Will an overweight person attract negative attention at the gym?

[Anonymous]

My job has recently come out with flyers advertising this new 24 hour gym and saying that you can get special discounts

I want to get back into shape and get my old body back and I figure that getting a gym membership will give me more motivation than trying to workout at home. The thing is I'm not the fittest girl and I am nervous about exercising in front of people. I have heard stories about fat people getting harassed or laughed at at the gym. I don't know how common that is or if they were just isolated incidents or whatever, I just don't want that to happen to me. I am not like 300 lbs. or anything but I'm not at my fighting weight. I'm Raven Symone's size when she was on That's So Raven link

I would like to lose 30-40 pounds and get a more hourglass figure. Also what exercises can help me do that? Thankss

[ShishKabob]

People are at the gym to improve themselves. I doubt they would be criticizing anybody for doing the same, unless you were half-assing it. And in the off chance that they do criticize? They're scum. Screw them.

You're probably working out for health reasons in addition to feeling good about yourself right? Building self esteem? Part of that is caring less about what people think about you. I've never heard of anybody being harassed anyways.

As far as which exercises to do to maintain your hourglass figure: You can't pick and choose where you want to lose fat. Crunches don't make you lose belly fat specifically, the shakeweight won't target armfat, etc. I'd start with just cardio until you're happy with where your body fat level is at. If you want to regain curves, then you need to hit the weights. Squats are awesome for your quads/glutes (thighs/booty). Not much you can do to maintain the top end of that hourglass figure without looking like a jacked guy though. You need to make some sacrifices to be fit.

[Killfest400]

Everybody starts somewhere. If you're jogging on the treadmill and drinking your water, then I'm proud of you. If you're barely moving and chugging your third Dr. Pepper, then I'm disappointed. If you're lifting weights, do it evenly, with proper form, and make progress. If you need help with form, ask the gym staff. Don't do the ass machine and neglect everything else. Work out hard, and work out smart.

Keep off of your phone, too. If you can hold a conversation while you're exercising, you aren't exercising hard enough.

[peace-love-couture]

People at the gym started somewhere too,so if anything I think it would be respectable.

If you aren't an hourglass figure,you may not be able to achieve the actual measures required for the figure.If you are one but it isn't defined,make sure to incorporate ab toning exercises along with cardio

[Anonymous]

When I was overweight and going to the gym, I didn't receive any negative attention.

I've also never looked down on anyone else for going to the gym, regardless of their size, because I think it's great when people want to take care of their bodies, no matter their "starting point".

[TimePhantom]

No way when I see overweight people exercising I think that's great. At least they are attempting to lose some weight instead of sitting at home complaining about it.

[tmlsmurfs]

As someone who's worked at a gym for 19 months. I have never seen anyone overweight get the center of attention, what's on their mind is that it's a good thing he/she is planning to lose the extra weight.

[Pancakes]

Gosh no! Well, I suppose it depends on the gym you go to but in mine there are a lot of overweight people and they don't get harassed at all. People either ignore each other or encourage each other.

[Little-Hippie]

I like seeing overweight people in the gym.

It seems like a step in the right direction :D

[Anonymous]

lol I hope not. I'm going to be a gym rat when I start school in January. I'd like to tone up and lose the flab that's all over my body. >:[

[kissyfaceMorgan]

actually no it doesn't attract negative attention, it actually show you care about your health to slim down a bit and besides not everybody attend the gym are always slim :)

[moaterboat]

I've never seen it be an issue.