Terrified of working out in front of others

I use to be the same way but decided a few years ago that other peoples opinions are just that opinions. Most of the time their not even paying attention to who else is working out around them.

Do you know how many people at the gym feel the same way as you? Many. I definitely did. I had panic attacks in the car in the gym parking lot. I went to a gym with a dark "cardio theater" and I would work out in the dark so nobody could see me. On top of being overweight and terribly out of shape, I had the added bonus of being bald when my husband and doctor encouraged me to join a gym and start exercising after chemo.

It was scary at first. Then I started slowly venturing away from the treadmill in the dark to the stationary bike in the dark. Then I ventured out of the theater to the weight machines. Then I noticed people started saying "hello" more often. It took a long time to get back in shape, much longer than it did for people to start viewing me as a gym regular. After about a year, I really looked forward to going to the gym and seeing all the familiar faces, chatting with the front desk guy about the kids, getting pointers from the people who had been at this thing called fitness far longer than me.

Now, I work out in my garage at home, but it's more because I went to the gym for so many years that I started to love working out, and I wanted to workout with my husband more often, and make awful grunting noises and listen to thrash metal or country or Justin Bieber or whatever I wanted. I miss the gym, however and am going to re-up a membership soon.

I think your confidence will grow the more you go. and like several people above mentioned, nobody really cares! 99% of the time you'll find everyone there is kind of in their own little zone.

I know it's hard. I suffer from anxiety and always have been self conscious of people looking at me, especially when doing something outside of my comfort zone. This has stayed the same at my best weight and worst weight, at my youngest and oldest ages, in any and all types of situations!

I gained a little weight over the past few years and now started seriously trying to work it off. I would previously NEVER ever do the weights at the gym because I was afraid of someone looking at me and judging me. I'd hide on some kind of cardio machine.

Now my boyfriend and I go together on the weekends. I would do more cardio while he would do his weights but I got tired of all that extra cardio! So he took time to show me some exercises I could try to tone my legs (which I had been complaining about). I first wouldn't do them but then sucked it up and did them - and guess what, no one even looked twice at me! I was even doing free weights in the middle of the gym in the open when that is something I would have never done before. Is this something I will do on my own if he's not there? I'm not sure but I'm working up to it. I know it's hard but you can do it. I also know someone who has lost almost 50 lbs and who was previously too afraid to workout in public. She just bit the bullet one day and it set her weight loss in motion.

My advice is wear what you are most comfortable in - mentally and physically. Start little - maybe walk on a treadmill in the back if that helps you. Or ask when the most quiet times are at the gym. And do what you want to do. If anyone has the nerve to say something to you, they've got problems. I saw all kinds of people working out and nobody was paying anyone any kind of attention.

I was terrified of first going to a gym because I assumed I'd be judged. What I found was that if you're putting in the most effort YOU can, then nobody cares what you look like. Everybody should be there for the same purpose and people will accept you for it.

I found the looks of derision tended to be aimed at the people who'd turn up, maybe do 10 mins incredibly slow recumbant cycling whilst taking selfies, maybe have a 20 minute chat at the water fountain and then leave. And the people that do that tend to be skinny in the first place. If you're there to work, no one will give you a second look.

erockem wrote: »

When I'm at the gym and see a larger person, several things always cross my mind.

1) they're awesome for being there, if I see them on more that one ocassion they are super awesome
2) they're better than everyone I know who is at home sitting on their couch
3) they motivate me to keep going, if they're sweating and putting in the effort, why am I not?

You're success in going to the gym will motivate others in the same situation. It's contagious.

I wish I was confident enough to tell them how awesome they are!

This is totally how I feel...and sometimes I tell them.

I used to be the same way OP. Then at my previous job they started Insanity classes and some of the staff, including myself, were asked to attend to make the new program appear fuller. I was so self conscious, red as a lobster, and dripping sweat.... But I noticed so was about 90% of the class so I kept going and got over it. The first day is the hardest.

Everyone is being helpful, but it looks like OP has been escorted out of the building..not likely to see the responses anymore...

dragon_girl26 wrote: »

Everyone is being helpful, but it looks like OP has been escorted out of the building..not likely to see the responses anymore...

She was pro Ana so yes she was banned.

OP may have left the building but this is still a great thread for all those who are hesitant to exercise in public.

I, like a lot of the other posters, entered the gym with trepidation- short, dumpy, frumpy and menopausal.

Best thing I ever did

It took a couple of weeks to find my feet but if I asked people were helpful and didn't laugh at my 5lbs weights- they were heavy for me.

Now, I love being the fitter, stronger person I have become because I faced my fear of the gym head on.

Swimsuits started as the knee to neck tri-suit- now, no fear of a bikini.

I still find putting on a posh frock and going to a charity dinner much more intimidating than that first time walking into a gym.

Cheers, h.