Walked into the gym....wanted to RUN out!!!

[samiet620]

THE PLAN: to have a healthy life style change.Hopefully one that I can actually live by with a passion.
THE GOAL: to be healthy and happy with who I am(preferable in a smaller size )
THE DATE: my actual journey begins on Aug 20th. The day after I get home from Disney but I have already started to drink more water and make some better choices.
THE METHOD: Eat healthy food choices with adecuate portions( I was eating healthy just VERY large portions umm defeats the point I know). Keep a food journal and JOIN THE GYM!!!!
Well, let me tell you, I went to take a tour at the local Ballys and I just wanted to run. I swear I didn't see one person even close to my 5'1/232lbs...
The facility itself I loved but honestly I felt ashamed just walking through let alone working out. I was wearing some long shorts and a tank and I sooo wanted to cover up. Now I am going to tour a smaller scale gym, I'm not sure if I'll be short changing myself but honestly that was intimidating...not one overweight person as far as I could see. My BF says to use that as inspiration..easy for her to say she's NEVER been overweight.All those buff and gorgeus (and probably some are very nice) people and here comes the show...me, no thanks! I can't let this experience stop me...I HAVE to work out or my goal won't happen so I'll try another one...we'll see

 

[crazyme5kids]

If you aren't comfortable there, run. Find a place that you will be comfortable walking through the door each time. If you don't, you won't go.

 

[bubba73]

I felt the same way when I joined the local Powerhouse Gym almost 10 years ago. The difference was that I was one of the smallest guys in the gym. I had just lost a bunch of weight and had no muscle on my body at all and I was joining a "Muscle Gym". Well, I did use it as motivation but I also used it as a chance to learn. I went in there and started asking question after question to anyone that I could. I learned more than I ever thought possible. Now, I am healthier, happier and I am training people too. It's a mindset. Just because there was no one there at that time, doesn't mean that there is no one there at all.

But, in contradiction, I am not saying to join that gym. I have sinced changed gyms and I am making more strides than I ever had at the other one. This gym is smaller and a lot more personable. It is not full of muscle bound monkeys on steroids. Just people that want to be healthy. That's good enough for me.

Don't know if that helps. Either way it goes, don't sell yourself short. You will and can get a wonderful workout and exercise routine at any gym you decide to join.

Happy Training!

 

[jam217]

You need to find a gym where you're comfortable. The gym I currently belong to has a connection to a hospital so you see people of all shapes and sizes there.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I agree with the others, find a different gym. My experience has been that the big name gyms (like Bally's) tend to be flashier and full of "bodies on display". The smaller, local gyms tend to have much more diversity there. My current gym, for example, has a huge "senior fitness" program. So along with all of the moms and college-age types, there are lots of seniors (some who are rehabbing from an illness or injury) slowly moving about. It is great to see all the different levels of progress and experience.

I am not a fan of Curves personally, but I do know that it is all women most of whom need to lose 100-ish pounds, so that might be something worth looking into as well.

 

[ohMom]

i agree with all Find a gym where the staff makes you feel comfortable and motivated.

 

[MainStMandy]

I hate going to Bally's...it's for pretty people. I need to go somewhere where I feel comfortable or I won't go.

I just joined a new gym and have my first appointment with the trainer tonight...the hardest part is getting started. Keep up the good work!

 

[TB'sWidow]

I am a member of gold's gym and we have the gorgeous bodies but we also have alot of my size also. I just ignore the beutiful people and concentrate on me.

 

[kaf7878]

Do you have a YMCA near you?? I love the Y!! Great gyms plus 99% totally normal people and families. I was a member of Lifestyles for a few month and I did not feel comfortable there!

 

[ksoehrlein]

Kelly, I was going to recommend the Y as well! I frequent two different local Y's and there are all shapes, sizes, ages, and ability levels. I never feel like anyone is staring at anyone else.

