Health & Fitness
KatieKim0815
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Awkward Question - what do you think when you see a bigger/fatter person in the gym?
Do you judge? Do you think 'good for him/her'? What do you think?
I ask because I am that girl and I want to know what people think (it's okay to be flameful). I wasn't always big but have admittedly yo-yoed and it's so hard going into the gym, I find, because I keep projecting what people must be thinking of me. Looking ridiculous or needing to be there for example. I am sure even the thinnest person could feel on display at the gym but since gyms, I find, are often for people keeping up a regimen I was curious as to if the negative thinking's all in my head or not.
Hudson - 3 and Ethan - almost 1!
Re: Awkward Question - what do you think when you see a bigger/fatter person in the gym?
Assuming I notice someone at the gym, which is rare because I'm always so wrapped up in my workout, I always think "good for them".
The only time I really "judge" is when someone is doing something that is either really bizzare or isn't going to do anything. Examples: the old man wearing pleated khaki pants, a polo shirt, and moccosains on the treadmill or the girl who spends the whole time walking at 2.0 mph texting and talking on the phone.
Bazinga!
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I always think "Good for her/him!" Starting at a gym is hard for anyone, and especially hard for larger people because there are those that will make comments. I do think that the snarky people are the minority, they just have big mouths. My face gets beet red within minutes of doing anything; it's so prounounced that I'm often asked if I'm okay or told that I need to stop working out (once someone called 911because they thought I was going to pass out). I hate the attention I get for it, but not enough to quit working out. So I know the fear you have of being watched and judged; but really, once you get into the workout you won't notice anyone around you.
So--Good for you, and get to that gym!
I don't think anything about it. I only notice people at the gym if they are doing something that disrupts my workout in some way.
Most people at the gym are there for "me time" and don't give two shiits about anyone else. Stop projecting.
two years!
after two losses, now happily expecting baby #1 09.16.12
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Go, work out, dont worry about what other people think, they dont matter. You are there for you.
This is totally true.
To answer your question though, if I *do* take notice of someone at the gym who is a bigger person, my thought is "Go you!"
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I can totally understand your concerns. Last summer, I started walking in my (small) neighborhood at ~300lbs and had similar concerns about what people driving past me would think. I certainly hoped that they were thinking "good for her," but who knows what they were actually thinking. I just told myself that I was out there doing what was best for me and to hell with what they thought (most of them are overweight/obese anyway and aren't doing anything - I do live in the 3rd fattest state, afterall).
I haven't started going to the gym yet (I have my initial meeting w/ the local wellness center on Tuesday!), but I doubt anyone cares what others look like. Just focus on yourself - it doesn't matter what others are thinking.
i think nothing.
i have 2 kids in diapers in daycare so when i am at the gym, i am just praying that no one poops. it sucks when you are working out and have to go downstairs to change a massive toddler poop.
i think for the most part, people at the gym are focused on their workout. its so easy to THINK people are looking at you and judging you, but most likely they are not. i honestly cannot think of a single time that I even noticed someone was overweight at the gym - people are all shapes and sizes everywhere i go, its not something that catches my eye.
what i DO notice is that all the guys that sit in the hot tub have really hairy backs.
Honestly I don't think much of anything. There are so many different types of body types and ages seen in a gym. I think its great. Like many other mentioned. Most people are there for "me" time. Not to judge others.
And for what its worth, weight has never been a struggle for me (not trying to be conceited), yet I always feel like I'm on display at the gym. Like awkwardly. I do a lot of my workouts at home or outside on the trails/bike path for that reason. I think its natural for most people to check out what people around them are doing. I'm a people watcher by nature, but I don't like it when its me that's being watched. How's that for a double standard. Haha
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I saw a really big lady on the tredmill today, thougth good for her, hope she sticks with a good regimine.
However, there is this other lady there, I totaly judge her. Not really because of her size, but she's wearing camoflauged fleece pants... like everytime....
I also judge the guy on the elipitcal that uses his entire body to move- I fear that the machine is going to flip over!
And I judge the ladies in the locker room talking about fad diets, and how they don't like their trainer because he wants her to lift weights.
If I have time to think about the other people around me, I'm not working out hard enough.
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The only people I have ever paid attention to/noticed at the gym are people who are acting obnoxious - dropping weights, or talking on a cell phone - something like that.
The gym is my me time to zone out and focus on me. I don't pay any attention to what anyone else is doing, and it seems like I'm not alone in that. If I did pay attention, I would be in the 'good for you' camp.
