I want to join the gym, but I'm so scared!

Well, the title says it all really.

I want to join the gym. But I'm so, so nervous!

Fitness was once such a huge part of my life, but ever since becoming a mum, it's non-existent. I'm so nervous about people looking at me at the gym.. I am a large woman. I'm unco-ordinated. . . . Will they gossip about me?

I want my body back! I feel like cellulite is growing on my freaking feet it's getting that bad :(

I would go with a friend. But unfortunately, my shy nature means I dont really have any :redface:

And on top of that, the one gym I AM interested in (women only gym), I'm worried a lady I once knew will be there. Who I no longer know, as I cut ties with her after realising how many nasty things she would say about me. I don't feel comfortable around her. But then again, I don't even know if she goes there anymore. We both were members of this particular gym while I was in uni, so 5/6 years ago.

Tell me about your gym please? Do only skinny beautiful people go to the gym?
What's the child minding like?

Sweetie do it! People of all shapes sizes fitness levels etc go to the gym. Maybe this person you want to avoid won't be there and even if she is put your earplugs in pump up some songs and focus on you! Goodluck!

Big hugs hunny! You sound a bit scared but also excited.

I am a regular gym goer but also am big, unfit and uncoordinated. I used to go to a fitness first gym and it was full of fit, firm and beautiful young people, but I didn't let it bother me. I now go to a local gym that isn't part of a chain and it is great! I am always trying to get people to join. There is a wide range of people and ages and sizes there. I pay fortnightly about $38 and it includes child care - 6 mornings a week. There are heaps of classes, a good range of cardio equipment and a big weights room, including a fast track line of basic weight moves.

The childcare is great. They are lovely ladies ranging from uni students to retired nurses who run it. They are fantastic - particularly with DS2 who is a bit unsettled (not from leaving me, just in general). They will happily carry him around the whole time (1 hr 20 mins is the max stay). They know the boys names and are always keeping up with how they are going etc.

Now re being big or uncoordinated. Here is my take: someone has to be the worst in the class and I'm actually doing everyone else a favour by being the worst! I think of it as community service. But seriously, no one will notice. A friend told me she was really bad at the aerobics class but when I saw her do it, she was great, heaps better than me. Perhaps we all think we are the worst and don't really notice other people.

Re the size - as long as I have my supportive gym gear on so my bits don't flop out, I don't mind. For me, being fit and healthy is more important than size. Sure I need to lose lots of weight too, but I eat well and exercise, so I'm confident that I am taking care of myself.

I go to a women's only gym and there are women off all races, sizes and shapes there and no one that I am aware of has issues. I haven't been fit for a long time and so just walking though the door was so daunting for me...but I went....I stuck my ipod on and just did my thing....after a while some ladies chatted hello and I even did a few group classes (I am totally uncoordinated). I havent been back for a while (IVF and pregancy stuff) but just started back this week and I walked in there 10kgs heavier than I left...and the staff just said welcome back!

I have been to another gym (both sexes) and that wasnt for me....it was all buff, skinny body builder types and I never felt comfortable there.....

Maybe go and see if you can get a weeks trial (they normally offer something like that) then you can check out that you feel comfortable and suss out if your ex-friend is still a memeber...

Goodluck

i go to the gym at 10.30am on 3 weekdays and it is full of gorgeous 'older' people. i love it. sometimes theres a couple of uni students and other mums too. theres some 'in shape' people and theres also lots of out of shape people (like me) too. i love looking around and seeing people (especially those in their 70s and 80s!) making an effort towards good health. it makes me feel really good. I'm overweight and no one has ever laughed or gossiped or made me feel uncomfortable. i get lots of smiles and encouragement! mine is a mixed sex gym, which i actually like better than the women only ones. sometimes i run into my dad there!
please go and join up. it will be so good for you!!!

When I first started gym I was about 22 I think. I was self concious but soon realized that everyone else is too busy checking themselves out to be worried about everyone else ;) if anything they will think good on you for joining! I haven't been to gym for 5 years now as I quit and bought a full home gym set up. But I miss the social aspect so I am joining one again next year. You will be surprised at how much you will get out of it. Im excited for you :cheer: re your old friend, ask the people there if she's a member.

