To go to the gym at 20st

[TenTonneTessy]

I’m going through a bad time in life and have never been through the doors of a gym.
I could desperately do with the weight loss but I would also love a place to go for some solace and there’s a pool and steam room.

Am I insane to consider going at my size?

I won’t take offense, I’d really like to know before signing up as I’m not in a position to lose money if I’ll be laughed at or jeered.

The whole point of a gym is to get fit! Good for you. I’m sure people would be kind and encouraging. You should have an induction when you join anyway. They’ll be able to advise you how to build your fitnes up. Good luck x

Do it! My gym doesn’t have a lot of bigger people, but I am one of them, and as unfit as I am, there are others who struggle as much. I only do classes though because I need direction. I’d love to be able to afford the personal trainer.
Some nights I go just to get out of the house -I don’t get out much-

You’ve all spurred me on so much, my mouse is hovering over the join button!
I don’t have any council gyms near me unfortunately and only one with a pool and really good deal, it seems great though and there’s lots of success stories on their Facebook page.

I’m most excited (and terrified) about swimming so have been looking at costumes, they do full on swimming outfits these days!
I’m just going to go for standard togs though I think!

It took me a year of learning about exercising and watching YouTube videos before I built up the courage to go to the gym. I’m fairly average sized but was very shy and unfit and was embarrassed people would laugh at me and I would stand around not knowing not what to do. However I can 100% say it’s not like that at all! I now go regularly and don’t bat an eyelid at anyone remotely big.

My top tips would be:

• Follow fitness accounts on Instagram or YouTube to familiarise yourself with excersises and also as motivation

• Start off small. My first day I only went straight to the treadmill because I figured that was easy, I ran slowly whilst watching everyone around me and seeing what they were doing. I built up my courage to start trying other machines after repeatedly seeing people use them and then going home and checking YouTube for how to do that specific exercise.

• Wear big obnoxious headphones, they make you feel as though you don’t care what anyone thinks. Fake it til you make it!

• Go in the off peak hours when it’s less busy and if your gym has a ladies section, give it a go.

• Make sure you’re eating healthy and ensure you eat an adequate amount of protein after exercising as your body needs it to heal the muscles it’s torn through whilst working out (in simple words!)

Good luck!

Nope, go it and be proud. You are there to get fit and healthy, and that’s what the gym is for.
Good luck xo

I agree, go for it! I used to be the beetroot coloured girl in the back corner of the class. Now when I see a new person, all that I think is 'good on you'. Any shyness passes. Good luck

Go for it OP. There have been all shapes and sizes of gym goers in the several gyms I have frequented over the years. Make sure you book an induction to have an instructor show you how to use the equipment safely and make you up a programme. You will see and feel results fast even by going a couple of times a week.

I’m not sure about the cover all swimsuit. It’s very unusual. I can imagine the scenario where you might catch people doing a double on your swimsuit and you worrying they are looking you over!

Hold your head up high and go

If you are feeling very fragile go mid morning and mid afternoon

Do it! 😊 It’s good fun when you get into a routine and it’s great for mental health as well as physical.
There’s all sorts of people at the gym, not one standard type. Do you have a variety of local gyms? It might be worth shopping around to find one that you like. Here in my town we have about 5 gyms - they range in size not all have pools some have different class timetables and different clientele.
Most gyms offer an induction to help you learn how to use the machines, some will also create a programme too. Take all the help you can get - it’s so worth it! I’ve been going for years but I still learn new things when I use the pt services.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy it 😊

You can get some nice modest costumes now that cover your thighs etc if you’re not feeling confident but honestly don’t worry. Once you’re in the water no one can see you anyway. The more you go the more confident you’ll get x

Of course you can OP. I went when I was at my heaviest at 16 and a half stone and no one batted an eyelid. Good luck and good for you for doing something positive!

At ours you can take your towel (and shower stuff) through and leave it on hooks by the pool, so the walk in your costume can mostly be done hiding behind your towel, then just last couple of steps to pool, but our pool is usually so quiet no one is standing around looking. Good luck

ask.metafilter.com/275042/how-I-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-gym

Now and then I come across reddit posts between people who take gym work very seriously indeed. When overweight gym users are mentioned, those people have never expressed anything but admiration for them.

Deffo do it. I'm another one who always thinks "good on you" when i see obvious newbies at the gym (my gym has quite a lively oldies clientele - and I genuinely mean in their 80's). But that's to the extent I think anything at all - I'm usually on the treadmill with my headphones on listening to a podcast and thinking about something else, as will be every other person there.

