Too embarrassed to go to the gym...

As the title says, I am too embarrassed to go to the gym. I am worried that people will look at me and think I am really fat, or judge me for being unfit. This is heightened by the fact it is the uni gym and full of beautiful people :sad:

Any advice?

EDIT: Too anyone who is reading this because they too are a wimp, and too scared to go to the gym. Go. If you can, go in the morning as it is usually empty. I've just got home from my 7:30 gym session and I feel so much better. What is even more satisfying is finding out I can run! I ran for ten minutes today, which to many people wont seem like much, but to me is a small victory as I really am awful at running. I has also made me want to eat healthier because I don't want to ruin my efforts.

Thank you to everyone for your advice :cute:

I am really glad I went.

(edited 12 years ago)

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work out at home

Original post by tinktinktinkerbell

work out at home

And do what? I don't own any equipment etc.

Reply 3

H.JJJ

Original post by Magic Dust

And do what? I don't own any equipment etc.

press ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, running up and down the stairs, jogging in corridors, jogging on the spot, stretches, curling bags of potatoes/rice, forward rolls along the carpet...

But no, join a gym! You shouldn't really give a **** what others think.

Reply 4

tinktinktinkerbell

Original post by Magic Dust

And do what? I don't own any equipment etc.

then now is the perfect time to start buying some :wink:

Reply 5

Chicharito14

Stuff what other people think at the gym.

I don't see why it is other people's business to look at you and judge you whilst you are in the gym. If anything, props to you for wanting to become healthier and fitter.

Fair play though to people i see at the gym who put 100% in their workout!

Reply 6

TheQuietOne

Original post by Magic Dust

Any advice?

If you're going to the gym, then whether people judge you or not, they can't deny the fact that you're there at the gym and working out to change yourself for the better. That's more admirable than sitting around worrying and not changing things at all. If people look down on you for being unfit or fat, just think to yourself, "Who cares?! I'm here to change that and a few judgemental people won't stop me."

Yes gyms are often full of 'beautiful people' but sitting around being sad about it won't help change anything. Think less, just do.

EDIT: I think I sound rather harsh here...sorry I didn't mean to be. It came out like the kind of mental talk I give myself when my social anxiety gets bad...not sure how to phrase it any differently hehehe.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 7

Teaddict

Just go to the gym... if people judge you for trying to get fit and healthy then they are morons who deserve an all expenses pain vacation to the surface of the sun.

Reply 8

username677182

People go to the gym, to lose weight and keep fit.
You won't be judged.
If you were over weight and sitting around doing nothing about it, people may judge.
But if anyone in a gym judges you for being over weight and trying to do something about it, they are very immature and not worth your time or thoughts.
If not, then just go walking/jogging.
Or exercise at home: Push ups, sit ups, dancing, star jumps, jogging on the spot... any movement is exercise!

Good luck. :smile:

Reply 9

Einheri

Original post by Magic Dust

And do what? I don't own any equipment etc.

Buy some dumbbells, and/or do body weight exercises.

Reply 10

pongalo

The gym isn't full of beautiful of people. If you feel self consious (my spelling is awful) go at a quiet time, i've found the middle of the week, mid day is quiet as well as the last hour of it being open especially a sunday. If you can get a 'gym buddy' as they'll keep your mind off other people :smile:

Reply 11

iammichealjackson

Original post by Magic Dust

Any advice?

I'm hate gyms... I would recomend going running at night if you want no cars to see you :P If you get a sports app on your smartphone of choice, it can count how many calories you burn as you run. Running is alot better than going to the gym, especially if you only have 20/30 mins...

Reply 12

Currrrtisssss

You've made a very common mistake about gyms so don't worry.

Who will you find inside a football stadium on matchdays? Who will you find next to a lake or a pond with a massive stick? (and don't say stalkers and rapists). Who will you find at a museum?

The answer to all of those are simple to asking who will you find in a gym. In a gym you'll find people that want to improve themselves. No one that has ever stepped foot in a gym was born there. Everyone has a first day lifting/running. Everyone had to go through the same thing you'll do when you walk into that gym.

I can honestly say in a gym no one gives a **** if your fat/thin or whatever. The fact that your there, your making that effort is enough to prove to anyone worth your time that you blend right in in the gym. Everywhere in life you'll get a dixkhead now and then but you have something in common with everyone else in there. Your there to change yourself!

The sooner you start the sooner you realise the gym can be actually one of the best places ever!

You could try going at a quiet time (mid afternoons, Sunday's etc in my gym) to get used to it and get that initial confidence. But basically get your iPod on and get in there. Look at all the girls that you can see have tons of make up on and lol to yourself. Be their for yourself and not what other people think. Your the one that lives and goes home with your body (I wish I did too mind :wink:

)

Find your motivation and go!! Have a search for beautifulgrace on bodyspace ( part of bodybuilding.com) and go from there.

Hope this helps and I havent blabbled too much

Reply 13

Alpharius

Many people at gyms are fat. They are there to remedy that.

Grow a pair and join a gym. Break that vicious cycle now.

Failing that, running up+down stairs, running in parks, press-ups, crunches, sit-ups, the plank...none require a gym.

Reply 14

Chinese_Toilet

people are surprisingly friendly in gym (not in a creepy way). weight lifters are good people. avoid creepy boys and girls that stare.

Reply 15

Zander5

1. No one cares what you are doing
2. work on your self confidence

Reply 16

boba

I'm in completely the same position as you except yesterday when I was packing I packed my exercise clothes and decided I would go for it. Whats the worst that can happen?

Reply 17

ascottheyes

Just go for it! Suck it up, be brave and go! If you want you can start off working out at home but I'd take the plunge now if I were you! :smile:

Reply 18

Bimber

If anything people will respect you for wanting to get into shape, but seriously, nobody will even notice you, stop being scared and go, you will feel much better.

Reply 19

OMG TOOTHBRUSH

Original post by Magic Dust

Any advice?

There was a really fat guy at my gym earlier today. Do you want to know what I thought? I though fair play to him for exercising and making an effort to get into shape. If anything I admired him and seeing him working out hard made me feel happy.

I don't anyone will judge you for being unfit seeing as you would be at a gym, obviously making an effort to get fit. The kind of people who would judge you are the kind of people whose opinions don't matter, **** them.