Honestly - you are there for you. Screw what other people think. You are doing something good for you, so don't let what other people may or not be thinking keep you from your goals or doing something healthy for you.
I tend to notice anyone who passes through my field of vision, but just in a casual way. Nothing negative! I'm usually fiddling with music on my iPod or something.
The only time I think/feel negatively about other people in a gym situation is when they invade my space, if that makes sense. One day, I was on a treadmill and two high school-age girls came in. The gym was not crowded, but for whatever reason, one took the treadmill on my left, the other took the one on my right. Then they proceeded to have a conversation with me in the middle for the next 20 minutes when they could have picked two machines that were next to each other.
True confession: I had negative thoughts about them at that moment!
Seriously, though, while I've never had a weight issue per se, I've definitely been out of shape. I applaud anyone who goes to the gym, takes a walk, or goes to an aerobics class in an effort to get healthier. We all start somewhere!
I run a few days a week at a popular 3 miles track and primarily, the only people I notice are the people who super obnoxious. But I'll admit, there is one guy I've been seeing for a few months who is much larger, and at first, he was walking very slowly and it was clearly hard for him. But I thought, you go guy, this track is 3 miles long, that is a big commitment. I've seen him more recently, and he is clearly losing weight and the walking is getting easier, he's moving faster, and I think it's totally great. I always smile at him, he's awesome.
But I've also been the person who was maybe average size but not in the best shape, in a trendy location with tiny models and body builders and I was self conscious. Then I got so absorbed in my own workout I didn't even notice people around me any more.
We are all clearly thinking more about it than anyone else is. The gym is YOU time.
I don't think anything. It's definitely all in your head. And really if someone thought to themselves omg there is a fat person at the gym, who cares? As long as they aren't actually doing anything mean to you, it doesn't matter what other people think.
And if your ticker is correct in that you only want/need to lose 35 pounds, then I promise you are not even close to being the biggest person that steps foot in the gym.
Stop making excuses and enjoy your workout!
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I think "good for them" for getting out and doing something. I remember one girl in particular I saw working out. I saw her for about a week or two, but then I stopped seeing her. I remember thinking that I hoped she was still coming, maybe at a different time or something, and that I hoped she didn't give up.
I think "good for you!" It was so hard for me to walk through those gym doors the first time, I give kudo's to every new person I see. When I see them in the locker room, I always try to at least smile and say hi, and make them feel welcome. I don't care what size you are.
And 9 times out of 10 I am there for spin class, and trying too hard to keep up to worry about what anyone else it doing!
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I think good for them.
There are some larger people who take some of the more intense classes I take and I am always so proud of them that they finish. Some of the more in shape people don't finish but they push through and it always makes me happy to see them come back.
I feel you. I'm only 8 lbs from my goal weight and feel just as self conscious now as I did then. When it comes to seeing heavier people in the gym I think:
1. (If it AT ALL looks like they're trying) - Good for you. I know how hard the first bit sucks.
2. (If they spend the entire time eating energy bars and reading the magazines - which yeah, some people do) - Umm, that's not really how losing weight at the gym works.
Generally the people I judge are:
1. Crazy jeans, socks and sandals guy; 60 year-old tanning bed, full make-up, Jane Fonda wannabe chick, and people wearing waaaay too little clothing.
2. Muscle head idiots who give zero thought to form and practically throw their back out "lifting" more weight than they can handle.
Really, I don't think of size as a big thing people judge or criticize.
When I went to the gym, I also used to wear mis-matched socks on purpose so that if I ever started to feel like people were looking at me or judging me, in my head I could say to myself "it's the socks they're staring at!" That would often times make me go faster (either on the dreadmill, stationary bike, or eliptical) so that the socks were more a blur....and less staring would be possible.
But really, it was hardly ever necessary. As others have mentioned, once I got into the "zone" I rarely paid attention anymore to everything else around me.
When I run/cycle in the park near our house, it's always an awesome site to see the # of people out exercising. Some are in groups, some are solo, some are big, some small, some running, some walking, some cycling, some rollerblading, some with dogs, some with lizards (I tell you no lies!). For me, it just helps reaffirm that there are others out there in my community who care about some of the same things that I do, not that I analyze everyone else's particular reason for doing something.
I just assume that everyone else is there, more or less because it's fun to them.
This. The only time I've ever really judged is the ADD guy who went machine to machine only spending 30 seconds or less on each one. It drove me crazy watching it.