Anyone else worried about looking rediculous in a gym?

[verybored]

I feel like, for the most part, no one pays attention to anyone else in the gym unless someone is lifting way more weight than it looks like they can handle. Someone else already said it but if I saw a big guy lifting lighter weights, I'd think injury or maybe it's just a day they chose to go light. Don't worry about looking ridiculous. Just keep trying to improve.

 

[larsmi]

You’re trying to stay fit. Ignore others.

I take lots of group exercise classes at my gym where there are 95 percent women. I’m sure the guys outside of class benching god knows how much weight think I’m a pussy. So what? I’m having fun, getting stronger and, truth be told, probably in better overall shape than many of the guys with big biceps that have no stamina and are so stiff they can’t even touch their toes.

 

[aries303]

I gave up being self conscious in my early 30s and after having knee injuries. Everyone is coming from a different place, and especially as you start to get a little older, stuff starts going wrong or getting injured with your body and so its impossible to tell what is an impressive accomplishment for anyone if you don't know what they are overcoming to do what they are doing on that day. Plus no one really gives a care what others are doing, and if they judge you, 9 out of 10 times its a passing stream of conscious thought that they forget within ten minutes of seeing you.

 

[deleted1027653]

people that go to more than one gym are socializing not working out. not everybody wants to aspire to being a personal trainer... its a right of passage to be accepted in any gym... just relax

 

[ryans138]

My respect to anyone in the gym working hard, regardless of their level. I say that as a guy who gets stared at for how much weight I lift.

 

[bkmuscledad]

At my gym, there are people ranging from serious bodybuilders, to average Joes, to housewives, to elderly, to handicapped. If a guy who's 87, or another guy who's on crutches for life can make it to the gym every day, what excuse do I have to be self-conscious or look for excuses. Those guys inspire me more than the serious bodybuilders.
Also, on the flip side, I see some of the serious bodybuilders using lighter weights than I do sometimes. I asked them about it, and they gave me some pointers and advice, and truth be told, some of those exercises are harder than the ones I was doing at weights that max out at 6-8 reps. Trust me, no one is looking at where the pin is in your stack.
Just go in there, pick up some weights, and enjoy yourself. Show us some progress pics.

 

[sodominsane]

I'll give the prereqisite ....who cares what people think....

As far as respect goes...i respect new guys MORE than gym rats.....anybody can do the stuff they are good at...takes guts to start something new...

On douches who care about who the "weak" guy is.....I dont want to associate with those types anyway....so If they don't like my weak ass ...good

Also in reality the weight you lift doesn't mean much....i squat in the 400s and bench in the 300s....but I have light days where I just use a small small fraction of that....some days so sore I just want to get blood flowing....

NOW here is a weird thing that I noticed....you only get wired smirks and comments at those fitness centers ....usually from frat boy looking guys who only train chest and arms

You wouldnt think it but the hardcore meathead gym is far more supportive.....while it's intimidating to look at and walk into....most of those places are really into ANYBODY who lifts....like weirdly so

Like excessively oddly so....like bench 135 for your first time and you got 2 300 lbs bald oily swoll guys yelling

FUCK YEAH!!!!! Give us another rep....DONT QUIT....push it!!!!!

 

[bkmuscledad]

I'll give the prereqisite ....who cares what people think....

As far as respect goes...i respect new guys MORE than gym rats.....anybody can do the stuff they are good at...takes guts to start something new...

On douches who care about who the "weak" guy is.....I dont want to associate with those types anyway....so If they don't like my weak ass ...good

Also in reality the weight you lift doesn't mean much....i squat in the 400s and bench in the 300s....but I have light days where I just use a small small fraction of that....some days so sore I just want to get blood flowing....

NOW here is a weird thing that I noticed....you only get wired smirks and comments at those fitness centers ....usually from frat boy looking guys who only train chest and arms

You wouldnt think it but the hardcore meathead gym is far more supportive.....while it's intimidating to look at and walk into....most of those places are really into ANYBODY who lifts....like weirdly so

Like excessively oddly so....like bench 135 for your first time and you got 2 300 lbs bald oily swoll guys yelling

FUCK YEAH!!!!! Give us another rep....DONT QUIT....push it!!!!!

