Fat people going to the Gym

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I am well over weight, therefore, I'm insecure about joining a gym in order to try and get in shape and loose weight.
being fat, I have no stamina and completely out of shape. the very basics of body workout is quite hard for me to do.
I feel ashamed working out in front of other fit guys, and also take a private trainer thinking he might not take me seriously.
I'm interested in your opinion / reaction (to yourself) when you see a fat guy at the gym.
will you encourage him in your heart to keep going or will you think he is out of place?

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For loosing weight, there are other ways apart from the gym. Walking and swimming are just two examples.

Stamina increases will come in time as you continue to train. Consistency is the key.

Needless to say, your diet is 70% of the battle. Watch what you eat.

As a formerly fat guy, I commiserate with your fear. Do not let that stop you. Physical approval from the people at the gym should not be your motivating factor. For a while, I was the *only* fat guy there.

I took it as a personal challenge to keep going.

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Then don't go. Find your own exercise routine and method.

Lift weights, jog, exercise in your living room every morning, do sit ups, push ups in between commercials or two hours a day.

Watch what you eat. Maybe have like one cheat day a week.

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(I'm pretty much in total agreement with larynx and Domosuke in their comments) You don't need the gym to get started. You could spend some time just going for long walks- and most importantly- adjusting what you eat and how much you eat. Let go of sugary foods, beer, and processed food. Vegetables and chicken breasts are your best friends! A shift in how you eat *not starving yourself* is a vital part of keeping the weight away.

Another key component is consistency. I can't stress that enough- do something you can sustain and build on. Too many stories begin with an enthusiastic gym routine that slowly fades into a return to old habits.

It's more important to do something you genuinely enjoy. For me, it's swimming. I actually look forward to it. And that's how I'm able to keep doing it long term. Find something you enjoy and stick to it. Then once you've lost a bit of weight you can finally start a gym routine with more confidence. Good luck!

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I would advice not to feel ashamed at the gym.  After all, you are there because you want to change your body for the better, right?

As others suggested, if you still feel very self concious, try doing something else, like walking or swimming.  I will also stress on the dieting part like the other posters: it is essential.

You can get a personal trainer, if you can afford it, why not? And is their job to take you seriously, you're paying them.

Never give up, imagine all the things you could do with a fit body (besides getting in the sack with someone)

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If you are going to a "fag" gym, then I would wait until you are a bit healthier.    Personally, I hate fag gyms because of all the posing and cruising.   There are plenty of gyms with LGBTs that are good, though. 

If it's a normal gym, then just go.    You'd be surprised how friendly people can be. 

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You could do a home workout program, insanity(60days), p90x (90days) etc to get in pretty good shape first - they work for massive weightless and fitness and have torrents but are a bit of a cult. If you go to the gym after you'll prob be lifting heavier than many of the fitness guys and girls who are doing mostly rowing and treadmills, they'll think yours is a lifter body type - Patrik Baboumian the world record holder strongman looks fat from the outside even though he's crazy fit, eats vegan etc.

But chech plenty of beginners in chain gyms, just go for it, you'll only regret that you put it off.

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I am well over weight, therefore, I'm insecure about joining a gym in order to try and get in shape and loose weight.
being fat, I have no stamina and completely out of shape. the very basics of body workout is quite hard for me to do.
I feel ashamed working out in front of other fit guys, and also take a private trainer thinking he might not take me seriously.
I'm interested in your opinion / reaction (to yourself) when you see a fat guy at the gym.
will you encourage him in your heart to keep going or will you think he is out of place?

as a fellow large person i get where you're coming from. There is something you should consider though, that is you are getting in shape for yourself (health) and not for others. If you are try to be fit for the sake of vanity then that's fine as well. Being a fat person in a gym is nothing to be ashamed of, because that's what gyms are for. Remember getting Fit is a Process that takes a lot of time and effort, having the energy to be bothered what other people in the gym think means you're not doing enough in the gym and should work out more LOL.

