I got laughed at in the gym and now I never want to go back

Please don't stop. You're doing something so brilliant for yourself and in a few years time you'll be so disappointed if you let anyone steal that from you.

I understand how awful you must have felt, but just always remember to be grateful you're you and not a cowbag who gets her kicks out of trying to make other people feel crap.

The trouble with PureGym is they’re not that well staffed. I used to be a member and there was a lot of young women taking selfies and chatting in groups so if it was similar I can see it could be an intimidating environment.

Is there a local community leisure centre gym you can join? A gym that’s linked to the council run swimming pool? I find they tend to be more inclusive. If you are medically obese you could get it on prescription I believe.

They are bitches and how awful that they triggered the memories of high school bullying. Don’t give up. I love seeing all different body types at the gym and I am always impressed when I see people making the effort to get healthier.

I'm really sorry OP. It sounds horrible and I hope you have a good support system.
People can be awful.

You aren't being silly, I think being upset about your recent experience is very understandable considering everything you experienced in the past.

I'm sorry this happened to you. Keep going you are doing good.

You sound like you’re doing amazing.

Please don’t let these (and I’m going to steal someone else’s word) wankers slow your progress.
Keep going. Could you get a personal trainer to support you?

Absolutely nobody you should respect at the gym will ever laugh at you. Report these idiots. I can 100% gurantee anyone who trains seriously will only look at you with admiration for showing up and doing your best. Please, please continue to Train.

Definitely report! Not on sr all. And well done. The trauma from past bullying has stayed with you but you are fighting it!!!

Remember their nasty behaviour is their problem, horrible bitchy behaviour.

Your behaviour is your concern, so go in spite of them. You are doing so well and the benefit of getting fitter will be immense.

You're not a child anymore, you don't need to pay heed to what was said when you were a child. I know it still hurts the child in you, but as an adult you can comfort your child ego and boss that hurt away. Give it a go. It works at least until you've fully healed the hurt you suffered as a child.

Good luck.

I really sorry you had to experience that, please know they do not embody the gym culture at all

Look for the regulars and strike up a conversation with them, even starting with a recognition nod

I used to weigh 27+ stone and have had folks (usually women) mock me including being videoed and my loose skin being pointed out like I've some how not noticed it
I no longer give a shiny sh!t

Made friends with a regular who came to help when he saw we weren't quite using the right technique and now I'll speak to way more people

Had two 30+ women make comments on me today, one teased the other that she was just jealous and she looked me up and down and said "jealous, nothing there for me to be jealous of LOVE"

Said way more about her than it did about me

I'm so sorry you were treated like this, do not stop going & if you can confront people like this with a hard stare & a 'is there something you want to say to me' (loudly) & see what they say, I bet they'll say sod all! Cowards

That was not about you, that was about them and their own insecurities or problems. They try to put others down to feel better about their own crappy existence.
Once you had left, they wouldn’t have given you a second thought. They would have gone to go bully someone else about something else so don’t let them live in your head rent-free.
That being said, I have been to a couple of Pure Gyms and didn’t like the environment so go find another gym you can be comfortable in.

Yanbu and I'm sorry that happened and dredged up bad feelings.

You belong in the gym just as much as anyone else!

There is a long running series of threads where we all support each other, if you wanted to join us you'd be welcomed

www.mumsnet.com/talk/exercise/5411906-keeping-on-exercising?page=6&reply=147604868

That “popular” kid in high school who laughed at you and mocked you? He peaked in high school. He lost his hair at 19, knocked up the popular girl and they live with their 4 kids in her parents house. They’re on benefits because that loser can’t keep or find a job. Oh - and they hate each other.
And those 2 little bitches at the gym? They’re at the gym, which they spell “gim,” because they couldn’t find a school program stupid enough to enroll them.
Dear @CinnamonCrunch33 all the people who mock you have idiotic things about themselves that they’d die of embarrassment if people found out.
I was bullied for a year when I was 14. I’ll never forget how frightening and alone I felt.
And it made me NEVER want to bully anybody.
I hate bullies.

I think you’re the bravest, most gutsy girl on here.
You do us all proud. I’m rooting for you. You stay in that gym and you kick ass. Sending love. ❤️

edited for spelling

Oh OP I'm so sorry those horrible girls have made you feel that way. You should definitely report them. Hopefully one day they will look back and be mortified by their own cruelty. They are just nasty and it's more of a reflection on them than on you. I run (very slowly!) and I have had many horrible comments shouted at me by passing idiots. It's really upsetting but I try not to let it get to me as I am exercising for me and not anyone else.

