Feeling Embarrassed at the Gym

Amy_Veg

Amy_Veg

New member
So just starting going back to school this fall (I'm making a lot of changes in my life right now). I have access to the school rec center which has a lot of work out equiptment. I see people in there all the time when I drive by.

Well, it is free for me to use but I can't bear to go in. There are all these little frat boys and sorority girls (or at least they all seem that way to me). And here I am an older person who is severly overweight. I know I shouldn't care what they think but it just seems so intimidating.

Have any of you had similair problems? I know I need to just get up the nerve to go and do it for myself. I'm having way too much anxiety about this. I guess it just brings up all those times in school gym classes when the kids made fun of me.

Maybe I'm just making excuses not to exercise?
 
I totally understand where you are coming from. I hated gym class as a kid. HATED. I was always uncoordinated and non-athletic. I am also quite introverted. I joined a gym a few years ago when I was up at my highest weight, and it was definitely uncomfortable at first. I got more comfortable, but still felt weird about the free weight section (OK, I avoided it like the plague). Anyways, as with a lot of things, you just have to screw up your courage and make yourself do it. Most people will probably ignore you, anyways. If they dare to look at you weird, stare back until they look away, knowing that you paid your (probably exorbitant) tuition and have just as much right to be there as them. Other ideas: Buy some cute workout clothes. Maybe give yourself two stickers. *smile*
 
That is a good idea (clothing and stickers!!). Does anyone know a place to get decent looking plus sized workout clothes?
 
Oh girl I know how you feel!!! At my very biggest, my x & I joined a gym and they had a pool. I love to swim so I just bit the bullet and went for it. There were guys in speedos doing their thing and big tubby me doing mine. Nine times out of ten no one noticed. But one old guy in his 70s stopped me one day and he said that he watched me come in every few days and I'd swim until I could barely pull myself out of the pool. He said that he was very impressed and inspired.

Don't let the younger/fitter people intimidate you. Like blackwdw said, you have every right to be there. Maybe you could find a time when it's not so crowded or find a workout buddy on campus so that it's not just you.

I love Lane Bryant, they have cute stuff.
 
I hate going to the gym also, mostly because of the other people. but I always try to remember at least I am here trying to do something good for my body. I wear what I am most comfy in, my favorite stuff. that always helps me. I have found Kohls has nice clothes. You keep going to the gym and don't pay any mind to anyone there. you do it for you. don't sink to there level, karma will take over.
 
Ok, so here's my 2 cents.

Don't let anyone or anything get in the way of your goals. Who gives a rats behind what anyone else thinks about anything really---if it's going to make you happy, just do it. :)
 
Kaitie said:
Ok, so here's my 2 cents.

Don't let anyone or anything get in the way of your goals. Who gives a rats behind what anyone else thinks about anything really---if it's going to make you happy, just do it. :)
Click to expand...

I gotta second that - nicely put Kaitie!!
 
I actually was in the same boat as you at the start of sept. I started back at school and I have full access to the university's gym. I am pretty close to your weight and I too was extremely nervous and somewhat unconvinced.

I am proud to say that I made the leap of faith to just try it ONCE and I'm sooooooo glad I did. Man I was lifting weights along side the university football team LOL and I didn't even notice. I LOVE it and I wouldn't let anyone or anything come in my way of going.
 
Something i saw earlier might help .. from T2s diary...
T2_Trucker said:
If you enjoy any exercise, you will do it more often - plain and simple.

4. Don't be embarrassed - Even though you will be and yes, people will be watching. You have to set it aside. You will get the final laugh - eventually. You'll also be surprised that there will be a mutual respect after awhile, the thin people will eventually smile or nod and wave - not all, but you will become one of them in time. We're not there for their acceptance or approval however you will feed off of their acknowledgment and it can give you added drive to keep after it.

The embarrassment factor will turn full circle - I know, it's a hard one to swallow.
Click to expand...
 
Hey there Amy,
I gotta say that I agree with everyone else. You just gotta do it and try not to care what others think. Once you start doing it, you may find that you like being there.

I agree with Pequin about Lane Bryant. I also go the Avenue, and Fashion Bug.

Online I go to (I go to the clearance section, and sort by price to find good deals. lol, Also make sure you measure yourself and check their size guid so you won't get anything that doesn't fit!!)

:)
 
Last edited:
I used to work at Avenue (and lane bryant for that matter) and they have a great clearance sectiong. I actually got a coupon in the mail the other day.

Oh, and a quick tip about Avenue. If you don't already know you can use coupons on anything in the store (unless they changed in the past few months). If you want 20% off your whole purchase just sign up for some free e-mail (if you have signed up for their e-mails before) and sign up with the e-mail you just made at their website. A coupon for 20% will be there shortly. Yay! :D I love coupons
 
Okay, so back to the exercise. I think I will try it soon. I'm gonna try to get my hubby to go with me (hes a grad student). I think I'll feel more confident after I've worked out at home for a week or two. I think I will plan a day to go and just go and start.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. :D
 
Ooh, and I just remembered Catherines, also a charming shoppe. I've never been in there, but they're plus. But I think they have stuff my mom would wear. :p

Thanks for the tip about the coupons. :D
 
I felt like that too...still do. Our gym is usally empty, but once in a while these older high school boys show up, in fairly good shape. I feel a little embarrassed, but really, how am I going to get in good shape too if I hide out at home?
 
Funny...I just posted about this in my diary. I really hate going to the gym and feeling like people are staring...but in all reality, I know they're not....everyone is there for the same reason...to improve or maintain their good health. I deserve to go there just as much as anyone else :D I sort of use all of the in-shape people as my motivation, when I want to quit, I look over at the girl next to me who's running 8 miles per hour and in great shape, and I tell myself "If I keep going, I'm going to look like her one day!" :)
 
To be totally honest, most people aren't looking at you as much as you think they are.

I've been in the gym as the chubby girl, and as the fit personal trainer. As the chubby girl, I swore people were staring at me, thinking what in the world is she doing here?, etc. etc. Then I realized something, the really fit people are too busy concentrating on their workout to be worried about me, or to self absorbed to notice.

I've had many clients worry about people looking at them. I would then take them through the gym and point out that no one is looking at them. I would point out things like, "See that barbie doll over there? She's too busy talking on her cell phone to notice anybody." or "See that no-neck meat head over there? He's too busy flexing in the mirror. That guy running about 98 miles an hour? He's just trying not to go flying off the back of the treadmill." Pretty soon, they would realize I was right.
 
The only people who should be embarassed about the gym are the people that don't have the willpower to go in the first place. If you've got the guts to stand up and work to get yourself back on track in the gym, you've got nothing to be embarassed about at all. Usually the only people who would truly give you flak behind your back is the dingy whiney cheerleader type of girls, and they're so detached from reality it's not funny, it's not worth the effort to even figure out what they think. The ironic part is that 5 years from now, there's a good chance that you'll be skinnier than some of them are! I recommend trying to talk to some of the people you see on a regular basis, if you do see any regularly. Most of them will be more than likely to help you and you'll gain some in-person moral support, plus once they see you're friendly and you're serious they will probably open up to you, and you'll see that most of the attitudes aren't exactly what you think they are.
 
Last edited:
I agree with corndoggy. The only thing that will piss the fit people off at the gym is if you kick them off after the time limit is up, lol. Expect some wicked glares for that! ^_^
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top