Too nervous to take exercise class??!!

I made good use of "denial", and avoided mirrors, to participate in a fitness class. I pretended Iooked as graceful as the instructor and did my best to keep up. I know I looked the complete fool, but I had fun anyways. I got compliments for my persistence. I started exercising when I was about your weight and I'm still a big girl at 185.

My particular brand of "denial" allows me to wear neon. No shrinking violet, me. There's another participant in her fifties, thin as a rail and all sinew, and she wears what she likes. Kind of like this ballerina thing. One of the great advantages of being a mature woman.




At a certain point you just gotta love who you are.

OH, and I swear, more larger women started coming to class after I started going. So there's power in numbers.

get in there!

try, and have fun, thats really all anyone cares about

I totally know the feeling. But it's just one of those things, you know, where the worst that will happen is that you'll be uncomfortable, self-conscious. Surely you can push through that, because it doesn't stick around in my experience. Eventually the space is familiar, the classes are familiar, there are people you recognize and say hi to or whatever, the instructor is familiar, you acclimate.

The best part about the classes is that it's easier than wandering up to the free weights or the machines, if you don't know what you're doing, because you'll have the instructor.

Also, in my limited experiences with group fitness, people are working their *kitten* off. They are listening to and watching the instructor, or themselves/their equipment. They're trying to pace their breathing and thinking about form and keeping pace and on and on. They honestly do not have the chance to sit back and contemplate how you look.

And it's also a pretty shared experience. You won't be the only one feeling that way, and many/most/all of the people there who don't feel that way that day can probably remember feeling that way in the past.

That said, it's totally okay to opt for something else. I'm just going on your statement that you WANT to do the class. If you want it, fight for it. I don't think you'll regret giving it a try, even if you can't get comfortable and decide to do something different after all.

You don't have to get over the fear. You just need to gather the courage to do what you need to do for your health, despite your fears.

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear." --Mark Twain

You can only look like a winner if you're trying. Remember to push yourself as hard as you can but you have a choice to stop if it's too much. Good luck!

I was pretty terrified the first time I walked into a dojo. Having to wear all white didn't help. Here I was this fat sweaty out of breath 39 year old among a bunch of fit and athletic people who were mostly much younger than myself. Six years later I am still practicing, still fat (although a little lighter), not so out of breath and preparing for my black belt test. All of those fit young athletic people have quit long since and been replaced by others who often have not lasted 6 months.

Don't let fear of what other people might think,hold you back from doing something wonderful for yourself.

I would suggest a toning/strengthening type class to start off. I finally got the courage to take a few exercise classes at the gym and found that I like the Les Mills Body Pump the best. I took PIYO and had trouble keeping up. I've never been to a Zumba class, but it looks fun and the moves not too difficult. I took Yoga a few years ago, when I was at my heaviest, and found it difficult to get into some of the positions because of my excess body fat :-(

The main thing I would avoid in the beginning is a class where the moves are complex and the pace is really fast (like PIYO). I'm sure you will find people of all shapes, sizes, and levels of fitness in the classes and everyone there was new to group exercise at some point. Let the instructor know that you are new to the class and he/she should be able to give you some tips on the best way to get started.

Be brave. You can do it!

Just do it! I agree with trying a les mills class (body pump, grit, combat, etc.) as they will be the same for several weeks at a time, letting you get some of the routines down. Body pump or any weight based class would be easiest as you aren't dancing around.

There will most likely be a wide range of people (weights, ages, abilities) in the classes. There's a 90 year old man who is always at the kickboxing class I take, I hope I am like that someday.

Good instructors will give you options as well. No jumping jacks? Squat in place. Can't do that either? Walk in place. No one will judge you!

I would recommend just jumping in and doing it. I belong to a gym and finally took a class with one of their fitness trainers. SO glad that I did. After that class, I then turned around and signed up for 4 more of them....I also have found that when some of the things were difficult to do, I just jogged in place....One of the benefits of the new class is changing up my exercise routine.

Do it!!! I am a very shy person, I never wanted to go into the classes. One day I forced myself in there & everyone was so friendly!! Especially the group leaders! It's sooooo worth it. You have to step out of your comfort zone.

Just go for it! I was extremely nervous about starting group classes at my box. But, the people there are extremely supportive and motivating. I have found that it is just more fun when you work out with a group of people rather than on your own!