Monday, 14 December 2009
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Overweight People at the Gym
I have a question that I’d like to ask everybody’s opinion:
What do you think when you see this picture ?
I didn’t start working out at a gym until I was about 17. I wanted to start when I was 15 just to do some running or cardio, but I was worried that people would be judging me and my fitness level. I worried that all of the large and muscular weight trainers would laugh at me if they saw me doing bicep curls with dinky 5 pounders.
I’ve heard that some overweight and obese people avoid the gym because they may feel some judgement and stigma. They may feel self-conscious in gym clothes that tend to be tighter or more revealing. Or they may feel inadequacies about being around people who are much more fit than them. This is rather unfortunate that there is such a barrier to achieving good health and physical activity.
I’ve been going to the gym for a few years now. I realize that people really don’t judge or care about the fitness level of others. The relationship between you and fitness is purely just between the two of you. Everyone has their own fitness/health goals and they go to the gym to achieve it. The gym can seem intimidating. I find it sometimes is when there are a bunch of guys around me sweating and grunting! But it is nothing to be afraid of. If you are unsure of how to do certain exercises or how to work the cardio machines, there is always a weight room supervisor or personal trainer happy to help you.
My thoughts towards a larger woman (or anybody!) that I see working out at my gym:
GREAT JOB. GOOD FOR YOU!
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Comments (387)
I hate jogging around people because I feel like people will think, "Good, she's trying to lose weight. She needs to." If you see a thin person running, I feel like you think, "Ah, trying to keep in shape," or "must be getting in shape for a sport." But if they see someone my size jogging, they'll think, "Bout time, FATASS!"
So, yeah. I tend to try to workout at home instead of going out. =/
Honestly, this thought never occurred to me. Thanks for enlightening me! =]
Yeah, that's what I think too. "Good for you! Getting in better shape is all about health."
I've never been to a gym, but even when I'm running outside, I'm scared that people will judge me a little for how freaking slow I run. But I've gotten over that mostly.
@Tanezia_Delight - don't let negative thoughts like that bring you down! Who cares what other people think? Go out and work out! Running is so much better off the treadmill. =]
great post ^^
i have a friend too who doesn`t want to go to the gym too bcoz she had many reasons.. afraid , ashame , etc...
i should recommended ur blog to her...
Well said i_Nutrition ... wow, bicep curls with 5 pounders? ;)
thats why i go to Shapes. Women only =] no men.
I feel repulsed by the condition (that much of an accumulation of fat cells seems like a cancer to me, and people suffering from it are probably about as unlucky as someone who, out of the blue, gets a tumor-- I don't see it as any kind of moral failing unless I know the person and know them to be eating stupidly out of stubbornness), but not by the person.
My _thought_ is, "Oh, please, don't die before you can use up all those stored calories" and it makes me very happy to think that *that* woman won't. Happy enough to tear up a little, if I let myself.
Actually, working out with light weights is recommended by Gold's Gym in California. See Strength Training for Athletes - 100 reps of light weights and 5 reps of heavy followed by another 100 reps of light weights. Apparently, the mind is fooled into believing that the second set of light weights is the same weight as the 5 reps of heavy. Muscle growth occurs as a result. Seems to work. I am overweight due to muscle growth.
i think, omg, good for her. i go to an all-woman's gym, so no guys involved there. : )
my same thoughts exactly when i see fat people exercising.
I agree with you! But not on the part about people minding their own business at the gym. Some do & some don't, sometimes when I go to gym some people tend to give you that stare or even make fun of other people. My bf & I keep catching people doing that & it's pretty sad. -_- But I suggest, just keep in mind you're there for yourself & your own business ^_^. You can't avoid idiots, they're always be around haha XP
I agree with you! When I see larger people in the gym, I always think, "I wish more people would go to the gym like they do!"
I think the woman in the pic should get a pair of shoes that's actually right for working out.
@communitychannel - Yea I've heard something similar! That it's better to train your endurance by doing lots of reps on a lighter weight rather than fewer reps on a heavier weight~
@Imnotcrazyjustinsane - I always wish that I had a dog. Then I could run with him. and i think it would make me feel less awkward when I see other people on the streets!
I don't think about it. I'm very self absorbed when I'm at the gym.
passby~**
You know what? That's actually very true. I used to have serious weight issues and it's kind of an ongoing struggle thing where these issues aren't as serious but I do have my moments. While I may not be overweight, I occasionally have a perception that I am and some days, running outside intimidates me because I feel like all eyes are going to be on me and they're going to wonder what a fat person is doing. But yeah, I'm glad you pointed that out. I'm so proud of overweight people who go to work out the gym. Everyone has to start somewhere and the fact that they're doing this is incredible.
Thank you so much for starting this blog. I came across it when it was featured (also the same time when I just started working out). If I may, I'd like to ask a slew of questions because I can't figure out why I'm not able to lose weight!...
Regularly, I eat a very healthy diet, and I figured I just needed to add in exercise into the equation to lose weight. Currently, I weight 150lbs and stand at 5' 4".
My Typical Mon - Fri diet consists of the following:
Breakfast:
1 bowl of quick oats oatmeal (no sugar added), 1 slice of whole wheat bread with margarine, sometimes a cup of 1% milk
Morning Snacks:
1 royal gala apple, 1 granola bar (~110 cals), 1 cup of raw veggies or fruits (no dip) - I vary between cucumbers, celery, grape tomatoes, cherries, blueberries, red/green peppers throughout the week
Lunch:
1 Tuna fish or 65g cold cut turkey/chicken sandwich on whole wheat with 1/2 cup of lettuce
Afternoon Snack:
1 cup of raw veggies or fruits (no dip) - I vary between cucumbers, celery, grape tomatoes, cherries, blueberries, red/green peppers throughout the week
1 slice of whole wheat toast with margarine
Dinner:
1 to 2 cups of boiled veggies (varies but usually asian variety vegetables with garlic and boiled in 1 tbsp of oil
100g of meat
Throughout the day, I drink 8 cups of water and two weeks ago, I started going to the gym 5 times a week for 45 mins to 1 hr burning an average of 525 cals each visit.
I do not binge on the weekends, but when I go out to eat (usually for dinner) I watch what I eat!
WHAT'S GOING ON?
And just some additional questions about diet/exercise:
1. When's the ideal time to work out? What time of day? Before or after food and how long before or after eating?
2. Is there a specific order to eat foods in, in order to maximize digestion effectiveness?
Thank you so much for having the patience to answer my annoying questions =)
@Tanezia_Delight - Exactly, I feel the same way. But I think after they've seen me there for a while, they get used to it.
I used to find the gym intimidating for this reason- not because of the daunting task of physical activity, but because of people's attitudes. Unfortunately, it was a church gym, so that's like double the feelings of inadequacy when chubby = sinful. : (
I agree. Good for you! The reason they're there is so they can lose the weight. More power to them!
A comedian (can't remember who) did a skit about this topic.. she said something like she walked into the gym and everyone went silent and she was like "yeah i know. that why im here."
I think its great when people want to get into shape. Even better if they are over-weight, I would be encouraging them more to get healthy.
Hahahah.