I love seeing a bigger girl in the gym. I've been maintaining for 6 years now, but I used to be the big girl in the gym. I just think, "I'm so proud of her!".
FYI I am also into bodybuilding. Do you know what bodybuilding guys say about overweight girls who are working out in the gym? They think it is great that she is working out.
Working out commands respect, don't ever forget that!
I remember, once, my Mom was driving us home after dark and a woman was jogging by. My Mom said quietly "You go girl", and years later, I realise she was admiring that woman for actually going jogging after the kind of hectic day that Mothers probably have.
Sure, at the gym, people will observe how heavy you are, just as you observe how athletic you think they are. Keep in mind, though, that people will admire that you're actually there and getting healthy, making the effort. They'll be thinking "Good for you!"
I will only go to classes because I'm afraid of looking stupid trying to figure out how to use a machine (unless I buy personal training sessions no one will show me how to use them).
Oh, dear. Don't cancel. Listen: You need to go to my gym. They just hired some more personal trainers to deal with the January influx. And those trainers are looking for business, so they tend to wander around approaching people, chatting with them, correcting their form, demonstrating proper use of the machines. (I just got corrected on my tricep kickback the other day by a newbie trainer with a blond ponytail. Little does she know, the trainer I covet is the ex-football player with the nice smile & political views that oppose my own.)
If they aren't trawling for work, then maybe you can tell them you're auditioning a personal trainer and ask a different trainer to show you each machine you're curious about.
But I can't believe they didn't give you an orientation session as part of your membership. Was that too long ago, maybe? Did you forget? Maybe you can get a refresher out of them. Tell them you are considering canceling, and tell them why. Ask specifically for a refresher session on the machines. This time, bring a little notebook with you.
Seriously, if your membership isn't working for you, you should not be shy. Explain your problem to them & that you are considering canceling. Not as a threat, just as an issue that you need to find a solution to. You may be surprised by the response.
Most of the gyms in my area have memberships that include a meeting with a trainer who will not only give you a strength training plan, but also take you to each machine that is included in your plan and show you the proper way to use them.
I agree that you should go to management and tell them that you are not happy and will not be renewing your membership to see if they will show you.
As for being embarrassed at the gym...please dont! Who are you there for? Them or you? I know it sucks being overweight among a ton of fit people, but letting your feelings and insecurities take over is not going to help things. Go in there, girl, and show 'em what you got!
Thank you all so much for your encouragement. I'm going to the gym tonight while my oldest is at Kids Club at church. And, I wrote myself out a schedule on our family calendar for myself to go on a regular basis.
Tifany - Just ask for help!! Don't quit! The trainers are there to help you. My aunt has managed gyms as long as I can remember. I know them inside out and sideways. They don't want you to get hurt. Just ask for the assistance you need.
As for the original post, I can't think of many people who haven't felt like this before. I miss my old gym so much because all the hot, young business/ professional men that were in there. Looking at them motivated me to be that skinny girl. I would just turn my ipod up and chug along on the elliptical. This idea we all get that only skinny people should be at the gym is the reason we we never see the overweight people there. They are all afraid, so they stay home and overweight.
Just go in there and work your butt off, literally!
I at first was embarrassed at first when I started going to the gym. At times I would only walk in with a friend of mine just to feel better. I go to just a regular gym, not made just for women. The thing that made me feel more comfortable was seeing the same people there over and over again. I even started running into co-workers and seem to get a little motivation from them just knowing someone is noticing me there all the time. The gym I go to has a lot of elderly people there so it helps. I've noticed though, that really once you get into your work out you others really are not paying attention to you. It's hard though sometimes just to get up the courage to walk through the doors. While it is a gym and you go there to get into shape, I think people often forget that you have to start somewhere and not everyone gets the luckiness of not being overweight. Some are naturally slender and don't have to work as hard. Don't worry about what others think, it's hard to do but I've found that can me what de-motivates me more than others. Just think of what it does for you, not what others are thinking. If anything you don't even know but they look at you in a positive way for taking your health into your hands
I've just joined a gym after not having been to one for over a year. I know I'm gonna feel self conscious at first, but you just have to keep on going and eventually you'll learn not to care what people think of you. If they think badly of you, then they're not nice people to be so judgemental.
I agree with all the tips about plugging in some music as well.
I use to be embarressed and even sometimes now i still feel uncomfortable but the answer really is just to keep going...ive been at my gym since august 08 and its only the last few months i have really lost the embarressment i felt. People actually wont be interested in what your doing and i know that takes to get your head around but its true...i would either find a gym your more comfortable in or just start going.
I was afraid of mocking when I first joined a gym, but I'm finding it not to be the case. And if anyone does mock, it shows their ignorance. Exercise is the one thing they all keep telling us we need, right? So here we are, doing it. What better place is there for a heavy person to go, than to the gym?
It could be that memories of PE class are haunting you. But people at a gym have paid money for their membership, and they're not concerned about someone else. They are there to work on their own bodies, and you work on yours. Rare exceptions may apply, but not often. If anyone moos at you or something, just look at them like they're stupid, 'cause they are.
I fell off the back of the treadmill once... After that, it takes a lot more to embarrass me at the gym
I tripped over my own shoelace during an aerobics class. The only thing anyone said was "Are you all right?" Didn't stop it from being embarrassing, but generally people aren't going to be mean to a person who is making a sincere effort.
I have been going to the gym since October (before that, I was walking outside). I am ususally at the gym 5 days a week. There are some extremely fit people there and some that are not. I was intimidated at first, too, but I promise you NOBODY is watching you or is focused on what you are doing. Everyone just sort of gets into their own world and focuses on what they are doing.
My advice is just to force yourself to go and go consistently. Soon, you will get over the intimidation.