I'm also a fan of Snap Fitness. It's open 24/7 (accessible by key card), and there are many times when I'm the only one there. It's the next best thing to owning a fully equipped home gym. But you do run the risk that the next time you go for your "private" workout, the place will be full of those beautiful, intimidating people!

 

[samiet620]

Thank you all for your insight on this gym ordeal I am going through...geez you'd think its simple but its not it is actually very frustrating and intimadating! So far I have visited 3 more gyms...one was very nice named The Club, it had a variety of services including a pool, but the price is a little on the steep side,
The second is actually located in a facility that gives physical therapy and has a pool...but it's somewhat out of my way, the third is also out of my way, but as with the one that provides therapy there were many types of people. If these two are where I feel comfortable than I will have to make the effort to get there simple as that! Tommorrow I am visiting another one thats actually very close to my house(could even walk there), a friend recomends it and will give me a visitor pass to use. I thought it would be great to have a gym buddy as well but I will need to excercise in the AM, she goes in the PM.
This is like buying a house but as most of you said I need to be comfortable so that I actually go.
Well thats my update...will tell you how it goes, oh! I almost forgot. Thanks for the tip on the Y I hadn't even thought of that so I'll make sure and check it out as well.

 

[dizchick]

Good luck. I hope you like the gym today that is close to your house. I've found that if I'm not comfortable at a gym or if it's out of my way, then I won't go. I'm in my 20's and actually in pretty decent shape, but I went on a tour of a Gold's Gym and felt extremely uncomfortable. Everyone at this one particular gym looked like they dressed up to go work out. Guys with big muscles and girls in itty bitty outfits w/ jewelry. That definitely wasn't my scene, so I found a smaller gym that catered to an older crowd where I felt much more comfortable. I've also found that most people at the gym are way too wrapped up in their own workouts to notice what anyone else is doing. No matter what gym you join, the most important thing is actually going and working out hard.

Edited to add-I second what someone said above about the Y. They are usually a pretty safe bet.

 

[keenercam]

I have to chime in as well and recommend the Y. I was larger than you (and the same height) when I first started going in 2005. I have never felt uncomfortable there. In the past year or so, our Y has started a new initiative called "Healthy at Every Size" which recognizes that being fit is not the same as being thin and that the objective is whole person wellness. So, here I am, nearly 70 pounds smaller and working out at the Y 3-5x/week and taking pride in the fact that my "gym" welcomes all of us at every size and shape. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions. And kudos to you for looking for a gym and getting started on a healthier path!

 

[deekaypee]

Thank you all for your insight on this gym ordeal I am going through...geez you'd think its simple but its not it is actually very frustrating and intimadating! So far I have visited 3 more gyms...one was very nice named The Club, it had a variety of services including a pool, but the price is a little on the steep side,
The second is actually located in a facility that gives physical therapy and has a pool...but it's somewhat out of my way, the third is also out of my way, but as with the one that provides therapy there were many types of people. If these two are where I feel comfortable than I will have to make the effort to get there simple as that! Tommorrow I am visiting another one thats actually very close to my house(could even walk there), a friend recomends it and will give me a visitor pass to use. I thought it would be great to have a gym buddy as well but I will need to excercise in the AM, she goes in the PM.
This is like buying a house but as most of you said I need to be comfortable so that I actually go.
Well thats my update...will tell you how it goes, oh! I almost forgot. Thanks for the tip on the Y I hadn't even thought of that so I'll make sure and check it out as well.

I'm just chiming in here to add my support for finding a gym that's a good fit for you. I can't say it any better than everyone else here, so everything they said. I remember my first, painful experiences at joining a gym to lose weight (50+ pounds) and finding a whole new definition of meat market. Definitely consider your comfort level, even if the gym is a little further away or is more expensive. It'll pay off. Even though Ballys has some good equipment and classes, and attracts friendly people of all fitness levels and sizes, if you're not feeling it's right, it's not the right place for you.

