Going to the gym

[Puppet]

With a long history of low self-esteem concerning my appearance, I've always been eager to join the gym, however the reason why I still haven't is due to the multiple barriers that block access.

What is everyone's experiences of joining/going to the gym?

I get worried over thousands of things such as; being surrounded by good looking physically fit men, lack of confidence with the machines, worry about being watched by others, loss of concentration to due confidence issues and paranoia. Does anyone else feel like this?

How have did you overcome it? When is the best (quietest) time to go?

I so want to go, but all the above just stop me from signing up.

Help please

[JS]

Hey Nathan how are ya?

I joined a few months ago now and its the best thing i ever did. Not only has it helped my confidence but i feel so much better about my appearance. Ive got muscles that i never had before haha. I just wished i joined sooner, i absolutely love the gym.

What i will tell you is that every single person in that gym is there for one reason and thats to better there body.

I feel a lot of the things you mention but i just get on with it, i train as soon as the gym opens which is 6am as thats the quietest, its busy at nights when people finish work as ive been before but tbh its not all that bad even though its a little busy for my likeing.

You should get an induction aswell when you join so just ask them to show you how to use the equipment, also, i found plenty of youtube videos helped massively.

Depends what your goals are though, im training as a bodybuilder as you know, so im using certain equipment to make my body grow as a unit.

If i can help anymore then just say.

EDIT - Look around at all the gyms near you, im quite lucky as mine is bodybuilding focused so therefore there is zero idiots and no one judges you, infact, everyone is willing to help others out i.e if you need someone to spot you etc.

[Nat88]

I joined the gym last July. You will most likely have an induction the first time you go, to show you how to use the equipment and also how to get the best results from your workout. I can still now quite easily talk myself out of going if I'm feeling nervous, but once I'm there you realise noone is interested in you, and you can take your ipod and listen to music if that helps you relax, or a lot of gyms have televisions you can tune into.

I'm not an early morning person but I find that late morning/early afternoon is quiet enough for me, as that is when I have finished the classes (zumba, legs bums and tums) that I take part in and use some of the equipment in the gym until the changing rooms have emptied. Our gym starts to get busy after half four when people are finishing work. I don't tend to go on weekends, as I know a lot of people are off work then too.

I think you should go for it Nothing like a good workout to feel really satisfied and good about yourself. Won't be long til you see the results either, depending on what you want to achieve. I have lost a stone and a half since going, and that's without dieting! Good luck

[Parth]

I've been to about 8 different gyms over the past 10 years. My observation is that the quietest time (by far) is Saturday and Sunday afternoon/evening. I'd expect people want to maximise their time off and not spend it in the gym. In one gym I used to go to I used to have 3-5pm Saturday alone each week. That was nice.

Friday night is much quieter than other weeknights.

Weekday mornings and afternoons can be moderately busy in some gyms, usually with students and the retired.

If it's not too late, gyms start to get quiet 8/9pm each night too and you've usually got a good hour or two before it closes.

It might seem counter intuitive but you might find it easier to go when a gym is really busy. If there's only a few people in the gym I think it's easier to stand out and be watched by the few other patrons or all the instructors idly standing around. It's easier to disappear when you're just one in a crowd. Of course, that's easier if you're just wanting to use the cardio machines. Busy gyms and waiting for weights/resistance machines can be more frustrating.

[GoldFish]

Originally Posted by Puppet

With a long history of low self-esteem concerning my appearance, I've always been eager to join the gym, however the reason why I still haven't is due to the multiple barriers that block access.

What is everyone's experiences of joining/going to the gym?

I get worried over thousands of things such as; being surrounded by good looking physically fit men, lack of confidence with the machines, worry about being watched by others, loss of concentration to due confidence issues and paranoia. Does anyone else feel like this?

How have did you overcome it? When is the best (quietest) time to go?

I so want to go, but all the above just stop me from signing up.

Help please

It depends on how sensitive a person is to exercising in front of other confident people. I am comfortable with playing a sport like soccer or basketball in front of a crowd but i am afraid of gyms, so because i am passionate about basketball makes it far easier for me to enjoy playing it ( i enjoy the art of the sport overides any self-consiousness or insecurities), where as i am not that interested in working out and i find exercising more of a private thing = me more likely to avoid going to a gym.

But give it a try. Personally i found it hard. Intimidating, and I was very self conscious being around all the confident fitness types, though they can be very upbeat and helpful at the same time, then there are the arrogant ones, most keep to themselves, unless they come in groups.

I decided that i'd just exercise at home instead.

If there was a gym for nerds and awkward people then i'd definitely sign up to that.

Keep in mind that there are probably some great gyms out there that are comfortable to be involved with. But i guess its like dating, you test a few out until you are happy with surroundings.

I guess my advice would be to test a couple out, see how you feel, then go from there. Everyone is going to be different when it comes to exercise and gyms. Try going really early in the mornings or at lunch times, i think would be the best times.

Get yourself some exercise clothes that you feel comfortable in and that you are happy with and start out on a bike, you'll probably get some induction training from the helpful trainers that are there to help.

