Embarrassed to go to the gym

[toomanychocolatesonthetable]

I've put a good stone on, plus more maybe I am embarrassed to go to the gym ( I use to be a gym bunny a few years ago). I don't want anyone to see me (either the gym or socially).

I also know that the first time in the gym will do nothing what so ever, I need to keep at it to get results.

How can I move past the mindset that the first time will be no results what so ever (but will be in the longer term) ?

I work in a gym and I promise NO-ONE will be looking at you - they're all far too busy actually getting on with what they're doing, or gazing at themselves in the mirror - I'm a PT - take the plunge and go, even if it's only for 20 minutes 👍🏻

Ty @Butternutsqoosh I'm going to try to go this afternoon, you have encouraged me.

I need to lose on my thighs, love handles and bum. Wold you have any suggestions for what I should do ? weights or running ?

If you were a gym bunny previously, you should know that no one takes a blind bit of notice of anyone else's body shape and however bad you feel, there will be others who feel worse

Just go, you'll feel so much better for it. Good luck

I’m often at the gym and I don’t really notice other people OP. I think that most folk are just focused on themselves.

Weight loss is mainly diet (unfortunately) but weights will help a lot with shape and HIIT can help with burning calories past the time of the session. Just make sure you don't eat back your exercise calories in rewarding yourself for the gym.

If you really don't want to go it's not compulsory of course. You can lose weight without going to the gym. If you just increased your general activity levels eg by adding a daily walk that would also work.

For me personally I go because I like going. It makes me feel better physically and mentally if I do a hard workout and that's my main motivation for going. Yes it also helps control my weight and has long term benefits but I don't think I would be able to make myself go if I hated it.

Honestly no one takes any notice at my gym. It's really hot when I'm doing my 5k so I've started running with just my sports bra and high waisted leggings and at first I was self conscious but no one cares

Whilst there won't be any physical change in your body after one session it will make you feel better mentally. You get that endorphin rush and you feel good that you took a step on the road to improving your fitness.

I have a fitness tracker app and I find it motivating to tick off sessions and see my weights and reps go up or my time to run a distance or do a cardio circuit go down. It tracks daily steps too and you can put weight and even progress pics in although I don't do that.

Cross that psychological barrier - get to the gym, wear something comfortable and do a short workout you know you can do.

Firstly to lose a stone most of it will be diet.

Secondly for exercise to be successful you have to do it over and over.

For me, this means doing it at home. But it could be the gym, running, swimming, anything else as long as you enjoy it.

Whatever you do, there will be people far far bigger than you there and nobody is looking.

Oh no one cares at the gym.
Even if I see a morbidly obese gym go-er I think 'fucking good on you'

I don't care what people wear or what they look like

I started going to the gym again after several years including having a baby and gaining lots of weight since then. I am the biggest size person there is and I don't give a damn. And I can see nobody cares. I have had to ask for help a few times from other members as a machine has been stuck etc and everybody is being nice and they don't treat me any differently.

Hi I've just started the Couch to Fitness app, it's a 9 week programme and the first session wasn't too hard..highly recommend it.

Please don’t be embarrassed - everyone at the gym is just there for their own workouts. If you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, book an induction; go in with a plan of the exercise you want to do, put on some music and crack on. You’ve got this.

Don’t be embarrassed. If an overweight, completely unfit and hot sweaty mess as soon as she walks for 2 minutes girl like me can go (and keep going for 18 months and beyond) believe me you can. I hadn’t been in a gym for about 20 years when I signed up last year either. You can do it OP - if I can, you can. You’ve got this 💪🏼

No one will care, but if you’re that bothered diet for a month first.
90% of weight loss is what you put in your mouth, not what you sweat out at the gym.