I know it's stupid, but...

Does anyone else ever feel (wow, this sounds ridiculous) too fat to exercise?  Do you know what I mean or am I a total lunatic?  I'm self-conscious because of my size and my inability to perform at the level I'd like to, and it's very discouraging.  How do you work past it?  What are your favorite exercises?

By standards, I am not overweight (I am 44 years old, 5' 7" and weigh 139); however, many days I feel fat and discouraged.  I finally made a decision that I must exercise no matter what.  In other words, I decided that not exercising was not an option.  However, I also do not exercise everyday.  I am realistic in my plan.  I can spend one hour, three times a week at the gym and that is about it.  I do only exercises that I like and in no certain order.  In other words, I want exercise to be about the moment, not some bigger plan to be like a model or something else unrealistic.  When the weather warms up, I'll add back in walking my dog everyday for a mile.  Knowing she needs the exercise more than I do is very motivating.  Just remember that as long as you are moving in some way, you are moving and that is exercise.

Wendy

Well the obvious answer is that you can never be too heavy to excerise. If you are able to stand and support your own weight, you should be able to at least do something. If you are self conscious about your weight, I believe a gym should be the only place where you don't have to feel that. You're obviously there because you want to be healthier and people should respect you for that. I work out with a good friend who is 350 lbs and starting the long haul towards a healthier life. He gets looks from people occasionally, but they never look down on him. He actually gets a lot of comments of support from people because he's trying to get a hold of his weight.

For ideas, I'm sure there is something on the internet and someone will most likely guide you there. If you're available tonight, The Biggest Loser is on NBC tonight. If ever there was an inspiration to lose weight, this show is it.

Oh my god, totally! 2 years ago I lost 30 kilos by going to the gym and exercising really hard, the lighter I got the easier it was to go to the gym because I didnt feel so self-conscious. But a lot of the weight has come back on, I mostly exercise to dvds in my own loungeroom, but definitely not when my husband is home!!! Its weird that Im dieting and exercising so I feel good enough to exercise in public which is where I should be doing it, but Im just not happy seeing other really toned people look at my jiggling in public just yet.

I also noticed exercises that used to be really easy and fun I find are really difficult or uncomfortable, and its really frustrating because there are things I want to do but my body wont let me do them. Like running on a treadmill, my head wants to do it, but my legs dont keep up, is that what you find?

I suggest getting a few dvds of fun things like belly dancing or pilates or salsa and doing them in your loungeroom where no-one is watching and you can just have fun, forget the gym til later!

I am self concious about anyone seeing me exercise.  I won't run in public and while working out in my own home, I shut all the curtains and even tape a peice of paper over the window on the door.

I hate jumping around and feel my back fat jumping at a different pace lol.  But I try to keep in mind that everything I am doing healthier, is going to help me feel less fat in the long run.  I often think what it would be like to make a set of fitness videos (Im 5'3" 183 lbs), so people don't feel so bad about watching some skinny minny doing it so effortlessly.

Keep up with it, and once you start seeing results, you will feel less fat and more able.

Definetly! When I run I can feel my butt and thighs shaking and bouncing and sometimes its so bad it actually hurts. I was running on the treadmill one day and it was stationed in front of a mirror and I could see my leg fat wobbling as I ran, I was mortified but I have to just keep telling myself that everyone else at the gym is so obsorbed in how they look that they have no time to pay attention to my butt jiggling lol

Remember that anyone who judges you based on your looks is shallow and not worth the energy you spend worrying about it. Keep that thought in your mind, make a point of looking past the superficial yourself, and you will be happier in SO many ways. You will meet more interesting people and have a fuller life and, if it helps you get more exercise, you'll have a healthier life too.

Don't let this concern keep you from your goals, and trust that most people aren't as shallow and judgmental as you fear they are. Get out there and have fun! Just walk if that's all you want to do. The best form of exercise is the one you'll keep doing, so start with walking and go from there.

Good luck!

When I was heavier I used to go to a gym &my theory was everyone else is more concerned about how they look to be staring at me & anyways if anyone made any kind of fat coment I could just back with a "Well why do you think I'm working out in a gym then dumba*s!" Nobody ever did, & if anything they should respect & amiration for anyone larger working out as it takes a lot of courage.

At the moment I can't afford the gym so I do exercise DVD's. I have a pilates one that I enjoy doing but got a little bored of doing the same thing. My new one is that Carmen Electra 'Fit to Strip' which is mainly toning & strenthening up to be able to do a routine. I've been doing it 3 times a week for 2 weeks & feel firmer already.

Also.... Beyonce has wobbly inner thighs & she looks lovely!I think we all need a bit of wobble.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g

I totally understand. In addition to being overweight, I'm also really tall (6'6") and I recently went shopping for exercise clothes. Even Marshall's, which will usually have a few things in my size, came up short (and small-ha!)

I feel like: "If I can't even buy clothes to exercise in, what business do I have doing it in the first place?" That said, eating healthy has been a good motivator. Suddenly, I have all of this extra energy and I figure exercise would be a good thing to consume some of it.

Additionally, I don't find exercise in a gym enjoyable. Even when I was thinner, I much preferred to go on a long walk to spending time cross-training to nowhere watching Fox News at the YMCA. Unfortunately its a little cold for outdoor walks in Chicago right now... I guess I'm going to have to get back to the gym.

