too embarassed......

Pretty soon after joining a gym you realize people are much more focused on themselves than other people. Focus on yourself and be proud that you're taking care of yourself, and other people at the gym won't matter one bit. In fact, maybe being around other people will start to inspire you rather than make you feel anxious

You need to feel comfortable to exercise but you also need to break out of your comfort zone sometimes. I have seen morbidly obese people at the gym and never once thought anything bad about them or thought that they didn't belong there. If I even give anyone a second glance at the gym it's to think "good for them" or "oooh I wanna try that exercise". Most of them time, most people at the gym are pretty self-absorbed with what they are doing and ignore each other. And if you run into a moron who says something to you, you just know that that's not going to be your new best friend. Grab ahold of your courage and get out there. Don't let your weight and embarrassment become another excuse that gets between you and where you want to go.

You're better off staying away from "big box gyms" and concentrate on finding a smaller community gym. Gyms like Golds and LA Fitness (at least in my area) hire a bunch of snotty college kids to walk around flirting with the clientele. A local gym will feel more personable and they'll be more likely to help out (though stay away from hardcore body building gyms, just because of the intimidation factor).

Ideally find a gym that offers a free personal trainer for a day or two, or if you can afford it, hire one for a week to get you on the right track.

Hi please don't be too embarassed, i know how you feel though. When i first started out i didn't feel comfortable outside my house, i got a wiifit and was using that most days also walked ran up and down the stairs whatever i could inside, I now go to zumba classes 3 times a week , do loads of walking and just starting up jogging. Good luck feel free to add me as friend xx

You really should not feel that way, I do not believe that people at a gym would look at anyone that is out of shape in a bad way. They know you are there, dedicated and trying to get into shape and live a healthy lifestyle. And if someone does look at you in any other way it is because they are not happy with themselves...You need to keep pushing and do not let ANYONE hold you back.... Look how far you have come. You can do this...
Great Job on your weightloss so far.
Good Luck,
Kim

work out it whatever you like! or workout at home - like everyone says here - do what you need to do but just go for it! you won't regret it!

Look for a Planet Fitness! I was so afraid to join a gym, I have never ever been good at anything that involves being athletic, I thought for sure that I was going to make a complete and total fool out of myself. And then I discovered PF! They are super cheap (Only $10 a month) and even their motto is based on how it is a judgement free zone! Everyone, including the staff, are wonderful! Personal training is free when you upgrade to the $20 dollar membsership too. I love going to the gym now, and I feel at home everytime I walk in the door. Also, there are no classes (Zumba, Body Pump) or any frills like that, so there is never a huge crowd just standing around waiting for the studio, just a constant flow of motivated, supportive people!

As others have said, I too always think in my head "wow, you go girl/boy!!" when I see folks with lots of weight to lose at the gym or working out outside. It is so much harder, for reason you raise!!, to get up the motivation to do something that makes you completely vulnerable to others' opinions and judgments. Yeah, some people will probably give you side-eye glances and pass judgment. However, the vast majority will view you as just another person who's trying to work out, lose weight and get healthy. That being said, go with what feels comfortable. Start with working out at home or perhaps going to the gym at off-peak hours, then as you feel more confident, try something new...perhaps new DVDs or new walking routes outside or new at-home equipment. YOU GO GIRL!!!

I am too embarassed to join a gym... or even go for walks outside. right now im getting exercise walking around my house.

its stupid I dont feel like people are looking at me normally. but I feel like if I was in exercise gear they would all be laughing at the very fat girl

mindset:::::::::I AM GETTING IN SHAPE! AT LEAST I AM UP AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT MY WEIGHT!

What others think doesn't matter. I used to feel the same way, but I just got up and did it anyways because you know what, I want to look good and it aint gonna happen by sittin' on my couch! You can do this girl! Just get up and do it....when you see those pounds shedding off you will feel great and this feeling of "the big girl" will surely go away!!!!

And I also see people like you out for walks or at the gym (who really are just people like I used to be) and I think, "Yeah! Get it, girl! You can do it!" It makes me smile in solidarity. So for every insecure moron who has to cut you down to make him/herself feel worthy, there is someone else like me (and many of these other posters), canceling them out by silently encouraging you and cheering you on. Think more often of us.

I couldn't have said it better, so.... ^ this.

I used to weigh 290lbs. When i was that big I didn't want to go to a gym either. So I went dancing. I didn't mind going dancing because I really, truly didn't care what people thought of me, I was having fun. I got all dressed up, found the "ladies" nights (free before XX time) and went. I'd be on the dance floor for a couple of hours, with only stopping to get a drink of water. It was a LOT of fun and I got to be goofy. Now I'm nursing a back injury so I don't go dancing . I wish I could though. It was so much fun.

You might consider getting a Wii or Xbox 360 Kinnect and play the games. I have fun with the Kinnect Adventures and the Dance Central 2. Its nice because I can stop when my back is bothering me.

Or go walk your local mall. Its indoor, you can window shop, and walk at the same time. I also will go to the gym sporadically to walk on the treadmill. Nobody pays attention to me.

when i started last year i weighed 535 lbs or 243.2 kg, and was barely able to walk 5 minutes without major back pain. but what i did was go to a gym and got on a treadmill (even though i was very overweight for them) and walked. when my back started hurting, i would brace myself against the handrails and continue on. finally after a few months i was able to stand and walk around for over an hour without the back pain being too much to tolerate. and then i was able to get into more physical workouts. which i started doing zunba, which was so much fun. i have been backsliding some since thanksgiving, but i have actually just logged my first loss since then. i always thought that people would be staring at me pointing and laughing as well, but everyone that i have seen at the gyms have been helpful and glad to see that i was actually trying to get rid of the weight. and quite a few of them have let me know that they were once majorly overweight like me.

I am not terribly overweight, but definitely want to lose about 15lbs... but I can relate to you in a different way. As a guy that stands at 6'4 - You'd think I could lift some pretty good weight amounts, but truth is... I am just not conditioned for it. So before - I did all cardio and strayed away from the strength building machines and weights. But finally - I said screw it - I started out light and if anything - I found out that people are more than willing to give you tips on what to and not to do.

People honestly do not care! And if you are scared about getting stared at - go to a greenway. They usually go through woods, and you will pass bikers and joggers - but you don't have to worry about passing cars. People that are exercising are usually to focused on what they are doing to pay attention to what you are doing.

I love running/jogging/walking outside. For one - I like the fact that even if you see someone - they are only an issue for a couple of minutes before they out run you, or you them... and secondly - it's auto-motivation. On a treadmill - if it hurts... you stop. Outside... you have to make it back to your starting point! lol.