Related Posts
How much medical coverage should one have?
For those eligible for vaccines in Illinois as part of group 1b+ (pre existing conditions) and have access to transportation, there are many appointment windows available in Springfield and southern IL (3 to 4 hour drive) State site explicitly says all zip codes can get vaccinated at these sites: https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/statewide-vaccination-locations
More Posts
Tech startup or big tech company? And why?
Additional Posts in Staying Healthy
Has anyone tried the Chloe Ting challenges?
Keep those resolutions going 💪🏼
New to Fishbowl?
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.



I always tell myself that you’re there to “fix” that - so is everyone else. That’s what a gym is for. Everyone is self conscious about something!
Everybody had to start somewhere. None of those fit people got to where they are without hard work involved. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, stay grounded/consistent with your efforts at the gym and with your diet, and take it one day at a time. Soon you’ll be looking just like they do.
Rising Star
Lots of people at the gym started out where you are. I remember one time when I was in really phenomenal shape years ago some women at my office were taking about weight loss and said kind of snarky to me “you wouldn’t know about this since you are so fit.” I told them that actually I did know because I had lost 40 pounds a few years before they met me and worked really hard to keep it off because it was a constant struggle. I said I understood exactly where they were and how they felt. And that I too wished it were easy to lose and maintain my weight. They softened quite a bit and we formed lasting friendships.
So those fit people you see may have had their own journeys to get there. Don’t think of them as judging you. They may in fact be cheering you on and encouraged by you as they remember their own journeys!
Good for you for getting healthy! Never mind other people around you as they’re focused on themselves anyway. I like to believe that everyone there is working on themselves so they don’t even pay attention to others. To help, you can wear a baseball cap and have your earphones in to concentrate and kind of have those as blinders. Just focus on you, nobody’s watching ☺️
This is so encouraging, thank you so much!! 🥰
Don’t be nervous or self conscious! If anything people are silently cheering you on! I worked at a gym during college and always silently cheered on new people joining the gym wanting to better themselves. Keep up the great work 😁
People are self absorbed. They aren’t really looking around and judging others. They are more focused on their own workouts and what they look like. Just get in there and do your thing without worry.
Pro
This is one of my favorite shorts and I often return to it when I’m feeling the way you describe:
https://vimeo.com/149123295
A lot of really positive comments here, thought I’d add another. I’ve met some of the least judgmental and most friendly people ever at my local gyms, many are there not to judge but to work on themselves. When I see less fit people working hard, in my mind, I’m like “hell yea, keep it up!” But don’t have the courage to say it. Folks who judge and put down others at the gym are POS and should be banned.
You may think they look great but everyone has their own insecurities. You do you :)
Many people who are into fitness respect people who are making the effort to exercise and live a healthier life . Most have been there just like you . Use these people as motivation . You can do it Op !
I go to a private gym and people have said to my trainer xyz abt me because I’m so in shape now... so he pulls of pics of me super overweight when I started with him 8 years ago! We alllll started somewhere and most of us were overweight! You GOT this! ❤️
Enthusiast
There’s a yoga mentality that helps me. “Always do YOUR best.” Your best can vary day to day based on energy level, injuries, etc. Just cuz the person next to you is crushing something (deadlifting Superman level weights, headstand, etc.) doesn’t mean that you don’t have your own things that you excel at. 💪 Be kind to yourself & look for Non Scale Victories NSV (more energy, better sleep, etc.), too!
Just remember that everyone in that gym started from somewhere at some point. An extremely fit woman/man in the gym worked hard to get to that point. People first show up to the gym when they are out of shape, and it just takes time.
Also, something that helped me was getting more experience with certain exercises/machines. Once you get a better feel for what you are doing and how you are doing it (which takes time), you will show a lot more confidence in the gym.
I totally understand that feeling. I’ve started going back to the gym and it can be nerve wrecking, almost like walking down a cat walk when your approaching a machine. What’s helped me is being positive with myself like saying “you’re doing this for you!” And “You got this!”. Whenever I see a girl lifting heavy or maybe someone trying something new I always say (to myself) “you go girl slay the day”. You got this OP, shoulders back and enjoy!
Everyone started somewhere. Whenever I see people at the gym pushing themselves to workout, regardless of size, in my head I always cheer them on “yasss you’re doing awesome! Get that sweat!” 🙂
Everyone has their own journeys, so you have your own journey. Take one day at a time. My body was opposite to you. I was very thin but now I have lean muscles and almost close to a six pack
I always think “my future self will thank me for this”, and everyone starts somewhere... one year from now, you will be happy that you dismissed the thought of being worried about other people’s opinions!
I’m a fitness instructor and a consultant and this comes up a lot-my advice never changes -focus on yourself, everyone else is focusing on themself too! You are working on your health for yourself not other in the gym !
Seriously...WHY let anyone impact your mind while you pursue a healthier you? Give ZERO f*cks!