Gym stares ?

mrsmammahunter · July 2016

Sounds silly but I am super new to lifting weight and it looks like it . Takes me a while to read the machine instructions and adjust etc. I get self conscious because I get a lot of stares and I have lost a lot of weight but the stares make me feel like how I felt really over weight doing cardio . I don't want to get discouraged any pointers on how to get over it.

queenliz99 · July 2016

With sunglasses on, is how.

jemhh · July 2016

What?

Ready2Rock206 · July 2016

Huh?

mrsmammahunter · July 2016

Sorry I'm on my phone and it submitted before I could type it up lol. It has been fixed

BlendaBrenda · July 2016

Whenever someone stares at you, stick your tongue out at them.

queenliz99 · July 2016

The bird is not good idea but I bet people aren't staring at you but through you. They are probably thinking nice things.

jemhh · July 2016

Ok good you elaborated in your OP.

You don't get as many stares as you think you do. I am certain this is the case with probably 80% of people who think they are being stared at in the gym. Odds are you are either staring at others who are wondering why you're staring at them or people are zoning out between sets.

mrsmammahunter · July 2016

I don't think I am being paranoid sometimes they point and giggle to their buddies. It's always the dudes . Maybe I should just buy a weight bar to use at home .

mellyrunsfar · July 2016

I wear a hat low, put my ear buds in, play my music and do my thing. Don't let them bother you, prolly just checking you out anyway lol @mrsmammahunter (love that username btw)

almostanangel21 · July 2016

Keep your eyes down and focus on your own form while lifting; that's where your focus should be anyway, and if there are a few people staring (doubtful, but the teenagers are out of school and occasionally in the gym being annoying), ignore them and they'll mind their own business. The other possibility is that some of the guys are considering offering "help," i.e. hitting on you. If they actually do that (not just looking at you, which, yeah, they're most likely doing the 1000 yard stare and not even registering your presence), then break out the Epic Death Stare.

your_pal_crusher · July 2016

Maybe this is easier said than done, but don't take yourself so seriously. If I'm at the gym or at the grocery store or at the hardware store and I'm out of my element or checking out something new, I look for someone who knows what they're doing and ask a question. As long as you're friendly, people are usually friendly back. And if some *kittens* are pointing and laughing, screw them. They're not part of your life.

arditarose · July 2016

Sorry, no one is staring at you for reading the descriptions on the machines.

middlehaitch · July 2016

Keep going, don't get discouraged. If they are truly pointing and staring ask them for help. They will either move away or come and give you pointers.

Remember it is your gym as well as theirs.

I know it can feel awkward in the gym when you are just starting out, I am a little old woman so everything I do has to be adjusted for me to reach, but plough through in a few weeks you will be comfortable and wonder what your concern was.

Cheers, h.

xmichaelyx · July 2016

Put in headphones
Work out
Realize that you don't exist to anyone but yourself

mrsmammahunter · July 2016

mellyrunsfar wrote: »

I wear a hat low, put my ear buds in, play my music and do my thing. Don't let them bother you, prolly just checking you out anyway lol @mrsmammahunter (love that username btw)

Lol I doubt it but thank you. It's literally the same people everytime I'm non confrontational and I don't want to embarrass myself

mrsmammahunter · July 2016

I'll probably need to approach them next time.

mrsmammahunter · July 2016

I know it sounds ridiculous that I am letting it get to me but I'm not comfortable in my own skin yet.

KetoneKaren · July 2016

It's not ridiculous. It's impeding your progress. Boy children giggling and pointing would be distracting to anyone.

jdhcm2006 · July 2016

Next time you see someone pointing at you, smile and wave or take the advice of going over to them and asking for advice. Either way you've called them out and they will probably leave you alone.

azulvioleta6 · July 2016

Make eye contact and ask for help.

Everybody has to learn at some point--it isn't anything to be embarrassed about.

Erik8484 · July 2016

show then that you are the alpha dog by bench pressing more than them

Sued0nim · July 2016

Lots of good advice here.

IME men don't point and giggle, that's the provenance of little girls. But if they do, put on a smile at them, turn your music up and get on with it....make it clear you've seen them watching...maybe do a little shrug or whatever ....as soon as you make human contact, and are no longer an 'object' guys tend to chill

SparklySarah412 · July 2016

I know how you feel. When I started lifting I was really self-conscious and thought everyone was looking at me too. I know people probably weren't looking at all but I felt like they were. I found it really nerve wracking not knowing how to use the equipment properly, especially the simple things like simply adjusting the bench into a seating position or putting clips on a barbell for example!

At my gym you can ask the trainers to do a one on one session with you where they show you around all the machines, show you the correct form and then write you up a program to follow. That's what I did. I got the guy to show me around the free weights section, the squat rack and all the other equipment I wanted to use but was frightened of looking silly trying to figure out. After that I was absolutely fine. Is that something your gym would do for you?

DeadsAndDoritos · July 2016

I felt the same way when I started. Just keep going and it will get better. You realise that no one is really that interested in other people, mostly just spacing out between sets.

juliewatkin · July 2016

I mostly train at home with free weights. From time to time my husband and I will go to a commercial gym as an outing. When we're there, I like to use all the machines because it's kind of like going on all the rides at an amusement park because we don't have them at home. Many of them are a mystery to me and we do the same thing. We just don't care. The difference is that we have years of experience lifting that allows us that degree of comfort and lack of concern with what other people think. Once you've done it for a while, you'll likely feel the same.

bmb42 · July 2016

To be honest, you're going to be uncomfortable. You're in a new element. People may or may not be looking at you, but who cares? You're there for the very same reason as they are - to better yourself. The only way you can become more comfortable is to keep going, and keep doing you. As many mentioned, put your headphones in and get to work. Congrats on losing weight already!! Keep it going. You've got this.

urloved33 · July 2016

when they stare - smile and wave

BrianSharpe · July 2016

mrsmammahunter wrote: »

I don't think I am being paranoid sometimes they point and giggle to their buddies. It's always the dudes . Maybe I should just buy a weight bar to use at home .

Ignore them. If they're so immature that they point and giggle you shouldn't value their opinion in the slightest. You need to make a decision as to what is more important.....the opinions of some little douchecanoes or your fitness.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. (Eleanor Roosevelt)

pompeyjosh1990 · July 2016

to be honest I don't think people mean too- I go to a really busy gym, so you can help look at something while your in the gym.....if they point then just stare back lol

Shawshankcan · July 2016

I doubt people are pointing and laughing. And if they are, it says far more about their character than yours Put your headphones in, and get to work. Screw the rest.

Gym stares ?

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