I hate my stupid gym...

It has been a long time since I have been to the gym. Today was my first day back. I walked in and wanted to run out screaming. Where are all the fat people? Not kidding I was the only fat chic there. Everyone else was skinny and made up. I mean who on earth goes to the gym at 7am with make up and giant hoop earings on? I love looking fashonable but I did not think I needed to go the gym looking like I was ready to party! I am so frustrated. I did work out and felt good about it but I really don't want to go back...

natesmomma - just think about this...   they're skinny now because they were once the 'fat chic' (as you said) and they worked their way to where they are today!!  Just keep going!!  You'll be fine..  I'm 315 lbs, so I'm a "fat chic" too so I understand.  Just imagine that when you reach your goal.... some fat chic will walk in and feel like you... when she does, make eye contact and smile at her to reassure her that she doesnt have to be self concious when she walks into that gym, because no matter what your age or weight, everyone there is there for the same reason.  Good luck to you!! and like I said...please dont let it discourage you.. keep going and you'll do great!!  :0)

Take Care!

Jaclyn - St Louis MO

don't let the appearance of other's deter you from your goal...if they want to be "made up" at that hour, it's up to them...think about the reason you went there in the first place and concentrate on that...who cares what everybody else looks like?  LOL for me I can't imagine being at the gym at 7am in the first place!

Don't give up! Everyone is at the gym for their own personal reasons, not to judge someone at their starting point. Try to ignore them, or find another time to go when less "made up" people seem to be working out. I find at my gym the most made up, hooped-earring people are there early before work or just after 5 pm. The other times it mellows out a lot.

Or, if it comes down to it, try to find another gym where you feel more comfortable. Sometimes those big chain style gyms have a certain edgy feel to them. I used to belong to a 24 Hour Fitness here in my town, and the people drove me nuts! I've since found a quieter, friendlier and more relaxed locally owned gym where all shapes and sizes can be found. And, as an added bonus, it's cheaper.

There's no reason why you should be made to feel uncomfortable working out. And, the more often you make it there, the more confident you'll feel.

Good luck!

It's interesting, I used to see this kind of thing ALL the time at the club gym I used to belong to - I'd get disdainful looks from the gym rats, and I often had problems breathing on the treadmill because of the amount of perfume the woman next to me would be wearing!  Now I'm at University, where I expected it to be even worse at the Uni gym, being that I'm an older student, and figuring it would be a big hook-up scene.  Boy, was I wrong!  Lots of fat girls, the staff is super nice, and even the buffed out bodybuilder boys are friendly and helpful if I get perplexed at a weight machine.

So what I'm saying is - look for a different gym with a better environment!

I must be lucky... my gym is all pretty normal people and there's no fronting going on there at all.  Everyone is there to do their workout and other than those working at the main desk you don't see many people standing around talking too much.  It's great.   People of all sizes go there but I have noticed lately a lack of larger people.  I'm not sure if they are just going earlier now or I'm just in a pattern of going during the days they aren't there.   Whatever the case I'm not there to do anything but get my exercising done.

Oh and I only go in the evenings during the week and on saturdays in the late mornings since my middle son has a t-ball game early in the AM.

My gym is pretty family friendly though.  There's a nice childrens area that we pay to let the kids go into while my wife and I work out.  I would think any gym that was paticularly family friendly would be worth looking into for anyone of any size wether single or married.

I admit it.  I hate the gym too.  Just cancelled my membership.  I haven't used it since joining a little less than a year ago.  I feel annoyed when I'm there.

I've lost my weight through calorie counting, 10,000+ steps/day and using free weights at home. 

In the past, I used to be a hardcore gym girl.  Many hours/week, very fit, etc.  I'm so sick of spending all of that time in the gym.  I'm loving being outside on the trail, getting back onto the bike and just retraining myself back into healthy eating habits.

My real desire is to create a moderate exercise plan that I can sustain for the rest of my life. 

Isn't the gym designed to produce fit bodies?  I would expect to see healthy fit people at a gym.  Plus, I find working out with other fit people motivating.  With a little hard work you can be like those "fit" people that you loathe now.  I wouldn't knock others for taking pride in their looks, even if they are at the gym.

I do classes at the local community college and love it.  there are such a wide range of persons from high schoolers conditioning for their sports to retirees.  There are thin fat and all shapes in between.  I also find everyone is very friendly and we all help the new folks coming in.  I also take a cardio mix class and actually felt better after seeing a young guy who was in great shape but seeing him sweat more than me and looking like it was hard on him too made me realize I wasn't the only one "feeling the burm"

I notice a different crowd at my gym, depending on what time it is. In the afternoons, its practically empty. Its filled with the made-up chics around 5-8pm, but i am guessing that they are wearing makeup because they came to the gym from work (and didnt wash their face). Who knows what they are doing all made up at 7am!

Honestly, even though they are skinny, they are probably made up like that because they want to feel better about how they look, and makeup does that for them. Everyone has insecurities, even skinny girls.

I'm a 'big girl', and I completely disregard the gym rats.

You're there to sweat. My mentality is 'so what? I'm fat, I know that. I'm hear to sweat it out. Watch me work harder than you ever have!'

Try to not let the appearance of others interfere with your goal. 

Looking like that might make her feel better about herself while working out. 

Maybe there's something you could try or do to make yourself feel better too. ;o)

Good Luck and KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE!

Slightly off topic: I work at a university and go to the faculty/staff gym (read: no students!) which just happens to be in the building I work it.  Very convenient!  Anyway, usually I go up to the gym after work, but on occasion I go during my lunch hour if I have a social engagement in the evening.  M/W/F 10:00 am to noon is for seniors to come, walk on the treadmills, get their blood pressure checked and whatnot.  So a lot of the time when I'm there in the daytime, pounding out my miles on the treadmill, I am surrounded by really cute old people workin' it at 2 mph.  I am so out of place!  I hope that when I am 80 years old I am still going to the gym, I really admire them.

Back to the topic: natesmomma, focus on how good you felt after your workout, and how proud you were of yourself.  That's more important than the barbies.  Personally, I'm impressed that you can get there that early, ready to workout!

It can be annoying to feel out of place.  But check your feelings well.  Could you possibly be subconsciously be looking for a reason not to go to the gym?  And instead of saying "I really don't want to exercise!"  you try to put the fault on the gym?