Like other people have said there are other ways to your assumed goal. If it's just losing weight Dieting is much faster, and i actually recommend it for you first if you're that bothered by your weight. slowly but surely build up your stamina by walking more and if possible taking the stairs instead of an elevator. it's the little things in our daily life that helps build a maintainable health lifestyle.

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Support with all my heart!!

Don't psycho yourself into stopping from increasing your fitness levels because of what you think you may perceive... I'm actually fairly certain that everyone is rooting for you!! XX

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while i've never workedout in a gym before (aside from middle/high school), i have felt this very thing. my first term in college i took my first ever hip-hop dance class and felt SOOOOOOO out of place when i was one of two or three bigger people in the class...it took me a couple terms and my dance instructor saying "you're really good" and "could u join this other dance class? i have a guy in there that feels insecure because he's the only guy in there". i eventually got to the point where i was like "u know what, fuck all these judgemental fuckers. my fat ass is outdancing you assholes" and so i just had fun w/ the NICE people in the class. it may take u a while, but where ever u end up working out, u will get that confidence where u just say "fuck everyone else judging me; im here to improve my health."

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I encourage folks to have fun at whatever exercise program they do.  If you feel insecure, off, etc going to a gym, then find a workout routine that you can be relaxed around and happy with.  That said, anyone out of shape or overweight I see at the gym should be applauded, they are still doing more than 99% of folks out there.  Anyone taking the time to put the effort in I salute you. So don't give up, keep working, and enjoy, and don't care what others think of you, think highly of yourself...always!  bill

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I'll say the first few months will be tough to get going to the gym into routine but once you finally work it in and see results, you will feel much better about yourself. I was really skinny when I first joined my gym and felt embarrassed too because of how weak I was but you have to understand that no one in the gym started off with perfect bodies. Everyone started somewhere and I admire that they have taken the first step which I think is the hardest.

Just stick to your routine, doing cardio like walking up an incline treadmill which is really good for losing weight and not to mention builds up your legs. Plug your ears with your favourite songs and you will be in your own world.

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i actually like when i see fat people in the gym.They remind of me, of how i was when i started before going to college.Well i lost my extra pounds by walking and doing bicycle but i had some extra pounds when i started to the gym.It was really nothing.I don't think anyone would be weird looking at you, and if they do they are the complexive ones.Those people who stare at others forget how they were when they first started, and in my opinion that is the worst thing for them.

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I gained 20lbs and feel like I have to lose it before I go to the gym where the hot guys are, haha.  But my goal is to get hot by February, relatively.

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My personal reaction when I see an overweight person at the gym is "Good for you!"  Everyone has to start their fitness journey somewhere and there is no need to already have a "gym body" to go to the gym.  Having said that, find something you enjoy and be persistent, also don't beat yourself up if you have a setback.  Your goals will happen.

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As much as I'm not exactly a gym guy myself, if I happen to see one in a gym I wouldn't put too much thought about it but wish him the best and good luck in transforming himself. It might trigger anxiety at first but that's what gyms were built in the first place right? To help people stay in good shape? Don't give a damn what other people think as those who make fun of him earlier would eventually compliment him right after he starts showing progress.

Though for me personally, if you want to lose weight as well as being healthy, you don't necessarily have to hit the gym. There are other types of versatile, cheaper workouts. You can first start with simple one like jogging a few kilometers each day, rope skipping and eventually push ups, pull ups, sit ups, squads and any other. By the time you start hitting the gym, you might have lost several pounds already...

That is, if you keep it up consistently

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If anyone is immature enough to fixate upon someone pursuing fitness, regardless of body type, size, or anything else, they're an idiot and their opinion is not worth worrying about or giving weight.

