This is so true! Thanks, I definitely needed something like this today!

thnknthin1 - I think I will try the sunglasses option. Worry is I sweat like a pig so I'm pretty sure I will be struggling to keep my glasses from slipping off my face!!

Numina Dae - yes, running outside does have it's plus side, it's so refreshing when compared to a sweaty gym !!

NotTheCheat - that was inspiring! thank you for sharing!!

zoesmom - wow, I'm sorry you have to deal with a douche on a daily basis!! as long as the douche-baggery is motivating you..

100Mother - I loved that quote! Thanks for sharing!!

Remington90 - I so get you!! No one I meet on a regular basis has noticed the weight loss but my friends have noticed me saying NO to alcohol and junk food too & yes they all said "c'mon one beer wont do u any harm" or something on those lines but eventually they figured that I was serious about this so they are being supportive of my choices!! We will get there, I'm sure

AnnMarie77 - I am comfortable in the gym but I do love the outdoors and I am a new runner. I couldn't run to save my life a few months ago!! So I would definitely want to graduate from the gym to the trails!!

Thanks for understanding guys, I feel so much better!! I know I can do this and maybe next weekend, I will ask my bf if he would like to join me for a run outside

Nancy, thank you so much for the link. Loved it!

I started running about 2 years ago- couldn't even run a 1/8th of a mile without being winded- and started with the c25k plan. I got hooked on running and just ran my second 1/2 marathon yesterday (got another in 3 weeks), and am now seriously thinking about trying a full marathon in the fall or spring of next year. I was also self conscious, but now that I'm on the flip side, I am so inspired by heavier runners that I see. You don't know the stories behind the others on the path; maybe they have a story similar to mine or others here at 3FC- and they feel proud of you for being out there too. Try to think positively!

I agree that most people, if they notice at all, are thinking, "Rock on, girl!" When I'm running now, I'm often too focused on my own thing to notice anyone else beyond a second- I give a little wave or high five to runners that I pass- then get back into my own running meditation. You are an inspiration for getting out there; don't hold yourself back because you think others might be thinking negatively because you end up 1) hurting yourself and 2) you don't know who you might inspire today if you go out there and run.

I agree! I can't run on the treadmill; I only run outside and it's so nice to smell the flowers (lilacs now!), wood fires in the winter, leaves in the fall, etc as I run. It's funny; I feel more self-conscious on the treadmill at the gym because it might be the same person staring at my rear for several miles whereas when I'm running outside the person or car passes and it's a matter of seconds.

Keep on going!

I've just started running and with no treadmill outside is the only option. The first week I was like you and would stop running whenever someone could see me. After my third time out I got over it, who cares what they think. I'm out and I'm doing it and this is just about me now. Music and direction (I am using the Zombie 5K program) help me stay focused on me while I am running.

I think it is one of those things that the more you do it the less sensitive you'll be, for your first time out you did great and feeling self-conscious is normal. Keep trying it here and there and you may find that you become more comfortable.

Is the Zombie 5k Program you use something like this? https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ombies5k&hl=en

Definitely sounds interesting!

I went on a 5 mile hike this weekend up some moderately hilly terrain (I did about 850ft of elevation gain in the first mile-ish of the hike.)

It was tough. I had to stop a lot. Hiking ettiquette is that the people going down hill step aside for the person going uphill. I always stepped aside for everyone, lol.

At one spot there was a tricky washed out part of the trail where I had to kind of jump down a couple of feet. It wasn't very far but I was trying to figure out how to get down it without breaking an ankle. Two very fit ladies came from the other direction and easily scrambled up the path. I suddenly became VERY interested in a bird in a tree up the hill. Then they stopped and asked me what I was looking at and then asked if I could identify the bird. I was thinking, "please just go so I can try to navigate this thing on my own*." hahaha

Anyhow I think we all do it. But I met three very fit guys on the trail who asked me what trails connected back where I had come from. I told them and they thanked me enthusiastically. I'm pretty sure they were kind of impressed that I was coming from a part of the trail you can't get to without some effort.

* I do hike alone but only on well traveled paths and always with both a cell phone and handheld 2 meter radio with all the local ham radio repeaters programmed in (I have my amateur radio license). Don't hike alone if you can help it!

Awesome Rodeogirl! You're braver than me!

They really are. I <3 the running community so very much. I never feel like the fat runner, just another runner. I've only ever gotten judgment about my running from non-runners.

When I'm running, I'm really not thinking that much about the other people on the trail. I'll smile and say good morning or good evening and keep right on moving. My mind is too occupied with my pace, how many miles I have left, how many weeks until my next race, etc.

This is me. I'm too busy playing the, "I really want to stop but I need to keep going, how much longer is this going to last" game to give a second thought to anyone around me.

When I first started exercising outside, I would walk either very early in the morning or after dark at night. I live in a very safe neighborhood but still, anything could happen. (And I'm more afraid of the animals out at night rather than the people!!)

Slowly but surely my confidence has built up and I'm slowly getting less afraid of people looking at me. For me personally, if someone walks or jogs by my house, I might notice them but I never remember what they wore, what their stride looked like, nothing! All the things I'm afraid someone is looking at on me I never even see on others!

The best thing I can say to you is act like you own the run (or whatever you are doing in life). Acting like I own the act is exhilarating, like "Yeah, I'm a runner!" or "Yeah, I'm a walker!" or "Yeah, I ride a bike!". These activities are changing our life and if someone doesn't like it, screw em!! But I have a feeling there are more people like me or you who get nervous about this stuff. So let's be strong and OWN it! We might be slower or larger than others but we are still lapping everyone on the couch!

Your boyfriend seems like a sweety; I wish you both nothing but wonderful things. You are a good match I think as you are a special person too, I can just tell.

And zoesmom, my heart breaks for you putting up with a bully like that.

I used to run at night.

And then I moved to a treadmill at the gym.

Now I run everywhere.

Girl, fake it. You have to fake it. You're never going to make that leap without the fear, the embarrassment, the nervousness. You have to fake it and pretend you're not feeling that and then one day, you will surprise the heck out of yourself and those feelings won't be there.

When I am feeling like the fat girl and that everyone is looking at me, I repeat to myself, "I am Xena Warrior Princess. I am Xena Warrior Princess." It helps. Pick a mantra. Do it.


Don't let the person stopping you be YOU!

That is the one! I'm on week 3 and enjoying it, made it to running 8 minutes non stop this week.

Another thing I do is tie a light weight sweatshirt around my waist cause I know my butt jiggles like no tomorrow and I am self-conscious about that as well - but with the sweatshirt there no one can see it so it can jiggle jiggle jiggle with no worries. I don't even notice the sweatshirt when I'm running.

I'm exactly the same way. I've been going at dusk, in hopes that not so many people are looking out their windows, and not as many people are out walking their dogs, running, biking, etc.

I know that I'll have to get over it someday, though. I can't just run (or, shuffle in my case, LOL) at times that are inconvenient for me because I don't want people to see me! But for now, I'm sticking to at-dusk running/shuffling

I'm a runner and whenever I see another runner all I think is "Good for them" or, if I'm in my car, "I wish I was running". People of all sizes run and it is a great community. When I started running outside I had the opposite problem to you. I didn't want people to see that I had stopped...so I'd push myself until they passed and then nearly collapse on the side of the road when they were out of sight