Gymstergram...

[Hesdeadjim]

I'll warn you, I'm a bit upset and rambley so this will probably be a bit of a rant

So DP and I are both just about morbidly obese, but both are making a concerted effort to get our weights under control (we've both lost 1st 4lbs each since the new year). We've both gone on eating plans and we go to the gym 3 times a week. I run (try doing that with 9st of extra weight, it's bloody hard work!) and DP bikes for 30 mins, then we do 30 minutes weight training. I'm telling you all this so you understand we know what we're doing in the gym, we have a goal in mind and we really push ourselves while we are there. Hopefully this will help you understand my pending rage.

Today I was half way through my cardio (c25k program) when a group of girls in crop tops and shorts come into the gym chatting away and looking as if they were going to get moving in the core mats/ free weights. I didn't really pay any attention at first, but after a couple of minutes they started pointing at me, then turning their backs away from me, then a couple of seconds later laughing. I get it, fat people running is funny. Not a problem.

Then, a couple of minutes later one of the girls gets on the treadmill next to me and starts mimicking my running pattern (3 min run, 1 min walk, repeat) in time with me. There's another girl behind her with her phone out filming her and I imagine me too. I stopped my run early and headed over to DP because I was pretty rattled.

I told him what was going on and asked if we could do our weights then leave. He agreed so we got going on the weight machines.

We needed the core mats but these girls were all lying down on them not doing much taking selfies, and arranging the kettle bells casually and taking photos of them, I imagine for instagram or something.

Eventually we exhausted what we could do without the core mats and went over to ask how long they'd be on them because we would like to use them when they were done.. they didn't really give us a straight answer so I got a bit pissed off and said 'you know, I've heard the kettle bells work better if you lift them'... I got a response of 'cheeky cow' and 'fat bitch who does she think she is' sort of stuff, but it made DP laugh so that was ok.

We decided to leave, so as we left we said to the front desk that the group of girls were making life uncomfortable for other gym users and told them about the treadmill thing and the mats thing, but they said unless they witnessed it there was nothing they could do.

I now don't want to go to the gym in case they are there and it's really knocked me :(

WIBU to find another gym?

I'm furious on your behalf OP, those girls are despicable. I think a PP beat me to it but you can lose the weight they'll always be nasty, mean vindictive bitches.

If I'd been there to see that (ignoring that I'd have stepped in on your behalf and told them what I thought - and I'm not confrontational) I'd have been so impressed by your dignity in carrying on regardless and hen approaching them.

For what it's worth, I would probably not even notice someone larger in the gym (far too concerned with surviving my own workout) and if I did my only thought would be 'good on you, that must be hard'

Good luck

They sound like absolutely terrible people. I am fuming on your behalf. Please, please, please don't let them stop you doing what you're doing. You sound incredible, genuinely.

I used to go to the gym a lot when I was about 21 and very fit indeed. When I used to see bigger people exercising I would honestly have nothing but admiration for them as it's clearly so much harder to do and get into. These awful women are clearly vacuous twats with massive inadequacies. Just keep doing what you're doing

Keep going OP, I bet in a couple of months you'll look and feel amazing. In the meantime I'd like you to keep this thread going so we can see your progress and give the rest of us some motivation to get fit, whether big or small.

Sorry you had to go through that, those girls are absolute arseholes.

There was a thread on here once called something like 'what do you really think when you see a fat woman running' which was so lovely and supportive, it actually inspired me to take up running last summer. Most people either don't notice you or think good on you. Only nasty shits, who are insecure about something in themselves, would go to the effort to mock you.

Keep at it OP. It's lovely you can share getting fit with your OH. DH and I work out together too, I think it leads to a better partnership and more sex

Cunts!! I used to get laughed at in the gym by 16 year old girls and I'm not overweight (sz 10 for context)... anyway it was because I was doing hiit on a xtrainer and was soaking and red. They were both sweat free and smirking at each other. But my faith was restored on another visit where a dad and teen daughter were in, I had my earbuds in and was hiit-ing away and I saw him nod over at me with a serious face and I could just tell he was saying "that's how hard you need to work".

Good for you and your DH so far, amazing on the "kettle ball" comment too and keep going back! For every bitchy twat there will be 20 sensibles who just want to get on with their lives and won't pay you any heed or get in your way!

Back from the gym, had a good session and did 90 mins instead of 60 (I'm in LCHF at the moment so I have a ton of extra energy to get rid of!) we met our PT on her way out as we were coming in. We had a chat and DP mentioned what happened and she said she knew exactly who we were talking about, she did their induction.

Apparently they all came in as a group of 4 and she tried showing them how to use the treadmill etc and put a training program together for them all as usual. Apparently none of them could run, they were benching lowest notches on all the weight machines and complaining about how hard it was and when she showed them how to use kettles and free weights they were laughing to each other about how hard it all was...

She left them to it and apparently they've been in about once a month since, do 10 minutes on a cross trainer whilst chatting and then spend the rest of the time rolling around in the core mats taking selfies.

She said if we see them again, to tell the guys at the desk that it's 'the instergram girls' and they'll take instant action, they've been looking for a reason to kick them out for months apparently

That's fantastic, they are known troublemakers. Good on you, they were probably jealous of you😉 Just because your slim, doesn't mean they are fit.

They sound horrible. Why are they spending money on gym membership when they have no intention of using it properly? Is it just about their image?

My gym doesn't ban phones but you don't see anyone doing what you've described. In fact the only person I've seen taking selfies there is the local desperate Forever Living person (these pyramid scheme/MLM sellers would shamelessly take a selfie at their Granny's funeral if they thought it would help them recruit more victims/sell more crap!).

Glad the gym staff are on your side!

