feel like an idiot

whenever I try going to the gym to work out, especially in the weights section, I feel like a total idiot.  I'm not very tall, pretty much all my extra weight is on my gut, and of course I cannot lift half the weight most of the guys are doing.  I feel totally out of place, and am not really familiar with most of the equipment.  It seems that most of the guys are there to stay in shape, not to get in shape.  And, (this will sound particularly pathetic) I feel especially awkward using some of the machines that are mostly used by the women.  It just feels weird being the only guy on the machines.  Does anyone have any insights, suggestions, or even just a good hard knock to the head to get me back in the gym?

Don't worry about them.  Use the machines to get yourself going if you need to.  It's not about them, it's about you, and getting a better you.  You're never going to be in shape if you don't start somewhere.

You might even want to hire a personal trainer or go to some class on weight lifting to learn about it.  I didn't really get into weight lifting until I took a class in college, and I learned that much of what I was doing was wrong.  I still keep learning that I'm not doing everything as effeciently as possible.

Using the weights is generally better for you because it works stabalizers on the muscles, so if you can use free weights, bench press, etc. with low weights, you'll be better off in the long run.

You might also want to find another gym.  I've never been to a gym where all the guys were in good shape.  The one I go to right now is a pretty small one, and there's usually one or two other guys in the machine area.

Don't be so hard on yourself! I see a lot of men on the same machines I do. At first I had to watch others (secretly) do the machines just so I could do them right. And I have been to gyms were it seemed every body was in great shape, untill I realized it was all in my head. And starffy had a good idea with the classes, or mabey find a book or video to teach you. But classes are better cause they are hands on! Just keep your head up!

My gym offers training for free. There are personal trainers that work there that charge, but the people that work FOR the gym will (should) show you how to use the equipment and help you develop a routine.

Don't worry about what anybody else is doing. Nobody's watching you; they're too worried about themselves and looking at their own reflection. I see people do/wear some really GOOFY stuff at the gym, but who cares. I admire anybody who just does their thing.

I had the same problem when I started working out and felt very self concious.

So....

I hired a trainer for an hour at a quiet time to take me through each machine and set me up with a programme. (most good gyms should do this when you join anyway) which at least made me more confident about what i was doing.

Secondly I wear a peaked nike cap (can look down and hide my face if I wnt) and ipod player and earphones. It shuts me off from everyone around me and now i dont even notice people. I just listen to the music and get on with my workout.

Generally people are only interested in themselves at the gym anyway. Its unlikely they are paying any attention to you so dont worry. Guarenteed a month of sticking it out and you will feel great

Also, if you see someone doing something you don't understand, ask them about it.  You'll find that people in the gym often love to help people out.  I've helped people develop a whole routine before.  But I always recommend that they see a certified personal trainer before actually doing anything, since everything I know is built around my body.  (And for liability reasons)

I recommend a personal trainer/class because you'll get a lot of bad advice as well as good advice from random people.  While you might also get bad advice from a trainer, it's less likely.  And they'll help set you up with a routine that is more inline with where you are.

(Hey, this is my 100th post.  How fitting it's under the subject "feel like an idiot")

I felt the same way on day 1 when I joined a gym.

I was overweight (220 lbs or so) and I have never been strong on my upper body.  I could do a max of 3-4 pushups type of thing.  I went in, all these people (men and women) doing great looking exercise with much heavier weights than I did.

So I picked up my first weight, a 30 lbs barbell, and went to a flat bench to do some tricep extensions.  I read that putting both feet on the bench helps.  So I straddle the bench, lie down, and when I go to put my feet up, I totally lose balance and fall off the bench!

What a way to make an intro!

I had a trainer on day 2 go about and explain the exercises and proper technique to me.

I figured out that alot of people there put in alot of time and effort into maintaining their bodies and are proud of it.  So when I ask them questions on what exactly their exercise does, they are more than happy to answer.  I just make sure not to ask them when they are actually doing the exercise.  I also don't pester them.

But most of all, I learned that everyone has to start from somewhere.  No one is born perfect.  Most people start at a gym out of shape.  So they were where I am.

You need to stop being so freakin self-conscious.  Suck it up princess.  Stop worrying about the look, and what others think.  Go in there, do what you have to do, do it well, and move on.  They aren't making you feel uncomfortable, YOU are making you feel uncomfortable.

I'm sure the people there appreciate someone who is putting in max effort over someone who just gives up.

I take weight lifting class at the comm college.  There are such a wide variety of persons.  There are high schoolers to retirees.  thin to fat athletic to newbies.  We all use all the machines and some use equipment I don't use.  Its alot of fun and no one seems to care what another is doing.  The instructor watches us for correct form but if we are more "advanced" then she lets us do what we want.

Don't worry about what equipment you think might only be for women.  We tease the instructor cuz she never uses the pec dec.  She doesn't like that machine but she'll do the cable crossover and flys.  I hate flys so I do the pec dec - different people like different machines. 

I would recomend you start out with cardio exercises and concentrate on eating healthy.  Weight training is great exercise and very good for your body if done right, but if you want to loose your gut, cardio and watching food intake will get you there much faster.  After a few months of that you can easily have lost 20 or more pounds, and you will feel great about it.  And remember if you don't know how to use a machine, just ask the person working there, they will show you how to use it.

I feel out of place doing weights at my gym too.  This is the 3rd gym in my area that I have joined in the last 2 yrs.  And they all 3 seem to be the same as far as no women lifting.  I mean, sure there are women doing the circuit weights.  But I dont really like doing the circuit weights.  I actually like putting the weights on myself and doing curls and squats and stuff.  And when I do them at the gym, i swear everyone stares at me.  Now that I think about it though, people in this state or area in general stare at me funny if I am rollerblading or riding a bike or even washing my vehicle in my front yard.. (I am in Arkansas).  So, I am going to invest in a weight bench and a butt load of free weights so I can do them in the privacy of my own home....

I understand how you feel....

Have you ever sceen the movie Fantasia ...there is a scene where a hipopotomus is dancing in a ballet costume....thats about how I felt the whole first semester that I took dance classes...only less co-ordinated! and I still feel that way some days...

but...it is something that I enjoy doing and it is an important part of my plan to be healthy. It was hard to get over feeling like everyone is looking at me and thinking "what is she doing here?!?!" , especially since I am a shy person to begin with, but eventually I just realized that this was about ME and not them!

I hope that helps....good luck with you goals!