At least for me, when I went to gyms, I was too busy on my workout to worry about what others are thinking.
I’ve also had the experience of gym bullies, who make it a point to make you feel inadequate. However, as I said, I’m too busy to think about them.
Gyms suck.
I don’t care about that stuff. I can do ‘fitness’ at home.
But I’ve thought of joining the local gym, because they have ‘Hydro Massage’ tables and chairs. If you have back issues, try it. It’s amazing.
The first time I experienced this in a chiropractor’s office, I laughed my head off. It’s better than a roller coaster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg9C0eIiao0
I walk for exercise. Alone. Sometimes in the city, sometimes in the woods where I live, but always alone. That’s the best part.
This is nothing new. I have always been intimidated by gyms. I belonged to two at the same time a hundred years ago but never went because I was so self conscious. Stupid me - I was a size 5-7 back then. The only one I liked was an all female gym and I was the youngest so I didn’t mind going.
I have a HamPlanet Fatness Black card and I go several times a week. I’ve never noticed any “gymtimidation”, but then again with my hulking frame I’m often the biggest person in the place. I probably make other people feel better about their bodies.😁
I have visited my community gym 37 times since Jan 1st this year. Every person I see at the gym is busy with their own routine. Never had any problem.
I’m so afraid of what people will think of my aging body.
I better go screw myself up with tons of plastic surgery to feel better about it
I've been a gym rat for most of my adult life and, being a cardio person (runner, biker, rower, cross-fitter), I have always been skinny compared to the bodybuilder types.
They probably looked at me as wiry and I looked at them as vain and unable to tie their shoes.
That said, if people form any opinions about others, it is about respect. If you work hard, people respect you whatever your shape. And they respect you if you don't let them intimidate you.
BTW, no one respects people who give a shiite what others think of them. Grow a pair and get over it.
Pathetically sad if you can’t do something because you worry about what someone else might say.
LA fitness
Not intimidating at all.
People don’t even look at each other.
The BIG THING ON THE INTERNET is supposedly guys being *CREEPS* .by starring at women.
3 women influencers had to shut their social media down when they lied about being stared at.
If someone is really that concerned about the gym, then one solution is that there are plenty of exercises you can do at home with little to no equipment.
In fact (IMHO), you’d be much better served by starting a fitness regimen that way, and not paying for a membership until you’ve maxed out on what you can do at home for free. Especially today, there are plenty of vids on no-equipment workouts and/or building your own basic equipment for little cost.
If you don’t have the ambition and discipline to exercise by walking to the other side of your house, then chances of you getting into your car and driving to a gym frequently enough to justify the cost and/or accomplish any fitness goals are pretty much nil.
But YMMV.
Even now, I still wear use headphones with the volume loud enough that I can ignore others.
We don't go to the gym to make 10 new friends, we go to lift 10 more pounds and to exchange 10 pounds of goo for 10 pounds of gold. Keep the focus, keep the cadence and minimize social interactions. 45-90 minutes of focus and goals. Don't allow anyone or anything distract you from the goals. This YOUR time to accomplish YOUR goals.
When I first started going to the gym the most intimidatingly fit guys were the most encouraging. The huge burly guys always had a kind word, always noticed that I was back again. It probably helps that it was kind of an old crusty gym, nobody fashionable there, nobody treating it as a singles bar. But really most gym folks are quite nice. Or they just ignore you entirely.
I love my gym. Being retired, a lot of us seniors go mid-morning after the die-hards have already been there and went on to go to work. We have two swimming pools, one a small pool for arthritis and fibromyalgia people. The large pool is used for lap swimming and water aerobics classes. Also a great jacuzzi. Friendly supportive atmosphere, bonus is that I’ve made so many wonderful women friends there.
Not interested in being bulked up just trying to keep some strength in my limbs,being 73 and all. This sounds kind of silly
Who cares?
I go to the gym to workout. I don’t pay attention to those other people there
Make no mistake, it’s women judging other women that’s the issue, just like outside the gym, but that destroys the narrative.