Fat people going to the Gym

Kekkaishi

Thank you for all your comments. I already mentioned in an earlier post that I had started working out at home about 3 weeks ago - a 40 minute workout for beginners. also, I did not mention it before but a big part of my fear as the communal showers at the gym. i'm ashamed of my naked body even more so. I also read that after a workout you are more likely to get an unwanted erection

kaworun83

may i ask you an intimate question?

what is your progress on weight in the last 30 days?
and
would you tell me (and the community here) your complete nutrition?

Kekkaishi

@kaworun83:

may i ask you an intimate question?

what is your progress on weight in the last 30 days?
and
would you tell me (and the community here) your complete nutrition?

Unfortunately, I have lost only about 2 kg since I started working out. the reason for it is my nutrition

as for my nutrition, i am well aware that i do not eat healthy and since working out i haven't change my nutrition

while i do not eat as much as i want during the day (i am taking into consideration how much i eat) i do however eat snacks and such

also i do not know how to build for myself a nutrition plan that will not cause me to starve.

kaworun83

well, my opinion: healthy eating is a myth ^^
but seriously: you can start by counting how much sugar and fat you consume daily, by eating and drinking. look for these nutrition facts table on the packaging. just keep counting.
if you have collected data for say one week, try to change one or two things to eat next week, but with less sugar/fat. sounds confusing, but, if you look for alternatives and/or substitutes, this may be possible. (and keep collecting data, there might be a pattern to it.)
look at this one as a long term experiment.

Alexxx1

I think you should definitely go.
We tend to be extremely insecure and uncomfortable when in situations like yours, but there are a couple things you should consider:

People usually don't pay too much attention to others. Being at the gym means normally just focusing on your own routine, there's not too much time to watch what other people are doing. Actually, this is a newcomers'' habit, which tends to fade as there's some more iron to pull.
- If, I say IF someone'd look and point an imaginary finger, what would they expect? You are there trying to get rid of your problem, if there's somewhere you should be, it's there! So the stupid one in this situation is this 'imaginary' person
This is the most important: It's excellent that you are exercising, but if you really want to lose weight, diet takes the biggest role. Both for best results.

Natakote

Gym is a place for everyone willing to work on their body. Of course there might be jerks that will make fun of folk that's not in shape but I never noticed it and I don't recall anyone telling me they saw someone being laughed at in the gym while normally working out. Don't feel ashamed of your body and let yourself down man, have courage and motivation to work on it to the results you want to see.

Also, I'd recommend you going on cardio much more as lifting would increase your muscles and not burn much fat which will result in you looking even bigger than you were when you started and that might get you down to quit.

All the best!

shez

Just remember you're not the only one there with self body issues. You'd probably find that the vast majority of people at the gym have or have had their own body confidence issues, that's why they're there, whether that be they were bullied at school for being fat/skinny/lanky/short or as they've got older they've noticed a belly forming or their other half losing interest.

Some of them may have got over it and just got into going to the gym so still do, but they'll remember and won't judge you. They'd probably applaud you for doing something about it.

For the record I'm now 70kg down from around 160 at my peak. It's as much about diet as it is about exercise, you might find that changing your diet kick starts you on your weight loss which gives you more confidence about going to the gym which is the way I did it. The best thing I found to help change my diet was using a food/calorie tracking app… use it religiously and enter everything you eat, I started weighing everything so that I could record it accurately just the process of thinking so much about the food that you're eating and understanding the nutritional value of it all works wonders. Many of the apps also give you meal ideas or diet plans to follow and can track and plan exercise sessions, the one I used was lifesum, but there are several others.

The only slightly embarrassing moment I've had was while changing, a child in the changing room noticed me and was saying to his dad "Dad, Dad, look, that man's got boobs", to be honest the dad sounded more embarrassed than me while he's trying to shut the kid up.

horyna

I lost two-three kilograms by just avoiding frozen pizzas, and a little less chocolate and having a better look at the size of the portions since the New Year. It wouldn't even consider it a diet.

Also watch what you drink. No coke or lemonade, drink water more often.

kaworun83

@kekkaishi: hi woh is it going on? any progress on that workout issue and going to the gym?
and do you consider becoming a rabbit?

rawr

The easiest way to lose weight is "not to go on a diet". I know this sounds really counter-intuitive, it's not that you won't be restricting what you eat, but you shouldn't try to lose weight by not eating enough. From experience, there's no reason to and diets are more difficult than they need to be.

Use a calorie calculator such as http://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html
Put your age/height/weight in and pick Sedentary - little to no exercise
Check the number for "You need XXXX Calories/day to maintain your weight."

Now, cut down any on sources of extremely unhealthy foods, mainly refined sugar and alcohol. You can still drink here and there but try to stick to light beer and keep it minimal.

