A
male
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:Dear Cupid,i've really been considering going to the gym to better my health, but the problem is that i'm pretty shy/self-conscious and i worry that if i do end up going to the gym, that people will be staring at me while working out, even though i'm not overweight or anything, and it'll make me feel awkward. any advice to prevent or lessen those feelings at the gym?
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female
reader, k_c100  +, writes (27 June 2009):
 You will find that once you get to the gym it wont be so bad. Everyone in there will be sweaty and just getting on with their work out, no-one is interested in what other people are doing!
I know that when I am at the gym I just put my headphones in with my favourite music on my iPod and just get on with it, you do notice a few people glancing at you but then again I will sometimes have a look around the room at everyone else inbetween my sets of weights so it is nothing major!
So I guess you should just take some music with you so you have a distraction, that should help. Also, make sure when you go for the first time you get one of the staff at the gym to show you how to use all the machines properly (especially the weights). The only time people would really look at you would be if you were using a machine wrong/lifting weights wrong!
I'm certain that no-one will stare at you, people that go to gyms are there to work out so they are not interested in what anyone else is doing. The only thing you might get is some girls looking at you because they think you are cute! And thats no bad thing now is it?!
The biggest thing will just be getting to the gym for the first time, once you have got past that and developed a routine to do at the gym then you will settle into it and not notice the other people around you! Just be brave and you will look back and wonder what you were worried about!
I hope this helps and good luck!
A
reader, anonymous, writes (27 June 2009): I go to Gold's and I don't encounter anything weird like that. You got people stronger than you there, sure, but they are generally just doing their own thing, and not worried about you in the least.
Also, the gym is a great place to meet fitness minded women. Lots of hotties. Especially if you go between the hours of 5pm and 7pm (when they get off of work) All you need to do is go on a machine next to them and strike up a conversation. The gym I go to has separate all ladies' facilities so if they are in the main area it generally means they are open to that sort of thing anyway.
But all in all, the gym is what you make of it. You can just use it to work out, as a social medium, or whatever. There are also great classes you can take where group fitness is stressed. This can provide extra motivation for you, if necessary.
Your major problem is you haven't even gone yet. If you allow yourself to compound your worries in your head, you'll never get to your destination. The best way to get over a fear is to confront it. I guarantee you once you actually set foot in the place and use its facilities, it won't be nearly as daunting or awkward an experience as you feared.
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A
female
reader, laura585 +, writes (27 June 2009):
Well I've never had that problem in particular but I was also very shy and self-concious. Lately I have been working to overcome these feelings. (Some of this will sound cheesy but u will be surprised at how much it improves!) say to yourself "I like myself!" outloud and with conviction several times, ecspecially when you first wake up. Hearing the words outloud triggers your subconscious to react. You start believing it and you feel better, then you do start liking yourself more. Focus constantly on your positive attributes. Also stop saying/thinking "I'm shy." because if you tell yourself over and over that you're shy you convince urself theres nothing u can do about it- when there is! There was a quote that said something like "dont worry so much about what others think of you, because if you knew how little you crossed their mind you would be insulted." Nobody is going to dwell on you all day just because they see you at the gym, your not that important to them. Read Maximum Acheivement by Brian Tracy!
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