Anyone else feel like a loser when they go to the gym???

I hate going to the gym for the simple reason that it seems like everyone is on display and noone can keep their eyes to themselves. Going to the gym means lots of sweat, weird sounds and ugly faces...thats what you need if you're doing the job right...but how can you relax and do this if everyone is staring at everyone, i feel like a total fool! Am i just crazy or does anyone else experience this uncomfort/embarassment??

I hate that too.  I liked the all women's GYM I was a member on in NC.  I felt alot more comfotable grunting.

I love looking like i'm busting it, goin nuts. Makes me feel superior as in I am actually going to see some results before the other women.

here are some tips to ignore them:

bring a book
do laps in the pool, if possible

Yes! I know what you mean! In fact, I was too embarrassed to go for months after I joined. I started using the pool instead because basically nobody but older women go in there regularly, and I'm just now getting the courage to go out on the floor to use the equipment. You're right, nobody keeps their eyes to themselves, but I've conquered this by bringing a book for the cardio machines. I just don't really make eye contact, and those people are so self-involved they don't do the staring thing because it messes up their mirror time. (Heh, at least the people at my gym don't.)

edit: lol @ ricen for beating me to the punch! :P 

What makes you think everyone is starring at everyone else?  Do you stare at everyone?

No one really cares.  Weird faces and grunting are to be expected at the gym.  In fact I'm sure people are thinking "Good for her she is really working hard."

The ones I silently mock in my head are the girls all dressed up with perfect hair, barely moving, sitting on the stationary bike just gliding along and look rather self-conscious.  Why are they even there?  

No.  The people kicking butt at the gym get my respect, man!  No matter what size they are.  No matter how goofy the grunt is.  No matter how sweaty and disheveled.  It's all good!  It means you worked hard.  That is to be respected. 

*high five* to the sweaty girls at the gym.

I felt that way at first too, but it was just because I was too insecure to go in and have a good time. It felt like going into a party where I didn't know anyone- exact same insecurities.

Chances are, no one is staring at you. People's eyes just meander around. I do a lot of biking and treadmilling and I usually just watch the swimmers as I do my thing, because there's nothing else to see.  Some women do get dolled up and wear makeup at the gym, but I think that's really silly and it makes them look super insecure.

Just do your thing. I guess I lucked out in getting a fun, pleasant gym where I feel at home. Part of it is in the lighting; it's modern with a nice layout, and exercise floors are very pleasing and lit with a big, natural skylight down the center of the roof.
The pool is new, with dark blue glossy tiles, and the juice/health bar is brightly colored, clean, and lit with little recessed lights.

I've been to other gyms where I felt ill at ease all the time, and it probably had more to do with the surroundings than with anyone's behavior. I hate places that are floodlit with fluorescent lighting, yucky grey carpeting, dingy walls etc. It makes a BIG difference in how I feel about everything.

At first I felt a little self conscious because I didn't feel like I knew what I was doing. I think almost everyone does.

No one is staring at anyone at the gym. If you're looking around to see who is staring at you, you'll look like the staring weirdo.

Almost everyone at the gym I go to is male :( , so I've never really noticed this.

Could you try a different gym?  Going at a different time might help too.  During the summer I lift before work, and the place is almost dead.

I agree with Jenniferger - any staring that is happening at the gym is most likely due to boredom on the part of the people exercising.  I might also glance at a new person, especially someone who is new to exercise, but I am thinking...good for you!  You are taking control of your life and health. 

I have to admit that I often watch people who are strength training to see if I can discover a new exercise or to find out if I have the right form when I do the same exercise.  I'm not staring to be rude, I'm just trying to learn and improve my technique. 

I've actually found that most people, even the regulars, won't make eye contact or look at each other for more than a moment.  Gone are the days of gym socalizing - now everyone is very isolated and hooked up to thier ipods.

There will always be someone in better shape than you and someone who is not in as good of shape as you so just have fun and get the most out of your workout. 

I've never noticed staring. I also don't feel bad breaking a sweat working with ridiculously small weights. Why feel like a loser? Going to a gym to make positive changes and taking responsibility for weight and health is definitely not loser behaviour.

 belong to an all female gym and I tend to go during the day when its quieter and Ive been much more comfortable there than I would be if there were males around.

Plus I get more work done lol

At the moment I am going to a rehabilitation gym and I am the youngest there by 30 years atleast, most of them are old people in after hip replacements and that sort of thing. And they all kick my butt on the treadmill, bike, weights whatever. So yes I feel like a total drop kick at the gym when 60 year olds are going harder and faster than me at the treadmill but screw it. So long as your doing your best all those looky loos can go find a mirror and play with themselves. 

I couldn't agree with this post more... that is why I took a portion of my tax return from last year and bough a gym-quality elliptical machine. Now I have it at home to use whenever I want. It's in the garage, so even if people are there they don't have to see me. I open up the garage door when it's hot, and most of the time my neighbors just beep and say hello. It's also nice when my boyfriend is there because he'll bring me water and keep cheering me on! I know these things are expensive, but don't forget.... YARD SALES! People are constantly getting rid of those contraptions.

And ebay. I bought my abswing machine (like the ones advertised on tv at 2am) off ebay for 1/4 of the retail price, I also bought my step machine off ebay

Lol no one keeps their eyes to themselves because they are BORED!...

Hi, my name is claire and... and.. I'm a looker! :'(

But seriously, if i'm on the treadmill i get bored real quick so i just watch everyone else in the gym to distract me.
I'm never thinking mean things about them or thinking they look silly, its more like vacant staring at moving pictures lol.
I used to be worried about people watching me at the gym (usually went and worked out in the private womens area to avoid the males) but then i kind of had some switch go in my head and now i don't seem to care if people look at me.
I'll go to the gym, i'll do what ever i want there and i'll grunt and huff and puff and sweat all i want! I pay for it.

I just grit my teeth and try to avoid all paranoid thoughts that i don't belong there.

I go to a gym in Manhattan.  It's full of beautiful, skinny model-type people.  I'm there in my frumpy sweats and large t-shirts, looking all huge and out of place.  Sometimes I feel like I don't belong there.  But then I remember that I'm there for me, not for anybody else.  In the same way that losing weight and being fit is about me - if I'm doing it for anybody else, it won't work.  I can't use my fear of "other people looking at me" as an excuse.  Because this is about me, and for me.  Not them.  

I use the gym in my condo building, which, since it's shared with a resort-type hotel, is /quite/ amazing. At first I was so scared of going in 'cause I expected to see all these long-legged Swedish girls breezing through the ellipticals on their holiday, but actually, every time I go, I haven't seen anyone. It'll probably change once it's in season again, but for now...

State-of-the-art gym just for meeeeee ;D 

Yes, sometimes. Especially b/c there is this one particular woman who makes comments to me at my gym.

Talk about making someone feel insecure and like a loser...these are a couple of the things she has said to me...

Just about every time I see her there she comments about how my face gets so red and I sweat so much.

And yet one time we were both on elliptical machines and she was talking to the trainer and she said to to the trainer (pointing at me) "Why don't you tell her she needs to work out harder?"

Ugh!!

I go to a YMCA, which in my experience seems to be more down to earth than other gyms - mostly just down to earth people there in sweats in the evening after work, trying to get some exercise.  But still, there are those who feel the need to use it as their social outlet, and the best piece of advice I can give is to just wear an ipod.  Better yet, sometimes I walk on the treadmill while listening to my ipod and reading a magazine/looking at the tv.  No one bothers me.  And yes, I have still had this one guy who likes to come over by me and say stupid things like "Feeeel the burrrrnnnnn..." while I'm using the weight machines - but I just stare straight ahead as if I'm too into what's on my headphones to realize he's speaking to me.  whatever......

restless_girl, I couldn't say it better myself.

I'm always looking around at other people! I'm not trying to be rude, I'm not making fun of people in my head or comparing myself to them...I'm just simply bored! We're all there for the same purpose - to be fit and healthy. I would say it's much more rare for someone to actually be judging you, since everyone is usually staring at themselves! :p

Of course, I suppose there are always exceptions - twocutekids, how terrible of that woman to make comments like that! She should be minding her own business!

i dont really feel like everyone is staring at everyone because there are people of all different body types there. but there are some women who are older but trying to be younger who put on make up before going to work out and its like they are finished and getting ready to go to work but no they get that prepared just to go work out... it's crazy.