Embarrassed to exercise

I guess the way to do it is to do stuff alone at home at first til you feel happier with how fit you are and then get more public with it. Good luck!

Do not worry about what anyone says or anyone thinks. This should be all about you. Start slow, walking pick up the pace once there get in a gym and knock it out the box. I am 50 years old, I was 207lbs and 5'5 bad knees when I started. I am now 170 and do the gym daily with my best friends son it motivates me and gets him out of the house.

Someone told me the hardest part was getting in the gym, from there it's all easy. I believe it.

I love Leslie Sansone's walking DVDs! When I first started I weighed over 300 pounds and was embarrassed to just go out in public...never mind exercising. I got one of her DVDs and started from there.

You are worth it and you can do it!! :flowerforyou:

I was when I first started out, but I just kept telling myself..."It is either now or never." I can continue on this horrible path or I can take today and start a healthy on. It takes time, but surrounding yourself with positive people will HELP BIG TIME:)

Is anyone else embarrassed to actually start going to the gym/running in public? I am happy swimming but at the moment I'm somewhere without a pool nearby, so that's not an option. I don't feel comfortable with exercising in public but I'm not sure what to do otherwise.
Also, swimming/joining a gym = spending money, which, as a student, I definitely don't have much of to spare!!
Are other people in the same situation? Or does anyone have any tips for me?
Thanks!

Aw, sorry you are feeling this way. Let me tell you, I've recently picked up jogging (6 weeks ago) and for the first time I ran on a treadmill Tuesday night and was able to see myself in the mirror... I LOOKED REDICULOUS, but you know what? You are lapping everyone on the couch! It doesn't matter what you look like when you are exercising, what matters is that you are doing it :-) Don't worry!!! xo

As someone that has been going to a gym for almost 30 years, I can say you shouldn't be embarrassed about starting out. The people that have been going know how difficult it is to exercise and and have the utmost respect for anyone that is trying to improve their health - regardless of what type of shape you are in. Don't let the meatheads that are there throwing weights around discourage you!

You also don't need an expensive gym to improve your health. Take advantage of what God has provided...go for a walk, a run, row a canoe, ride a bike, eat an apple or an orange...etc.

I used to be. I was worried what others thought of seeing a 400+ lbs man out there exercising. I only worked out late at night, went to the gym super early to avoid people seeing me. I am near sighted and I wear contacts most of the time. I remember when I was in my 400's, I was in a rush to get to the gym to avoid people. I popped in my contacts without washing my hands first. They burned my eyes soon as I got there. I took them out and had to do my routine super slow since I could not see at all. People started trickling in and I got nervous. I then laughed. I couldn't see them I felt stupid worrying all this time.

Since then I stopped caring what others think or say. My health is more important. I even been going to a Zumba class at my YMCA for a while now. 1 guy in a class of 20-30 women. I suck at it but I have fun and most important of all, it burns calories. Sure there's probably people pointing and laughing at me but I can't see or hear them over the sound of how awesome I am.

Don't worry if you are the only guy there. We love to see a guy in class!

I think I need to get over that barrier of caring about what other people think of me. You're right, health is far more important. I've heard that zumba is meant to be really fun, I might look into joining a class once I have enough £££! I doubt there's people laughing at you, like others have said here, everyone who does exercise is doing so for the same sorts of reasons.

I got to Zumba and I love it!

Let me know if you find a good sports bra. I don't run for the same reason:)

You know, it gets better with normal routines. Think about this, how often do you see somebody exercising and think,, " what an idiot, they look dumb"? I personaly am thinking, " good for them, keep it up."

Just get out there, or in there, and make it happen. Friends and neighbors will secretly be impressed, and you may end up motivating someone else to do the same.
Good luck!

Quick addition: Try looking into P90X or Insanity form Team Beachbody. I have done both of these programs and they are outstanding. You can do these in the pprivacy of your own home in about an hour a day for 60-90 days, get ripped, and wear your confidence around for all to see through the rest of your life.

So I used to have the same fear, and it actually started when I was a super fit, inshape swimmer, it started because I sweat...a lot. Like me and a 600 pound man could probably go neck and neck over who sweats the most. For example, in zumba class yesterday I was drenched, through my shirt, dripping down my face, etc. the girls around me looked like they just walked out of a magazine add, but whatever, I just don't care anymore.

