances are they have other things on their minds. Besides, who would know if you are a new comer unless you tell them?
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    edited January 2015
    trixieloo wrote: »
    Being a "resolutioner" I guess. Serious gym people seem to look down on"resolutioners"... I know that's not a rule, most people are cool, but I have seen people here on MFP make fun of them. And I just never considered myself to be one of those people but then I ended up being one of those people. I'm disappointed in myself and I guess I'm projecting that on others.

    that's mostly just the people who were new last year, struggling to find a way to declare that they are some of the few that made it to the new new year.

    But instead of saying, Look! I am still here! I have fought for (about) a year and am still moving forward!, they point at new people.

    that sounds self-obsessed and many have not yet realized that it's totally cool to praise yourself for doing good work - so to avoid tooting their own horns - they roll their eys, groan and say a little louder than necessary - Gawddddddddddddddd now we have to deal with the rushhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhuh. It puts them in with the veterans, this opportunity to share 'fitness problems'. It's fun to moan and groan and feel like youve been on the other side of the fence for a lifetime. They are just getting used to not being noobs anymore and it certainly isnt personal.

    Wanna know what the veterans really think when someone new starts working out at their gym?

    Another soul on the side of good. [/fistpump]

    serious gym-goers are actually the ones that look down on no one and criticize only their own performance.

    <3
  • DvlDwnInGA
    DvlDwnInGA Posts: 368 Member
    Nope. Who cares when you start. Seriously, you paid your gym dues in dollars now go earn what you have spent in sweat.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    trixieloo wrote: »
    dbmata wrote: »
    to be honest, I'd be embarassed that I waited until january.

    Yeah, this is what I'm talking about.
    Precisely why I did it in May. I realized it was folly to wait for some irrelevant and easy to ignore "resolution" period.

    I'd be very upset with myself if I robbed myself of good living because I waited.
  • DirrtyH
    DirrtyH Posts: 664 Member
    I didn't intentionally wait until January. It just happens to be January when I found that I was really ready again. It's not like I sat around for six months on my butt because it wasn't January yet.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    trixieloo wrote: »
    I didn't intentionally wait until January. It just happens to be January when I found that I was really ready again. It's not like I sat around for six months on my butt because it wasn't January yet.

    i probably would have, while whinging about how I hurt all the time, etc.
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