working out fully covered

I used to be a Muslim for over 12 years. I used to be over 100 pounds overweight. I started to realize people were judging me, but I decided who cares. Let them judge me, I know I'm great I am and I know that a gym is a place where you work out to get in shape. So maybe if they hate me so much, they should go to another gym, it's not my problem. My kids are still Muslims and my daughter wants to cover up all the time, even in summer, she gets looks but I have built up her confidence so much that she doesn't care.

Moral of the story: If You know you are a great person ( which you most likely are ) then it doesn't matter what people think, you should be proud to be a muslim and pious all the way through. ☺

I see people dressed all kinds of ways when I go to the gym which is usually around 5 am and nobody really cares. We are all there to work out and nothing more. If anyone gives you looks it might be because they're curious but will get used to your outfits over time. Don't let it stop you and get your workouts and don't worry about other people. Some will look no matter what.

Do what works for YOU!!!! Why let some random judgmental person influence/impact your workouts? Be proud of who you are!! Rock that full hijab & headscarf! You are beautiful inside & out!!!

Hi Zahida!

Honestly I only glance around the gym to see if I know anyone there. Otherwise I completely ignore everyone else. I figure everyone is too wrapped up in their own business to care about my sweaty shorts or messy hair.

Good luck!

i would guess most of it is just in your head. I think people stare at me when I run in the neighborhood. if someone is staring, let the staff know at the gym

honestly, the only thing I would worry about is hydrating as you might get thirstier because of more layers

Exercise at home, then.

Asa zahida,

I am Muslim I go the gym all the time And I cover as well. Remember why you cover. It could quite possible be all in your head that they are judging you or maybe not. Who cares? Honestly people Could judge you walking down the street but that has nothing to do with you. How they feel about you without knowing you is their problem not yours. Be confident. Be proud and stay focused on your fitness journey. Hey and you might want to amp up your workouts because if you have the time to be looking around to see if people are looking at you then you probably aren't working out hard enough! Lol jk but not really.

Side note: Are you going to the gym during Ramadan?

To be honest I would probably look but for a completely different reason. A few months ago a guy at my gym with a towel around his shoulders got it stuck in a weight machine and almost hung himself. Scary. I'm pretty paranoid about it now. If I saw you I'd probably wonder "is she familiar with the equipment", etc. Not in a condescending "I'm a guy, she needs help" way but in a "hey, I saw this, it was scary, *please* be careful" way.

Wear whatever makes you comfortable, but be careful. (climbing down from overly paranoid soap box).

Good luck.

whmscll wrote: »

You may be misinterpreting what people are thinking when they look at you in the gym. What is causing you to think people are judging you? They might only be looking because seeing a full hijab at the gym is unusual. I would look, because seeing that is pretty rare, even here in L.A., and then I would think "good for her, she is here trying to get healthier like the rest of us and taking a bit of a risk because she is not wearing the same gym "uniform" everyone is used to seeing."

Same. I wouldn't give an overweight person in the tank top/shorts uniform a second glance, but I would probably look a little longer at someone in a hijab. Not to be judgmental, but because I've never seen that in a gym. And I would be mortified if the other person considered it an impolite or racist stare.

I hope that's your situation and once you're not the new girl, no one will stare.

I would like to know (I'm sorry if this is rude to ask): Is there an option of a women-only gym near you?
I'm going to this fitness place where I do circuit training and it's for women only (men are not even allowed to enter the place at all!) so we have a lot of women there who also normally wear the hijab, only that they wear 'normal' gym clothes during their training.

If not, don't lose confidence!

You have done a great job losing weight.
Truthfully, most people in the gym are paying attention to themselves. They might take a quick notice of a new or different person but then go back to whatever they were doing.
The only time someone will pay attention in the gym is when someone is wasting time by hogging the equipment.

If someone gives you shade over your covering, it reflects nothing about you but says a whole lot about them, and nothing good.