I'll also second (third? fourth?) the recommendations for a Y or a fitness club that offers physical therapy and/or specializes in families. I think you'll see a wider range of clients. And if you have a gym that has lots of options--like a pool, free classes, etc.--you might want to consider that. It'll give you the flexibility to find those things you really like to do. And if you like a particular kind of exercise, you're more likely to stick with it. For those reasons, I don't really recommend Curves. (I know lots of people do like Curves and have success with them--including my mom--but I think they're kind of limited in their options.)

 

[soupy11]

Some good advice I have read is to pick a gym that is at most 15 minutes away. Any further and the commitment drops due to travel time.
What about spending a few bucks on some free weights and a stability ball? For a small investment and the privacy of your own home you can start conditioning with no worries....


Make a deal with yourself to give it 6 months....in 6 months you will be confident, committed, and motivated. Then try a tour of the gym again, bet you will feel more at home then.

Good luck!

 

[samiet620]

I have to chime in as well and recommend the Y. I was larger than you (and the same height) when I first started going in 2005. I have never felt uncomfortable there. In the past year or so, our Y has started a new initiative called "Healthy at Every Size" which recognizes that being fit is not the same as being thin and that the objective is whole person wellness. So, here I am, nearly 70 pounds smaller and working out at the Y 3-5x/week and taking pride in the fact that my "gym" welcomes all of us at every size and shape. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions. And kudos to you for looking for a gym and getting started on a healthier path!

TY for the support, so far I have visited quite a few gyms and though I planned on visiting the Y I haven't made it there...I have the rest of this week before my trip and I want to know where I am going to workout before I leave so that my start day has no excuses. I'll let you know how I make out.

I'm just chiming in here to add my support for finding a gym that's a good fit for you. I can't say it any better than everyone else here, so everything they said. I remember my first, painful experiences at joining a gym to lose weight (50+ pounds) and finding a whole new definition of meat market. Definitely consider your comfort level, even if the gym is a little further away or is more expensive. It'll pay off. Even though Ballys has some good equipment and classes, and attracts friendly people of all fitness levels and sizes, if you're not feeling it's right, it's not the right place for you.

I'll also second (third? fourth?) the recommendations for a Y or a fitness club that offers physical therapy and/or specializes in families. I think you'll see a wider range of clients. And if you have a gym that has lots of options--like a pool, free classes, etc.--you might want to consider that. It'll give you the flexibility to find those things you really like to do. And if you like a particular kind of exercise, you're more likely to stick with it. For those reasons, I don't really recommend Curves. (I know lots of people do like Curves and have success with them--including my mom--but I think they're kind of limited in their options.)

TY. I am looking forward to checking the Y out. So many of you have such positive things to say about it. I agree on your Curves imput...been there done that and I got bored really fast...never again! My friends love it and I respect that its just really not for me.

Some good advice I have read is to pick a gym that is at most 15 minutes away. Any further and the commitment drops due to travel time.
What about spending a few bucks on some free weights and a stability ball? For a small investment and the privacy of your own home you can start conditioning with no worries....


Make a deal with yourself to give it 6 months....in 6 months you will be confident, committed, and motivated. Then try a tour of the gym again, bet you will feel more at home then.

Good luck!

Ty for the advice...I sadly admit that I have a complete gym in my basement...(my husbands mistresshe loves his gym ) I have tried to commit here at home but it seems here I CAN find 500 excuses as to why later will be better. I'm thinking that having to pay will get me there if nothing else(I'm cheap so if I pay I'm gonna get my $s worth) does that make sense?

 

[soupy11]

Ty for the advice...I sadly admit that I have a complete gym in my basement...(my husbands mistresshe loves his gym ) I have tried to commit here at home but it seems here I CAN find 500 excuses as to why later will be better. I'm thinking that having to pay will get me there if nothing else(I'm cheap so if I pay I'm gonna get my $s worth) does that make sense?

I totally understand that! I am the same way. I have a dreadmill downstairs that I can never get on unless the weather is just terrible.