My top tips: sort out some ok clothing. It genuinely doesn't have to be fancy (yet - that will be your reward down the line!) I would go for some basic leggings, a few long line vests (vests are really useful to cover things up when you are stretching/raising your arms etc) and then any old T shirt can go on top. You don't need fancy shoes for gym work but I really recommend proper socks that wick away "moisture" - our TK Maxx always has good packs of these. In fact TK Maxx is v good for sportswear. YOU NEED A SPORTS BRA.

The other thing is that the staff are there to help you and will be happy to do so. My trainer said its quite a dull job if they don't interact and they like to talk to people. Ask them to set up a basic programme - every gym will do that for free. It really helps when you know the staff, just to smile at or exchange a few words with. It cements the fact that you "belong". And you do - the gym is for everyone. Good luck.

Go for it OP! I don't go to a gym but it's more a fitness centre that holds classes into the evenings. I only started going this year on 3 classes a week, but loved it so much I'm now unlimited and there a lot!
Everyone's really friendly and it's really fun (although hard work) and if you want to go, you may be surprised how much you enjoy it like I did.

Judgement at gyms is reserved for people who drop heavy weights noisily, people who hog equipment whilst texting or scrolling, people who don’t wipe down, people who use squat racks for presses and people who don’t put equipment back in the right place.

And, if I am really going to be honest those people who dress up in matchy matchy outfits, especially if it includes a crop top. Real gym bunnies tend to look like they dressed in the dark because they frequently have.

If you go to a gym with classes I'd really recommend trying them too, again filled with people from all shapes and sizes.

And, if I am really going to be honest those people who dress up in matchy matchy outfits, especially if it includes a crop top

@LemonTT Why? How someone dresses to go to the gym or anywhere is no one else's business and has no affect on you.

*effect

Find a gym you feel comfortable in op. That's half the battle.

I love mine. I was 17 stone. Down to 15 now.

I pay a bit more to go to David Lloyd but I honestly love it. The trainers are great.

I think you will inspire people who see you come and lose weight. When you are a bit bigger it will come
Off quite fast!

Good luck xx

I'm quite small and pretty fit, I would NEVER judge anybody else in the gym, I don't really even look at anyone else. One of my best friends was probably a similar size to you and she has gone nuts exercising, there's nothing she won't try, she has got smaller which is great for her as that's what she wanted but more importantly she is now super fit (fitter and stronger than me!). I think she is AMAZING and have so much admiration for how hard she's worked and I don't mean that in a patronising way, more in a 'Fuck me she's fit, wish I had her determination'. That's all a bit rambly but what I'm trying to say is 'Go for it!'

I wouldn't judge anyone in the gym and I don't, I started off as an18 now a 14 and never experienced anything negative. If anything they'll be thinking good in you for doing it. Plus gym leggings are probably the most flattering trousers I own!

What a lovely thread. Of course you should go OP! Maybe also get some one to show you the ropes and give you a simple routine to follow just until you're comfortable there. Ive always found that gives me confidence to keep going. Good luck!

Nope - I go all the time.

20st 2lbs and a size 22

Don't care.

I have been in many different gyms in my time and I can only think of one as a larger sort where I thought “wow I really don’t fit in here” - I thought I had stumbled onto the set of a fashion shoot for gym wear - all the women were stick thin, full make up and didn’t appear to be sweating at all. Everywhere else no problems.

Reputable gyms will normally offer a free induction/program set up if you’d like help with a routine suitable for you and what you want to achieve. They might offer as part of this to do a more health based screening with taking weight, body fat measurements etc but you can absolutely decline this. You can normally get a program revised once you’ve been on it for a while so that you can progress. I would suggest about building some weights and resistance work in as well as cardio to help build strength and muscle.

You will not be too heavy for the commercial equipment in a commercial gym. If you were buying eg a treadmill to have at home then that might be an issue.

Please don’t get that ridiculous swimming costume for indoor swimming. If you feel really self conscious better to bring a bath sheet or thin cotton robe, wrap yourself it in and then drop somewhere suitable and hop in the pool. You’ll be visible for a few seconds and nobody is interested.

What I would add ( and I should listen to myself really) is that whilst going to the gym or doing other exercise is brilliant and has many benefits, if you’re looking for weight loss it is 80% food and 20% exercise.