Getting over gym paranoia/anxiety

i haven't done classes very often, but more because i just don't like that kind of format. i get bored and/or feel like i'm in kindergarten. but getting myself comfortable in the weight room was an odyssey and it took me quite a few months.

what helped for me was to go. and then go back. and then go back again. and keep going. it was a few months of anxiety and self-consciousness and un-ease, but a workout lasts for an hour, the after-effects last a few hours, and then the rest of my day would be free. and there were little rewards or successes along the way.

when you keep going you become recognizable and you start to accumulate respect. it's a slow process but it comes one drop at a time, so it doesn't happen at all if you don't go at all.

everyone is at the gym to improve themselves and really nobody cares what shape you're in.

I personally love new people in class and in the weight room! I always try to make them feel welcome and encourage them to come back. I love watching their progress...it's exciting!!

so don't start 3 classes at once if it causing anxiety. Add one class and when feeling comfortable add another.

Anyone who is judging needs a serious adjustment. Honestly, most aren't looking. If they are, it's usually because:

1. You're kicking some serious @$$ and deserve an audience.
2. You're attractive (I'll leave this one alone, as some gym goers handle this situation better than others).
3. They want to see what you're doing for exercises to possibly incorporate into their regimen.
4. They're idiots (sometimes #2 applies here).
5. They admire the effort you're putting in.

Get in there and be #1. Good luck!

I just went for it. To me it was harder to resign to being fat and unfit than it was to suck it up and put myself out there. And no one really cares what you look like.

MeganAM89 wrote: »

I've said this before in another post and here's what I focus on:

You're not that important.

That sounds like I'm being mean but hear me out. When I think to myself, "you're not that important," I don't mean that as a human being I'm insignificant. I mean that when I'm in a public setting like that, no one cares that I'm there. No one cares what I'm doing and even if they glance over at me, they're not even really looking at me. Other people are at the gym to work out, they don't care if you're there or not. So try not to think about the other people around you because they're not thinking about you.

I promise once you get through one class you'll see that it's not so bad.

This. Plus...my personal mantra is, "I don't care." Meaning, if someone doesn't like the way I look, the way I work out, my trainers, my hair, my backside, or whatever, it's their problem & reflects back on them. I don't care what they might or might not think. I do my business, be polite & pleasant to others, & go on with my life. I do several classes each week, primarily power step classes; I love them, have fun, get a great sweat on...most others are friendly or at least, not nasty. So I go, get my workout in, enjoy it. Go for it, you won't regret giving it a go!

It's simple common sense, but back when I was younger and really struggling with worrying about what other people were thinking of me, a counselor told me that I can never know what anyone is thinking. For some reason that really clicked with me even though I already knew it. So whatever terrible thing you think someone is thinking about you.. you're probably wrong. So what I started to do is try to come up with crazy positive things people might be thinking if I catch them looking at me or whatever. It's just as likely to be right as anything negative I might come up with, and it leaves me feeling way better!

People couldn't care less that you're in a gym, as everyone is pretty much concentrating on themselves (their form, time, speed, the song they're listening to, the show they're watching, what they might want for supper, making sure they don't accidentally knock someone out..) Just go in there and kick some butt. Everyone in that room was once where you will be.

If you are worried, why not check out some YT and practice a little. It wouldn't be any different to someone watching videos and practicing lifting form.

I'm weird, but on the rare times that I notice people - especially the ones like me who struggle - I am quite proud of them for making it to the gym. As for the classes, you just start out by simply moving, then you get the hang of the instructor's routine.

I don't think it is a healthy mantra to be telling yourself "you are not that important" re-phrase that please! Internal mantras can have massive effects and you are manifesting that you are not important if you do that. I would try something like "every session gets me one step closer to my goal" or "just need to get through today's session" "this is only one hour of my day" etc etc.

billglitch wrote: »

My son has been the subject of snotty remarks at different gyms over the passed 2 years. It happens. Some people have nothing better to do that judge or make snotty comments. I say "F" them. Do it for you

So when you say your son's been to multiple gyms and gotten "snotty" remarks at all of them, I start to wonder what your son's doing in the gym. I'm the only woman I've ever seen use the weight room at my gym, and no one's ever said *kitten* to me. Is sonny boy curling in the squat rack or something?

OP, everyone's pretty much covered it. It's a little nerve-wracking that first time, but then everyone ignores you and you stop caring. You'll get there.