But the plan is to eat the amount of calories you need to maintain your weight, for a sedentary life style.

Then add exercise, preferably daily, but alternating routines daily. The idea here is to do what you can and like to do.

As an example: do a body weight/strength training routine mon/wens/fri (avoid legs) and ride an exercise bike or go for an hour walk sun/tues/thurs/sat. It shouldn't be a hardcore routine, something basic that you enjoy doing. Avoid long ab routines as they are not very effective at burning calories. If you want to develop your abs, that's fine, but it's not really a "work out."

There's a whole bunch of weight loss routines available for free on Youtube. Just type "XX minute workout"

As you lose weight, reduce calories as per the calculator.

Pros:
If you decide not to work out, you shouldn't gain weight. So, if you don't feel good for a week and don't workout, just don't eat more.

If you decide to eat a bit more, try not to get into the habit, but exercise a bit more to cover the extra calories.

It's really easy, you shouldn't feel like it's hard at all. It may be less than you are used to eating, but you shouldn't get that "worn out" feeling.

It's much harder to regain the weight because now you have to break two separate healthy habits.

If you get motivated, you can lose weight by eating a little bit less, or working out a bit harder, it's really flexible.

Cons:
It can be slow. But if you know anything about weight loss, any time it's fast, usually you gain it back just as fast, or it's mainly water weight.

You have to count calories and you should try to avoid eating foods where you can't really figure out how many calories you are consuming.
This kind of sucks around the holidays.

If it's going too slow you may have to cut calories down a bit more, so you need to weight yourself daily and track the results.

Note: This is basically what body builders do to cut fat, granted they probably eat a bit more since they usually work out a lot and their diet will be really specific.

Kekkaishi

Thank you all for your interest and replies.
my current status is this:
1. I have been working out almost daily for a little more than a month. no change in diet - that was until 3 weeks ago
2. Three weeks ago while exercising, I had injured my knee - an old injury from about 4 years ago not fully healed. - recommended surgery for normal functionality of the knee
3. Due to the injury I stopped my daily exercise completely - need to make an appointment with the doctor on that matter
4. I hope to resume training in the near future while I'm still motivated to do so.

and THANK YOU - RAWR for your most informative comment and the link attached.

justwith

Agree . You dont need to start with the gym right away if you are too selfconcious. Do it by yourself first and get some confidence .

Dremric

Im not sure if this would mean anything to you. I use to be 324 pounds over weight. it was hell for me in the beginning, but through perserverance and reasonable goal setting, I am now 180 pounds. I too was so insecure at the gym, I just put my earphone in, listened to my music and managed to shut everyone off there. Eventually before I knew it I was going regularly, and people stopped staring. Today if I see anyone who is overweight at the gym, I admire them for their willingness. I dont stare because I knew how it felt.

Good Luck ;D

987654

At the end of the day, most people at a gym don't care about anyone else there.

ons

no matter what other's views are, but try to perform in your own way with cheer.

Kekkaishi

I've never referred to it in my previous comments, but what I'm probably most embarrassed about as a fat guy going to the gym is, ironically, the much needed shower after a workout. suppose I mind my own business during my workout routine, in the showers that's a different story: I'm only embarrassed in the showers because I'm fat and NOT because I'm naked. if I was not fat, the shower time was not a problem for me. so after all your support and positive comments, I still don't feel ready for the gym yet.
it's probably stupid to think that but that's how I feel

motri

@Kekkaishi:

I've never referred to it in my previous comments, but what I'm probably most embarrassed about as a fat guy going to the gym is, ironically, the much needed shower after a workout. suppose I mind my own business during my workout routine, in the showers that's a different story: I'm only embarrassed in the showers because I'm fat and NOT because I'm naked. if I was not fat, the shower time was not a problem for me. so after all your support and positive comments, I still don't feel ready for the gym yet.
it's probably stupid to think that but that's how I feel

ah i see your problem. i also had that problem.
mine mostly went away when i went to a japanese type sauna/spa. seeing a lot of people similarly naked with either worse/similar body shapes to your helps when you step in the wet area.
just remember it's not about anything sexual, it's just the body being its natural self. nothing to be ashamed of in nature. though not going to a gay gym with shit loads of judgemental eyes probing is also a good step.

Dremric

Can you not shower at home? or at work?

Kekkaishi

I could shower at home but it's more convenient to shower right after a workout. besides I don't want to stink all the way home

kaworun83

em, how far is that gym away from your home? do yoou have do ride 30 minutes of public transport to get there?
if you use your car, you will get used to your own body odour quite quickly, i can tell you this.
if you use your bicycle, and concider that home cycling phase as a part of your cooldown cycle, youo will not even scent your "stink"yness.

… well, please drop that cycling part, if you live im a too great distance from that gym.....