Fat girl in the gym phobia

 I am about 4-5 weeks pre-surgery but want to go ahead and start hitting the gym. Walking bores me to tears but I love biking and want to try out a spin class at the local gym.  However, at 350 lbs the thought of walking into a gym is terrifying. Not because I am afraid of the exercise, I just know people will stare, etc.  Also, what on earth does one wear? The last thing the world needs is my behind stuffed into workout pants!  

i worked out at my highest weight of 367 and i started out by just walking on the track, i heard spin classes really burn the calories but if you are bottom heavy or have heavy legs its is not going to be a fun time! and it might kill your knees and hurt your butt! make sure you warm up and talk to the instructor, it doesnt hurt to at least try the class, try a bunch of classes and take advantage of a free personal trainer lesson if they have them so you can have a outline of what to use and how to work out without getting bored or hurt, i wore workout clothes from the big and tall men stores, who cares if they stare, the will stare when they see you lose the weight too! good luck with your work out...

just about everybody has this fear, but after you go to the gym a couple of times you will most likely realize that the people who are there are much more interested in getting through their workouts than staring and judging.  and for those that stare and judge, let them, that is their weakness/shortcoming and i typically don't care about the opinions of shallow people.  i started at the gym walking on the treadmill 4 weeks post op and i was still around 400 lbs at the time, and i definitely had the same thoughts as you, but i went and was pleasantly surprised.  i hope you have the same positive experience.

Completely understand what you are going thru.  I am pre op as well and around 380 pounds.  Slight different in the fact I love the treadmill and walking because I feel myself getting stronger!

I used to think it was strange going into a gym at my weight.  But then I realized....at least I am doing something about it!  I take pride in the fact while I may not look like them, one day I will!   

As far as clothes, Target has some great lounge pants which are super comfortable.  They come in gray and black.   I usually wear those with a t-shirt.   Sometimes I wear a tank top underneath the t-shirt.   

In case you have them in your area, I would recommend Anytime Fitness.  Open 24/7 and in most cases, they are smaller then a larger gym.  I go in the later part of the evening or earlier in the morning and find the crowd quite small (2-4 people). 

 Thanks for the reassurance, y'all.    I am going to stop by the 24-hr gym on the way home tonight and talk to them about a membership and trainer availability.    I just need to find some kind of pants to wear that I will feel comfortable in AND that won't chafe. LOL

Good for you, I know exactly how you feel!  I was the 390lb lady on the treadmill, and in a bathing suit at the pool!

But at Planet Fitness and 24hr Fitness no one gave a rat's patootie about me, and I didn't care about them because I was focused on myself and my health.

Keep track of what you are doing and you'll worry less about everyone else (increasing the incline/intensity ect...).

I would highly recommend spin class- it will kick your butt (It still kicks my butt) but the great thing is that you can go at your pace. If everyone else is doing something you can't do, you can still be pedaling and getting your own workout.

This is the same fear that most people have, but once you get into a habit of going to the gym- you won't care because your body will become addicted to it!

Good Luck

:Danni

I started working out at 420 lbs. I too felt awkward, and still do a little, because I feel like people stare (oh wait, some do but screw them). When I go to the gym, it's ME time and im super focused. I don't look around to see what other people are doing and cant see if anyones looking at me. I just have to take care of business.

Im probably the biggest person I've seen at my gym, but who cares. I've been doing group exercise classes and im 100% positive i look like the crazy lady trying to do some of those aerobic moves, but I just have to remind myself that as long im doing what I need to do, thats all that matters.

As for workout clothes, i live in bike shorts. Yep - I stuff my behind into some bike shorts and hit the gym. I don't really care what I look like - its all about comfort! I order mine from www.plussizeathleticwear.com. They have longer ones that go just below my knee so I don't have to worry about rubbing thighs and chaffing. I just throw a tank top on and im ready to go

Congrats for getting started on the exercise pre-surgery. I did that as well and it really made recovery a lot easier and made it a a habit so I hit the ground running post op Good luck!

I think people really don't pay that much attention to others in the gym I know I don't. I've always said that I'd rather be the fat person at the gym than the fat person and the donut shop!
Go and have fun!!! Oh and wear what you feel comfortable in!! Best of luck to ya.

I think most of us had that fear and for me on some days I still feel that way, especially days where I am not feeling 100% or I am trying something new. 

As others have said the serious people at the gym are there trying to get through their workouts and get on with the rest of their day.  Of course there are going to be a couple douche bags at some point but that is their problem let them deal with it.

A workout is all about you and your ability to give what you can.  It doesn't matter how fast you are on the TM even though sometimes it may bother you that others seem to be faster, but remember there is always someone faster than them.

If anything I respect people that put this fear aside and go in and do what they have to.  I have seen my share of larger people come and go through the gym I go to, those that stick it out and keep pushing forward I have a great deal of respect for. It is much easier to never try it or just quit, sticking it out and pushing through is what it is about.

Good Luck

Most people at the gym are more into their workouts than to the other people. If they notice you, they will admire  you for being there. Some might even come up and tell you so!

Spin class, IMO, is actually a really good way to start because the thing is, you control how hard the class is by how much resistance you put on the pedals. No one can look at you and know how much resistance you have, either. So you can make it light enough to get through the entire hour and over time you'll be able to use more and more.

For clothes, some loose running shorts should work and I found that regular technical tops work better than bike jerseys for spin class.