Self Conscious ...

You could always run at night if it affects you so much that you can't do it. However, running at night has its disadvantages (although I love to run at night).

Is this a concern because of the way you judge others when you see them running? If so, why do you judge them? Is it because they are not motivating enough? Or something else? I'm not trying to be awful here; just trying to get to the root of why it affects you so deeply.

Yes, people will see you. Will it affect your future job prospects, ability to feed and clothe yourself, raise your children, or go grocery shopping? Not likely! If people register that you are there at all, their brain will probably say ,"Person running." Most of the time, their brains will also say,"Motivating." Focus on the POSITIVE aspects of it. Not only are you doing something for yourself, you might even serve as a motivator for someone else to get out and move.

However, if you are out running when it's very hot or raining really hard or on a day when the air quality is very bad, person's brain might say "Crazy person running."

Just go run for yourself if you want to. And maybe, just maybe, you'll positively affect someone else!

Thanks guys. Some good running advice there.

Loved the "crazy person running" comment!

Perhaps I should try running in the early mornings. That is when I do most of my exercise.

I have always been this hard on myself. I don't even like walking across a room by myself!

You have stop thinking other people are better than you are - that's ridiculous. That is the core of being self conscious - you don't believe you are as good/attractive/smart,etc. as the next person. B.S.!

I'm speaking from experience, I was painfully self conscious when I was younger, all the way up to my 30's. It's a paralyzing way to live - you miss out on SO much because you want to hide away. I regret feeling so badly about myself because there was NO reason to be that hard on myself. NONE! You have to stop worrying what other's think of you because they are NOT better than you are.

One of the things that I find helps me soo much? Is that I have found my music to listen to. Had gotten away from it raising children and worrying about bills, and jobs and just plain worrying. Then my husband bought me a little sansa to download music and I have been so free. Now my cell phone has a chip that I can download the music that I love to listen to. Just a suggestion.

When I see someone running - no matter what they look like, how sweaty they are, mouth open or closed - I am always simply impressed that they are out there doing it. Think of all the people out there like me that you could impress and inspire!

You could always run at night if it affects you so much that you can't do it. However, running at night has its disadvantages (although I love to run at night).

Is this a concern because of the way you judge others when you see them running? If so, why do you judge them? Is it because they are not motivating enough? Or something else? I'm not trying to be awful here; just trying to get to the root of why it affects you so deeply.

Yes, people will see you. Will it affect your future job prospects, ability to feed and clothe yourself, raise your children, or go grocery shopping? Not likely! If people register that you are there at all, their brain will probably say ,"Person running." Most of the time, their brains will also say,"Motivating." Focus on the POSITIVE aspects of it. Not only are you doing something for yourself, you might even serve as a motivator for someone else to get out and move.

However, if you are out running when it's very hot or raining really hard or on a day when the air quality is very bad, person's brain might say "Crazy person running."

Just go run for yourself if you want to. And maybe, just maybe, you'll positively affect someone else!

lol that "crazy person running" thing about hot weather and rain is so true i am guilty of that thought! however as a wannabe runner and someone who takes great interest in other people who run outdoors i have nothing but repsect and admiration for people who have the confidence to do it. Go for it! im sure you will be fine

If I go out it's before 5 am because there are less people out and about at that time

I used to feel the same way but I just stopped thinking about it. Think about it this way, do you stare at people in the gym? No. Mostly likely, you don't. So, no one is looking at you. They are concentrating on how hard they are sweating!

People will look at you at the beginning and compare you to themselves etc. After seeing you a few times they will start admiring you for doing something hard, that they would like to have the courage to do. I believe that people who exercise are generally more highly thought of than those who don't.

To be committed to getting fit you have to have enough motivation that you find solutions for all the problems that make your goal difficult. The desire to be healthy and confident must be so strong that it swallows the fear of what others think. In the battle to overcome ourselves, the strength of the motivation to succeed correlates to the likelihood of success. Good luck.

Hi Dawn,

am no expert- in fact, I am rubbish. However, I love jogging, and I now go every day. My ex used to try to train me, but it just made me really angry. I felt as though everybody was laughing at me! Then I got dogs. I had to walk them every morning before work. So at first I just walked them for half an hour and then came home. Eventually, I started putting tracksuit and trainers on, and running to a lampost, then walking to one. Now I jog very slowly, for five miles. My tips for making it more fun are:
:flowerforyou: Get a dog, or borrow one. they are good company, love to run, and are very patient if you are rubbish.
:flowerforyou: Get music you love. i listen to everything from New Kids, to Country, to Rock. I would recommend creating at least 5 play lists, so that you don't get bored. This distracts you from random people walking by.
:flowerforyou: Use www.walkjogrun.net, to plan your routes. it is a fansatic site. you put in your route, and how long it took, and it tells you your speed, calories, how high the hills were- everything. It really encourages me to be faster next time. It also helps to find quiet roads, and avoid crowded areas.
:flowerforyou: Don't worry about how you look. If it is safe, go at 0400hrs. I go really early because of my shifts, but it also feels less intimidating, because nobody sees me- even in my flourescent clothes.
:flowerforyou: Don't expect miracles. Nobody is paying that much attention to you. They don't know if you have already done 1km or 30kms, so it doesn't matter if you are slow, or red faced, or breathless.
:flowerforyou: On days when you cannot be bothered, or the embarassment gets to you, just put your running stuff on anyway, and go for a walk. Often, you will end up jogging anyway, but even if you don't, it will keep you in the habit of moving every day, rather than getting out of a good habit, and the longer you leave it, the harder it gets.

Good luck and have fun xx