Gym - please give me a kick up my big bottom

[Halifordian]

I went to look round the council gym near to me yesterday and felt super intimidated by the women using it.

Last time I tried exercise 10 years ago, women wore long t shirts and leggings and a smile. My perception yesterday was that it was all fitted designer Lycra, loads of electronic gizmos, shake bottles etc. also, and this is the crazy thing, only size 8-10 users. This was across the classes, gym and pool.

I know that I'll never be a 8-10 unless I do some exercise, so please talk me into joining. The staff were sweet and professional btw.

My gym isn't like that, you get all shapes and sizes in there.

Might it have been the time of day? I find my pool really scary between 5 and 6:30 when everyone tips out of work and into a bikini to do laps, but fine apart from that.

Give it a go. If the staff are lovely then that's important. Can you try for a few sessions and see if it still bothers you then? You'll talk yourself out of going if you aren't comfortable in the long run.

It was 5pm O.R.! Very perceptive, what a good point. Thank you.

Most people wear fitted lycra at my gym. Doesn't stop me wearing ancient festival and band t shirts (at all sizes between 18 and 10). Occasionally there are some very earnest gym bunnies but as Old says, if you can avoid peak before and after work times you will see a completely different demographic.

I've just rejoined my council gym and yep there's a lot of Lycra, but there's also a fair few larger women (and older men when I was there).

Tbh though, I was more intimated by having to be weighed/BP taken...

Take a deep breath, go and talk to the staff again, then if you're up for it join, and start with something you enjoy/are comfortable with and take it from there. And yep, if possible, try it at a different time.

For me it was swimming, but I've braved the gym once so far, and when I get comfortable (ish) in there I'll get some further advice about widening my repertoire.

Oh and whilst I do wearing leggings, I slap on grotty/baggy old t-shirts.

Good luck! Don't allow yourself to be intimidated.