Gym regulars, do you take the piss out of the newbies?

[HarryB]

Ok, so enough is enough, I'm finally going to bite the bullet and get my size 16 butt to the gym or I won't fit back in my work clothes . Am a bit scared, however, of looking like a plonker in front of the regulars. Do you fit young things laugh at the newbies and judge their big bums or take no notice?

Well you should have a towel with you and wipe your equipment down after use. For a novice I don't see the point in spending loads of £££. How are t-shirts suppose to "perform"? Unless you are going for a long cardio session i.e more than 45-60minutes or outside you don't really need the fancy technology.

Don't feel bad about doing a class, just get there 5 minutes early so you can have a quick chat with the instructor - so they can point you in the direction if which equipment you need and if you're doing body pump for example - they should tell you how much to put on the bar. Get a place at the back and honestly, you'll be so busy you won't have time to worry what anyone else is doing and vice versa. I had a 7am Body Pump class today and I was all over the place - I just giggled to myself.

As for fat botties... I actually choose a treadmill at the "front" so I can't see anyone giving my arse the sneer... whack on the ipod and off I go. If someone really really REALLY wants to stare at my wobbly arse I figure they can knock themselves out... There are a handful of girls at my gym who are easily 20 stone, afaik nobody has EVERY said/done anything snide to them.

As for workout gear, I've just got 3/4 length joggers from H&M last weekend - long ones are too hot for summer, and a couple of t-shirts. If I'm doing a class I like a more fitted tank because you have to lie down and I don't want my t-shirt bagging open and my chest on display.

One thing you will notice over a period of time though is that the more frequently people go - and see the changes in their body - the smaller and tighter their clothes become.

PS sorry for the horrendous grammar earlier - mind on other things!

mumblers

Def go to some classes, I find I work much harder and the music is great.
I do pump, spin and circuits.
I am only able to get to the gym twice a week at best ut really enjoy, and make the most of the showers, toiletries and hair dryers!

Oh bugger, I was just going to wear tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt. I can assure you though, that my t-shirts are no longer baggy

I only do bodybalance and pilates classes - so no gym per se. But.
The worst thing to me about newbies is that, in my class at least, is they overthink the positions and don't try them (and do alot of puffing) The best thing to do is just to do it! And make the most of it. If anyone notices you are a newbie, all they'll think is 'well done her! She is giving it a good go.'

I started out wearing black pants (that were too short) and a unflattering t shirt. After realising these clothing items were making me look even worse I switched so something that made me feel good.

what's a good ipod for gym (one you can clip on)? link pls!

also, gym creche question - are babies Ok with toddlers roaming round the place? ie. not in separate area?

oh someone told me i'd lost loads of weight post ds2 and looked great
i was very pleased, do tell people

and no nobody laughs

in my gym creche they put the babies in eg a nest or activity centre if they are not sitting with them

Ive got this the best invention ever!! I use the sport wrap around headphones as those little things you shove in your ears keep falling out of mine!

You wear whatever is comfortable, after my DD was born I'd slimmed down enough to buy a pair of Nike capri's. They've been another best buy (washed and worn a zillion times and still look good)

I do pump, spin, a 5k and a 12-16k outdoor run each week. Training for another triathlon and done some half marathons. before DD I hated running and could only go a couple of mins without wanting to vomit!!

wow, Clure - how did you start off to get to that level??

Next do quite a good range of cheap sports clothing - I object to paying £30 for a pair of trousers just cos it has got a bloody 'tick' on it!! I also got some of the basic normal t-shirts from Next (they are currently 2 for £9 or something) and wear them with either full length or cropped trousers.

Tbh, and too much info here, I sweat like an absolute pig and after about 10-15 wears, the t-shirts start to smell regardless of how well I wash them so I don't like to spend too much.

When I have shifted another 2 stone, I am going to treat myself to a pair of 'mumblers'

what si this gym with kids in it thing?
now ay
over 16 only.

agree next stuff is fine.
I wear mumblers. that has made ma larf at the gym

Was just there and there was a size 18 woman next to me on the bike and she looked nice, had a comon or garden turquoise vest top on and some long pants.

I have a top a bit like this - doesnt suit but hey ho and a nike t shirt in turq and then me mumblers

Grattage I don't think anyone means kids on the equipment. My gym has a free creche.

Ooh that top is lovely - am far too fat to wear it at the mo but am going to treat myself to a whole new gym wardrobe once I have shifted the weight.

Now I know I said I objected to spending so much on branded stuff - but that vest is nice and maybe (just maybe!) worth splashing out on

I buy my gym kit from M&S - not trendy but functional, cheap, tend to camouflage the wobbly bits and don't get sopping wet like old t shirts - plus I can get them in sizes to fit my short legs and large tum ! Tops - I prefer vest tops as T's are too hot ..

Am laughing at the comment about sizing up the newbies in January - we take bets on how long they will last !! Other than that, I am a nice and welcoming size 14 / 16 and love the fact that I am fitter than the fully made up stick insects that come to pose rather than work out !

As for the exercise - I adore any and all classes and do around 8 assorted weights / stretching / cardio classes every week. Body Combat and Body Attack are just unbeatable high energy stress relievers

I was really conscious of my size at first - have trimmed down a bit, but not enough and I DO have random people coming up to me now and telling me I've lost weight - a lovely feeling. Most people in gym's are perfectly normal and friendly

that is a nice top grattage. nike are very good value i find, although adidas more hardwearing. what happens with your bra on a racer back though?

i have got a bamboo tshirt from amazon, it is very wicking.

By Ceebee74 on Wed 27-May-09 20:28:18
"Ooh that top is lovely - am far too fat to wear it at the mo but am going to treat myself to a whole new gym wardrobe once I have shifted the weight."

Ceebee, this is us women to a tee. Wanting to lose weight to get into a gym outfit. Like when you hire a cleaner but clean your house before they come round so they don't think you're slobs. Made me giggle

OK, I did it, I ordered a pair of these. At 5'3" and with hayuge calves they're not going to be flattering, but let's face it - what is?!Plus, they're only 8 quid. Hopefully I'll wear them. Now to trainers.

OP - I go to gym and never snigger at newbies!

It is worth seeing a trainer, especially if you want to see results fast. As others have said, if it is a decent gym you should be offered a free session with a trainer and the opportunity to have whatever programme they come up with reviewed at regular intervals as you get fitter.

I have been going to the gym for years and even went until 38 weeks pregnant with second child. [smug emoticon]. But saw a trainer a few weeks ago and after following the workout he made me do, I realised I was not pushing myself. Definitely worth it.

Fairmaiden, loads of ladies at my gym wear cropped joggers - they look comfortable and will keep you cool. Good luck

dinny - i did cycle touring holidays and was a keen cyclist (though not fast) before I took up running so i guess I had a certain level of fitness. I also did a "legs bums and tums" class right up till I was 8 months pregnant aswell as a yoga class. I cycled up till 6 months till my bump got in the way! Basically I had a general level of fitness but it wasn't until I started running that it improved dramatically. I would also say that body pump has really helped me tone up!

I wear a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms. I used to wear mumblers way back in my yoof.

I agree with everyone. I don't snigger at newbies; it's hard enough as it is. It is a work gym, so literally all shapes, sizes and ages go there ... the only danger is running into someone you work with (happened to me once, but I survived). As with others, the only time I snigger is:

• Ego-tastic men poncing about and making stupid noises
• The woman with the amazing body (and man, she knows it) who ponces around the changing rooms for half an hour naked/in thong doing her hair. I have NEVER seen her sweating in the gym.

I joined!!!! Got my induction on Sunday (day of rest, my arse) and am wondering what that will consist of - they won't weigh me will they? I never really bother with stones and pounds, prefer to go by clothes size and general wellbeing.

Think they will weigh you, just to work out BMI/calculate what your target is etc...

I prefer the clothes and wellbeing method too though