Question for the fit who hit the gym

enterdanger wrote: »

I only notice people at the gym who look like famous people. I go late at night when my kids are in bed and so far I've seen a couple of Beibers, Larry David, Selena Gomez (she wasn't hanging out with Beiber), Larry the Cable Guy, and Tyler Joseph from 21 pilots. Ok, maybe I'm just tired and dont see well.

Once I went very early in the morning and I swear I saw my little brother. He lives 3 hours away. Dude looked so much like him that I sent my bro a text at like 6am asking why the hell he was at my gym.

so hilarious

TR0berts wrote: »

As has been mentioned previously, I won't approach people to offer aid unless one of the following 3 things happen:


1) They look like they're doing something dangerous and/or are about to hurt themselves (or others);

2) They specifically ask. Of course, that's them approaching me, so I guess that shouldn't necessarily be in here;

3) They look like they're completely unsure of things. In that case, I'll ask if they're looking for something (like a piece of equipment). That way, if they want advice/help, the ice is broken. If not, no big deal.

I agree with this. I wouldn't approach someone and assume they wanted my help...they would either need to look helplessly around or approach me. I know I wouldn't want anyone to offer me assistance if I didn't need it. I still have people (well, men) offer to take 45's off the bar for me, which annoys me no matter how much I try not to let it get to me.

Every time I see someone who is unfit seeking to get fit I admire them knowing how they are out of their comfort zone seeking to get healthy and strong. Go for it.

If you aren't comfortable approaching people (I wasn't either) then I really recommend googling lifting weights at the gym. That is what I did, that and I observed other people. Don't be afraid to approach, I think you'll find that most people are willing to help! Everyone is there for the same reason (more or less) so most should be willing to help.

I have felt the same way. more embarrased that I didn't know what I was doing and wasn't familiar with anything than that I was overweight.
I went SUPER early in the morning before work once (about 4am!). Just so that I could check out the weight room machine while no one was around. I literaly just read the instructions on the sides of the machines and worked all the little ajustment knobs and tested out a couple moves ( nothing heavy or dangerous, might I add, because there was no one around) then I would use a couple of the machines I felt comfortable on after my run untill the room/people felt firmiliar, then I would try new stuff a little at a time.
Also I got a free one day free pass for my friend, (most gyms do that) so that I could try new machines with someone ( in other words, I thought it would be better if we both looked dumb than just me! haha )
But I agree that no one will Judge you at all one way or the other!

englishmermaid wrote: »

this is going to sound so silly, I'm 35 years old and shouldn't be concerned with this.

I know those at the gym most likely don't even give others a second glance, as they're busy doing their thing, I know I rarely notice anyone while I'm doing cardio.

But there's a big room at the back with the weights, full of fit people. I've not been in there yet, feeling embarrassed and out of my league.

I'm new to the gym in the U.S. I used to go back in England and all the equipment there was all in the same area, I found people were really helpful, if I was unsure of something I felt ok asking anybody.

Here, having gained 50lbs since moving to the U.S. I feel ashamed and embarrassed. I feel like they'd look at me and laugh at the fat girl trying to lift weights she knows nothing about, you know?

So if you see a fat girl at the gym, who's been there every day doing cardio, would you be kind and helpful if you saw her attempting weights?

I know this is so silly, I really do, I just feel silly walking into that back room full of fit people who know what they're doing, I feel like they'd think it's a five minute wonder for me, but it's not, my mind is 100% in the zone now

Totally! I showed an girl last night how to do squats. Let her work in on my set. I love it when people are honestly trying to improve themselves.

I'm a current heavy girl (overweight by fifty pounds) and I've been going to the gym around 7 in the morning for two weeks now. When I got to the gym it's mostly empty besides my friend and I, a handful of people at the weights (men and women) and several older (60-80 years old) people exercising. Yesterday I went over to the weights and did stronglifts 5x5. I just, did it. I was, at first, nervous, but then I realized that I am not the first heavy person to go into the weight section.

I will say, unlike the other people posting, I DO notice other people exercising. The fit ones, the older ones, the heavier ones, everyone. I am a total people watcher. I do it everywhere I go. However, I have never, ever once thought, "God, why are they here? They are soo wasting their time." Mostly it's just a simple, "You go!" or "I wish I looked like that!" In fact, my very first day I saw a very heavy girl in the weight section knocking it out! It was so nice to see her changing herself just like I am trying to. So in short, don't worry whatsoever about what people think.

Also, I think even if I knew what I was doing I would not approach someone else at the gym unless they looked clueless, in which case I would ask if I could help them find something, or if they looked clueless and like they might hurt themselves.

yogi323 wrote: »

I will say, unlike the other people posting, I DO notice other people exercising. The fit ones, the older ones, the heavier ones, everyone. I am a total people watcher. I do it everywhere I go. However, I have never, ever once thought, "God, why are they here? They are soo wasting their time."

I only think that they're wasting their time if they are, well, wasting time. Y'know... lounging on the equipment, chit-chatting without actually working out. Or using the equipment in weird ways that involve no resistance. (I saw one woman "using" a cable machine, but without any tension on the cables, so she wasn't actually moving the weights. That's obviously an extreme situation though, and even beginners know better.)

I would never say that an overweight person who's genuinely exercising is wasting his or her time. How can I? I used to be at that stage as well... and if it's obvious that they're pushing themselves hard, my respect for them goes even higher.

In my experience, people are always more than willing to help. I would however suggest looking into a program...something like New Rules of Lifting for Women would be a good place to start. This will provide you with your workout...you will have a plan at that point and instruction on what you should be doing, when you should do it, how often, etc. Not only will you garner better results, but you will have a plan going in...you will know that you need to do X, Y, and Z because it's Tuesday for example. Then if you need a spot or someone to check your form, etc people are more than willing to help you out.

I would not notice you. I'm concentrating on my form and the next rep, between sets, the next set.

2 years ago, I was you. I was 70 lbs over weight. I got in there and I trained.

I gave no thought to others, other than being courteous, wiping stuff down, returning equipment and being focused.