Bad start to a Friday :(

My first suggestion would be to go online and look up some of the machines they have in your gym. Find out what they do and where to start. The next would be to actually look at the different machines--sometimes they have instructions. Try to take advantage of a free trial at a commercial gym or a free visit offer. Then, scope out the same machines your complex has and find out how they work at your free trial!

I understand your not wanting to exercise outdoors--our son and dil live in Mesa and the heat is terrible! We lived in El Paso, TX for a while and it was unreal. Being from the North, it seemed even hotter! lol.

Good luck!

Oh sweety! Don't give up and don't worry you aren't the only one that feels intimidated by the skinny things at the gym!! I found that going to a personal trainer helped me get over the "fear" of going to the gym by myself as well as giving me the confidence to go and use machines I might not have tried otherwise.

Try to start one step at a time and remember - for you even just going IN the gym is an achievement. Don't forget that!!! You can do it - remember you are doing this for you and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks :flowerforyou:

That's so rough... I've totally been there! Would someone buy you one or two trainer sessions as a gift? There are lots of trainers that will come to your house, gym, park, etc. Just go on Craig's list! Then they can show you how to use everything and even get you going on a plan! Don't be discouraged, it will get better!

Just because someone can't be there to go with you doesn't mean you are in this alone. Everyone feels "out of place" when they start to make a lifestyle change -- it's different to them. Don't feel like anyone is judging you when you go the gym. What's the worst that they could be thinking? "Wow, this girl is working out and trying to better her life." No one is going to look down on you for going to the gym alone and trying to transform yourself...this is an admirable act and not something that ANYONE is going to laugh at you for. You CAN do this. You obviously have people in your life who have faith in you -- now you have to have faith in yourself. Good luck!!!

See if you can call ahead and ask the person on the phone if you can arrange with them to meet with one of there trainers. If it is a Gym they should have one. If they don't you have to get up the courage to just walk in with a towel over your shoulder and go up to one of the machines and get on. If you can't figure how to turn it on. Go up to someone and just ask can you give me a hand, this it is my first time. If they are skinny or not they are human and 99% of us would never mind helping another human. I'm sure you don't like when people judge you, don't judge someone else just because they are thin. They may be really nice and would love to help. You just have to get the courage to just walk in the first time. After that it will be a breeze.

I used to have a HUGE phobia of going to the gym, especially in college. I was the token heavy girl amongst all of my fit friends. With that being said, they really enjoyed going to the gym...I tried going with them more times than I can count but I would seriously end up being SO uncomfortable once I got there. I had major anxiety seeing other fit girls and guys in the gym. I thought that they were all looking at me and watching me. lol Well no they're not!!

It's such a funny thing because I don't know what clicked or what but I finally had a thought in my mind...The only way I'm going to continue this journey is when I STOP caring what others think of me. So that's what I did:). I am that girl who goes into the gym with no makeup, baggy shirt and sweating like it's my job! I now see the people that I used to be intimidated of as people that are on the same journey as me! We are all in this healthy journey together! Yes, I sometimes get moments of insecurity but that's life.

Don't be discouraged, keep up the great work!! God bless

I thnk most of us know exactly what you're feeling. Most of us have felt that intimidation at a gym at one time or another. SOme never set foot in one because of that.

Nobody's born knowing how to operate the equipment, and you need to know that, so you could get someone you know to go with you & show you. Or, you could find a personal trainer locally and pay them for a couple of sessions to come to your aprartment facility with you & show you what you need to know until you get comfortable using what you need to use.

Or, you could skip that altogether for now and buy some DVD's. and work out at home. If you have cable, there are free workout programs on there, too--some like Comcast's "On-Demand", you can do whevever you want. Leslie Sansone's "Walk" dvd's are great for beginners, by the way.

Or, make up your own ways to burn calories! Walk in place while you watch tv. Put headphones or loud music on & dance. You can move for thirty minutes a day and that will not only burn calories, it will start to feel great.

Oh, also--you can go to a store that has shopping baskets & push a basket around the store. They have AC! If that's too easy, throw in something heavy (like a big bag of dogfood) and push that around the store.

I've done yoga at home for years because of the skinny chics at yoga classes and never knew if I was doing poses right or looked stupid. I did join a yoga class recently, to top it off the instructor is a really in shape GUY. Know what I love yoga class and even though I'm a bigger girl I'm stronger and can hold poses better. So just get your butt in there. Who cares what they may think, honestly if those skinny girls are at the gym they're worried about their body too:P

Your are NOT being stupid, you are just letting your insecurities and fears get the better of you. You CAN do this!! All you have to do is take the first step. Just take a big, deep breath and open that gym door. I won't be as bad as you think. I promise! If you are really that worried about what people might say, put on some great workout music before you even walk in the gym door and then you won't even be able to hear whether they say anything or not. It's ok to just ignore the other people until you feel more comfortable. Second, don't make the assumption that the skinny people you see in the gym were always that way. I used to think that too, but once I started talking to people at my gym I found that almost none of them were always in shape. Most of them told me about health problems they are still dealing with or that they were once overweight or out of shape too but had some sort of wake up call. We all have to start somewhere, and the only difference between you and them is that they've already taken that first step. Third, I would recommend that you choose one or two machines that are simple to learn and just do those for a while. Most of the people who use those gyms never use all the equipment. They often have favorites and stick with them. I know plenty of people who have never used anything but a treadmill. It's ok! You don't EVER have to use more than one or two pieces of the equipment if you don't want to. Treadmills and stationary bikes are usually a good place to start, but use whichever piece of equipment you think you would enjoy most. If you think you want to try another piece, watch someone else use it a few times first so you get the idea of how it works. And last but not least, I would be willing to place a bet that there is someone else in your apartment building that is feeling pretty much the same way you are. If there's a bulletin board or newsletter you could try asking other people to join you on your quest for better health. That would take care of your need to not do this alone. Good luck and don't give up!

Slow down, take a deep breath and think about why you are doing this. You want to be healthy not skinny and in order to get there you have to just jump in both feet first. Forget that skinny/pretty girl she may have her own set of insecurities hidden by looks. You are beautiful it is time that you realize that and make this move for you because doing it for anyone else will not motivate you. If you are afraid of the gym then start at home with workout DVDs until you build up the courage to go to the gym; don't just give up on yourself. I have those videos at my house and you are welcome to them, I support you in this journey you can call me or text me or whatever.

Walk in with your head held high like you own the place. The hardest step is the first step through the door.

Not that it matters but I assure you the girl you saw would respect you more for handling your biz rather than leaving just cuz she was in there at the same time.

youtube baby....youtube! You can learn how to do just about anything from youtube!

Like I tell my kids....Stick your fear in your wallet and take it with you. If you really need it, you know where it is.

Ever seen a 250 pound woman swimming at the beach? Well...if I'm there you will. I have 3 bathing suits. All size 24 and I use 'em. If you don't like the way I look, feel free to go home, 'cause Momma's goin' swimmin'. Moral: Don't let others' brief [usually about 3 to 5 seconds] opinions of you keep you from doing what you need to do. You are the only person you have to live with for the rest of your life and you DESERVE to live it.

Hollycat
:flowerforyou: