I go at off peak times, and usually there are elderly people in there... What gets me is the fact that the little old ladie on the treadmill next to me can walk faster, on an incline, than I can jog on the flat. And the much bigger old guy can get on the elliptical for nearly an hour, and I can only do it for ten minutes *sigh* and the muscly dude that does his reps then just sits there, is the worst... puts me off using the machines completely lol
What I generally do to stop feeling like I'm not good enough relative to them, is to concentrate on my own goals, which I set for myself before I start my session and remind myself that I'm in competition with me alone and no one else. Though it would be nice to be on the elliptical for half an hour!
honestly no one is looking at you. and if they are its because theyre jealous!!! repeat that in your head! also who cares if theyre looking at you as theyre there for the same reasons you are- to get in shape!!!
i used to feel intimidated but once someone told me I was inspiring and that was the end of being intimidated. Perhaps it would help if you prepared before going.... walked around, ran through your circuit in your head or picked which machine you were to use. I can attest to the fact that I'm never concerned if someone is having "issues" getting the machine to work- normally (if I even notice) I'm thinking- GLAD IM NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!
Kudos for sticking with it and keep it up- you will be an inspiration to others one of these days!
Instead of comparing yourself to all the other people at the gym, think about how you stack up against all of the people who aren't at the gym. Just by being there you're putting yourself way ahead of the 99% of people who are sitting on the couch at home.
If you are going to a small-sized gym where everybody knows everybody, there is a chance that people may be looking at you just because they recognize that you are someone 'new'. But if you are going to a larger facility, chances are people are not looking at you nearly as much as you imagine. You may feel like you are in the spotlight, but more than likely others are more involved in their own workouts than studying you. You will feel more at ease the more times you go; afterall, the more you go the more comfortable you will be with the situation and the machines! And maybe even the people.
Try an little experiment to show yourself that your actions may not be under the microscope as much as you think. Watch someone else at the gym. If they shut off their machine, does everyone in the gym turn and look at them? Probably not. Notice how little other people pay attention to the actions of others and realize that the same is true for you. Unless of course you do something to an extreme, like fly off the end of the treadmill. People might notice that! ;)
As far as feeling like everyone else is going an hour at twice the pace, don't worry about that. Each person is different in their reasons in going to the gym. Maybe some of the others are training for a long distance event, and/or have been training at this level/duration for a long time. The important thing is to start at your own pace, where you feel comfortable and within your own abilities.
And of course, kudos for making the effort of joining and going to the gym! The benefits will show, just have faith and patience! :)
I was very self-concious at the gym when I first started going. Now that I'm a regular, I feel very comfortable there.
Honestly, no one is scrutinizing you. They are absorbed in what they are doing. If you give it some time and go regularly, that feeling you have will wear off.
My advice for the gym (which I won't join, different story) is the same for the outdoor exercising. If you're worried that they're looking at you because of some fault of yours (fat, out of shape, poor form, ugly clothes) then give them something else to look at. I sing to my music (lip the words, not outloud) and throw in dance moves to my walking/jogging. I know they're likely looking at me because a)I'm weird and b)I'm having fun.
They may be just looking at you because they want to be friendly and don't know how to approach you. A nice smile helps.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one, MrsDagle. I get all goofy on the elliptical and start rocking out to whatever music I'm listening to :) I've almost thrown myself off a couple times getting to into it, though. Comedy gold, that :)
Truthfully, everyone at the gym is as self-centered as anyone else. They're concerned with working themselves, not feeling better than you (and if they are concerned with that, they suck and you shouldn't waste brain space on them anyway). Just like you are, I'm sure, when you're really into what you're doing and finally forget about the other people there :)
i have the same problem! i couldn't even turn a bike on...apparently, you just start to pedal. oops. but, jt and flogging sully, great advice! i am joining a gym next week (as a graduation gift to myself wooo!) and could use some positive reinforcement. jt, congrats on being inspiring!! you are!!
do people at gyms carry workout notebooks though? i do circuits at home, and i don't know if i could manage without mine telling me what to do.
Everyone who said no one is looking at you is right. They are all looking and me thinking "HOLY F'CK WHO IS THAT AWESOME WOMAN" then they follow me around re-racking all my weights and begging for an autograph
Seriously though, no one is watching you. It's normal to feel self-conscious when you're starting something new. I've been going to the gym for years but if I try a new lift, I feel like people are running in from all over town to watch me do it wrong.
People at gyms definitely do carry workout notebooks/lifting sheets/training diaries around. You won't see everyone with one, but it should be pretty normal. No need to feel self-conscious about it.
As far as the original post, some gyms can be total meat markets. I go to one, it's the university gym for the main campus where I go to law school. Lots of little undergrads show up wearing as little as possible and some guys get into grunting contests...lovely. I was really self-conscious at first, still happens sometimes too, but like the other posters said, the more you go, the more comfortable you get. And seriously, who gives a flying fart what they think? You shouldn't. Easier said than done, yes, but it's true! Just (1) Don't take yourself too seriously and (2) ask for help when you need it. If I do something really dumb I break out in a grin and laugh out loud at myself. Try to have fun!
good luck!
good job making it to the gym 3 times last week.
i am a regular at the gym and my advice about the competition is turn those feelings into a positive force. for example if i see a girl that seems to be really good at running or lifting, i try and see what kinds of exercises she is doing. this way, i use her as motivation to stay on the bike longer or try a new weight machine.
good luck at the gym and i assure you that people are so focused on doing their thing and getting out that no one is judging you. you might even be inspiring someone else to try something new at the gym.
good job! you go girl! i totally know how you feel. i have been going to gyms for about 8 years and still feel intimidated from time to time. the key is to remember that nobody is paying attention to you! they are only paying attention to their own workouts. i promise you i dont keep track of what anyone is doing at the gym except for when someone looks awesome at what they're doing and i am staring because i am jealous!
i would suggest asking for a tour of the gym and have someone show you how to use the machines. i am definitely intimidated by the weight machines and i feel like i could get hurt if i didnt know how to use them properly. so i think its totally normal and standard to get a little "intro tour" when you first join a gym. they will probably show you how to use the cardio machines too!
keep up the good work!
I felt the same way when I first started going. It will go away. Especially if you get focused on why you are there. Concentrate on what you are trying to accomplish and only worry about that. As long as you are progressing towards your goals you fit right in, because that is pretty much what we all are doing.
Also, don't be afraid to say hi to a few folks and strike up a conversation or two. Sometimes once you get to know a couple of folks and you find out a bit about what they are doing and why they are there you find out you are not so different.
People look at other people in the gym, for a variety of reasons. Mostly because even though there are often TV's to watch, you don't normally watch much because you don't have the time to watch enough to get engrossed in anything, so just watching other people is in part to aleviate some of the boredom!
Most people will either be neutral in their thoughts, or positive, or at least that is how I see it, and will continue to see it, because that is what I think, and I wouldn't want to think otherwise anyway.
You are nowhere near as overweight as I have been at the gym! People look at me sometimes, but I don't know why, but I like to think they are looking at me and the worst they are thinking is "wow, that guy is a fat fella, but at least he is at the gym trying to do something about it".
Actually, reminded me of one particular gym session I had when I was about 130kg, I was down from 140kg, and even though still way overweight, had got my fitness level to a point where I could jog at 9k/hr for 30 mins. After I had finished, one guy actually came up to me and said "well done, I have to admit that I thought you wouldn't be able to keep that up for more than 5 mins! But you did well. Good going, keep at it." I was a bit shocked at the comment honestly, but later considered that the guy was just trying to encourage me further, so was happy for the comment.
In any case, as has been said, just focus on your own progress. If you can do better in some small way than you did last time, then it is a good session.
I'm in graduate school and get a free membership to the campus gym. It's great but at the same time I get all the girlie undergrads who walk around the indoor track and gossip and then a week before spring break go nuts with the cardio machines. Of course that's not to mention the big manly men who feel the need to grunt very loudly in the weight room.
It took some time but I moved from the dinky weight machines in the cardio room to the real machines and free weights down in the weight room. I dive right into that sea of 18-20 year old testosterone and you know what, let them look! I don't care if I have a red face and a sweaty t-shirt lifting my 8 lbs free weights. I like to imagine they are intimidated by me because I'm not intimidated by them!
Although I must say the one thing that I haven't gotten used to is free weights in front of the mirror. I guess I'm supposed to be watching my form but I find my eyes wandering and it is a bit awkward when your wander eyes hit someone elses!
it's bound to happen...people look at me in the gym all the time....I just get in a zone and pay no attention to them...if anything it makes my form better, because I don't want them to come over and tell me that I'm doing something wrong...lol...even though I would welcome their constructive criticism.
I watch people all the time because I am bored otherwise and I am naturally a people watcher.....but my workouts are of the high-level-of-exertion-nature that I am not thinking about the people, really, just mindless looking while working up a pretty good sweat.
Occassionally between sets I have time to think about the people I see and I am thinking, "Her body is awesome, I want that!" or "I remember when I was bigger like her and how much guts it took for me to do what she's doing -- good for her, I hope she can keep at it!", or "Hmmm, maybe I'll try that move next time", occassionally I think, "He's hot" -- sometimes I even think, "Holy Sh-t...are those MY muscles".
Now I get up on the track (which has about 50 people on the elliptical machines FACING me) and I run laps past them over and over again -- in SPANDEX!!!! and I totally don't care because what I do services ME and that is why I do it.
PLEASE keep at it and your confindence will grow. Already you can do ONE thing that many people can't manage to do because they're "too busy" -- that is actually GETTING TO THE GYM!!
Go get 'em!!
Original Post by treenut18:
i have the same problem! i couldn't even turn a bike on...apparently, you just start to pedal. oops. but, jt and flogging sully, great advice! i am joining a gym next week (as a graduation gift to myself wooo!) and could use some positive reinforcement. jt, congrats on being inspiring!! you are!!
do people at gyms carry workout notebooks though? i do circuits at home, and i don't know if i could manage without mine telling me what to do.
Yes, treenut there are definetely people at the gym who carry notebooks...don't feel self conscious!
I won't lie....I do look at people at the gym. Sometimes I look at people because I am really impressed w/ what they are doing or how they look (fitness-wise). Sometimes I look because I am appalled at how horrible their form is or I am trying to understand why in the world any sane person would need to lean forwards and backwards on the elliptical while pedaling so fast at a low resistance that the machine is about to go sailing through the glass window in front of him....but I digress. I generally don't judge people on their body composition though unless they have a really terrific one and I am not really being judgmental but wishing I looked as good as they do. But, I am not spending large amounts of time staring at people who have weight to lose and thinking anything negative about them. If anything, I admire people who are in the gym who have a lot of weight to lose because they are there and actually trying to do something to help themselves get healthier.
I do hate it when people look at me though (I know totally hypocritical) but I am always worried that my form isn't perfect (especially since I'm a trainer and I should have always have excellent form). I have learned to just ignore it though because like Spiro said the are probably just watching me because I am so effing perfect.....NOT!
It is tough to be in a gym when you feel like everyone else is in better shape and seems to know what they are doing, but remember, every single person in there had to learn somehow. Everyone had to get on a treadmill or eliptical for the first time. Everyone had to figure out how to lift weights. I'm pretty sure there isn't one person who was born able to run an hour straight. We've all been there so people understand you have to learn. Some people just learned earlier than others ;) When I started running I could go about 2 minutes before I had to walk or my heart would beat out of my chest. Now I'm up to 5 miles.
Just think - if you keep it up, your 20 minutes will turn into an hour and the new girl will be comparing herself to you!! Good job joining the gym (and going - those are two different things ;)!!!!
Is jump roping as good an exercise as running?
In terms of calorie burning, moderate jumping is about equal to running a 10-minute mile, although calorie burning is always a function of time... Read more