What finally got me over my fear was me realizing that when I drive around and look at people running, or I'm at the gym and a person is working hard (and isn't obnoxious and trying to peacock all over the gym) I don't look at them and go "wow look how stupid or fat or whatever that person is" instead, I say "wow look at that person working out, they're really working hard, good for them getting out and running, OMG I could never run outside right now, its 6:30am, way to go" No one thinks anything negative about you, and honestly if they are going to, its not worth it to even talk to them or take anything they say seriously, because they are probably said person peacocking around the gym like the big douche bag they are.

As far as being a student - does your campus have a gym? Thats a GREAT way to workout and its included in your student fees, or your apartment complex? The other option is if there is a planet fitness nearby, its literally only $10 a month to join and they're open 24 hours. If those aren't options theres a ton of workout videos you can get, most of jillian michaels are in the $10-15 range and they will kick your butt.

You know, it gets better with normal routines. Think about this, how often do you see somebody exercising and think,, " what an idiot, they look dumb"? I personaly am thinking, " good for them, keep it up."

Just get out there, or in there, and make it happen. Friends and neighbors will secretly be impressed, and you may end up motivating someone else to do the same.
Good luck!

Yeah, this summed up my long essay into a couple short sentences. I second this completely.

Do not feel embarrassed to go to a gym! Remember, everyone there shares the same goal! I love my gym and, honestly, when I see someone heavier working out, in my head, I'm thinking, "you go, girl!" And am proud of a complete stranger! It's motivation for me to keep going, because if they have the motivation, then why shouldn't I? Some people amaze me because they have much more stamina than I do! I'm not sure if you think people will judge you, but trust me, it's all about YOU! One of my instructor said, if it's not jiggling, it's not gonna go anywhere! Lol! Another said, it's not sweat, it's the fat melting! Idk what to say to make you understand that no one at the gym judges, if they thought they were perfect, THEY WOULDN'T BE THERE EITHER!

Couldn't have said it better!!! Im the same way, if I see someone heavier, im proud of them for wanting to take the time out and get healthy. If they can do it then i have no excuse. Everyone is there for the same thing and that is to get healthy and remain healthy. I used to be embarrassed to go because I thought people were judging but they really are in there just doing their own thing.

Many of us can relate to feeling awkward, I feel worse in a dressing room than I do running in public , so I'll go for that run.

No money and embarrassed to work out in public? Exercise DVDs are your best bet, but you'll need a library card. Your local library should have a decent assortment of DVDs to try completely for free.

Hi...

Honestly, no one is judging you. People go to the gym for a reason, so please get over it, you have nothing to feel embarrassed about. Once you get a job do make it a point to join a gym, it is really motivating when you workout amongst others. You can make friends and they will motivate you to reach your goals.

Meanwhile, you don't even need to invest in a fitness DVD (unless you want to), you have everything you need online. Decide on how many days you plan on working out and for how long (45 mins -1hour is more than enough). Once you've decided that, go to bodybuilding.com (click on supersite) and/or bodyrock.tv, and search for exercises you can do at home. Bodybuilding.com has all the necessary info you will never require like articles, videos, etc. Bodyrock.tv focuses on home workouts (there are videos that you can follow). Moreover you can also search on youtube for workout videos, there are plenty.

Lastly, for cardio, you can always run outdoors, but if you are concern about your breasts (or if its raining or snowing), then you can always run in your building IF there are stairs. I do that on the days I don't go the gym. Running up and down that stairs is tiring and will help you burn off calories.

I hope this helps, and well this goes without saying, but watch what you eat since it all boils down to calorie intake.

Good Luck !!!

I was nervous to start jogging, especially as i knew I wouldnt last more than a few seconds! BUT I just went when it got dark, just around the block and before i knew it, I could run for a few minutes, then a few more! then I started going at weekends and if I saw anyone, I would use that as a goal to push myself to keep running until I got past them, even if i thought my legs were going to fall off.. and how you have to think of it is that yes you may be all hot and sweaty and red but the people you see are not caring about that, its THEM who are feeling bad because they are thinking 'that should be meee' - think of that..

but yeah I cant face the gym.. now that is scary

I TOTALLY agree! I felt like an *kitten* at first running in public, but then I thought, who cares! If anyone has anything to say about it, they won't when I'm done! At least I am out there doing it, and actually, yes, having those people see me running, though I do keep to lower traffic areas, or walking paths where most people are at least working out, gave me motivation to go further!

You can do it!!!!