I belong to a women's gym and everyone is really kind and supportive. It's a totally different vibe to the mixed gym I used to belong to. We have lots of members who are retirement age and they are very social - they go for coffee after their classes and so on. They also get to classes early and help those of us who are chronically late to set up. I love doing the yoga class with the old ladies who have been doing it for 40 years. They're inspirational in a way that a 20 year old fembot can never be.
Even if the woman you don't like goes there don't let it put you off. If she can have an adverse impact on your health by keeping you away from the gym then you're letting her 'win'.
Try a few classes - the Les Mills classes are all about options. The instructors have to know how to tailor the classes to people who are pregnant, unfit or injured so they will push you to get results without injuring you and help you out with form if needed.

Gosh I'd love to join a gym! It would mainly be for classes though... I'm not so keen on getting in the mix of things at this size.

I've been a member of 2 gyms. One was a womens only which was great, the other was mixed and it was horrible. It was the one where all the skinny little fit people were and It made me feel absolutely shocking.

I prefer PT sessions and classes and running outside on my own though, so a gym membership wouldn't be worth it (nor would the 140km round trip).

I think all gyms have their beautiful fit people but it depends what time you go (at my gym anyway).
I go between 9 and 10:30am and the is only mummies daddies and retirees there so i dont feel so intimidated.
I also agree with everyone, plug ur mp3 player in and get in the zone, forget what everyone else is doing!

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In my experience, people are always too busy checking out themselves to worry about anyone else. ;)

You can do it TT!!

The benefits far far outweigh the negatives. I'm neither slim nor beautiful. I am there in my daggy T's and tights, but I'm there.
Like many PPs I go for the just after school drop off classes and it's mainly mums. I'm lucky my gym is owned by two mums and they are fantastic. I run the creche a morning a fortnight in exchange for no gym fees, so it works well for me.
Regarding that other lady. Hold yourself in higher esteem chick. YOU are worth going to the gym for because YOU want to. Who cares about her, we're all allowed to choose our own friends.

i don't think anyone will look at you & be thinking negative things. i go to a local gym that isn't part of a franchise & i love the atmosphere. it's still a mixed gym but it's all ages & mix of fitness levels. they run quite a few classes for seniors & they have so much fun & they're all very friendly too.

i went after friends joined & liked it & i went in & chatted to the trainers & only joined once i was confident that it was the right gym for me. it's small & most of the trainers know your name, even if you haven't been to their class or done a PT session with them.

we only have child minding a couple of times a week that runs in conjunction with a class aimed at mum's or pregnant women. but you can ask for child minding at different times, it just costs a little more. i am very happy with the childminding - it's the wife of the owner who is also a kinder teacher (who just does relief work now as she has twin 6 year old boys!). she has lots of activities for them & does a snack time etc.

most of the people just working out (as opposed to doing a class) are solely focussed on their own workout & despite me being very nervous about people wondering what i was doing in a gym, have barely glanced my way!

i say go for it! visit a few if you can & see what you think of the vibe you get. and check out the different packages/fees - i pay by direct debit each fortnight & can go to any class they run & workout whenever i want, there's also no minimum contract time. good luck!

I was going to and EFM gym attatched to my work. There were all sorts of people there but the vast majority of us had normal lumpy bumpy bodies, got red and sweated when we worked out and huffed and puffed like the little engine that could :). It was a smallish group of people so you got to know them, some I was already familiar with through work. I have been to other gyms where everyone seems to wear makeup and shiny new gym clothes and shoes and perfect hair, but the couple I have stayed at longest were the ones where people wore their daggy baggy gym clothes and got stuck into it and were more focused on what they were doing not how they looked or who was looking at them

I likked EFM as there were no mirrors and it was group fitness based, a different program each day which I really need as boredom with exercise is a killer for me. The programs generally ahd a combination of areobic exercise and resitance exercises. There was always a trainer running the program to show you the exercises and make sure you weren't doing it in a way which you could injure yourself. There was only a month by month payment option which was good, so no 12 month contracts

I had to stop going because DD1 started kindy and I didnt have enough time between picking her up, dropping her to FDC and getting to work to do it :( While going there I lost 13kg and really toned up was worht it, best of all I felt great!

I think gyms are like playgroups and other social groups, you need to try a few out to see what the best fit is for you. Most have trial periods, I would try a couple before you sign any contracts

TT - I have faced my fear and joined a local gym. Go do it! Don't worry about anyone else - at least that is what I am telling myself lol!!!
xx