I need make a confession!

Novaleigh

Novaleigh

New member
I have been trying to exercise and I am having a terrible time getting into it.

Today I realized how bad it is when I wanted to go for a jog around the neighborhood. I got dressed, got my water and my dog and as soon as I stepped out onto the porch I panicked. I cannot exercise in public.

I’m having trouble explaining this. It’s like an anxiety. I won’t exercise with anyone in the house. I will walk around the neighborhood with my boyfriend and only him. I won’t jog with him at all.

I want to go to the gym. I truly do. The thought of running on a treadmill and using real equipment excites me but I just cannot be in the same room as other people.

It’s not that I’m self-conscious. Well, I am a little but I know that no one is going to scrutinize me for allowing myself to get to the not so great shape I’m in. I don’t know what it is. But it’s frustrating the crap out of me!

I need help. I don’t know what to do.
 
Have you considered counseling? It has helped a lot of people who have anxiety issues...

Have you even tried going to the gym and using the equipment or have you just built this fear up in your head so that you won't let yourself do it?

Ask yourself what is the worst thing that will happen? Will people come at you with flaming torches and pitchforks? I've seen some people look pretty bad in spandex but not really pitchfork worthy...
 
You cand do what i did go to walmart and spend like $200 on the cheapest eliptical machine they have. Im going to use it every day and i have it in my room.
 
I'm not scared of what people think. I cant explane how it is. This is so hard.

I guess you could say that I have a social anxiety. My brother went though this type thing a few years ago and he got over it without the help of therapy and drugs. (mostly beucase neither did nothing for him)

I think I'm just scared for people talking to me or even waving at me. They can think as much and whatever they want. I just dont want the social people to com up talking to me about everything and nothing.

This is so frustrting cause I cant explane this at all and to other people it probably makes no since but to me I completly understand.
 
If it makes sense in your head then it's real to you...

What do you think you can or should to to help resolve it?

Only you know what will work best for you?

Working out at home, by yourself is always an option... but it doesn't seem to be the option that you want...

If you're afraid of people coming up and talking to you at the gym - headphones are a good option -that's generally code for people to stay the hell away and don't talk to you...
 
I am the same way. I go out at 5am to do my walk. Only one or two regulars are out there, so it is OK, other than that it is pretty desolate. I don't like gyms and I will not go out and excersise when the sun is up.

In my case I know why though. But luckily I've set up my house so I can also work out there.

Don't feel bad about it, you're not alone. You need to alter your routine so you can feel comfortable about it. If it means going out before the sun rises, then so be it.
 
I totally get you, ive gotten my bike out, my water, my helmet and my sunglasses on (like they will hide me!) haha then freeze at the door...

and go back inside an wallow....
 
Novaleigh said:
I cannot exercise in public.
Click to expand...

Hi. I used to have that problem as well. Try jogging late at night or early morning, when you feel that no one is outside watching. Stay away from busy streets if you can - its annoying when that one person drives past you and honks their horn repeatedly (for some reason?).

Eventually you will get to a point where you don't care about those types of things. Good luck to ya!
 
I used to have a serious phobia of going to the gym. The more I went, the more it went away. I think Mal had a good idea with the earphones and some music. You'll be able to workout and get into your zone with some music, and it will probably help you relax some.

-Sam
 
Hey.

I am so the same way. Wow.

I am not alone.

I bought a treadmill in the paper for $200.00. Its a few years old but I looked at sears and the newer model of the same thing is like $1,500! I would suggest buying used exercise equipment.

I feel so foolish though. I have a free gym membership with my college and I refuse to use it… I guess I have this idea that only athletes and extremely physically fit people use the activity center. Although sometimes when I walk buy there it does reaffirm that belief. I keep telling myself “when I am in shape I can workout there.” Pretty dumb, yeah.:nopity:
 
i use to have an anxiety disorder and I know exactly how you feel. For me, it wasnt that I was self conscience it was that I was worried what other people would think...the gym same for me at the begginning. I was like...I need to get in shape before I go to the gym so I dont look all sweaty and panting from like 10 min on a tredmill! lol but I got over it, at least im making an effort to get healthy! I just walk by all those people who are all skinny and toned and I think to myself "IM AWESOME" im gonna look amazing!
 
