Joining the Gym - Think I'll be laughed at

Yes, i have most definitely had those fears - I joined a gym 2 weeks ago...

And now I go every day - and no one even notices me :laugh:

I'm going to dive into free weights soon - I'm, again, worried I'll be laughed at (fat weak girl with the big buff boys) but, you gotta do what you gotta do!

No one will laugh at you. Promise.

Why will they be laughing at you? You're going to get fit and take care of your body & health! Have some confidence in yourself....if anyone does laugh, then they're just arseholes...simple as! Put yourself first flower! This is what it's all about...positive attitude

I am pretty paranoid about what I think other people will be thinking, when they see me working out. I think that in truth, people are only really concentrating on what they are doing themselves. I certainly wouldn't expect to get laughed at - maybe a raised eyebrow, at worst ;-) I have recently started spinning and thought to myself that all of the skinny regulars in the classes probably expect me to drop off the bike with a cardiac arrest after 5 mins, when I first walked into the studio. In actual fact everybody is just in their own world of pain and don't have time to judge or make fun.

I say - go for it... you never know, if you don't try!

Nooooo don't think that!

People that are into fitness know how important it is for your body, and they would respect you for working out, not laugh at you.

In my gym there are people of all sizes working out, and no one looks funny at anyone. You go to the gym with a goal in mind, you work on yourself, give it all you have got. I at least don't even have time to judge people.

Please join the gym, you are going to enjoy it once you get over your insecurity. Go and check it out, ask the trainer and feel the place out first No worries.

And good luck!! :flowerforyou:

Yes, I did get a few lols ... and Yes.. maybe you will be laughed at... and it might hurt at first.... because it hurt me.. but I also lol'd at myself cause I had no idea what I was doing... you will be fine...

Never seen anyone laugh at anyone else at a gym, ever.

Unless you go to a "vanity" gym (you know, the sort of place with shiny new state of the art equipment and a coffee bar where lots of women with makeup on and wearing designer gear meet to socialise and nobody ever breaks a sweat) you'll be ignored - people in serious gyms are there to do their workouts, not to gossip or to check out who else is there and what they look like.

And believe me, if you get a half decent routine you'll be concentrating on that, and won't have time to think about who else is in there and what they might be thinking about you.

When I was 265 I was embarassed to join a gym because of the same fear, so I joined a 24 hour gym and went late at night... but then that changed, I almost didn't care anymore. The skinny people you see in the gym like 80% of the time they didnt start out looking like that. They were once big too. I watchd an Oprah episode, you should youtube it if you can find it, but in the episode the man was 700 lbs and went to a gym. People did look over at him but he lost 200 lbs just by walking slow and swimming. When I saw that I thought if a 700 lb man can go to the gym and work out in front of people.. their is absolutely no excuse why I cant do the same.

No one is looking at you, really. Everyone is there doing their own thing and focusing on their own workouts. Don't worry about being watched, and really just focus on your own workout.

The only people I ever even notice are the people doing the incredible workouts (you know, those people on a 15 mile run at 8 mph or something crazy!). Other than that, I can't tell you what anyone else in the gym does because I honestly don't even notice.

I'm definitely a gym-rat and believe me, nobody will laugh at you. As long as you take your gym time seriously and don't goof off, you'll be OK. Most people have their headphones on and are in their own little world anyway

I was really nervous and worried I'd look like a fool (probably do,but WHO CARES!) the 1rst time I went, but then I realized everyone there is trying to do the same thing as me, get in shape and maybe shed a little extra weight. Don't worry! You can do it!Remember your goals and go for it!

At most gyms everyone has headphones on and a TV in front of their face. They probably won't even notice you, no matter what you look like.

I used to think that - but it's actually the other way round - you may get the odd approving glance or a bit of a smile from people that are in the same boat - especially if you are carrying one of the white cards they give you with your first gym induction on it and they have one too. but once you have gone for a while - you can have a wee chuckle at the super skinny ones that breeze in, look at their nails, text a mate - flirt with the gym staff and then spend 10 mins on one machine whilst admiring themselves in the mirror- then head off for the showers.

no-one cares - everyone is there to do their thing and focusing and what they need to focus on to get through their workout - so it gets easier and easier.

when I expressed my fears once - a good friend of mine put it into perspective n said "Carol - you're not that important" lol - and she is right - so don't let that stop you joining.

I think the others have already given you great advice and answers. For me it is a struggle every time to go to the gym too because it is on an army base and everybody working out there is in an amazing shape. BUT you know what it doesn't or better shouldn't matter, because I am going there to do something for my health and if someone else thinks I look funny or I don't fit in there, then it is their problem.

So go over there, enjoy your work out and don't be afraid of others

15 years ago i walked into a gym weighing 209 lbs...I could barely walk. Im sure everyone in there was thinking...This aint gonna last long. Nobody ever said a word...Until 6 months later...then they couldnt stop themselves from saying something. I got the nickname... Cardio Queen. I lost 87 lbs in 6 months. Who gives a **** what anybody thinks... besides... show em what your really made of!! Hang in there!

Personally I love seeing people at the gym who are maybe a little larger than the average person there (as am I) because it's taking back this stupid idea that we seem to have as a culture that fitness isn't for everyone. Somehow we get this dumb idea in our heads that the only people who should go to the gym are people who are already in perfect shape. I think maybe we get that idea during PE lessons at school - we get picked last for teams, or we do badly in a race and think "I guess exercise isn't for me then" and go off and become more and more unhealthy. It's bull****.

I expressed my own concerns about being out of shape to my personal trainer, and he said he's really not fussed about what kind of shape people are in when they start working out, as long as they're prepared to put in the effort. Everyone has to start somewhere. It's the people who don't bother exercising when he's not looking directly at them who drive him crazy.