I used to dance on stage -- ballet, modern interpretive, jazz -- I did it all! And while I still work to keep fit, I have no use for the body I once had because I don't practice for hours a day or perform anymore. But even when I did, I never had the statue build; that's not my body type. Everybody has a different body, everyone looks different in various states of fitness. Don't be brainwashed by the popular image of the "fit body" because that's not what everyone has. It's what a tiny percentage of people have.

Those who obsess over a certain-inch waist, or a degree of being "cut", or anything like that, aren't after fitness or health. Those who fixate on abs are most often unaware they don't generally occur without specific cultivation. And they certainly don't make a person beautiful.

It may take some time and work, judging by what you've written, but I think the first and most important thing to do is to accept yourself and to love yourself. You are not an object of ridicule. It is admirable when anyone takes steps to improve his health, for his own reasons. I say, good job and do whatever you're comfortable with. If you find that you're not comfortable with a public gym setting, perhaps think about buying free weights for home, or perhaps an alternative -- the Wii systems and a variety of fun exercise games are very inexpensive, especially right now with all the sales!

But any professional personal trainer will never ridicule you for wanting to pursue fitness. That is their job, to provide personal fitness advice and health encouragement. Don't worry about a professional. They aren't judging you; it's their job to keep themselves fit and to help others with their fitness goals.

One thing that I have always felt was especially excellent on the subject of body image, self-image, and which touches upon exercise, healthy living, and diet, is Joy Nash's "A Fat Rant". Check it out if you like! I hope this helps.

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I go to the gym about 4-5 days a week and I always see plenty of people of various body types, but I don't judge people negatively based on their body size/weight. I'm at the gym for the sole purpose of working out and to stay in shape. I don't have the time of day to look around and make judgements of other people - that's not why I'm there.

I know that it's easier said than done, but you need to try to just forget about other people and what they might think (I said "might" because I doubt that the average person even pays much attention to you or to other people anyways. They are focused on what they're doing instead). Have confidence in yourself! Know that a complete stranger's opinion of you doesn't matter. You should be going to the gym because YOU want to be there.

After all, you're not at the gym for THEM; you're at the gym for YOU

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I am well over weight, therefore, I'm insecure about joining a gym in order to try and get in shape and loose weight.
being fat, I have no stamina and completely out of shape. the very basics of body workout is quite hard for me to do.
I feel ashamed working out in front of other fit guys, and also take a private trainer thinking he might not take me seriously.
I'm interested in your opinion / reaction (to yourself) when you see a fat guy at the gym.
will you encourage him in your heart to keep going or will you think he is out of place?

You have a lot of good ideas here and opinions, I'll give you mine as well.

I am overweight and I have to lose, at least for now, 45 pounds so that I can have a procedure done on my heart (it's a great incentive).
It is difficult to get motivated. I too feel out of place and ashamed, however, I and you show be praised for at least trying.
The idea is to not overdo anything.
MyFitnessPal is a free app for a smartphone.
Download it, and use it in tandem with MapMyFitness
This helps you log your food and exercises.
The idea is to go slowly, you didn't get big overnight and you won't get fit overnight.

Start out with the basics, like getting to the gym, cardio and some weights.
With time you will do more and want to do more.

I teach English as a foreign language and I tell my students the same thing, stop trying to do it all in one day. A little each day then you get into a routine and then you will be happier and fitter.

Good luck
and stop looking in the mirror and hating yourself.

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Before joining the gym I had zero muscles, so I was feeling ashamed of doing the exercizes ladies do, lift their weight, and seeing people with huge muscles lifting up real weights.
But then there were also "fat" guys, and they helped me a lot in understanding that not everyone who goes to the gym is already fit! But with hard work, you can definitely get better.
I have been going to the gym about twice a week for the last 2 years, and I can totally see improvements in my body and in the body of the "fat" guys who kept working.

Morover, from my point of view, having a gym subscription forces you to go and do something a lot more than doing that at home, cause you can procrastinate much more at home!!!

Let us know what you decide to do!