Anyone else get really nervous about going to the gym?

[MummySam2017]

I signed up about a year ago, went for a few months and then slowly stopped going all together. I’m in a contract so I still have to pay, even though there is an option to freeze, I convince myself every week I’ll go back! I’m determined today and I’ve booked a class but I feel so nervous and conscious. I’m not worried about my weight per se, but I’m very unfit and stiff and would like to tone up.

Do others feel like this? What do you do to overcome your fear? I’m sure no one there cares that I’m flapping about, not knowing what to do, but I feel so silly 😔

Yes, takes me ages to psych myself up to join and then go. I am also very inflexible and have arthritis which stops me from using some of the kit. No idea how to stop the feeling but I just plough on.

Well done @BobbinThreadbare123. I’m really psyching myself up today but it feels quite consuming as it’s playing on my mind. I’m not generally an anxious person but I think you’re right, I guess it’s just about ploughing through it. Do you feel better once you’re there? I always feel better after but I still hate every moment lol x

Once I've got going I'm OK. I always feel better for having done the class anyway. As I've got older I care less too, so eventually this feeling should go away 😆
I think we put too much on ourselves to get something out of the gym sometimes. Sunk cost fallacy I guess.

I do feel the same. I always pick a quiet time to go, and sign up for classes - they're a 'reason' for me to be there. I try and plan my workouts before I go, so that I know what I'm doing when I'm there and focus less on other people. But really, in the nicest possible way, I don't think people care that much about what other people are doing and could be very nervous themselves too. You could also keep going till it feels less uncomfortable and you know where everything is/your routine, etc.

I have a PT once a week which means I have to go at the weak times so after holidays, Christmas etc.
He also sees me there during the week so knows if I'm working hard enough
I go 4 x per week now I'm retired

Thanks guys, it’s oddly helpful to know I’m not the only one who feels nervous. I just find gyms so intimidating, even though this one is fairly quiet. @ploshbug you’re right, I just need to keep that in mind as I feel so exposed at the gym.

You'll be alright! It's really normal to get nerves about going to the gym but know that it's a temporary feeling and don't let that stop you from getting a work out in. All the best!

Aww thank you so much! I’m proud to say I’ve gone two days in a row!

Ahhh!!! That's amazing!!! So happy to hear that and so happy for you!!!

I was nervous to start with, but at the times I usually go, the gym tends to have a lot of pensioners and a lot of people with a range of bodies that are very normal for the area in there.

So even though I’m still unfit and have far too many wobbly bits, I kind of blend into the crowd. Which helps me a lot with gym nerves.
I think I’d find it a lot more intimidating if, say, 99% of the other people in there looked like super fit and toned athletes.

As someone whos been going to various gyms for over 20 years, I can say with hand on heart that nobody cares what you look like or what you're doing.

They just want to get it, do their workout and leave.

If I'm not feeling it I just say I'll go for 20 mins and before I know it I don't mind doing more or I just call it and go home but at least I tried

I've been a regular gym goer for years, various clubs and council leisure centres. Go to plenty of classes and even before my regular ones where it is mainly the same folk every week, I sometimes feel apprehensive about going to the point I'll think about cancelling. There's no rhyme or reason to my feeling this way as some weeks I'll be excited to go whereas other weeks I get that nervous feeling so I think it must be a general feeling of apprehension for me which probably exists that day but manifests itself at gym class time if that's the only thing I have booked for that day. This feeling always goes away within a minute of walking into class so my only advice is to keep turning up and remember how good that post exercise feeling is. I have a spin instructor who often reminds us that we are fortunate to be able to be in class, working hard and feeling fab / exhausted when there are people at home who are unable to exercise and would give anything to be able to. That really resounded with me and I now keep that thought in mind pre class and during it when it gets too much!

I find pottering around the weight/cardio room, doing my own thing, much less daunting than the thought of a class where I don't get a say in what I'll be doing and might not be able to do it well.

I could have written the first post on this thread!

Finally gotten round to signing up to gym again, and my husband has signed up too so I am going to go with him first few times.

For me its the worry of forgetting how to use a particular piece of equipment and looking silly when I dont know what I'm doing. Or just wondering a bit aimlessly not knowing what to do.

I am going to try and do some classes as I feel like there is little room for me to make mistakes there!

I’m just wondering why you do it if you hate it so much? Why not find another form of exercise that you really enjoy? But well done for making yourself go if you find it this unpleasant!

For me, unless I have the pressure of having paid for my membership, I just dont do it.

So I have thought I'll stick to you tube videos at home or running (which I do hate!) and it lasts about a week and I stop doing it.

I would love to do something like climbing or pole but unfortunately thats expensive. I also love hiking but thats pretty much a full day so not something I can do several times a week

So for me convenience and low cost of the gym does make it my best regular exercise option, even if I do have to get over the hurdle of the self consciousness and discomfort the first few times