to think, when I see overweight people at the gym...

[TrillianAstra]

... "well done you"

I am very patronising, aren't I? But I think it must be hard. So I am impressed. It's easy to go to the gym if you are all pert and muscley in your tank top. (I am somewhere in between)

(and nyeer to anyone who thought I would be thinking nasty things)

My dh has just renewed my gym membership after I cancelled because I wasn't using it. I'm grateful for the kick up the backside to be honest, and would love Trillian to be on the treadmill next to me on my first visit tomorrow!!

I'm going in the afternoon even though I normally do other things purely to avoid the gym bunnies .

I go swimming and there's a very very overweight man in the same lane as me, I am soooooo impressed.

I was told that 24% would be better. In fact the instructor pointed to a women on a rowing machine who looked very big and strong and said I should aim for that as she had a much lower body fat rate. I was impressed but never made it!

There are people who are mad about the gym - there was this horribly skinny woman who would do one class and then have a break - get iun the sauna and then weigh herself - then get back in the sauna and then weigh herself again and as I was leaving she was doing another class. I don't think that is very healthy.

I think nothing when at the gym - the only people who stand out are the gang who think it's their gym and that they have first go at all the machines. Sure every gym has such a gang.

I'd love to go back to the gym as I cannot job - but have no cash sadly.

Frankly, when I am hauling my 13 stone (size 16) bulk up hill and down dale in the lashing November rain whilst trying to keep to 10km/hour - I DO hope people are looking out of their nice warm car's window, doing a double-take, and saying 'cor! good on her!'

I delude myself that people are gazing at me in awe and wonder.

(Headphones do keep out the worst of the heckling.)

I tend to think well done to people too esp those that come into a spin class for the first time.

To be honest I think well done whatever their size they are as the first few spin classes seem to be hideous for everyone (fat or thin). When I started them I was a size 18 and basically you couldn't see the saddle as my arse had swallowed it Thought I was going to die the first few times.

I tend to go to my gym in the morning when it's mostly mums and the retired. There are only a few pointless bints who spend their time gossiping while completley failing to break into any sort of sweat.

Afternoons get the muscle men parading in and then eveings are just a nightmare bun fight for machines and class spaces.

giveitago no fat does not equal fit, but gyms are physically hard if you are unfit but also mentally hard if you feel paranoid about you look/feel like you don't fit in/just hate the bloody place.

Spin looks evil. I avoid. I don't like being shouted at. My friend went to one where the instructor made her get off her bike and took the seat off her bike as he thought she was resting too much!

My spin instructor is an ex navy pt girl. She's fantastic but you do work seriously hard. Getting yelled at works for me but that's probably a reflection on my childhood and upbringing.

Everyone - fat, thin, fit or wheezing comes out of spinning looking a wreck. It's actually a great leveller as you all look like you are working hard but no one knows how hard you have your resistance except for you. A 45 min session can burn 500 cals if you are really going for it.