Thinking of going to the gym but im scared.

[Muta]

Just go man. I used to be like you (from what it sounded like), and I just bought a gym membership at Gold's, put my earphones on and just did my own workout.

Trust me, no one cares that you're there and what you look like. Everyone's too busy with their own workout. If you can, ask a trainer to help you if you really want to change quick.

Also, if you're still self-concious, go at odd times to the gym, when no one is there. Most of them usually open early and close late.

[hkstylez]

Originally Posted by Option84

Ive always been a scrawny weakling my whole life (6', 170lbs, most of that weight in the belly area) plus I have always had social anxiety issues. Want to do something about it but Im afraid of the muscleheads openly mocking my ability to barely benchlift just the bar. I dont know if I can take that without breakinv out in tears on the spot and further embarrassing myself. Will I get mocked? Are people generally pretty vicious at gyms?

You think your scrawny? I am also 6' 155lbs. I use to be 130lbs 8 months ago. I am also asian which probably explains why I don't weight that much. Haha.

I felt the same way you did 8 months ago and I still pretty much do after seeing guys lifting so much weight.

Just mind your own business and do what you feel is great for you.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Option84

Ive always been a scrawny weakling my whole life (6', 170lbs, most of that weight in the belly area) plus I have always had social anxiety issues. Want to do something about it but Im afraid of the muscleheads openly mocking my ability to barely benchlift just the bar. I dont know if I can take that without breakinv out in tears on the spot and further embarrassing myself. Will I get mocked? Are people generally pretty vicious at gyms?

Maybe if you stopped acting like a little girl they wouldn't mock you.

But in all seriousness, the responses to your threads will be much worse than what you will get at a gym.

[bc-chris]

if you're really worried about what people will think about you pick up a program like p90x and do that at home

[red sky]

I will judge you the same as I judge your threads, so keep that in mind

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by hkstylez

You think your scrawny? I am also 6' 155lbs. I use to be 130lbs 8 months ago. I am also asian which probably explains why I don't weight that much. Haha.

I felt the same way you did 8 months ago and I still pretty much do after seeing guys lifting so much weight.

Just mind your own business and do what you feel is great for you.

Holy crap....I'm gonna need a second to process this...
(I think I've mentioned this before, but when you're making a joke about asian stereotypes, that emoticon can come across as pretty racist).

[Devils'Advocate]

There was a fellow here in Ottawa that put an ad up on Kijiji saying that he would clean someone's private pool if he could use it three times a week. The reason he didn't want to go to a public pool was because he was 400 pounds and he feared the ridicule of being in public, exercising at 400 pounds. Having been near that weight (topped out at 350) I had the same reservations about going to the gym. And yes, at certain gyms I got odd looks from the more jock-esque people. And even a few points and snickers. I was able to ignore the idiots (though I would love to go back and track those guys down now that I've lost 170 pounds). But if you are more sensative, like the guy I mentioned above, you can be more creative like he was. Buy your own gear, get some DVDs and do the weight lifting yourself. Or really, for a lot of it, you don't even need your own gear.... squats, push-ups, crunches... a lot of exercises you need to build strength require no gear at all.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by Lobotroth

To start, stop drinking so much pop, that will immediately help with your belly.

BONUS - the money you save on pop, especially that costly superstore liquor store stuff, can go towards a personal trainer.

I've replaced my pop drinking with coffee & beer... am I doing it right?

[daaznfob]

I was in the same boat about 8 years ago.. and still feel that way sometimes. NOw that i'm bigger i just pretend people are envious of my body. It helps HAHA.

But ya just do your thing in the gym and you will get that feeling when leaving the gym that you actually did something productive, it will be worth it.
FUU the haters!

[Lobotroth]

Originally Posted by Icon

I've replaced my pop drinking with coffee & beer... am I doing it right?

That's what I'm on right now, the beer and coffee diet. I drank a lot of pop as a teenager but never touch it now, I lost quite a bit of weight just doing that. The beer certainly doesn't help with the belly but I love it and probably won't give it up anytime soon.

[Ben_in_Canada]

Gyms are a RIP OFF, it's so much cheaper to work out in your basement.

[The Yen Man]

The only guys who ever get laughed at are those guys who do more weight than they're able to. You know the type. The ones who arch their backs or only do a bench press half way. Do it properly at your own manageable weight, and nobody will notice you.

[mrgreen]

Seriously, it's all in your head. Nobody cares about what you're doing at the gym or how much you're lifting etc. I know I'm too busy trying not to laugh at all the d'bags flexing in the mirror and doing their hair etc.

[Shazam]

As a heterosexual male, I ignore other males and stare intently at women instead at the gym. Only two restraining orders!

[scotty2hotty]

When you are in your twenties, you worry what everyone thinks of you.

When you're in your thirties, you don't care what anyone thinks of you.

When you're in your forties, you realize that no one was ever thinking of you in the first place.

[kirant]

You shouldn't be concerned about what people think of you in the gym...just worry about how much they charge for pop!

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

When you are in your twenties, you worry what everyone thinks of you.

When you're in your thirties, you don't care what anyone thinks of you.

When you're in your forties, you realize that no one was ever thinking of you in the first place.

w wh what? really? I'm so depressed now.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Icon

I've replaced my pop drinking with coffee & beer... am I doing it right?

Bleh. Not if you're mixing them together.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Shazam

As a heterosexual male, I ignore other males and stare intently at women instead at the gym. Only two restraining orders!

God bless Lululemon.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Read "the 4 hour body"

There is an excellent section on scrawny to brawny in there.

I'm preparing myself to workout soon. My goal is a six pack by Christmas or 35 lbs gone anyway; I'm hoping I'll have the elusive pack of pilsners on my tummy!