[pinkwafer]

Hiya

I used to use a gym. It was a small local gym. A mixture of people used it. I enjoyed going and it was usually VERY quiet when I went - evenings after 7:30pm and Sunday mornings. I stopped going last October, became kind of tired-SAD depressed... wanted to go again... until recently have started cycling three times a week, which is free and equally enjoyable. I probably won't bother using a gym again due to the cost (though mine was only £20 a month, that VS not going obviously saves quite a bit).


Remember - a lot of people join the gym to try to improve fitness or lose weight, so many don't exactly have great bodies.

[clyde33]

I've been a member of my local gym now for two years and i can honestly say i'm fine with it. Can you get a friend to join too and go along with you even for the first couple of times - this is what i did. I never feel too bad if there's someone else with me while i figure out how all the machines work. When i'm there on my own, i'll never go and try a new one incase i don't know how to adjust it etc. I've found the quietest time to go is between 9 - 11am as any earlier than this and there's loads of people there before work, then it gets busy at lunchtime with people on their lunch hours. I still find the worst part for me is walking down the stairs into the main gym in full view of everyone that's there. I'm always careful not to trip and go bouncing down the stairs or something like that. I don't find the whole experience too traumatic to be honest. I just keep my head down and don't look at anyone, plus wear my iPod all the time. The communal changing rooms can be a bit of a challenge sometimes as i'm not confident stripping off infront of the "perfect people" and i always feel people are staring when i know they're probably not really. I'd say take someone along with you if you can, and if not just start on things like the treadmill where you don't have to physically adjust anything and all you have to do is press the green "go" button! Good luck

[Puppet]

I went with everyone's advice and decided to go to two local gyms and have a look around. The experience was VERY intimidating. I was shown around and all the people were physically fit, good-looking and confident in exercising. I'd be to worried if people were looking at me, if I was doing something wrong. The gyms were also very busy, surprisingly. I really want to boost my confidence by improving my body, but doing it all home isn't as motivating. I really need the gym however I just can't see myself blending in with the general 'norm'.

I get worried over stupid things like what is the normal thing to wear in gyms? What kind of footwear is appropriate? Also, I'd feel uncomfortable showering... would it be normal to skip and get home and shower... ugh it is frustrating.

I am going to try a less open gym today and hopefully I'll find it to be a little quiet as well. This sounds weird, but I feel like opening up a little to the gym staff and explain that I have found it slightly intimidating in other gyms and hopefully they can reassure me that it isn't the case. It is their job after all to make you welcome. I am trying so hard to increase my self-esteem and I really hope I don't draw the final straw today and find that gyms aren't for me.

[Jam]

Originally Posted by Puppet

I went with everyone's advice and decided to go to two local gyms and have a look around. The experience was VERY intimidating. I was shown around and all the people were physically fit, good-looking and confident in exercising. I'd be to worried if people were looking at me, if I was doing something wrong. The gyms were also very busy, surprisingly. I really want to boost my confidence by improving my body, but doing it all home isn't as motivating. I really need the gym however I just can't see myself blending in with the general 'norm'.

I get worried over stupid things like what is the normal thing to wear in gyms? What kind of footwear is appropriate? Also, I'd feel uncomfortable showering... would it be normal to skip and get home and shower... ugh it is frustrating.

I am going to try a less open gym today and hopefully I'll find it to be a little quiet as well. This sounds weird, but I feel like opening up a little to the gym staff and explain that I have found it slightly intimidating in other gyms and hopefully they can reassure me that it isn't the case. It is their job after all to make you welcome. I am trying so hard to increase my self-esteem and I really hope I don't draw the final straw today and find that gyms aren't for me.

I know exactly how you feel. But the truth is, 99% of people go to the gym to do their workout, and leave. No one really wants to be there any longer than they have to, after all, most people are dragging/forcing themselves there. Working out at the gym takes a lot of commitment and focus, so most people in the gym are in their "zone", they are to focused on their workout, their breathing, their form/technique, their lifting, their running, their rowing, they are too zoned out to be concerned on what other people are doing. They are not there to socialise or talk to other people, although you do get some people that seems like they live there and do want to talk to others, but they don't bother people if they can see that the person is in their "zone". When I go to the gym I sometimes feel invisible, cos everyone is too focused on doing their thing, which is fine by me.
You say everyone looks fit and healthy.... Well do you think they looked that way before they started going to the gym? Maybe they did, but most of the time the answer is no.

Just wear whatever you feel comfortable to excercise in. I usually just wear plain shorts n tshirt, just cos its cheaper, and basic footwear.

Once you go there for a couple of weeks you'll feel more comfortable, it is very daunting at first, but after a while you'll wonder why you didn't do this sooner.

Goodluck.

[misska]

I find in the day time between 10-2pm quiet times as most people work then. The worst time defo 5-7pm, I dont mind going the gym too much I just stick my head phones on and do my own thing after you go a while u will find that no one else really notices you and everyone else going for the same reason so no need to be worried

good luck joining is the biggest step after that its easy

[Sunset]

I think that gyms can be intimidating at first but I always feel much better after I go.

If it becomes a habit you feel less self conscious in time.