I have an inferiority complex around other men that’s keeping me from going to the gym? I feel ashamed, insecure and discouraged about myself?

[WhiteBoyChill]

It’s like I really want to be in shape again but I just feel too ashamed to go back.

Whenever I see all these bigger athletic guys in the gym through the glass windows lifting heavy shit I just feel intimidated and discouraged from entering.

I’ll never be as good as them. I know I’m going to feel out of place around them.

Its just so discouraging because they all seem to know eachother and I’m trying to do this all alone for the first time.

If I had like an actual friend or something there I’d feel a lot more comfortable but just going in by myself and not really knowing what to do just makes it difficult to find the courage.

[Little_Bumblebee]

I would suggest a personal trainer for your first couple of sessions then. Someone who can introduce you to the different lifts and such and someone who can introduce you to the gym.

Most people who aren't little shits don't judge those who are working out in the gym, they all know there's a starting point for everyone, and they won't care about anything but their own training.
Don't mirror what you can do with something someone else can do. Just focus on yourself, and compete against yourself, not others.

I know it can be difficult, I'm not saying it's easy to get over.

[MrBadd]

You can either go into the gym or stay weak and insecure forever. I’ve felt like you do before, but thinking this way forced me to get in.

You shouldn’t worry about other guys in the gym. Some guys are afraid that the big guys are judging them or that they’re gonna be laughed at, but most are actually pretty friendly. A lot of them will have felt that way at some point too. When they see a guy who’s new they remember being at that point.

If you train right you can also make quick progress. For me, I was barely making progress. But then I found a good routine and I doubled the weight on two of my big lifts.

If you don’t know what you’re doing with exercises just go on YouTube. There are tons of video demonstrations on there.

[snackthatsmilesback]

Yeah that's basically it, you gotta get a friend to go with you. Ask a few maybe one of them could have a similar problem. Anyway maybe one could go with you the first few times at least, then when you go alone you'll know what to do and what to expect.

[Exterminatore]

I care very little what others think of me. You shouldn’t either.


All those big guys were once little guys. You gotta start somewhere.


Just go in there and get your life on.


Or get home exercise equipment. A bench and a bunch of free weights can be had for around $200.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand this obsession with needing to go to the gym. I train when ever I want to, without worrying about parking spaces or filthy equipment with other people's sweat on it. You can have someone build a DIY Isochain and make more gainz than anything the gym has avaliable too.

[Rapport]

If there's a planet fitness near you you could go to one of those.

That place is pretty much notorious for not letting jacked people work out in those gyms.

If you feing inferior really bothers you that bad though you could always workout at home.

[Jdjfjcjj]

A lot of guys have this feeling before going to a gym. They assume that others will stare and judge them. You may come to find that everyone actually just looking at the biggest/ripped dude, maybe studying his routine, or w/e

[bean2k21]

Man, what you need to do is go get your hair and nails done. Then you'll feel sexy enough to go to the gym.

[peedy]

Better go to a shrink instead or get a bottle of jack and deal with it

[Guy13]

Oh well, they were your size once 🤷🏻‍♂️

[WhiteBoyChill]

I don't know man. They’d all been athletic their whole lives. I’d always been the shy nerdy kid growing up in school.

I just feel insecure because this is one of the areas where I dont have a leg up on the other men

[WhiteBoyChill]

I’m not like a fat slob or anything. I dress decently and have a slim build its just I don’t really have the strength

[Guy13]

Watch and steal their ideas. That’s flattery to them.