Fat people in the gym....

[TidyGOLDDancer]

First of all, I don't intend that title to be offensive to anyone. I have been specifically asked to use it by (and I quote) "a fat person" in order to get raw reactions and opinions. I am not a troll, some of you may recognise my name so hopefully you will know I am not a horrible person on here!

My friend is going to start coming to the gym with me as of Monday. I couldn't be happier. She is great company and I can't wait to have a gym buddy. DP is crap as he lurks in the strength room most of the time and is totally antisocial. My friend is ace and I am really pleased she is going to come and work out with me.

The 'problem' (her words, not mine) is that she is quite overweight and really worried that she's going to be made fun of. My experience of the gym is that this really isn't the truth. I have never seen anyone of any size being made fun of. I have seen young and old and little and large and all manner in between people in the gym and no one gives a shit what anyone else looks like or does (unless they hog a particular piece of equipment or take tonnes of calls on their mobiles!).

Please could anyone who goes to the gym help me convince my friend of the above? She's really looking foward to coming with me, but is nervous and needs convincing! Again, I really hope my use of specific words has not offended anyone, my friend has asked me to post this and use those words!

[BigBroomstickBIWI]

Oh yes, QueenStromba - the temptation!

My embarrassing story:

Started back at the gym in February, after years of not going. Joined up with a personal trainer. One session with him, I'm on the rower. Trying really hard to beat my last time. So hard that I flew off the back of the seat

[TidyGOLDDancer]

BIWI, I've done that on the treadmill. Someone called my name and of course when my head turned, my whole body did. Mortifying!

Seriously everyone, thank you so much for replying to me. I'm sure this will be reassuring to my friend and hopefully anyone else in a similar position wanting to start going to the gym. :)

[FrillyMilly]

I haven't read all the replies but my experience of the gym is that it's similar to the tube. No one makes eye contact or even acknowledges anyone else is there. Even slim people have hang ups especially at the gym. About 1% of people look attractive covered in sweat slowly dying on a treadmill. When I first went post having a baby I was really self conscious but it wasn't so bad.

[LittleMissFlustered]

In January I'm heading to the gym (financially impossible before then). I'm 32, 5 foot eight and fatter than jabba the hut >_< I'm hoping this thread will stick in my head as I am petrified!

Friend of Tidy, be inspired and enjoy:)

[Nyancat]

The only people who are laughed at in my gym are the (generally v skinny) girls who come into the gym after work, put their makeup on before they go up to the gym and then faff about on the equipment for about 5 mins at a time before spending lots of time prancing about admiring themselves and flirting with the instructors!

They are the same girls who dander about the changing rooms naked and seem to spend a disproportionate amount of time massaging moisturiser into their boobs in front of the mirror!

Everyone else is just there trying to get fitter and personally when I see someone bigger I think good on you because most people who are regular gym goers were just starting out once.

[TidyGOLDDancer]

I'm starting to wish I hadn't started this thread in Chat, as I don't really want it to disappear. People have said such nice and helpful things!

[rhondajean]

Tidy report it and ask MNHQ to move it to sport and exercise, they are usually quite helpful.

[Bubblegum78]

I go to the gym 2-4 times a week, I have NEVER seen any large ladies/gents being laughed at.

I have lost 10kg since I started in May, trust me, it was well needed! I honestly didn't feel that people were laughing at me.

People DO look, mostly to assess the totty as they walk through the door, other than that it's a non issue.

It's generally accepted that larger peeps are there to lose weight and improve their physical/mental health, a lot are there on doctors orders (some gyms accept GP prescription) so who can knock that?

She is very brave and doing an amazing thing for herself so good for her!

xx

[PorkyandBess]

I go to a gym that has its fair share of poseurs.

But people are far more interested and judgy about the gym bunnies. By which I mean the full make up, spray tan, tiny shorts brigade - the perfect specimens.

No-one is looking at the fat ones, they are (thankfully) invisible.

[moonstorm]

The ONLY time I notice anyone in the gym is down to clothing, not size. (Bra on show, when bending over; builder's bum on show; see through clothes etc. This is the same whether the person is big or small.

Good on your friend.

[TidyGOLDDancer]

Thanks rhondajean, I will. :)

[PorkyandBess]

...by which I mean, no-one is in the slightest bit interested..

[BonnyDay]

Or not wicking clothing when people dripping onto machines

[HelenMumsnet]

Evening all. We're moving this thread to Sport and Exercise at the OP's request.

[TidyGOLDDancer]

Thank you Helen. :)

[BigBroomstickBIWI]

Acksherly, the only time I really judge is when women (and it's always women) sit on the bike reading a book/magazine/newspaper, pedalling really slowly. I wonder why they are there? They certainly aren't working out and definitely aren't breaking a sweat!

[mayorquimby]

nobody gives a toss about anyone else in the gym and the only judging that goes on is for people who have shite gym ettiquette or act as though they are entitled to take up 2 pieces of equipment at once because their individual work-out is more important than someone elses (fair enough if you want to do circuit training, but don't think that this means everyone else is going to leave those dumb-bells lying on the floor unused because you will be using them in 90 seconds after you're finished with the equipment you're using now.)

Hell even the type of people who do judge fat people or views them negatively in day to day life will at least tend to have the attitude of "fair play for doing something about it" towards those who do start hitting the gym

[TalkinPeace2]

One of my gym buddies is a size 18 / 20
but she has naturally long hamstrings
so makes us skinnies look like crocks in yoga classes when she folds like cardboard :-)

[Graciescotland]

I've never noticed anyone at the gym, aren't most gyms plug your headphones in and shut the world type places these days?

[TidyGOLDDancer]

Hello to anyone still following, and wondering what happened.

Well....

We did it! My friend came with me, had a great time, we giggled and chatted our way through an hour and a half in the gym and she can't wait to go again!

So thank you everyone who replied, she read all your responses and says thank you too!

[TalkinPeace2]

:-)

[BigBroomstickBIWI]

That's brilliant

[HarlettOScara]

Excellent :)

[Jenda]

Tidy, please tell your friend that I am in exactly the same position as her but after reading this thread I have been and looked around the local gym and am signing up. I felt sick walking in and feel even sicker at the thought of me being puffed out after 5 minutes of exercise surrounded by all those horrible fit runners! But at least we're there right? I would only have respect for someone else by size who was trying to get the weight off so I am going to get on with it! Wish her good luck from me.. and thanks to you for starting the thread

[TalkinPeace2]

go for it.
this morning at our gym somebody was bringing a lady in on a guest pass who started off looking terrified but seemed well chuffed later on -