I know how you feel. I hate people seeing me start jogging and stopping. It makes me feel weak. So now I only got late at night. It's probably hard for women to do that because even a strapping young lad like myself always think some degenerate is going to jump out and mug me. It gets you sprinting at some points though.
 
I used to hate the gym. Everybody in it was fit and so stylish. I looked like a 5 year old retard, in leggins and a huge T-shirt (where and why do you buy those bikini like tops for the gym?). also the gym I used to go to was set up so that everybody was facing everybody, in a kind of concentric circle. I hated that.
My strategy was to change gyms. My new one is just as bad with skinnies and stylies (some of them are like about to die from anorexia and I am not even joking, it is really sad!), but all the machines face 4 giant TVs and you can just put your earphones in, plug them to the machine you are working on and watch TV while you use them.
Tis amazing! Nobody is bothered by anyone, or at least I don't feel they are.

But I think the jogging early in the mornings would be a good things, also because for me, i would already feel motivated if I managed to get out of bed at 5! And I would think, since I am awake now why not go jogging...
Next week I am looking after this dog and I will jog once in the morning and once in the afternoon (he needs at least 2 walks). I hate running, but I have been training myself on the elliptical and I think I can do it.
Camy
 
I used to have the same problem too, and I think it comes from the low self confidence of being overweight. I still don't really go to a public gym, because I have so much equipment at home... but I used to wait till late at night when no one was awake. So yeah, your not alone. I used to only walk my dog late at night too.. it was pretty pathetic.

Although I don't go to a public gym, I have read posts like this in the past. And people's advice that no one cares if you are overweight and in a gym, they will be happy and even helpful that you are doing something about it. If you feel self concious while your there, just think 'Hey, at least I'm not home sitting alone watching TV, eating chips by myself'.
 
Thanks everyone! I'm glad to know that I'm dealing with a somewhat normal and common situation.

I've been talking with my boyfriend and we dicided that once he is done conditioning with lacrosse and he just has practaces we're going to go out in one of our back yards and play lacrosse. He is probably going to throw the ball way past me so i have to run to go get it so that will be good.

And I have yet to go to a gym and being 17 I feel that I am not ready. But I have also come up with a solution so that I can run when its too cold out to play lacrosse. My best friend has a treadmill and since i graduated early I have lots of time and during the day I can go to her house and run on the treadmill while no one is there.
 
Lacrosse is really the only one. I played soft ball for about eight years but stopped due to ankle problems.
 
Social Anxiety

Morning,

I had to research social anxiety in the past for some friends. I found:


to be useful.

Data points,

Barbara
 
I have been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder (GAD) my DR gave me a perscription med to help with the anxiety. It still hasn't relieved my fear about riding on the back of a motorcycle. (I like to be in front and in control ) But I have overcome other fears, flying, handling my own dogs in a dog show, speaking in public and other things.

When I was attending a gym regularly, I found that going with a girlfriend my size or with similar fitness goals was helpful. We took a tour of the gym and received a free week trial. We took adavantage of each day. We did cardio and water aerobics and rewarded ourselves with a stay in the sauna or hot tub. It was a *sweet* reward!

We would sometimes go lunch at subway or something and then go back to our homes. It was VERY conducive to our weight loss and fitness achievement. We measured success in how our clothes fit, how we felt etc... in no time I went from 220 to 185 ... it was a feb-June thing mostly.

I sure wish I could afford a gym again, it's SO fun once you get in the swing of it. I bought an elliptical trainer instead, and now work out at home. My hubby uses it too and so do my 8 & 10 yr old. I hope that it helps our whole family feel better.

Good luck in reaching your goals. If you are anxious please see your DR. I was anxious about seeing my Dr...LOL but I got over it. Sometimes people like me have to talk themselves into something and it takes longer to get up and get help :)

I like what DR Phil says to folks stuck in a pattern (Like I was) "How's that working for ya?" It definately helps to seek counseling and medical advice. :)
 
I have this problem also, to an extent. I mean, I guess i'd be okay going for walks alone, in fact, I enjoy it, a chance to exercise and clear my head, but i will NOT work out at home if someone is awake, i dont like when peopel are around.
 
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