any bigger people feel akward at the gym

I couldn't join a gym for this very reason. Doesn't even matter if anyone noticed me. My mind would be playing tricks on me the whole time.

And that's why I workout at home.

Although, I'm not ashamed on the treadmill because I'm athletic and I tear it up even at my current weight.

I never see 'bigger' people at my gym...ALWAYS men with the big muscles and tiny ladies looking to get fit sometimes older people.

I really don't like the gym. I feel like if i go hard and sweat a lot i get embarrased cos everyone else looks amazing.

I think it's alllll in your head! I used to have this phobia, but then I realized no one really cares. We're all there for the same reason, to get in shape, and if any one is judging me negatively for that then they have problems. Now that I am no longer over weight, I myself never look at over weight people and judge, I mostly just watch other people to get work out ideas! Don't let your insecurities keep you from the gym, you'll feel more comfortable in time! Going with friends helps too!

Personally, I've never had people be negative toward me about my size at the gym. In my experience, it's really just a matter of respect. People see me always working hard and not slacking off. in fact, I work harder than 99% of everyone else at the gym. People notice this. As a result, I have found universal support.

What fit people don't like is when they see obese people being lazy, making excuses, and not working hard. Work hard, and people will get behind you.

I have gone to the gym as both a large person and a "quote unquote" normal sized person. I felt the way you feel as a larger women, but know i KNOW the truth. Most people just look at people - all people - and in my opinion any person that is there should be congratulated and not frowned upon. You need to change how you feel, and the first step is to just walk in with you head held high and proud. "You are what you are - and it is what it is'. You how ever are making changes - stoping thinking so hard about what other people "may" be thinking and start listening to that other voice that tells you the postive changes you are making.. The gym has changed my life - and can change yours too! Best of luck - and from now onlyl listen to the voices that say the right things!

I hate going to the gym... I especially feel awkward when there are a bunch of skinny or muscular people there... :sad:

Try to be proud of who you are, and don't let the ignoramuses bring you down~

It appears that I am rather fortunate in that the gym in my neighborhood seems to attract a healthy mix of people - all ages and different sizes.

Even then, when I first started going to the gym a few years ago, I remember working out next to this 70+ year woman who was lifting 25lb weights while I was unable to complete 10 reps with the 2lb weights. I was the weakest client my trainer had at the time. Now, I am the one with the 25lb weights.

The thing to remember in the gym is that, everyone had a starting point - no one was born lifting the 25lb weights.

Also, there is nothing more motivating than watching someone else's progress in the gym. There is a morbidly obese gentleman who started at the gym a few weeks after I did. Just watching him plugging in day after day, from barely walking on the treadmill to now running and seeing the changes in him over the last few years have been very motivating.

So go to the gym and do your thing - for everyone who tries to judge you, there is someone else for whom you may be the motivation.

"Don't worry too much - everyone else it too worried about how THEY look to care!"

This.

I know it's not easy feeling loads bigger than everyone else. In fact I wrote a blog entry about being the only fat person in the pool
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Xiaolongbao/view/fat-girl-in-the-pool-225150

But really most people are too worried about themselves to give you more than a passing glance unless you are somehow in their way or something. So get out there and do whatever you want to help you get healthier and fitter.

I used to feel really apprehensive about going to the gym because I was worried people were "judging me" when I worked out.

Then I started making some friends at the gym and realized that I was putting my OWN insecurities onto other people. Since I am unhappy with where my body is right now, I assumed that other people were too. I still believe there is probably a very small portion of people that are bothered by me, but the majority of the people I've spoken to don't pay attention to anyone else at the gym. They are aware of the people around them, but not really engaged with those people. My friend Amy gets into "the zone" (as I call it) so much that I walked through the gym, got on the cardio machine NEXT TO HER and did 30 minutes before she even noticed I was there, LOL!

If you go to the gym a lot (I go 6-7 days a week now!), and around the same time, you'll start seeing some familiar faces. And I'm willing to bet that most of those people will applaud your efforts rather than think nasty thoughts about you.

If you're worried about your workout itself, I would consider hiring a trainer -- it really is worth the money if you can afford it.

This kept me from going to a gym for years, my son finally dragged me to the gym and i go there now for ME !!!!!!

Ive lost quite a bit of weight but still have a way to go and if someone is staring its their problem, im there to get healthy and loose weight

Stick your headphones on, play your favourite music hold your head up high and say to yourself im doing this for me !!!!!

Sometimes I feel awkward, I'm not huge but have at least 50 pounds to go, but I find it funnier when the young girls are there on the elliptical and texting on their phone at the same time.

I'm not renewing my gym membership for this reason. No one seems to sweat, and with it being a uni gym, seeing someone you know is unbearable when your sweating horribly and they're looking perfect. To be honest I hated going anyway, all the machines bore me. I'm going to try running with my housemate outside instead, more interesting and then I'm not alone!

As the excess weight comes off, you'll be less & less self-conscious about how you look when you exercise. Someone else mentioned the YMCA which they gym I go to, & I Love. It. But it sounds like you don't have a ton of choices about which gyms to go to so that's irrelevant.

My main question for you is this: Are you going to let other peoples' perception of you control your actions? Sure, some people are douches. So what. Someone else being a douche is a lame excuse for me staying fat. I absolutely felt the same way when I started going to my gym. I felt like everyone was staring at me all the time. To be honest it's a form of conceit to think that other people at the gym have nothing better to do than talk about me.

When I see really heavy people exercising at my gym, I see so much of myself in them that I at times I am overcome with feelings of excitement for them, that they could be changing their lives for the better like I have. I cheer them on, sometimes silently & sometimes not. The ones who keep coming & keep rockin it out are an inspiration to everyone...any "normal-sized" person can go to the gym & do stuff. But how much inner strength & perseverance does it take as a >300 lb person to keep going & working out no matter what people think? Less than 2 years ago that >300 lb person was me. Now the staff at my local Y is like my own personal MFP, they're always cheering me on & offering encouraging words & keeping up with my races & other successes.

I go to a fantastic gym where there are both men and women. I had a talk with my dr. before joining because I had the same issue. He told me people dont care what you look like because they are busy working on themselves.

It is a small gym and everyone is very helpful and friendly (both men and women). It is not a circuit type gym like Goodlife or Curves. I joined a womans only Goodlife a few years ago and only went a few times. It just wasnt a good fit for me.

I still have 87 lbs to lose and joining this gym and hiring a personal trainer who really pushes me was the best thing I have ever done!

I joined the gym on March 15th (before I joined MFP) and have lost 7 lbs since then. 5 of the lbs while on MFP.

Forgot to add that everyone at my gym sweats! Even the skinny, fit girls. Sounds weird but I love getting all sweaty during a workout because to me it means I am actually working hard...lol

I am quite overweight and I used to hate going to the gym by myself to the point where I would not go if I had to go by myself. Over time I got over it, the gym is "me time" I dont care if people are looking at me and if they are they are probably thinking "good for that girl for making the change" With this being said I go to a women's only gym.

I don't go to the gym to stare at boys or feel like I am being stared at. I have actually learned to love the gym, as a mom this is some of the only time I get to myself. Monday to Friday from 5 am to 7 am you will always find me at the gym. The more I go the more confident I feel.