Self esteem issues regarding the gym?

[Anonymous]

So I'm not fat.. I'm a UK size 8 and everyone tells me I'm not fat. But when I go to the gym, no matter how busy it is I just feel like crap.. Everyone there has the perfect body and are able to work out like mad. It makes me feel like crap and pressures me to work really hard, possibly too hard for a beginner. I end up just feeling totally self conscious and can't enjoy myself.. I feel like people notice my love handles etc and notice if I'm not working out really hard, like I prefer to power walk on the treadmill because Im too self conscious to run because I get out of breath, but then I feel like people think I'm pathetic for it.. Does anyone else feel like crap at the gym? How did you get over it? It makes me want to not go at all because I just feel disgusting and its triggering old eating disorder thoughts I used to have (food restriction/purging- I was never a fan of exercise) and I'm scared to get back into that again..

[EyeSeaYew]

The gym is a place to both get in shape and maintain the shape you have. Any dipwad that judges a person who doesn't look physically fit for going to the GYM is just that, a dipwad. It doesn't matter what you look like, everyone can benefit from going to the gym. Don't feel self-conscious. Feel proud of yourself! I'm not a fan of the gym so I think it's really cool that you're managing to still push yourself to go despite the negatives you're feeling.

It's really important to not push yourself too hard. Your muscles may not be ready to do all those advanced moves yet or endure for an hour vs. 30 mins., as an example. Why don't you just walk around your community or a recreational park on some days instead of on a treadmill? The benefits will be a change of scenery and fresh air. There's also plenty of at home exercises you can do.

[thechica]

Don't give up work out and remember to eat healthy! No one says getting a nice body, would be easy. Here is a tip. Take a picture of your face, cut it out and past it to a body of a girl, the body that you want to have. Eveytime you look at the picture, get happy !! tell yourself that's going to be me, pretty soon. :)

[BertMacklinFBI]

you will eventually break into it completely and you'll be in a comfort zone bubble at the gym. plus nobody at the gym really cares, they're doing their own thing.

[slackercruster]

Stop looking at all the people obsessing. Just do your business. There are always going to be people better than you. Work on being the best YOU can be.

[evenlift]

I think you're being harsh on yourself. UK size 8 is normal. Surely there are some actually fat people at the gym!

[Anonymous]

"So I'm not fat.. I'm a UK size 8 and everyone tells me I'm not fat."

But you still have self esteem issues.

Cry us a river.

[Anonymous]

I used to have an eating disorder and going to the gym also made me self conscious instead i found an exercise that kept me fit/in shape and that also made me comfortable and happy

[LordOfTheKINGS]

they were like u when their first times..