I know what you mean. When I was in sixth grade they would force us to do swimming at school and I hated wearing a bathing suit.

I started at 367 lbs and started working out.  Yes, I hate being in public doing it (no tank tops for me), but eh, how am I going to get there without it?  I mainly use an elliptical in my home and haven't bothered with a gym.  Partly membership prices, but partly due to not wanting to be with everyone.  I've done it before and will do it again at some point.  But, I do walk at a park.  I think the thing is to start with what you know you can do.  Then push yourself towards what you think just might be too hard.  And if you don't like public, that's fine, what about some DVDs?  If you have digital cable, a lot of times there are videos on demand for exercising.

Just get out there.  As you start to find that you can do things, you'll keep doing more.  And you'll start feeling muscles that weren't there or weren't that big before.

Original Post by topeze:

And if you don't like public, that's fine, what about some DVDs?  If you have digital cable, a lot of times there are videos on demand for exercising.

 OMG I am just thrilled you mentioned the fitness on VOD on digital cable.. I checked mine right after I read that and sure enough there is 25 fitness videos available. thank you so much for mentioning that or I would never know.

There are lots of things you can do at home if you don't feel ready to go out and exercise in front of others yet. I'm seconding the exercise tape suggestion... start out with a warm-up or beginner type and stick with that until it's too easy.

I've never felt too fat to exercise, although there have been times when I've felt too fat to be SEEN exercising, and times when I've felt too fat to do specific exercises (you won't see me doing step aerobics at my weight, for instance... I have no desire to develop arthritis due to excessive strain!)

If you're concerned about it, just do some cardio around the house, or even simply focus on getting your food intake proper to help lose weight and let that process drop a little of the extra baggage so you feel 'lighter' when you start.

But as stealthmoe pointed out, you're never too fat to exercise (barring a medical condition, consult your physician before starting any dietary/exercise regimine, etc etc)

If you do have a lot of weight to lose, start small.  Start with walking.  Start walking slow if you can't walk fast and gradually increase your pace and your distance.  Work up to walking 3 miles a day, and then aim for a 15min mile.  Then up it to 4 miles a day, then see if you can decrease your time by a minute. 

I know when I was in HS and first started dieting, I lost a lot of weight with walking.  If it's too cold, try Leslie Stanson (or something like that) Walk Away the Pounds. 

Even at my lowest weight I hated going to the gym, and I was in no way fat.  But seeing the super skinny girls working out is intimidating.  Do what makes you comfortable, but do SOMETHING.  Your body and your heart will thank you!

OMG!  Daisyflowers I'm the SAME WAY!  I only get on the treadmill when the kids are at school, the baby is napping and my hubby is at work.  I was HORRIFIED the other day when he came home unexpectedly and found me.

When it's nice out I'll only walk outside if I can push my little one in a stroller so I can "hide" that it's exercise.

And there is NO WAY i'll join a gym.  Even when I did belong to a gym and was in the best shape of my life I was way too selfconscious to do any classes.  I stuck to the treadmills and weights.

I know it's my own low body image and self-consciousness that is the problem.  I also have a fear of failure.  If someone knows I'm  exercising, but can see that I'm not losing weight they'll think I'm failing.  Or what if my husband realizes I stopped going on the treadmill? 

What I think I've finally realized is that my self image and confidence is the root of all my weight issues and that if I can improve my mind my body with follow.

I'm fortunate enough to live in a city where EVERYONE cycles everywhere so I can get a bit of a workout in that way but I absolutely hate going to the gym mainly because of the skinny girls and because I look daft when I run so I do all my workouts at home, I have all the current Davina McCall DVD's which are great and I'm thinking of buying the ones by The Firm which are supposed to be similarly good.  Working out at home is great because you can shower and then just get straight into PJs, people would stare if you did that at the gym!

Thanks so much for all your kind replies.  To those who've been/are there, it's good to know I'm not alone.  To those who think I'm crazy, thanks for the differing viewpoint.  It helps me get out of my little world and see things in a more balanced way. 

xx

Whether you feel fat or not, make sure you DO exercise. If you are too shy to go to the gym, start doing some exercises in your own home. Crunches, squats, pushups, anything to get you moving. It may also be hard starting out, but you have to remember that it's hard for everyone at first. :) I've never been overweight, but exercise was still something that was hard to get into at first for me! I couldn't do very many reps or work with anything more than 3 lbs in the beginning. But like I said, we all have to start somewhere.

Good luck and stay encouraged!

As soon as I was able to fit into a pair of sweat pants (size 20?), I started going to the gym.  I think I was at 300 pounds then or just under.

It was two very good friends who helped me overcome my fear of gym humiliation.  They invited me to attend with them and made it enjoyable.  Once I lost more weight, and was able to increase my workout levels, going to the gym became a routine that I no longer dreaded.

I learned early on that the people at the gym could care less if I was obese.  As others have stated on CC, most people are just focused on getting their workouts over with so they can head home.

Oh I have certainly felt too squishy and jiggly to excercise in public. 

I still dont go to a gym because of the expense.  But I decided I did not need to fuel anyones imagination about why my butt makes a slapping noise when I walk.  (that made me laugh).

So I bought some cheap shape wear to wear under my workout clothes.  Makes a huge difference in my confidence and makes it more comfortable too.

I think of it as a bra for my butt and thighs lol