Very true comments about most of the serious bodybuilders, and their willingness to help when they see help is needed, or provide encouragement.

 

[sodominsane]

Very true comments about most of the serious bodybuilders, and their willingness to help when they see help is needed, or provide encouragement.

Hahaha....yeah sometimes to much encouragement

 

[bkmuscledad]

Hahaha....yeah sometimes to much encouragement

That's funny and true, too. I don't particularly like being the center of attention, but once these guys focus on you, you just have to go with it. After a while, I found it becomes comforting and fraternal, and makes you want to come back every day.

 

[sodominsane]

That's funny and true, too. I don't particularly like being the center of attention, but once these guys focus on you, you just have to go with it. After a while, I found it becomes comforting and fraternal, and makes you want to come back every day.

Agree.....you have to come back...

"dude where the fuck you been"
"My aunt died"
"So you skipped back day...not cool bro"

But I agree ...it's comforting

 

[bkmuscledad]

That's the great part. I don't skip days now because I don't want to endure the gauntlet walking through the Hall of Shame.
It actually helped make me more consistent.

 

[sodominsane]

That's the great part. I don't skip days now because I don't want to endure the gauntlet walking through the Hall of Shame.
It actually helped make me more consistent.

Hahahahaha

 

[CUBE]

I have a decent build I guess for my age but often feel weak at the gym. Then I think about these guys are 1/2 my age and almost all our on a growth product. So I should not compare myself but just enjoy the view.

 

[Serpentlike]

I am very self conscious at the weight rack, but less so in the locker room.

 

[Makeyougape]

I don't think anyone in a gym is satisfied or happy about how they look - that's why they are there - they all want to look different

You shouldn't worry what you look like since everyone in a gym is probably thinking the same thing as you - and feeling self conscious about themselves

 

[Flexxx]

I tend to roll my eyes at the guys who (think) they are lifting some crazy ass weight but in reality they are only moving it 1 inch. Or those guys who use a ton of momentum to swing the weight around. The only thing momentum makes bigger is your head. If you can't lift the weight with good form or only do partial reps than you are lifting too much weight for your strength.

 

[Bakugou_]

I have string bean arms and I was too embarrassed to lift weights in the gym considering everyone by the weights looked like Faze Censor or John Cena.

And I didn’t want anybody coming up to me and saying “you’re doing it wrong”

 

[bkmuscledad]

I have string bean arms and I was too embarrassed to lift weights in the gym considering everyone by the weights looked like Faze Censor or John Cena.

And I didn’t want anybody coming up to me and saying “you’re doing it wrong”

Getting help from more experienced guys is part of the process. Don't ever let that stop you. Embrace it and welcome it. Don't you think that Arnold got advice as he was starting out, or even as he continued and was already known? The same goes for every impressive body builder and athlete you've ever seen. Also, your cock is probably bigger than most guys whose arms are like tree trunks, so keep that in your mind as they're helping you build your other muscles.

 

[find83]

I understand being nervous about going to the gym, it can be an intimidating place. Some gyms have friendly people but theirs others that have ass hats for client. One thing you need to do is just focus on your workout and try not to bother about what others are doing (easier said than done). Try not to go during the pact times like around 5 or 6pm because that is when most people go afterwork and you might feel very intimidated. Early in the morning you have less people or even during your lunch break if the gym is close enough to work (there still might be quite a bit of people but because most people only have a short time to train an hour or 30min they won't be focussing on you)
Doing light or heavy weights has no bearing on how good you are in the gym it really depends on your specific goals and keeping proper form for each exercise. So yah you might only be swinging 20lbs for curls but doing that with proper form, give it a few weeks you'll actually see gains compared to someone swing 60bls curls but swinging back and forth using mainly momentum to get the weight up