Public exercise fear!

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Replies

  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    I'm the "fat girl" at the gym. I'm always the biggest one there. I don't have cute workout clothes yet, I am sweating by the time I walk in from the parking lot. I can't move as fast as others.

    But I go. I work. I sweat. I smile at people, and they smile back. They talk to me and support me in ways that they're probably not even aware of. Because, you see, I'm THERE. I'm working, just like them. If some of them want to judge me for being big and sweating and all that, I'd rather they judge me in the gym where I'm giving my all rather than judge me as I stand in line at Popeye's fried chicken waiting for food.

    So my advice? Just do it. :) Just go and do your thing. It's for YOU, not for anyone else!

    you are my hero. really.
  • strawberrie_milk
    strawberrie_milk Posts: 381 Member
    I also used to be afraid of running outside because I thought I'd be laughed at. Really you have to learn to not care what others think. If they have a problem with you running outside, well that's their problem. Don't let them influence you. And honestly it's really not as bad as you think it is. I think most will just leave you alone. They're more concerned with their own lives than someone just jogging by. If anything, they'll just think, "Oh someone is working out. Good for them" and go back to whatever they were doing. I actually had people smile at me the first time I went running in public :)
  • dmariearce
    dmariearce Posts: 4
    I look at it this way, you wanna check this out while i'm walking/trying to jog go ahead! half of them are thinking "i wish i could do that" anyway, or they just think you look hot running! i know b4 i exercized i'd see some girl running and no matter what they looked like i though "damm i should be doing that too"

    When i try in jog i know my girls bounce and my butt prolly giggles some and i look like i'm going to pass out cause i suck at jogging , all the while i hold my chin up cause i know people are wanting to be out getting their fitness on!
  • natpalit
    natpalit Posts: 113 Member
    I had the same thing, and I started running in winter. I went running while it was dark, so I felt less self conscious about myself. That eased me into being okay to run during the day.
    Also, though this might not help with making you feel less self conscious, if you have an ipod touch/smart phone, you can use an app like run keeper or map my run, which will log how far you run and how long it takes you. This will allow you to see how much you're progressing, which should help you to stay motivated. :)

    Good luck!
  • Garrett1234
    Garrett1234 Posts: 147 Member
    Just do it. Don't think about how you look or think you feel. I'm a salesman professionally and just turn off my own response to negative feedback (which hopefully you won't be getting! :). Try it a few times and you might just get over the hump.
  • atsteele
    atsteele Posts: 1,358 Member
    Do you know what people think when they see a runner (no matter what size and shape)?

    They think, "Dang! I should be doing that!!" or "I wish I could do that!"








    Or they just think, "Crazy runners!!" LOL

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