Well done OP for going back and also fantastic news about the support from your PT and staff at the gym! Report them as soon as you see anything, you'll be helping someone not as strong as you from the same 'encouragement' from them.

Well done for going back...I am jealous of your will power and determination and I sincerely hope you reach your targets as you will have worked for/earned each and every pound lost

You are an inspiration - I can't do the gym any more due to joint problems but I took myself out for a gentle stroll today and enjoyed every step

Well done on the gym and ensuring the instructor knows. If you see them again taking selfies/filming, please make a massive fuss. They are bitches.

Yay to you! That's a great update..has made my night...without giving too much info away I have been in a position for the last year where I have been 'bullied' in my gym- it's been very horrible and I was going to leave but then I thought 'no I'm going to show them'.. Long story short I have lost three stone, can leg press four times my body weight and hip thrust twice my body weight, I'm nearly finished my c25 and will be doing my 5km 'graduation run' proudly wearing my tshirt soon. The 'bullies' ( male and female) are stil there but they havnt lost weight/have put it on and boy does it feel good when I can beat the pants off them in the weights room. I am still struggling with what has happened over the last year but the gym is the one place where I feel that I'm 'winning'..
As everyone else has said you can lose the weight they can't change their nasty personalities...I know that if I saw you at my gym I would be saying 'you go girl' in my head and mentally cheering you on..

Bullies do actually get what they deserve in the end - and yours won't be waiting long for their comeuppance. The rest of the gym will sing your praises.

Well done - and all the best for containing excellent progress.

Great update OP!!!

Great update.

If you still want to speak to gym management I would do so on Monday in case the CCTV tapes are wiped after a week.

I started at the gym when I was 21 stone. 12 stone now :)

Great update :) absolutely love your attitude, inspirational stuff :)

pocketsaviour Jesus that's incredible!!!! You've actually done exactly what I want To do!

I started at 19st 1 and would like to be between 10 and 11 stone when I'm finished depending how that looks (I've never been under 15st as an adult).

You can do it Jim! I started at 21st and now am 9.7. (Well, normally - at the moment I'm very, very pregnant and probably more like 14st!!) Once this baby is evicted, I will be joining you on the get fit mission.

Guys who have gone from 19st+ to a healthy weight, how did you do it?

I did a combination of the dukan diet and couch to 5k. It only took me about 4 months to drop from a 24 to a 14, but 14 to 8/10 was really hard.

You guys are putting in a real effort whilst they're there fucking about. I know who I'd rather see in the gym and who the gym owners would too!

Great to see you're doing weights as well. That's where it's at. Keep cracking on guys! 💪🏼

I'm noticing a lot of sneering at the gym lately. I'm quite overweight (ok obese) and while when I lost weight previously I never felt particularly self conscious at the gym, there is now very definitely a selfie generation who look on on judgement. I don't give a shit but I would be mad if I thought I was being filmed or photographed. I hate vain selfie arseholes.

A local PT has recently made a video addressing this issue and put it on his social media. I don't suppose it'll make a difference but it confirms my suspicion that judging older, fatter people in the gym is definitely a thing.

Sorry I didn't rtft.

OP I am genuinely horrified you have had such an awful experience, what a nasty group of vile cunty bitches. I was so glad to read your update that they might be getting kicked out, filming someone without their permission is just awful and definitely not allowed in most gyms so good to hear they will be taking action.

Nothing to add really except to say these girls are (hopefully) the exception, not the rule to normal gym-goers who generally only focus on their own progress and don't care what others are doing. I'm glad that it hasn't put you off your focus on your goal and your routine, you are obviously a much stronger person than most.

You don't even look that big in your picture, certainly not someone who'd draw attention in a gym so these girls are obviously just pathetic losers who will pick on anyone who isn't a size 6. Fuck them all. Hope they break their ankles and pile on some weight haha!

Well done OP and good luck in achieving your goals, keep going you're doing great x

PS. As a side note, no-one should ever feel bullied in a gym, if this is happening to anyone else please log the time/date and description of the incident and report to the management, and keep doing so until they take action. The gym is the one place that trying to improve your health and fitness should be encouraged and if anyone feels intimidated by other members making vile comments etc. please remember they are the ones with the problem and there should always be members of staff around to discuss any issues with.

FenellaMaxwellsPony gosh that's amazing! I was on Weight watchers but it did my tree in. I felt patronized and it did nothing to stop my cravings which is my main issue.

I switched to low carb, high fat and track calories with MFP. Dropped 8lbs in 4 days then a further 1lb the week after .. it took me 3 months to lose the same amount on weight watchers!

I'm on the bootcamp thread on MN so there's a few other low carbers on there.

I thought it was a load of bollocks if I'm honest, but actually I'm much less hungry, I haven't binged or even really craved anything particularly for 3 weeks and the food I'm eating is bloody lovely!

I also find I have WAY more energy generally at the moment, I just want to be up and doing stuff. I've gone up a speed setting on my treadmill walking and up 2 on my run speed without really noticing the difference too. Apparently if you're in ketosis you find you have more energy generally, so I think I must be.

Either way, it seems to be working for me at the moment. My diet is essentially:

4 litres of water a day (boo!)
25g or lower of carbs
50%+ of overall calories from fats
The rest comes from protein
Overall calorie intake between 1,00 and 1,400 - usually around 1,200.

Today:
B: Protein shake made with almond milk
L: 1/2 avocado, streaky bacon and tomato salad with full fat mayo
D: Homemade lamb burgers on a flat mushroom "bun" with garlic mayo and salad.

Total Cals: 1159
Fat: 89g (70%)
Carbs: 22g (8%)
Protein: 64g (22%)

Nom nom nom :)