How do I stop comparing myself with others and body shaming?

About 6 months ago, my friend found a virtual personal trainer and recommended her. I started doing sessions with that trainer. Going to the gym 4-5x/week for about 8 weeks.

The personal trainer didn’t really work for me since she was harsh in her feedback. She would give specific instructions and criticize me for not following them. I became frustrated and started to lose my interest in working out.

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Then my job at work changed to a pretty simple and mundane task - cue the low dopamine + depression + anxiety. So I have not been eating healthy and stopped working out.

I don’t know how much lb I gained but my clothes don’t fit. Meanwhile, the friend who recommended me the trainer is still going strong - following a strict meal plan and working out 5x/week. Even when we met up for dinner the other day just to catch up a few weeks ago, she only had salad while I had an appetizer, pad thai, and thai tea.

There’s just so much shame in me feeling like I’m a failure (again). We are seeing each other soon again for a friend’s bridal shower in about a month and I’m already so self-conscious about how I gained so much weight. I found myself searching for liposuction the other day…going back to the gym and working out seems so scary at this point. I feel like everyone’s going to judge me in my workout clothes that have grown too small..help

Absolutley nobody will judge you while you’re at the gym. Its motivating for everyone. That’s all in your head and remember everyone else is too worried about their own appearance to care about yours.

You got this. Once you get the momentum going for a couple months it will be second nature, and/or you’ll literally look forward to the “release” and “success” of a proper workout.

Best

You don't go to the gym for other people, and they don't go for you.
If you want to work out, do it.
Buying new clothes as you continue to gain weight gets real expensive. Trust me, I know.
And my old clothes sit there staring at me while I pretend that I might fit in them again one day.

Frankly you sound depressed.

Walk more or play a sport you like. More protein less carbs and sugar. No alcohol. Therapy could help.

Hey there.
I'm sorry to hear you're going through a rough patch. Exercising and dieting can be tricky when you have a heap of other things on, and it sounds like you do.

I'm not a professional but here's a few things I do that helped me:

1) Therapy. Seeing a therapist is helping me work through some issues including body shaming. Also the depression and anxiety.

2) Start small. It's all too tempting to make an overly ambitious training plan and then beat yourself up when it doesn't work. Starting small can be something like going for a gentle jog 3 times a week, or a light workout. Even something as simple as: Monday - bench press, military press and tricep push down, Wednesday - Deadlift, pull-ups and barbell rows, Saturday - Squat, Romanian deadlift, leg press and abs.

3) As someone mentioned reducing alcohol can help. I have found my mental state more balanced when I don't drink.

4) Try to understand what you are comparing against. Say you're comparing against a celebrity physique maybe reflect and ask yourself why and if that is realistic.

5) No one at the gym will judge you. 99% of the time if I look at anyone for an extended period it's because I finished a heavy set and am trying not to pass out while staring blankly. And if it still feels extremely scary maybe consider off periods when the gym is quieter

6) Nothing wrong with not wanting an aggressive trainer.

I hope this helps and wish you the best!

Definitely would recommend rerevaluating your diet and following some inspiration from influencers online (but track to people that are healthy, not “lose weight fast” types to create sustainable change)

Regarding the work out clothes specifically, I went through this as things opened up after covid and I had gained ~40 pounds. My solution was just spend the ~200 bucks buying cheap alternatives from target from their all in motion brand. Super reasonably priced and it made me feel like I could go to the gym in clothes that fit, and the whole intention is that they’re temporary so quality isn’t as important. Not feasible for all but I felt it was worth the small investment to have comfy clothes and feel at peace while working on improving myself

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