i don't go to the gym as i workout at home but if i was in the gym and saw an overweight person working out, i would honestly think "good for them, i hope they get to their goal"!

Everyone had to start somewhere. Maybe put some ear buds in and crank up the music and just get into your zone, of course this will only happen once you overcome that initial step of going there and if you need assistance with routines, you will probably gain some friends

You go girl!!!!!

I was self-conscious of it too when I was in the 190s and at the gym. I too went to Planet Fitness and the "judgment-free zone" motto always made the experiences less frightening. Also, wearing headphones and listening to upbeat music helped me focus on me, not others around me. I could create my own little world inside a gym (which believe me, was not my world at the time). Totally worth it. Working out at the very least DOES make you happy. Imagine being eventually much STRONGER than the skinny people you see; it's an empowering feeling ultimately.

Good luck <3

The gym is not an exclusive place where only thin people hang out. You have look at those and you may be surprised to find that many of the thin people you're looking at may have been obese at one time.

No one is going to give you grief or look at you funny--in fact they're happy you've joined the fitness group--and will encourage you to continue going. And some will very helpful to you also.

I'm so into my workout at the gym, I almost never notice anyone else. Except if it's a really cute super in-shape guy... I might notice

Gyms vary, so select a gym whose focus is to help people get healthy. You can sort of spot it when you walk in- if people are dressed for comfort, focused on their own workout, and you see a variety of body types, that's probably a good gym.

My high weight was 225 and I always felt comfortable in my gym. There were lots of people there just like me.

My high weight was probably around 257. (I say "probably" because I wouldn't even get on a scale for the longest time.) When I'm at my gym, if I see someone of my height at about that weight or higher who's working out, all I think is that she is a stronger person than I am.

Because when I was at my high weight, I was so afraid of going to a gym that I walked & walked & walked outside in bitter cold weather, when it rained or snowed, & once during a lightning storm that happened when I was a couple miles from home. I made myself uncomfortable for nothing. (I mean, it's not like nobody ran or walked by me or drove past me during that time.) Actually, I got plantar fasciitis because of all that pounding on pavement & concrete, when I could have been using low-impact machines.

All because I was afraid, and scared of getting out of my comfort zone.

After I lost a little weight, I went into the gym & promptly discovered that there were people there who were as heavy as me, and heavier, only they were having fun in Zumba, were good at spinning, and knew their way around the Nautilus machine circuit -- unlike me, who'd been cowering outside.

I just think of me out alone in the rain & cold doggedly walking when I could've been inside in the warmth and making new friends and learning new things.

(I've got nothing against walking, BTW -- great way to experience the outdoors, see the neighborhood, take a break from your own room -- but why did I completely shut myself off from any other option? Fear. Shyness. Don't be like me!)

I have declared myself the unofficial fat person ambassador for the gym. I want to be there when another overweight person comes to check out the gym, so they can see me and realise that it's something they can do too.

But mostly, I don't care anymore. Because if you aren't sweaty and tomato-faced in the gym, you aren't doing it right.

I'm sorry you felt uneasy about going to the gym. I'm 5'6" and I walked into the gym at 324...

There are plenty in there, who were once large and have toned down quite a bit. Walk in and just focus on yourself. Not the other people.