So glad you're reporting them.

Just so you feel more confident in reporting this - the girls have breached the terms and conditions of their contract with PureGym, which means they could have their membership cancelled.

So, if the staff member you report to doesn't take it seriously, escalate to the manager, because they were clearly being abusive and anti-social.

https://www.puregym.com/membership-terms-conditions/

See the section:

WE CAN CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND END THIS CONTRACT

2. We can end this contract (which means cancelling your membership) immediately by giving notice to you by email, and we can claim from you any compensation due to us for loss we have suffered if:

b) you break any of the following Gym Rules:

3. the rule not to behave in an aggressive, abusive, violent, or threatening manner whilst on our premises;

4. the rule not to behave in an anti-social manner when on our premises, for example by making unwanted advances of a sexual nature to other gym users or PureGym staff members, or by staring or cat calling at other users or PureGym staff members, or by engaging with other users after they have asked you to leave them alone;

Exactly - or a sick person going to hospital

Utterly disgusting behaviour and extremely hurtful. Please try to mentally move on from this experience, speak to the owner or manager and call them out. They probably do this to others too.
i can’t fathom how people can be so cruel, it says so much about them but nothing about you.

“I can lose weight. More than I can say about your ugly personality”

You keep going. Don’t let them win!

Don't let them ruin it for you OP.

I know it’s so easy to say, but try and look at this rationally.

They are being spiteful bitches about someone making an effort and doing their best in a gym. That means that they are arseholes. Now that might be because of their age, or their own insecurities (let’s redirect attention and laugh at a complete stranger so nobody notices my lumps and bumps etc) or it might just be because they are genuinely nasty little fuckers. It doesn’t really matter why. The point is, the opinion of an arsehole is irrelevant. They are nothing. They aren’t paying your bills or your wages. They are insignificant in every part of your life. They wouldn’t wear leggings? In a gym? That alone should tell you that no brain cells were engaged during this bit of piss taking. None of it was accurate or factual. It was just the nastiest things they could think of to say.

You, on the other hand, are a bloody warrior of a woman. You’ve overcome awful childhood bullying and you’re changing your body so you’re happier with it. Both of those things are tremendous achievements and don’t you dare let them diminish your shine and the pride you should be taking in both of those things. Do you think any of them could achieve similar? No, I don’t think so.

I think that the people running the gym would be horrified if they knew that anyone was taking the piss out of other gym users. Not least because who wants to use a gym where you’re not safe to get all red and sweaty (and if you’re not getting red & sweaty, then what’s the point of being there?) in case some nasty fucker takes the piss.

Use this as a chance to stand up to everyone who has ever bullied you and say ‘No more. I’m not taking any more of this crap’. Report them to the gym and then you get back in there and enjoy yourself (if that’s possible in a gym? I don’t have your fitness ethic, so wouldn’t know!) and get those endorphins!

People mocking overweight people in a gym is like making fun of a homeless person for going to a job fair. I am fat, but I also don't want to spend my old age in a chair like my parents. I go to the gym to get stronger. I wear earbuds and listen to my favorite podcasts so if anyone is talking shit about me I dont know. I encourage you to go right back to the squat machine ASAP and shake off that PTSD. If you see those nasty teens call them out.

I hate this happened to you, please go back, tomorrow ask to speak to the manager or email them and forward or show them this thread if it's easier than explaining verbally. I know I can get a bit wobbly with such things but DO let them know so they can kick the ignorant little shits out, as they deserve! That's what gyms are for, to get fit, they had no right to make you feel bad and a decent gym will want to know of such behaviour.

A tip for you, often the most ripped and hardcore lifters are the kindest and most helpful folks in the gym as they take their fitness very seriously, don't be afraid to ask them questions on technique if the opportunity presents itself, they're often only too happy to help others in between sets.

Please report back!

Oh, poor you, what a horrible thing and what a pair of nasty women. You got good advice here, dont let this stop you from doing what is right for you. The best revenge on people like this is not to let it affect you at all.

i work in a school. Teens laugh at anything they want. I was wearing studded ballet pumps today and these 2 year 11s looked at my feet and laughed, then said ‘ what the hell are those?’ I reminded them they were wearing frumpy uniform and to keep their bitchy comments to themselves. Don’t even let them bother you, they are nothing to you. Rise above them and you will have the last laugh.

Teen girls can be vile. I would just ignore. Life will deal with them. Honestly, it can be upsetting but don’t let such things to compromise your efforts. You were doing great! ❤️